Email: Allison McCullough

Dear Friends and Family,

On September 12, after a tearful goodbye with loved ones in the Atlanta airport, I nervously and excitedly boarded a twelve o’clock nonstop flight for the west coast. The cabin door shut behind me and there was no turning back. Three hours later I arrived in Los Angeles and it was still only about noon. My first big adjustment in this city has been remembering the three-hour time difference from all of you on the east coast.

At the airport in LA I waited on the curb, a little impatiently, for my site director Matthew Schmitt to arrive. He pulled up in red minivan, which we now call the “Little Red DOORvette,” and helped me to load my two bursting suitcases and carry-on while airport security encouraged us to hurry out of the way. I have to admit that I giggled a little inside when I saw a bright blond-haired young man pop out of the van. I assumed he was a carefree California native because of his appearance. He is actually from Michigan and his background is working in New Orleans and LA with a program called Teach for America, a national program for recent college graduates who will commit two or more years of service in under-resourced urban and rural public schools.

On my ride home from the airport I discovered that we were having a bit of a rough start here in Hollywood. One young woman from California, Mary, arrived on the site the day before by train but was dreadfully sick. As normally happens in families, within two weeks her cold was passed around the house. Another young woman, Sara, from Delaware, missed her connecting flight and was not answering her cell phone. Matthew was under the impression that she was lost in the LA airport for most of the day. A third roommate, Stephanie, was driving up from her home in Arizona with her entire family,  but no one was at the community house to meet them upon their arrival. I landed on time, but with one roommate sick, another temporarily missing, and a third still on the road Matthew was a little bit stressed. Throughout this stressful first day I was able to see how deeply our program director cares about making this a healthy and productive year. Missed flights, dead cell phones, and terrible colds can bring lots of stress into any situation, but he handled the circumstances with patience and prayer. I know his sense of purpose will be an asset during this year of service.

During our first few days we embarked upon an orientation designed to introduce us to LA and the concepts of our program. I am not sure that I will have a comprehensive understanding of LA a year from now when I finish the program, but there are other components that I want to try and wrap my mind around. My second big challenge here is grasping the concept of intentional Christian community. Intentional communities can look like lots of different things, from fraternities and sports teams to monasteries and cults. One foundational pillar of DOOR and the Young Adult Volunteer Program is life in the context of intentional Christian community. The DOOR Program is a Partnership between the Mennonite Mission Network and the Young Adult Volunteer program of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

For a year I am charged to prioritize my relationships with Sara, Mary, and Stephanie. They, in addition to all of you and a church congregation here, will be my foundation for this time of service. During this year, I will not simply be roommate, but a committed and faithful friend seeking deeply intimate relationships capable of sustaining and challenging me. Part of this process is sharing one bathroom, our bedroom, food, common meals, a washer and clothes line, and chores. Another part of this process is sharing our struggles with faith, the Church, our jobs, and personal growth. Living intentionally requires time and grace in large amounts. We are constantly reminded through conflict and reconciliation that God is present and active in our daily lives. You would not believe how many ways there are to wash dishes, sweep a floor, hang up laundry, and cook a meal. We are challenged daily to find beauty in each others lives and our own despite significant differences. As we grow individually this year we will learn to dwell in the common ground from which grows genuine community. I am excited to see the flowers, plants, tress, and vegetables of our common life this year.

In my next letter I will share a little more about the community surrounding my house and the work that I do 32 hours a week. I live in a densely populated neighborhood with many families at or below the poverty level. Many apartments here are shared by more than one family. Many adults do not speak much English, and many children fall behind in school, especially in language arts. There are also many people who are homeless in Hollywood and LA. I am working for an agency called PATH, which stands for People Assisting the Homeless. Check out PATH's Web site.

Both are important aspects of my life here and have already taught me a great deal. I want to thank you all again for your support and encouragement. I know that there are many people making this year of service possible. Each of you contributed in a special way—some prepared a space for me here in LA, some contributed financial support, some taught me about God’s love, and some served as faithful friends. I am so grateful for the path before me and the path that has brought me this far. Please let me know if you have questions about anything I am sharing. I want to be in dialogue with each of you this year. Take care and keep me updated on your lives.

With Love and Peace,

Alison McCullough