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Serving Christ in the World : 2008 Mentors

Elizabeth Bakalyar

Elizabeth Bakalyar. My name is Elizabeth Bakalyar and I'm originally from Dearborn, Michigan. From there, I did an undergrad in Ann Arbor (go Blue!) and grad school at Rice in Houston, TX. All of that was for violin, which I still love dearly, but an alternative spring break trip to Honduras in 2001 got me thinking really hard about what God meant for me to do – and a summer as an ELCA camp counselor solidified that calling. After Houston, I headed to San José, Costa Rica, where I started an after-school program in a community of Nicaraguan immigrants. Entonces, hablo español (so, I speak Spanish), and I have a huge love for Central America. Through this winding route I made it to Chicago and seminary, where I'm a middler – which means I'll be a pastor in about two years. The program in Costa Rica is still going and I still try to be involved from afar. I like to read, swim, run, play goofy games, teach violin lessons, listen to all kinds of music, and cook inventively. I am looking forward to meeting all of you and to hearing all about the ways God is active in your lives!

Rhonda Pruitt

Rhonda Pruitt. Whassup' Young People! I could tell you where I went to college and how long I have been in seminary but they are going to make you listen to that same thing again when you get here. So I'll try and tell you the stuff that you might really want to know before you meet me. I work with young people on a regular basis, I think y'all have an outlook on life that we tend to forget about once we get to a certain age. So I'm glad to have the opportunity to kick it with y'all this summer and be reminded that life is meant to be lived! My name is Rhonda, I love music- a variety, amusement parks, and I used to know how to dance. But I can't keep up with y'all anymore!. My driver's license says that I am one age, but I can usually trick myself into thinking that I am younger. I text on my phone all day long, I still play video games (but I have an old system). My one true companion right now is my DS Lite and I love to travel. I am really glad that I have had the chance to grow up in Chicago and in the south! I'll tell you about seminary and college when we meet- Peace for now!

Krista Zimmerman

Krista Zimmerman. Hola! My name is Krista and I’m so excited to hang out with you all this summer! I think we’re going to have lots of fun, learning and growing together! I’m a second year student here at LSTC and I’m originally from Rochester, NY (that’s six hours away from New York City, so no, I don’t know what it’s like to live there… hehe!) But I absolutely love this great city of Chicago! And I hope you’ll love it too! Next year, I’ll be doing my internship in Baltimore, MD! I love being outside on a nice day, anything and everything having to do with water (yay Baptism!), movies, trying different food and meeting new people! I will continue to pray for you all as you prepare to come to Chicago for this amazing experience. I hope that you will pray for each other as well as your mentors and staff!

Jason Chesnut

Jason Chesnut. Hey y’all! (I’m from Texas, so technically it’s okay for me to say and even type that word.) My name is Jason, and I’ve only been Lutheran for a mere three years. If I had to name a “lightning bolt” experience, it would be one that lasted over four months, and took place when I studied in southern Africa. When I came back, I started having conversations about faith and action in the world; these are conversations I still love to have. How does our faith lead us out of the church and into the world? On a biographical tangent, I play any and all kinds of percussion – especially my djembe from Ghana – and would rather be throwing around a frisbee than be in class most spring days. I can’t wait to meet and learn with all of you (“all y’all,” to continue your linguistic lesson for today) in Chicago and beyond. I also love movies. Good ones.

Matt Ley

Matt Ley. My name is Matt Ley and I am in my 2nd year at LSTC in the M. Div. program. I live on the north side of Chicago with my wife of 6 ½ years, Laura, and our cat, Nisha. I’m originally from Hyde Park (where LSTC is located) but I only lived there for 2 months before my parents moved. My dad is pastor so I spent much of my childhood moving. This has given me a strong sense of connection to people as they enter new and situations. I am also active in ecumenical and interfaith dialogue. It is important to me to be able to engage someone in a conversation about their faith from where they come from. A specific area of interest for me is the situation in Israel-Palestine. I currently work as an intern for the ELCA Global Missions desk for Europe and Middle East at the Churchwide office, maintaining their Peace Not Walls website. In my off-time I coach the U of C Men's Ultimate Frisbee team and have been playing ultimate for 8 years. I look forward being to a mentor for SCITW and meeting all of you as we discern where we are called to be in service to Christ in the world.

Erin Clausen

Greetings! I’m Erin Clausen. I am SO excited to get to meet you all and get to explore our faith together! I grew up in a little town in southern OH called Gallipolis. I went to college at Denison University – in another bitty town in OH (Granville). I’ve also lived in MI – just outside of Lansing (another bitty town). Then I moved to Chicago – BIG change. I’ll be graduating from LSTC in Dec., and I hope to take a first call in a Chicago-area church. I love music, though I’m horrible at names (couldn’t tell you who my favorite artist is), and I’ve played the flute for 18 years. I’m slowly trying to learn how to play the guitar. Things I enjoy: my pets 2 cats, 2 tortoises, 1 pet rock, ice cream, chocolate, the beach (though Lake Michigan is usually a bit cold), and taking almost any new challenge out there (not skydiving, though). I like people who think out-of-the-triangle (I’m one of them), and I wrestle with God about the reality of pain/evil/suffering in the world. I’d love to talk about your most difficult questions too… I know that our time together will be fun, challenging, and exiting, and I pray that God brings you here safely and quickly. I can’t wait!

Contact YIM Office for Program info:
Phone: (800) 635-1116 x 725
Fax: (773) 256-0782
Email: youthinmission@lstc.edu

YIM : Youth in Mission, a ministry of LSTC

Serving Christ in the World : 2008 Mentors