Tracie has been accepted as a Jubilee Fellow!

What is a Jubilee Fellow?
Jubilee Fellows are students who have been accepted into the Jubilee Fellow Program. This program is designed for twelve promising students who are strongly inclined toward spiritual leadership and Christian ministry, and it aims to foster the next generation of church leaders. Students sometimes have a sense that God is calling them to ministry, but they aren't sure what "job" they should pursue or what steps they should take after graduating from Calvin. Others may already have a sense that God is calling them to continue their studies in seminary, or pursue a particular job in church ministry. In either case, the Jubilee Fellows program seeks to help these students explore their vocational calling through interdisciplinary learning, mentoring, and ministry experience. What is required of a Jubilee Fellow?
Jubilee Fellows participate in a lively program. During the spring semester of their junior year, they take a seminar course that studies the vision, lives, and theologies of those who have made great contributions to the Christian church through the centuries. They read a variety of books, both historical and contemporary, listen to guest speakers, and do a bit of personal research on a Christian leader of their choosing. The semester-long course meets weekly over dinner to foster fellowship and a sense of community among the Jubilee Fellows and the course instructors.
Following the course, Jubilee Fellows set out on ten-week summer internships in outstanding teaching congregations throughout North America. This component of the program is often the highlight for students, providing them with first-hand experience in the day to day life of a church. We also pair Fellows with strong mentors on the pastoral staff of the internship churches. The mentors will walk alongside the Fellows, not only providing them with work to do, but also with honest feedback on their peformance, spiritual direction and encouragement, and the opportunity to learn from someone working daily in church ministry.
Upon returning, Jubilee Fellows contribute to Calvin College community life through a ministry-related service component their senior year. Students take what they have learned from their internships and find creative ways to use their gifts at Calvin, whether its leading a small group book or Bible study, helping out in the Mentoring Office, or hosting community outreach events in their neighborhoods.
Jubilee Fellows will receive a $4,000 fellowship, paid throughout the summer and fall of their service. Each will also be provided with summer internship living expenses and reimbursed for travel expenses to and from their summer internship site.
Through these components of the Jubilee Fellows program, we seek to encourage students as they consider church ministry as a vocation.

pictures

There are over 150 pictures in the post about our trip...I am not sure why part way down they are spaced so far apart. I am sick of being on the computer so I'll try and fix it tomorrow. If you want to see all the pictures...just keep paging down. Sorry for the inconvenience.

California trip to visit Stephanie and Kevin

We left for sunny California on Tuesday (October 21) in the afternoon. Derek only went a 1/2 day to school and the rest of the day was spent traveling. We arrived about 7:30 pm to see Steph and Kevin greet us at LAX. It was so good to see them both again! After a drive to their apartment in Redlands we had a good nights rest. Over the next few days Stephie was our tour guide. Kevin had to teach so it was just the 4 of us.

We left Wednesday morning for the desert. On the way we passed one of California's clean energy - Wind farms!

We then went to Joshua Tree National Park. The western half is the Mojave desert. The eastern half is Colorado Desert (high desert and low desert).

Desert flower

Rock climbers (took these pictures for Tracie and Nate - they are going to California in March and they like to Rock Climb - Maybe they can do that in the desert!)

View from Keys View. You can overlook a stunning expanse of valley, mountain and desert. The San Andreas Fault can be seen in the valley.

If it wasn't for the smog from LA - you could see into Mexico from here.

Skull Rock

Thursday - Big Bear Lake - and climbing up in the mountains.

Stephie's dog Ein needed help getting over this log.

Ein the rock climbing Corgie

Castle Rock

Kevin's classroom - he collects gas masks

Friday - Sea World in San Deigo

of course we had to take pictures of the horses - Clydesdales

Shamu

Mission Point

The Pacific Ocean

Derek - Stephanie - Kevin

There was a surfing contest on Saturday - high school teams

La Jolla - we kayaked, and saw sharks, sea turtles, seals and lots of fish

Kevin - Stephanie - Mom

Stephanie

Stephanie

Mom - Kevin - Derek

Birds of Paradise and Palm trees are everywhere

Kevin and Derek in Kevin's BMW

On Sunday we went to church with Kevin and Stephanie. They go to the River CRC. It is a great church - the people are all so friendly. On Monday we left for home. We had a great time and it was so good to see Kevin and Stephanie. They are doing well in California. It is obvious they are deeply in love and have put God in the center of their marriage. They have a nice apartment and very good jobs. We miss them and hope they move back to the mid west some day (ideally very close to us) but know they are in God's hands.