A Thematic Journey

Reconciliation and the local church: these two recurring motifs are weaving their way deeper in my life.

I'll explain. The word reconciliation started popping up in random conversations in high school and for some reason, I knew it would  continue to grow and become a part of my life. How that would happen, I had no idea. During this time, my church transformed under several different changes of leadership. This noticeable shift caused me to start asking questions about what the church's values are, how churches interact with others, and why churches I attended always seemed to be so homogenous in its congregation.

These two themes grew as I left my home to intern at a non-profit that worked with teen moms in Denver, and another summer when I interned at a multi-ethnic church promoting reconciliation in Southern context of Little Rock.

Now, my journey expands internationally to the hills of Rwanda. Decades prior to the genocide, Rwanda was admired for its incredible landscapes and its expansive acceptance of Christianity. Then in 1994, the world watched as the horrific events of the genocide resulted in the deaths of an estimated one million people. This became the single story of Rwanda, often the only thing Westerners relate to their knowledge of this country.

I have nothing to offer and everything to learn. Hence the title of the blog, I am approaching these next 6 months as a journey to learn from the people I meet, the stories I hear, and the experiences we share. I am already humbled and overwhelmed by the graciousness of my host organization for their willingness to accept me and my hundreds of questions.

I'll say it again, I have nothing to offer, and everything to learn.