Indiana Jones Would Be Envious

Whoever entitled this blog “Adventures in Rural Immersion” was a wise person indeed – for we are definitely in for an adventure.

My six traveling companions (including our intrepid and enthusiastic leader, Kadi Billman) and I have spent the past two days in class at LSTC getting a crash-course on the great state of Nebraska and rural ministry in general from Pastor Brenda Pfeifly of Salem Lutheran Church in Stromsburg, NE and farmer/rancher Kent Miller of Sidney, NE. These classes follow our reading of three assigned books about various aspects of rural ministry: Dynamics of Small Town Ministry (Lawrence Farris); Sustaining Heart in the Heartland: Exploring Rural Spirituality (Miriam Brown); and Rural Evangelism: Catching the Vision (Mark Ruffcorn). In the midst of heartfelt conversation throughout this second day, we gathered around the Lord’s Table for Epiphany Eucharist, after lunch shared a delicious dessert, celebrated dinner at Cedar's courtesy of the Nebraska Synod, and overall enjoyed the initial jelling of our resolute group of spiritual treasure seekers.

Kadi Billman, Patricia McClean, Pr. Brenda Pfeifly (front), Kaila Hochhalter, Lorin Kirksey, Becca Ajer, Kent Miller (front), & Alpha Sabbithi enjoying amazing dutch apple pie in honor of Patricia’s birthday tomorrow. Not pictured: Yours Truly.

For most of us in the group, this trip represents a journey into a culture and way of life that we have been exposed to only sporadically at most. Also, with almost 70% of the ELCA’s congregations being in rural/small town settings, there is a good possibility that all or most of us studying for ordained ministry will find ourselves in such a context for first call. That makes this present adventure also a glimpse into a possible future. For these reasons at least, I’m sure there are varying degrees of apprehension and anticipation present in all of us; at the same time however, as a group we are excited to witness the incarnation of that which we have been reading and learning about.

For me personally, this will be a new adventure in an additional way: I have never “blogged” before. An earlier blogger here was advised to, “keep the entries short” (not starting off so well there, am I?). With practice on my end and patience from our followers, I don’t expect my lack of blogging experience to have a negative effect on the trip. What may actually have a negative effect is my being a University of Tennessee football fan and still just slightly bitter about the results of the 1998 Orange Bowl (final score: Tennessee: 17, Nebraska: Waaay more than that). Being that Cornhusker football is the religion of Nebraska, I promise to bear this cross with grace!

Despite the comments some of us received from family members and friends over the Christmas break when we mentioned our plans for J-term – “Nebraska in January? Eeewww!” – we are all genuinely looking forward to this opportunity to learn more about Nebraska, its famously kind and generous residents, rural ministry, and yes, more about ourselves. Thank you for joining us. We are honored by your presence.

Now, where’s my Indiana Jones fedora? Shoot – back home in St. Louis. Sigh. Anyway…

Let the adventure begin!