What's in a Name?

Now the title of this blog seems like a sweet enough name, but what some may not realize is there IS an actual meaning behind it. The song 'Never Alone' by Lady Antebellum was a source of strength amongst our family and friends during the time right after we lost Momma Sue. The first part of the song goes

May the angels protect you
Trouble neglect you

And heaven accept you when it's time to go home

May you always have plenty

Your glass never empty

Know in your belly

You're never alone

Who wouldn't be praying that the angels protect them while their on the precipice of a journey like this? My blog is actually the second half in a set with my sister's blog N E V E R A L O N E being the trailblazer (shameless plug for her, but she's got some really great fashion pictorials!) I think seeing the title every time I log in will give me that little jumpstart I need if I am feeling low. 

The song even inspired bracelets we made to remind us of her strength and always to follow suit. 

What Would Sue Say? (with a secret Never Alone message on the inside)

It's been a tradition to leave one of these bracelets anywhere people take trips to. To date, there are WWSS bracelets buried on the beach in Cabo, swimming with the dolphins the Caribbean, in the streets of New Orleans and at the bottom of a canal in Venice...those of course are just some of the coolest places. I'm looking forward to leaving one in Japan soon!

Everything You Need is Inside You, You Just Forgot

      The other night my roommate had finally convinced me to go with her to yoga and while I had myself in some impossible position I didn’t even know my body could twist into, the instructor said those words “Everything you need is inside you, you just forgot”. While I know this was meant to encourage us to go deeper into the pose, I was immediately struck by how this could apply to my mission. At a time when I had been second guessing myself on whether or not I could accomplish this daunting task of raising $10,000, here was this little gem of wisdom sent to me in the most unlikely of places. Already my mantra of “Do things for the challenge” was paying off. The next day I finally got my first report from the church of donations that had been sent in. Sitting here doubting my ability to raise the funds while some of my other YASCers had already reached their $10,000 mark, I was actually beginning to see the fruits of my labor. I type this now with a cramped hand after writing over twenty some thank you notes to people that have sponsored me to the sum of $2,615. That is just over a quarter of the way to my goal and I couldn’t be more pleased, excited, appreciative and humbled by all of the support from people close to me and my family and people I barely know. I can’t thank everyone enough.

My little workstation set up. I haven't worked this hard since college. 

       Next up, the Cathedral Women of Christ Church Cathedral, my home parish, is putting on their annual Strawberry Festival . It is an institution in downtown Indianapolis and in its 48th year. They have been generous enough to support me by way of donations for each volunteer I bring to help out. It is always a good time on the Circle downtown helping for a good cause and just hanging out with people from the Cathedral and the business people that stop by for their strawberry shortcakes! If anyone might have that day off or, like me doesn’t have a real 9-5 job, and wants to help me out please let me know and I can get you signed up to help! 

       In about a week or so, I’ll be heading to New York for training with the rest of the group with YASC. I am getting really excited to be reunited with the people I met back in February and haven’t seen since then. Of course, we’ve kept in touch through Facebook and Instagrams and our blogs, but there’s nothing like quality time spent with people in person, words on a computer screen can only convey so much. We’ll be there for two weeks training for life overseas, mission work and who knows what else, but I can guarantee there will be lots of memories made, conversations about our anxieties and excitements and just plain ol good times. What else happens when twenty some twenty somethings get together? Only time will tell.

       I guess that’s all for now. Not much to report on, not even about my Rosetta Stone. It is really quite daunting, that box just sitting there on my nightstand. 

Until next time,

--Charlotte

Konnichiwa Japan

     And that is the extent of the Japanese I know, besides sushi and sake of course. And so it begins! As many of you may already know, and some that are just now finding out, I have been selected to take part in a mission with the Young Adult Service Corp. In layman's terms, it's the Episcopal version of the Peace Corp. In a mere two and half months, give or take a week or so, I will be packing up my most prized possessions and heading to the other side of the world for a year. Why might you ask am I doing this? Read my story here to get a better idea of how I got here. After months of waiting around after receiving my placement in Japan back in February, I have received official word on what my job will entail. Being one that doesn't like to jinx things, I put off telling too many people and even having this blog go public until I knew for sure that I was in fact heading to the land of the rising sun. As of last week I finally heard from my receiving diocese that in fact they want me to come and be apart of their team at the Kiyosato Educational Experiment Project. In the email I also finally got a glimpse into what I will be doing while I am there. In their words I will be

