It's over

Yesterday was my last day of work. This experiment that I started a little more than a year ago is done. Yet, I am a completely different person. I had my "exit interview" with my supervisor yesterday. I left a pile of papers for the next intern. I finished It's strange to think that I will never be back there. I feel good about it. I feel like I have achieved something.

With prayer and hard work I made this year happen. It was not guaranteed in any way that I would or could stay for this long here in Switzerland doing this job. Yet, it worked out. God has been so good to me this year! I talk about my faith on this blog and God some - but I really think I have learned a lot about my faith and about God this year.

I was recently asked what I thought of my office. I am amazed that the six of us that work there, now five without me, are able to do all the things that we do. My supervisor and my boss work harder than anyone I know. These six people are making sure that the students around the world's voice are being heard on global summits. From Copenhagen to The commission on the Status of Women - we are making sure Christian Student Voices are heard. The thing is we are very clear in our office that we are not the students or the voices - but instead are helping them to be heard. I am amazed at the work we do. I'm very grateful that I was part of it for a year.

Although I know this was only the beginning and I will be part of WSCF for a long time.

I'm heading back to the States in just a few days. I can't quite believe it. The photos are from my weekend away in the alps.

Fundraising Letter

April 14, 2009
Dear Loved Ones,

During Holy Week we remember Christ’s death and resurrection- resurrection that makes possible our new life in Christ. Easter is a chance for new beginnings. I am also beginning a new part of my life. I began a year as the Communications Intern with the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF) in mid March. WSCF is also beginning a new phase of truly global integration making sure that this generation of students’ voices from all parts of the world are heard. I am excited to be a part of WSCF as it brings together Christian students from around the world to work towards peace in their own countries as well as globally. I have included a pamphlet for you that can tell you more about WSCF. I have begun a blog to share all of my joys and challenges and adventures and hopes and ideas with the world. www.maryanningeneva.blogspot.com. Please check that as I try to update it almost every day.

My work is a cornucopia of different jobs: editing journals, advocacy and networking within the WSCF as well as with other ecumenical organizations. This wide variety of work is both rewarding and challenging. The rewarding part is being an integral part of the office here. I see how my work is helping to pull together the work that everyone in the office doing . We are working together so that our vision and hope for God’s Kingdom here on Earth is brought closer to fruition. I am inspired by the work that I see being done and that I am helping to accomplish here. I am challenged because I have to take the initiative to make sure that I am using my time and talents resourcefully. I am helping to bring out my own potential as well as those with whom I work. I must work harder and in a more creative manner than I ever have before.

I see my year here as a preparation for my life back in the United States. I know that working with the WSCF will help me to discern the next steps in my vocational calling. Although I only lived in Austin a few months before moving here, I really began to feel at home there. When I return to Austin I am looking forward to again being active at St. James’ Episcopal Church. During this year I will gain experience that will help me discern my calling with clarity.

Thank you for the many ways that you have and continue to support me. I am very grateful because your donations and prayers have gotten me this far. In order for me to continue my work for an entire year I will need $23,500. Through monetary donations and pledges I have raised just over $6,500! I also received support in the form of an airline ticket as well as a computer and clothing! However, I am still very far from raising enough money to support me for an entire year. I am challenged to pray harder and work harder so that I can make sure I raise the remaining $17,000. The WSCF has promised that I will be able to stay through June. At that time we will re-evaluate our financial situation, if I do not have the majority of my money raised or pledged than I will look at going back to the United States before March.

Please send donations to the WSCF Trustees in New York. Their address is :
Trustees of the WSCF
c/o Rev. Jorge Domingues,
475 Riverside Drive, Room 1340,
New York, NY 10115

Please mark all checks with “Communications Intern.” They will be tax deductible. Please let me know if you think of anyone, or any organization, that would be interested in supporting this work.

I am excited to be a part of the WSCF. Even though I have only been here a few weeks, I know that the work that I am doing here is important in my life and in my vocational discernment. I am humbled to think that my work will also bless the lives of students around the world. I wish you all a Happy Easter!

In Christ’s Peace and Grace,



Maryann Philbrook

Happy Valentine's Day

There is nothing too interesting going on in my fundraising and my preparations for Geneva. I feel that I have hit a stagnant state of my preparations. I still have things I could be doing (my To Do list is VERY long) but I even so I feel like I have done about as much as I can do. Fr. Jeff (at St. James) had an idea that people who have already given support to me stand up during our service at six o'clock and say that they are supporting. Maybe then other people in the service will do the same. Two of my friends are more than willing to do that for me. Another woman in the church, who gave me money, is not willing to. I completely understand her reasoning - but I wish she could because I think she is influential in the church. But I respect her decision to do that.

I am leaving in just about one month, hopefully. I guess I need to start packing and thinking about all those type of things. I am such a last minute packer that I just assume that I will be in a frenzy the night before I leave and stay up until a few hours before my plane takes off. I now have more things to add to my To Do List.

I suppose I'm also getting nervous about actually going. I somehow feel like I hoodwinked these people into giving me this job. The WSCF is even more amazing and awesome than I thought they were. I recently read their Annual Report from 2007. It sounds like they are doing such great stuff around the world. They want me to help them continue to do it. I am just in awe of the work that the students involved with SCM's are doing. The more I learn about the WSCF the more I am so excited to be a part of their mission. I hope that I can help them to keep on doing the work that they are doing. Part of the reason that I feel inadequate is because that there is always this idea that extraordinary people do these extraordinary things. In reality it is normal people and everyday people that do these extraordinary things. I know I'm not anything extraordinary - but the work that the WSCF does is DEFINITELY extraordinary. I somehow feel that I should be extraordinary too.

All of these emotions are coupled with my emotions of sadness and fear at leaving a place that I've called home for the past 8 months. At the same time I am excited to have a place to come back to. I can still call Austin home, even if I happen to live in Geneva for a little while.

An inauspicious beginning

Today I had a few things on my schedule: phone interview, check, lunch with my aunt and uncle, check, last minute Christmas shopping, check, make dinner for my Aunt, Uncle, and their kids, check, work Christmas party, not-yet-checked. I did not have a life changing decision on my to do list today. Yet, that is exactly what happened today. After today my life will be different. I am now planning for a different future than I was planning for yesterday.

I am (will be?) the Communications Intern with the World Student Christian Federation. (WSCF)

In February, I will be moving across our island home to a country I have never been, to begin a job that I am sure will change me. I am going to Geneva, Switzerland. I do not know what I will be doing; I do not know with whom I will be working; I do not know where I will live; I do not know how I will be paid. I do know that this is where I need to be right now. I do know that as I take this step into the unknown there will be the support that I need. I do know that I am making a move toward the infinite. I do know that my life is taking this path and not that path.

Now that I have made this unplanned for decision I need to make many other decisions. In the coming weeks and months I will try and update this blog. I hope that this blog can be a way that I can keep in touch with old friends, perhaps make new ones and generally share what is going on in my life. As I prepare to go to Geneva I am going to need help. I will shortly share with you my exact fund raising needs. Although this job is where I need to be; it does not come with any sort of benefits package. I am responsible for raising the money necessary for me to live in Geneva for the next year. I am planning to raise between $20,000 and $30,000 USD in the next few months. If you think you can help me with this in any way (and non-monetary support such as prayer or winter clothing or an old computer or a plane ticket or anything you think I might need) please, please email me or leave a comment here. As I said earlier, I will update this in a few days with more detailed information as to how you can donate to me and what exactly I need.

Today was not the day I planned for; today was the day I received. I am glad of it.