We began our day with some much needed sleep after a brief trip to McDonalds for Egg McMuffins to refuel. In the afternoon, we cleaned out our travelling companion Olivia (the name of our van), and packed for our early departure on Tuesday.
We then went to our home-away-from-home First Congregational Church in Palo Alto. We spent some time journalling, and then enjoyed our final banquet, prepared by the leaders. Margaret Green sent over yet another plate of her “acorns”, which the youth loved. They are dark grapes, dipped in a bit of dark chocolate, and then granulated sugar.
After our dinner,
we held our final ceremony. Although we will have some liturgy to mark our transition into young adulthood with the congregation in the early fall, this was our last opportunity to be gathered in this chosen family. Each person shared his or her learnings from the two years of our journey together, as well as the “now what”, the commitment to making our lives and choices matter. Then we laid hands, and spoke of the blessings we saw that each person brought to the world – how they were the light of Christ. And with this, each person was sent to continue their journey as a young adult, knowing that the prayers and love of our group will go with them wherever they go.
Our leaders of the day reflect:
Last night we stayed up all night in a vigil. We spent the night under the stars and canopy of leaves discovering who we are and lestening to the word of God. The night was long and quite chilly but the space was beautiful. We were so tired that most of us fell asleep on the drive to breakfast. (Elise)
When we returned from the exciting but exhausting all night vigil the conscious J2A’s gulped down their McDonald’s breakfast before passing out in our really soft and warm beds. By the time we woke up, it was the afternoon, and time to go, groggy-eyed and zombie-like, to the church to make dinner. The leaders surprised us by cooking us a delicious feast (they have more experience so therefore take half the time to prepare it) while we spent the time journaling about what we learned and what we intend to take away from that. After we ate, we shared together our reflections on the pilgrimage and blessed each other with compliments. As a final goodbye, we joined in song and prayer. We set out home for our last night together (talking late into the night) and EXTREMELY early morning. Now we are on the plane and halfway home. See you soon!
We are extremely grateful to the First Congregational Church in Palo Alto. As they said “any friends of Margaret Green’s are friends of ours” and they demonstrated to our young folks that the church of Christ is much larger than our small family at First United. FCC is a beautiful facility with beautiful kitchen and full stocked youth room.
We are grateful to our family and friends at First United who made this journey possible, both these 10 days, and the larger 2 years. We have learned and grown and shared and loved, and what more could we want for our youth than that. Truly the Spirit is alive and at work.
As we work our way home through airports in San Francisco and Vancouver, we are working on this blog, which will be our final daily post. It is possible that we will do one or two follow-ups with some links and extra photos, but no promises, and we don’t know when these would be posted.
In conclusion then, it is fitting that we present the words of the pilgrims:
Emi Vargatoth
This pilgrimage was a once in a lifetime experience and I am very thankful that I was able to come. The combination of being in a foreign new place and being with a group of people out of my day to day life has been a fun and somewhat challenging learning experience. I have seen great beauty in both nature and people, been given the opportunity to reflect on who I am and who I want to be during the all night vigil and I have also grown closer to the other members of J2A. This experience has helped me to grow and change. I feel like this has been an important stepping stone in my journey to adulthood.
Zack Cunningham
When I went on this trip, I think I became a lot more patient. From the multiple several-hour car rides, to the really long airport lines, it seems like waiting for the end-of-class bell or the bus will seem like almost nothing. And wow, 10-meter-wide trees are just amazing.
Nick Lindsay-Clark
On this pilgrimage I have learned so much. When our youth group went to Yosemite to see the Sequoias, I realised that some things can be bigger than life and still be living. In Alcatraz, seeing those cells has made me relish my freedom so much. On this pilgrimage I have taken a step to adulthood.
Ruth Juggoo-Webber
Through the unbelievably large trees, the long car rides, late nights, and early mornings, church services, cooking and cleaning, singing in the car, waterfalls, glacial pools, bustling cities, wildlife and smelly male feet I learned to better appreciate our beautiful world and all it’s many wonders. I grew closer and learned a lot about my fellow J2Aers (french fries). I thought it would be difficult living all week with the people I normally only see for an hour each week, but this was not the case. So close we began to feel as family would and it will be weird to not have them there all the time and to sleep in my own bed. The amazing scenery was so awe-inspiring that I am determined to restore its beauty that has been polluted by our lifestyle. The sights are so amazing that it can only be the work of God. I have learned many things… how to lead and how to follow, to help and to accept help and to open myself and be open to others. I came as a youth and I will continue to grow in my journey to adulthood.
Kim Farris-Manning
The ‘city of fog’ may be shrouded by clouds, but its insurmountable beauty and incredible history cannot be so easily disguised. Everything has been so breathtakingly new and inspiring that I am suffocating in awe. I have come to know and love not only the scenery, but also my nine wonderful companions, who have given themselves and their insight so generously to me throughout the past 10 days (and one very special night). I am grateful to them, and to you, for helping me to have such an amazingly full and intense time of learning, not only about myself, but of the world and my responsibility due. I have learned this week what I would have learned in a year, and although it is not yet finished, my journey is quickly approaching adulthood.
Logan Cornelius
I was happy that I got put out of my comfort zone. We did so much incredibly stuff: from San Francisco, Alcatraz, Yosemite with the awesome Sequoias, horse back riding around Big Sur and getting close with everybody in the group – all of which I will cherish for the rest of my life.
Elise Bisset
During the pilgrimage I saw and experienced many different and unique things. I found inner peace in the protection of the giant redwoods, felt awe at the wild beauty of the Yosemite mountains, and was shocked at the majestic ocean. The best part was that I saw all this surrounded by the comfort and support of the whole group. I learned that I can stand alone but it’s best to walk beside others.
Wendy Snelgrove
We leaders went on this journey trusting that God would carry us in all that really mattered. Each youth has journeyed far from where they were when we began. They are young adults now, and more and more, the path they travel is one of their own choosing, not their parents’, their leaders’ or their church community’s. I hope and trust that they will walk this path knowing that they are extraordinary children of God, loved and supported wherever they journey. We have challenged them to make their lives and choices matter. Our role as leaders is a small one in the grand scheme of their lives, but walking with them has been a great privilege for me, and a journey full of grace. I love these youth, and I love my First family, and I am honoured to have been able to serve you all in this way.
Marti Settle
I had known many of these youth as children, and then after several years absence met them again as youth. It has been richly rewarding to get to know them as individuals, and to accompany them as they have grown through the year, and particularly through this pilgrimage. I trust that the exclamations of amazement and excitement I heard as our group experienced California will be seeds for continued growth for the rest of their (our) lives. A special thanks to my own family (Kate, Jamie, and Noah), for lending me to J2A and First for this year and this week.
Jenn Nelson
I have been honoured to journey with all these amazing youth. I too have seen many of them grow over the years. Each have shared their unique extraordinary gifts throughout our time of sharing. The learnings and sacred seeds that have already begun to grow will surely grow into mighty trees much like the sequoias we saw on our pilgrimage, spreading their own seeds to many around them now and in the future. My hope for each will be that they continue to grow into the people they dream to become. I am forever grateful for the love prayers and support from my partner Carole for supportng me and these youth over the last couple of years.
