The Results Are In...

The main reason for our trip to DC was my scholarship competition. Money is definitely a huge concern for us as we start this process, so I was pretty nervous about going. The scholarship awards were determined by a single, 30 minute interview. To be honest, I'm pretty sure I bombed it. I got so nervous and flustered that when I look back on it, I feel even dumber than I did at the time. Nothing I said was what I wanted to say. Words completely failed me. I walked out of there feeling sure that not only were they not going to give me a scholarship, they were going to revoke my admission.

Thankfully, the interviewers got the point that I can be articulate and I'm passionate and mostly, I'm excited about the work that Wesley Theological Seminary is doing to prepare people for ministry. I got a good scholarship that's worth almost 2/3's of tuition! It's so wonderful just to know what's available and what Derek and I are dealing with as far as funding my theological education is concerned.

I was pretty disappointed though that when I got the call about my scholarship, they said nothing about being an Urban Fellow. After visiting Wesley and seeing the amazing work that the Urban Fellows are doing I was so excited about it. I knew the spots were limited, but I was just hoping that I would be one of the lucky students who were picked. When I didn't hear that I'd been chosen I was so disappointed.

Good for me, the notification that I have been chosen to be an Urban Fellow came this past Friday! I will be a part of the 2nd cohort of students who will be working on a Community Based Action Research Project and Cooperate Praxis Projects. This program is really focused on tying together theological education and the implementation of those practices at the same time. It's going to be amazing (and it's definitely going to make this blog more interesting!).

Now we just have to find a place to live... if you hear of any inexpensive, dog friendly, Metro accessible apartments in the DC area just let me know.

Did you think I was eaten by the Lincoln Memorial?

Yeah, I know, it's been a while. Like, way too long. Sorry about that. :)

Our trip was great! It was rainy and gross pretty much the whole time we were there, but we still really enjoyed it. We got to tour around a see some great sites while we were there too. I think it was the perfect intro to DC for Derek!

The first day we got there we mostly just learned more about Wesley (Theological Seminary that is) and I had some meetings and stuff I had to go to. Derek was left to fend for himself that night and a good part of the next day, but he survived!

The second day I went on a tour of Wesley's "presence" at Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church where they have an amazing intentional community for some students to live in. I, and 13 other students, also went to meet with the current Urban Fellows which are a group of students that are selected for this program each year, and work within the Mount Vernon Square and surrounding neighborhoods to focus on available outreach in those communities. That was the program I was interviewing for and I was desperately hoping to get into. It was amazing to meet with them and to learn more about all of the work they're doing.

But hands down, my favorite place we visited that day was The United Methodist Building (pictured)

which houses the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society where I hope to work one day! It's located directly next to the Supreme Court (pictured below) and it's the only non-government owned building on all of Capitol Hill. It was wonderful and I absolutely loved it!

That night we went on a trolley tour of the city(but my flash was being funny so I don't have any nighttime pictures) which was beautiful. It was fun to see Derek's reaction to all of this stuff for the first time.

Sunday, Derek and I just walked around and saw some of the fun stuff in the daylight. Below is the Library of Congress and the Capitol Building.

It's so hard not to be excited about being in DC. It's amazing to know that huge decisions are being made every day in that place. We really can't wait to move in August!

I'm sure some of you are wondering how the competition went and if I'm an Urban Fellow? Well, for the you're just going to have to wait until the next post. This one's already too long. I promise I'll post soon though. (Maybe even this afternoon!)

In the meantime, enjoy Holy Week!

Trip # 1 (OMG I'M SO EXCITED!)

This weekend will include several firsts for us:

1. Derek's first flight. Ever. I'm so stinking excited about it. I love flying! Which is weird, because I HATE heights, but flying doesn't scare me at all. I can't wait to see the expression on his face when we fly for the first time!
2. Our first trip to DC together. It's actually Derek's first trip to DC at all. I've visited several times and (technically) lived there for 4 days. (Long story for another day). It's such an exciting and wonderful city and I'm just praying that Derek likes it as much as I think he will!
3. Our first visit to my seminary! I've been before, many moons ago, when I was a junior in undergrad. They've made some changes and I can't wait to see what it looks like now and show Derek where I'll be every day for the next 3 years!

We're flying up early Friday morning and staying until Sunday evening for a Scholarship Competition. I'm really trying to focus on the fun travel part of it, and less on the "holy crap whatever happens this weekend will determine a lot about the future for us" part. No matter what happens, we're moving to DC in August. I'm starting seminary at Wesley in August. But it would be awesome if I could have a great scholarship while I'm there. It would let me breathe a little easier. Secretly I want to ask that you'll pray for me to win, but that's really wrong, so I'll just ask that you pray. A lot if you get the chance.

Whatever happens I know God is at work in me and in these plans so I'm not too scared, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't get a little naseuous if I think about it too much.

I'm planning to take plenty of photos (send me a text and remind me to do that every once and a while) to post on here when I get back. Also, I'll be updating on Twitter so feel free to follow me www.twitter.com/abaldridge !