How to (and not to) welcome!

It's Saturday, and we're all beginning to feel much more at home. At our B&B there are two families from Washington State who also have brought their daughters to Cottey.

First stop is orientation for students and parents. By now, the girls have made friends and prefer each other to their families of origin. Everything we hear and see is impressive. There are 150 in Britta's class from all over the Untied States and 10% from other countries. There is tons of support in whatever endeavor they need, including full time tutors, free medical, counseling, and on and on. It's very clear, this is exactly the place Britta should be.

After lunch, Brian and I took a bus tour of Naveda. It is small, ailing in some respects; a place that time forgot in others. Their share of problems include a growing Meth problem, unemployment, and job losses. Many who live here are transplants who absolutely love it. There is another community college which has reciprocal arrangements with Cottey.

Then we took a walking tour of the campus and were even more amazed and impressed. The college is 125 years old; a two-year women's college supported by PEO. There are 3 dorms. Only 2 or 3 women are 'commuters.' When we asked whether anyone wants to live off campus, the question was met with incredulity. Why? Everything is here: tight community and fabulous food!

We saw an amazing sports complex with a regulation length pool, gym, dance studio, workout room (with flat screen TVs thank you!). There is a science building with state of the art equipment.... a performing arts center with two theaters (they bring in amazing groups and the students pay nothing) and an art gallery. And there is a Music building.

The local Wallmart is enjoying record profits with Cottey students returning. It is painful for us Oregonians to pay sales tax... but that is offset by much better prices on just about everything (gas anyone @ $2.30 a gallon?).

Tonight was the Community Welcome to the new Cottey students, along with their parents, faculty, staff, and community leaders. There was a very good "bar-b-q" (which means pulled meat w/ sauce that you pile on hamburger buns). The local churches come and set up tables around and let the girls know what is they have to offer.

For me, it was a clear message in how you welcome, attract, and invite (or not). We of course were pleased that the United Methodist church is only a block away from the college. And they were at the bar-b-q. Britta too was very excited about connecting with the church, so she could continue her work with children. However, there were no young(er) people at their table ... all older adults. As Britta asked about possibilities to work with children, she was rebuffed at every corner. Seems they are all set and don't 'need' any help with the nursery or teaching Sunday School. The pastor seemed to look beyond her as an individual to just one of a group. She walked away disappointed ... yet determined to continue questioning other churches.

The Missouri Synod pastor was very friendly, but they have an 8am service. The Christian Church had possibilities. The Presbyterian pastor was very solicitous. Our last stop (at my suggestion), was to give the ELCA (Lutheran) table a try. At their table, there were only 3 people: the pastor, her husband and an older woman who is a tutor at Cottey. They all had matching black T-shirts and she had a collar. They had a DVD playing that illustrated what their service looked like. They gave out refrigerator magnets with their stained glass window and all the info (including their web site). Britta entered their drawing for a Study Bible. But she walked away impressed, and wanting to check out the church.

We set out to find the church (not an easy thing). However, we went past the local greasy spoon. It's one of my favorite pictures, in that it shows a slice of Americana: high school boys at the counter on a Saturday night.

Finally, at dusk we found the church; it is fairly new and a couple miles out in the country surrounded by a new housing development.

It was a good day, and tomorrow (the day we will leave) will come all too soon.