Spring has sprung! The sun is out, winter coat is stashed away, and it is sandal season again. However, it is still the pacific northwest where the sun doesn't stay for long and keeping a raincoat stashed in my bag is a necessity for you can never know when the weather will turn.
Along with it now being spring means that graduation is approaching. That's right, I will be graduating from Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) on May 24th with a Bachelors of Art in Education focused in community outreach and art. As part of my requirements for graduating I have been interning with the education department at the Tacoma Art Museum (TAM) and taking my final two art courses at PLU. My internship at the TAM has given me opportunity to plan engaging events for the community alongside high school students from Tacoma's School of the Arts (SOTA). My internship has also enabled me to develop an art curriculum for an after school program at Lincoln High School in Tacoma to be implemented September 2014; as well as learn how to juggle and help at a workshop teaching high school students from across Washington state to do the same!
In addition to my internship and classes I spend the majority of my time hanging out with my aunt and uncle or my housemates and some other close friends. I have become a part of a community group near the PLU campus through SOMA church in Tacoma. Our group consists mainly of those in the "20 some things" age range; however, we also have a few older individuals from the Parkland community as well as a the Olson family with three daughters- age 7, 9, and 13. The family is preparing to move to Kentucky this June to be on mission and receive training with Deaf Teen Quest for the next three to five years or so. In an effort to financially support the Olson's mission many from my community group (myself included) will be running the Sound to Narrows 12K race on June 14th. My goal is to raise at least $100 through sponsorship to go towards funding the Olson's mission as I run this race; so I ask that you would prayerfully consider donating. If you are interested in donating please email me at [email protected] for further information.
In other news, being that I graduate in May it means that I have been looking towards my future. As of now, I plan to stay in Tacoma for the next two to five years. I would love to return to the global mission field long-term and so in the years that I am in Tacoma- in addition to working- I plan to be getting training and experience that will contribute to the goal of living overseas.
Thank you for your love and support throughout the years. You are amazing and I am blessed to know you. If you have any further questions or just want to reconnect please feel free to contact me.
Praying for you always,
Emily
PS- I am also a part of a ministry through my community group called "Jesus burgers" which I would like to ask for prayer towards and- if you can- financial support. "Jesus burgers" is something we started in September where we basically set up a fire and grill in our driveway and give out free burgers to students who are walking around from party-to-party. This opens up opportunity to build relationships and share the gospel as students come to get some food in their stomach and hang out for a bit.
Please pray for open doors in relationships, for soft hearts to receive the Gospel through action and word, and for restoration of the PLU and Parkland community as a whole. Also, that we would be bold to demonstrate love in all our actions and share the message of freedom that we have freely received as we build relationships. The majority of students I encounter have been hurt from the church in the past and/or are exploring Buddhist and Hindu-related religions. There is a hunger for spiritual connectedness on the campus of PLU and the community of Parkland so please pray that God's light would break through as He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
If you are interested in financially supporting Jesus burgers please email me at [email protected] for more information.
Contact Info:
Email: [email protected]
Website: branch4love.weebly.com