YAGM, a program through the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, invites young adults to serve abroad for a year alongside our global neighbors.
Because Loeffler-Kemp grew up in a Lutheran church, went to a Lutheran college and worked at Lutheran camps, she was surrounded by “countless examples of ways Christians serve their neighbors,” she says.
She believes that service is a part of each of our vocations and, to her, service doesn’t mean just giving money to people or groups and then hoping problems will be solved on their own. Service is being in a relationship with others, providing understanding, education, resources, tools, and hope so they can become leaders and build up their communities.
At Concordia, she took classes that relate to the work of YAGM, such as Liberation Theology, Faith and Leadership, and Interfaith Dialogue.
“These classes provided me with new perspectives and resources to become more responsibly engaged with my neighbors,” she says. “My experience at Concordia challenged me to view the world through a compassionate lens.”
St. Chrysostom’s Church is an Anglican Church, of the Catholic tradition, through the Church of England. Loeffler-Kemp says the church is a vibrant and diverse community – diverse in age, race, profession and sexuality – that focuses on being an inclusive community and welcoming to all. Each week she and another volunteer parish assistant, Anne, prepare and serve at weekly mass and vespers, help out at a local primary school, and prepare and clean up from Sunday mass. The rest of the time is filled with preparing for events, social media and publicity, hosting groups in church, and volunteering in the community at places such as Cornerstone (a homeless drop-in center) and Hulme Hall (a student dorm affiliated with the University of Manchester).
She also volunteers at a coffee shop in the community called The Anchor. It is run by a Christian organization where all the baristas and servers are volunteers.
“It has been a fun way to interact with the community,” says Loeffler-Kemp.
She has also been able to engage in a cross-cultural relationship working with Anne, who is from Germany.
Loeffler-Kemp lives in a house in Manchester with Sister Jean Mary and Sister Lynfa, Anglican nuns associated with the Community of the Holy Name, whose convent is located in Derby. She and her roommates spend many evenings together sipping tea and sharing stories.
“They even make homemade wine, which I am excited to learn how to do this summer,” she said.
Manchester is one of the larger cities in the United Kingdom, with a population of 2.5 million. It is one of the rainiest cities in England and well known for the football teams Manchester United and Manchester City. Since moving to England, some of the biggest changes she faced are the different words and phrases English people use, such as:
- Chips = Fries
- Crisps = Chips
- Boot = Trunk of car
- Car park = Parking lot
- Rubbish = Garbage
- Rubber = Eraser
- Squash = Fruit juice
- Trousers = Pants
- Pants = Underwear
- Torch = Flashlight
“During my time in England, I have noticed that offering tea to someone is a sign of hospitality,” she says. “I don’t think I have gone a day here without having a cup of tea (referred to as a ‘cuppa’). Seriously, I drink loads of tea. I usually drink a cup at breakfast, a cup after morning prayer, a cup mid-morning, a cup or two in the afternoon, and one after supper.”
During her free time, she’s done a bit of exploring Manchester, day trips to cities nearby, or adventuring to other European countries. She’s visited Ireland, Denmark, Scotland, Wales and Spain with other volunteers and friends who have visited from home. She also spends free time running in the parks, taking guitar lessons and doing yoga.
Following her YAGM service, she plans on moving back to Duluth and looking for a position either in outdoor ministry or at a church.
Read some of Loeffler-Kemp’s work documenting her YAGM experience.
(10028/kk)
