Monday, August 30, 2010

We are now oriented...

We have finished the meetings on campus part of our orientation. We were measured for vestments today, trained on the customs of our peculiar place, Christ Chapel and finished our Orientation. Tomorrow we are off to Mo Ranch in the Texas Hill Country http://www.moranch.com/ for a 2 day retreat. From the description of the time we will be there, it really will be a retreat, meals are the only scheduled activity. I will be back later in the week to tell you all about it and hope to have some pictures to post.
I love hearing from you any way you wish to send greetings, please send a hello every now and then. I welcome snail mail, it's fun to open the mailbox and have a note or card. My address is 608C Bellevue Place Austin TX 78705. Oh, and oatmeal raisin cookies are always welcomed!!

Saturday, August 28, 2010

#2 - Campus Quest

Yesterday we heard about CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education), Hispanic Ministry concentration, the Hispanic mission for January term and went on a Campus Quest. Campus Quest was another scavenger hunt talking to people in their natural habitats (offices). There are all kinds of fascinating people who add to the color of SSW. A woman who can drive a dumptruck, an instrument certified pilot, a full professor who made his living playing video games before he received his higher calling and the music professor worked on editing and contributing to the 1982 Hymnal, fascinating!

I have 19 fellow travelers, about 50% female/male and average age is probably mid 40's. So far, I have had a chance to talk to almost everyone. We come from all over, Diocese of Olympia Washington, South Florida, North Carolina, Texas (of course) and New Zealand! There is a couple here who have roots nad family in Clanton & Decatur but have been sent by and come out of the Diocese of Olympia-how about that?

I became officially enrolled at Seminary of the Southwest at 4:30 yesterday afternoon. I have 16.5 credit hours preset for me to take.
Classes include
Biblical Langage for Teaching and Preaching -read GREEK!
History & Hermenutics I
Spiritual Formation fo the Person
Formative Traditions in AMerican Christianity
Liturgical Music I- I had to have a "voice interview"- much to my surprise I can sing!!!
Liturgy I
Text & Context-Explorations on Formation & Experiential Learning
Intro to Theological Research and Writing
Think I will be quite busy this fall, I hope I have time to watch AU Football!

I would say I am about as settled as I can be for now, which is quite settled actually. It is now just a matter of living into the space. For those of you who do not know, I have a wonderful garage apartment with 5 windows- great light; it is less than a block from school. I am behind an adorable family, Mitch, Camille and Jimmy  who started 1st grade this past Monday. I can walk to most everything I need, the neighborhood is fabulous, lots of places to walk and I can hear what is going on at the UT stadium - band practice, games whatever...

I LOVE Austin. It and SSW are perfect for me, I am excited about what lies ahead. It will be challenging, enlightening, maddening, frustrating but above all, a journey unlike any other I could have possibly imagined. I welcome your companionship along the way!

Peace,
Donna



Day 1 Orientation...

 ...is complete. (Thursday August 26th.)The morning was nuts & bolts - Registrar, classes, insurance, advisor assignment, work study.... The afternoon was too fun! We teamed up and went on a scavenger hunt around Austin using (very) clever clues to find Austin landmarks and places of interest including the food trucks, Cathedral of Junk, Elizabeth Ney Museum/gallery, to name only a few. More tomorrow...