This summer I discovered what vocational ministry looks like in a unique setting.
A typical day started with getting off the bus in Pioneer Square where one of my new friends from Union Gospel Mission (UGM) was often waiting to greet me. As we walked to the Mission, I would sometimes be holding a plate of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies that I handed out to familiar faces I saw on the way.
My primary duties as the Guest Relations Intern were to welcome, interact with, and build meaningful relationships with the guests that walked through the Mission door. UGM’s new Guest Relations department boasts Art Day, Game Day, and Movie Day each week. This internship allowed me to experience God’s grace and learn how to express that grace in different ways every day!
Some of my favorite moments at UGM include: playing Frisbee at Occidental Park with the guests, listening to people’s stories and sharing my own, visiting one of the guest’s Russian Orthodox church, and finding my voice in order to stick up for myself as a woman in a rough ministry context.
I learned more about God, myself, and ministry than I ever would have expected. I am extremely grateful for the relationships and learning opportunities the Mission has provided.
—Michelle Ramage ‘13