-Developing and managing International exchange programs

-Working with camp programs for young adults

-Introducing American culture and English language to children

-Working alongside the clergy of St. Andrew's to support church activities

-Bringing cultural diversity and international insights through praying together, learning together and working together

Need info on my mission? Pick up a handy flyer I've created

I think that last bullet there is the most telling of how this experience will be. I hope I can live up to their expectations and can do all of that. I've always thought I have a pretty good grasp of the English language, but teaching someone else whose first language isn't English? I'm going to be needing lots of help from you teachers out there. I'm just happy I finally have a guarantee that I will be going. For awhile I was convinced one day I was going to get an email that said "Sorry. We actually no longer have a spot for you. Better luck next time" so when I did get the green light I couldn't have been more relieved. I had been playing the waiting game too long and was itching to shout from the roof tops "I'M GOING TO JAPAN!!!" The last week has been a whirlwind of developments. I got the info on KEEP, the area (sounds like the climate of Indiana, but with picturesque Mt. Fuji as a backdrop) and where I will be living (I'm going to be reliving the dorm style days of college). I also started the process to get my visa approved, which come to find out is actually the biggest factor in when I will be moving over there. They had originally said they wanted me to start the beginning of August and then emailed and asked if it was possible to come sooner. Of course I will come when I am needed, but like I said it all depends on the visa process which they say can take up to two months. We shall see, we shall see.

Of course I have my reservations, who wouldn't moving halfway around the world and leaving friends and family and everything they know. I've always been the adventurous type and am beyond excited to live in a new place and experience new things, but I was having huge FOMO (fear of missing out) on things going on at home. After the excitement and fellowship of the discernment process waned a few weeks later, I realized what all I would be missing being half a world away. I found out I would be missing three weddings of six absolutely amazing people from college, one of which I was even asked to be a bridesmaid in. I weighed my options day in and day out and if there was ever a reason I didn't go through with this mission, it would be because I wanted to share in those special days with people that mean so much to me. I came to the conclusion that I needed to do this for me and the people I would be serving. When would I ever have this opportunity again? The YASC program of course is going to be there next year, but where will I be a year from now? Right now, I have no serious career, a lease on an apartment that ends in September and no significant other in my life holding me back. I just hope those friends of mine realize that it was a near impossible decision and I had them in my mind throughout the whole process. I also told them to look on the bright side. They'll be getting wedding gifts with a return address in Japan. How many people can say that?

Candid shot of me speaking at the Dean's forum courtesy of  Hannah File

This past weekend was the turning point in the whole process. I can actually see things coming together. As I have said, I am one that doesn't like to jinx things and get people excited over something that may not actually come to fruition, so I had been putting off the fundraising and spreading the word. Who wants to ask people for support when they can't speak to what that money will be going towards? I was able to speak at our church's forum in between services on Sunday and while it was a smaller crowd, everyone seemed to be very excited for me. They asked questions about where I was going and what I was doing, which only solidified my excitement to be doing this. Our priest even gave me a little shout out during the announcements in the service, to which a couple in the pew behind me stopped to ask me more about after the service. As a group of fellow missionaries, the upcoming class of YASCers keep in touch through Facebook updating each other on our placements and fundraising goals and just general encouraging stories. I hadn't really had anything to contribute until this weekend when I got to see the generosity of people I only knew in passing. A couple from my parish had been a part of YASC a few years back in Japan with another organization. After the forum I spoke at, they pulled me aside and gave me a few gifts that included the Japanese Book of Common Prayer, the Hymnal of Nippon Sei Ko Kai and a Bilingual atlas of Japan. I knew they had been missionaries to Japan before and knew they would be a great resource to use before I left, but I never expected such an amazing and thoughtful gift. 

Hymnal of Nippon Sei Ko Kai and Japanese prayer book

So here I am, creating my first blog post in a long line of many more to come. My next step, after a two week orientation in June in New York, is to pack up my life for a year abroad. That's probably going to be the biggest challenge. What do I bring? What do I leave behind? What am I going to want to/need to wear over there. I've already got a checklist started: Bible, Book of Common Prayer, rain boots, nice work suit, laptop, camera, Rosetta Stone, entire collection of Harry Potter DVDs and pictures of the family and friends. Those all seem like essentials right now. I'm sure that list is only going to grow.

I'm on that Rosetta Stone

Thank you again for joining me on this journey and if you want to find out how to support my cause click here. Anything helps. Even things as little as a simple email saying hello while I'm over there will support me in ways that money cannot. 

Until next time,

--Charlotte