Watch out world, here we come...

Here I sit at Stony Point, waiting for our ride to the airport. Nashville’s the only national site left here, but Northern Ireland, Kenya, and India people are still here. It’s strange how emotional it was watching people leave. We’ve only known each other for a week, but it’s so inspiring to see us all heading our separate ways to (at least we hope) do good things. Ok so we maaay not be able to totally change the world in 11 months, but I admire everyone here so much because they’re trying to plant the seeds, in a way. Here’s this group of people committed to going out into the world for the PC(USA) and promoting what they believe in, whether it’s teaching classes or fighting for social change and justice (or maybe just getting to know some college students). So much for the frozen chosen...

There’s another song we’ve been singing that I like a whole lot (surprise) and I feel like it fits this post well...

“Canticle of Turning”

1. My soul cries out with a joyful shout
that the God of my heart is great,
And my spirit sings of the wondrous things
that you bring to the ones who wait.
You fixed your sight on your servant's plight,
and my weakness you did not spurn,
So from east to west shall my name be blest.
Could the world be about to turn?

Refrain: 

My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn!

2. Though I am small, my God, my all,
you work great things in me,
And your mercy will last from the depths of the past
to the end of the age to be.
Your very name puts the proud to shame,
and to those who would for you yearn,
You will show your might, put the strong to flight,
for the world is about to turn.

3. From the halls of power to the fortress tower,
not a stone will be left on stone.
Let the king beware for your justice tears
ev'ry tyrant from his throne.
The hungry poor shall weep no more,
for the food they can never earn;
There are tables spread, ev'ry mouth be fed,
for the world is about to turn.

4. Though the nations rage from age to age,
we remember who holds us fast:
God's mercy must deliver us
from the conqueror's crushing grasp.
This saving word that our forebears heard
is the promise which holds us bound,
'Til the spear and rod can be crushed by God,
who is turning the world around.

Love,
Allison.

Ewe Thina

...more or less you say it "ay-way teen-ah," and it means "We Walk His Way." That's what we're trying to do here, at least. I'm in Stony Point, NY with somewhere around 90 other people, the majority of us getting ready to go to 16 different places around the world. Given the fact that we'll be going to so many different places, and the fact that the Stony Point conference center is generally driven towards mission-related projects/groups, we've been singing a lot of songs from other places around the world. Don't get me wrong, I love songs like "Prince of Peace" and "Light the Fire" (a lot), but to hear the same meaning and belief in a new and refreshing (not to mention catchy) way is pretty lovely. I've always been one to find God's presence in music, but let me tell you, hearing 90 people sing those two words in four part harmony is powerful stuff. It's a simple phrase, but I think it sums up a major goal for most of us in the coming year.

Everybody's doing different things, from rebuilding houses in New Orleans to working near the border in Tucson (to campus ministry in Nashville...), but through all of this we're trying to take God's love out into the world with us. That's not to say that it's not already there, because if you ask me God's love is already everywhere, just maybe manifested in different ways. And I can't say that I know exactly what this year holds (I highly doubt anyone here can, at this point), but I can tell you one thing. God's love is most definitely here. Here in this program, here in this place, here in these people, and here in the relationships I've started building just in a few days.

So today (well, it's after midnight so technically, yesterday) was my birthday. Hello 22, nice to meet you! I kid you not, I have known most of these people for three days (my fellow Nashville YAVs for four or five), but it was a really lovely day. Despite the fact that I'm kiiiiind of uncomfortable with 90 people singing the birthday song to me, it happened....twice. And there was a big ol' cake and my new (and wonderful) Nashville friends made me a paper crown (which I admittedly wore for only an hour or two...) and a card. And all birthday happenings aside, I can really tell that this YAV community thing is for real. The fact that we all have this common experience to share, and that we're all quite uncertain of exactly how the next year will go, is a really special place to start. All I can say is that as of right now, I'm pretty positive I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.

Love,
Allison.

"I would drive 500 miles and I would drive 500 more..."

Ok so maybe it wasn't exactly 500 (almost, though!), and maybe I'm not too keen on driving that far again, but I made it to Nashville! I live in the "Toolshed" with two other girls and so far things are going just swimmingly. Beth and I have a room together, and our other roommate is Mary Kate. We've got a little kitchen too, and a living room. Eventually we'll (hopefully) figure out how to work the wireless in our humble abode, but for now we're chillin' in McDonald's. We leave tomorrow for Stony Point in NY for a week of YAV orientation, then back to Nashville we'll come, to have a little bit of orientation here, and then to start our jobs! So far I think it's shaping up to be a lovely year. :)

That's all for now, friends.
Love,
Allison

"All my baaaags are packed, I'm ready to go..."

When it's almost 3:30am and you can't fall asleep because your mind's racing all over the place about the fact that you're moving to a new city (or a city in general, for that matter), what better way to spend your time than by singing songs like "Leaving on a Jet Plane"??? (And yes, I did sing the first line in my head when I typed it to make it the title of this post. That's why those extra a's are there.) Ok ok, so I'm not leaving on a jet plane, per se, but Madame Blueberry counts right? (Madame Blueberry is my Civic, for those of you who have yet to meet her.)

Alrighty folks, here's the part where I try and make myself go to sleep. Leaving tomorrow morning (or I guess later today...) for my new adventure! Cross your fingers and say a prayer that all will go well and I won't get lost! Though, armed with a Nashville map, a Tennessee map, an Atlas, and a GPS, I'm fairly confident I'll be able to make it. :)

Sweet dreams, friends.
Love,
Allison.

P.S. - I promise when I actually get to Nashville this blog will have worthwhile things to read, and not just my late night ramblings. Though there are sure to be some residual ramblings (and a little alliteration?) too...

"Snails see the benefits, the beauty in every inch."

...words of wisdom from The Format, and the random song that popped into my head upon thinking about snail mail. Snail mail is something I happen to love, and and I've made it my goal to write more letters this year. All I'm sayin' is thanks to the kind man working at the Davidson Post Office I'm now the proud owner of both cowboy and "Sunday Funnies" stamps. Speaking (or typing, rather) of contact in general though, in case you don't have it and would like it, my email address is:

allison.wehrung@gmail.com

I'm still getting used to the fact that I don't have a Furman email account anymore. FirstClass I shall miss you...also I disagree with the fact that my computer just underlined Furman as a misspelled word. Shame on you, laptop. Anyway, if you'd like to be the recipient of a cowboy or comic stamp (maybe even with a real letter attached!), use the aforementioned email address to send me your mailing address. That would also be a good way to inquire as to what my mailing address is, if you happen to want it. :) Three cheers for keeping in touch sans this new-fangled internet!

Believe it or not, a whole day and a half before I leave and I've actually started packing! Still plenty more to do though, so that's all for now, friends.

Love,
Allison.

T-minus 6 Days...

Well friends, I'm moving to Nashville, TN in six days! This here blog is going to be my attempt to keep you all updated on my latest life adventure (being a YAV and learning all about campus ministry!). I couldn't be more excited to move to a new place and meet new people, but still any prayers/kind thoughts you care to send my way would be much appreciated. :) In case you're curious about the good ol' PC(USA) or the YAV program, here ya go: http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/yav/

That's all for now folks, but be on the lookout for updates once I move in! I guess I should go pack at some point...

All my love,
Allison