A Little Introduction about Megan

Hello! My name is Megan Hays and I am originally from Helena, Montana. I grew up there with my mom, my older brother, and my younger sister.  I am 26 years old and a 2nd year M.Div student at Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa.
I earned my undergraduate degree from St.Olaf College in Northfield, MN where I majored in History as well as Social Studies Education. After finishing up at St.Olaf, I spent a year with Lutheran Volunteer Corps living in community with 5 other young adults in Milwaukee,Wisconsin. I spent the year working at an alternative high school while my housemates worked at other locations around the city. Together we explored and practiced themes of community, social justice, spirituality, and sustainability. Following that year, I spent a year working at a Lutheran camp just outside of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. It was a year of doing youth ministry with various congregations across North Idaho and Eastern Washington as well as participating in the diverse activities and responsibilities that make up life in an outdoor ministry setting. Amongst other things it was a nice year to be closer to my family and back in the mountains before moving to Iowa for seminary.
 I have had the blessing of a few opportunities to travel beyond the continental United States. When in high school I spent a few weeks in consecutive summers overseas. The first summer I traveled to Australia and New Zealand followed the next summer by a few weeks in England, Ireland, and Wales. I enjoyed both experiences and continue to value new perspectives gained and relationships formed. In college, as part of my education major I spent a month in Hawaii exploring and experiencing multicultural education on two of the islands. It was an experience with learnings that stretched beyond just the area of education.
I am looking forward to the upcoming time in Iceland, while meeting the Icelandic people, experiencing more of creation and  new things to learn!

Gracious God, thank you for this opportunity to travel to Iceland and meet the people of Iceland. Prepare us and guide us and those we will encounter as we begin and progress through this journey. Be with us, those who we meet in Iceland and those who remain behind at home at this time. Amen.

Biennial Blessing: J-Term 2014

January 2014 will mark the fourth time students from Wartburg Theological Seminary have been welcomed to Iceland for a cross-cultural immersion (a graduation requirement for all Wartburg students).  Like the first group that set off in January 2008, this year's bunch will set off early in the new year to spend time with and learn from our sisters and brothers in Christ far up in the North Atlantic - absorbing Icelandic culture, cuisine, history, and ecclesial wisdom... not to mention the experience of winter near the top of the globe.

Wartburg Theological Seminary - Iceland J-Term 2014

Allow me to give you a glimpse of the folks who have chosen to go this year.  In addition to yours truly (Dr. S.D. Giere), we have (from left to right): Will Layton, Steven Neal, Megan Hays, Paul Theiss, and Kelsie Theiss.  They will be introducing themselves on the blog in the weeks before we depart, and they will be blogging about their experiences while we are in Iceland.

We invite your prayers for this adventure, for our hosts in Iceland, and for all those traveling near and far (Guyana, Tanzania, Israel/Palestine, Pine Ridge, Texas, Milwaukee, and others) this coming January.  We also invite you to read and share the blog and to join the conversation by way of comments on the posts.

May it all be for a blessing.