letter to mvff

This is a letter from Erin, who came to DC for a summer internship. Knowing nobody out here, she contacted us by e-mail to see if we could help her find housing. Below is her farewell note to us. It illustrates how we live out our understanding of what it means to be the church, not go to church, and it gives some insight into what our church family is like. We miss you, Erin!!!

Hi dear church family, I apologize this is so long, but I will say upfront, it's just a long expressive Thank You, so it might be worth bearing with it - but your call. :) As most of you know, this past Sunday was my last Sunday at MVFF as I'm moving back up to New York on August 13th. Well, last Sunday for now, but I plan to be back for visits when I can. That being said, I did want to thank all of you for welcoming me into MVFF and your lives this summer. In May, I was wrapping up my first year of law school and was rather mentally exhausted, as well as physically and emotionally and somewhat spiritually drained. I had been planning on going back West to my parents' or brother's house this summer, when the internship offer came from VA. While I was excited, it was bittersweet - I had been looking forward to a summer close to family after having been away the farthest and longest I ever had been from them. I give this bit of background only to stress what a blessing you all have been in my life. I came knowing no one and a little uncertain about my summer, as I can be a little more on the shy side when I don't know people.

I was quickly identified as "the girl from the e-mail," but there was even comfort in that as it began to show me what a truly caring and connected community I had entered into. I never had to worry about a place to stay the whole summer (thank you sooo much to all those who offered to take me in, whether I was able to take up the offer or not - it was truly a blessing and appreciated more than you know). While I was worried about missing my family for the summer, God gave me another one in all of you and I don't think I can adequately express how thankful I am for that. It has been amazing to get to know each of you and see your hearts for God. I have been refreshed in a different, but better way than I planned for and I have been challenged to seek after God further and deeper as I've seen your hearts for Him and learned more about Him through your sharing of your own experiences. Even being a sister in the Christian family, your care for me this summer has truly been a testament of God's love. None of you knew me or had any idea of who I was when I came in but I sensed no hesitation in welcoming me with open arms. As I've explained to people - Christian and non-Christian alike - how my summer came together, I have received variations of the response, "Oh wait, you didn't know these people at all? I thought there was some connection...?" as they have been somewhat baffled and amazed at the level of care shown for a complete stranger.

I came to the DC area telling myself it would just be for a quick couple months - I never wanted to live near/in DC, but thought it would be good to see the political side of things for a short period. Sometime in July though, it hit me that this was a place I could call home. I'm almost certain this change of thought would not have taken place without all of you - my summer in DC area would have been just that: a couple months to gain experience and not to be returned to. But now DC is on my short list of places to look for jobs for after graduation (God-willing, of course).I'm very sad to be leaving the Virginia area and MVFF (I feel like I'm leaving home), but so thankful that I had the opportunity to meet all of you and get to know you, even if it was just in small Sunday chats. Please keep in touch and if you're ever in NY, you have a place to stay (and even if you don't need a place to crash, please still let me know, would love to see you)!