The Impact of the Gathering
My Old Friend
My experience in Alaska has profoundly affected my path is serving Creator. The vastness of the land, the presence of God within the peoples who live and serve as well. The most deeply challenging and revealing time was a moment during class when were asked to sit quietly and attend to a fellow student eye to eye for 5 minutes. It was as if Creator was seeing all of my deep into my soul. Grace, mercy, kindness, humility and holiness were present. The rest of the world disappeared and my heart expanded for just that few moments. Upon returning from the trip I had a deep need to visit my childhood home. So filled with gratitude for its existence after decades of belonging to another family. I leaned into my friend Old Willow tree and watered it with my tears. To capture the moment I snapped a quick photo.
—M. Wava Hoffman
