Teri Mueller
The fleeting nature of time never ceases to amaze me. I am having a hard time grasping the fact that I ended my internship at the close of last week. The past eleven weeks have passed very quickly and have contained so many meaningful experiences!
Prior to coming to the churchwide office, I had rarely focused specifically on the issue of hunger in our world. Sure, I had volunteered at food banks, collected cans for food drives, participated in fasting activities, and served meals at shelters, but my experiences were solely surface level. They satisfied me but did not truly engage me. I could volunteer and feel good about myself and then return to my life slightly more grateful for the blessings I had been bestowed with.
Working as the ELCA World Hunger Education intern allowed me to bridge experiences with information. I was able to better connect the statistics and data of hunger to real life through looking into resources. I began to realize the importance of educational exposure that makes people think critically about social issues in our world. I was able to do research and learn more about what hunger and poverty directly relate to. I was challenged through trying to communicate information in a concise manner through working on blog posts and potential resources. I had the opportunity to journey on educational field trips to Bethel New Life and Cross Lutheran Church/Alice’s Garden.
As I prepared to leave, I found myself asking the question What does my internship mean for me as I move forward? I am still figuring out the answer to that. I obviously learned a lot. I feel more passionate about issues of hunger and poverty. I will definitely look for ways to be involved with hunger work in the future. The rest is rather uncertain, but I am sure that I will continue to realize ways this internship has affected me as time progresses.
My time working with ELCA World Hunger at the churchwide office has been an incredibly beneficial experience. Though I was sad to say goodbye, I look forward to the coming adventures that God brings my way during my final year at Wartburg and the somewhat daunting time after graduation. I take comfort in Jesus’ final words to his disciples in the Gospel of Matthew, “I am with you always, even until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) Thank you to everyone who has been part of my journey at the ELCA and God Bless!
Teri Mueller is an intern with ELCA World Hunger. This is her final post for the summer.
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