submitted by Monica Ajak

Today I found myself thinking back to when I joined NNPCW. It was three months ago at the leadership conference this past July.

I didn’t really know what to expect before what happened was completely unexpected. During that week I learned about things that I’d never heard or thought about. And I found myself joining discussions, and actually voicing my opinions, which has always been hard for me to do. I felt empowered. I felt confident in myself when I was in the midst of you ladies. I just knew that this was where I belonged. I think it was the way everyone talked to me like you had known me for more than a few hours.

After that week, I went back to my new home in Maryland feeling refreshed. I knew that this was all God’s doing. Joining NNPCW couldn’t have come at a better time in my life. This was a time when I was filled with questions about my faith, my life, and everything in between.

So when I’m thinking back to that leadership conference I can’t help but feel thankful. Something about having NNPCW here with me makes things seem a whole lot better.

Thank you ladies!!
Monica

Monica is a member of NNPCW's Coodinating Committee

submitted by Hailee Barnes

It is half way through our fall semester here in Montana and so far this year has been filled with a variety of different faith circles for me. There is if course the Presbyterian/ecumenical NNPCW, I am attending the Catholic Campus Ministry (CCM), I sometimes go to the Lutheran Campus ministry discussions, and I attend the University Congregational Church.

Contrary to how this assortment of places and environments may present themselves, I am not one who likes change or surprise, and since I was not raised in any particular Christian circle there have been and continue to be lots of surprises and much change this year. During my first week on campus I attended all but two of the eight campus ministries at the University of Montana. I was surprised to find myself back at the Catholic group week after week but now that is home for me. I am in a women’s group on Monday, we have Unite on Tuesday, and Thursday night is 30 minute dance party night.

I have a weird way of organizing thoughts in my head and for some reason I felt really weird about going to CCM at first, mainly because I had never been Catholic. I have gotten over this weird feeling and now can’t think of a more open and better place for me to learn and grow in my faith. I am starting to understand how similar all Christians are and the barriers between so many of us are starting to come down.

Hailee is a student at the University of Montana in Missoula, MT. She is a member of NNPCW's Coordinating Committee.

I just said goodbye to my mom who came up to Memphis to visit over Rhodes' fall break. As she was walking away from me, down the walkway past security at Memphis International Airport, I was struck by the sheer importance of family in life.

Like many teenagers, I was one of those teenagers who gave their parents a lot of grief. Looking back now, I realize how unfair I have been to my family, how I have only focused on the negatives that have happened rather than the countless blessings that my family has given me. Family is so crucial and so valuable- they can rejoice with you when you are happy and mourn with you when you are sad. They can build you up, and be your best audience. They can take the good and the bad and will always love you no matter what.

Don't get me wrong, I know that family can be a difficult for some, horrendous for many, but for me it has been so incredibly important to remember that those who you consider your family do not have to be of blood relation. I consider most of my friends to be part of my family and I know that the women of NNPCW are my sisters. And, I guess that is all that matters.

Submitted by Jennifer Ross
Rhodes College
NNPCW Coordinating Committee

The heatwave that has been hovering over the Ohio Valley for the last couple of weeks has finally lifted, and the air is a cool 72 degrees. Life is good.

I was struck with an inexplicable sense of happiness as I walked from my car to the office upon returning from my lunch break today. Actually, what I was sensing was joy.

Much ado was made about the distinction between happiness and joy in the Christian circles in which I was raised, and I have to admit that I never understood the difference. To me it was simply a word game, a debate about semantics.

But today I understood. I knew that what I was sensing was joy. I knew it in my body. I knew it in my soul.

I still explain to you the difference between happiness and joy, but I can tell you that I understand the difference. I understand it because I have experienced it.

As people of faith, that is sometimes how it goes. How do we know anything as hard to understand as joy, or faith, or peace, or God? Yes, we use words--theology, Scripture--but sometimes we also just know in our souls and in our bodies and that is enough. Sometimes we don't need words--just the presence of the Spirit, God-with-us.

Labels: happiness, Holy Spirit, joy