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When I was asked to write this article, it really hit me that the time I have left is limited.  I cannot believe I have to return home in two weeks.  The time has flown by, yet so much has happened.   My sense of my Armenian Christian identity has expanded immensely through the various educational and cultural programs provided as a part of my summer internship at the Eastern Diocese.

Our schedule has included Bible studies, Armenian language and history classes, and weekly lunch meetings with clergy.  We have also traveled to St. Nersess Seminary and St.Vartan Camp with the Primate. We even put on a talent show for the Armenian Home for the Aged in Flushing, Queens.  For the first time in my life, I was able to speak with survivors of the Armenian Genocide.

As Diocesan interns, we participate in the AGBU New York Summer Internship Program.  Only about half of our AGBU group is composed of American-Armenians.  We have students from so many places, including Argentina, Australia, Russia, Cyprus, and even Uzbekistan.  Because of this, I am learning not only about my Armenian heritage, but other cultures as well.  This has changed my perspective on many issues faced in my day-to-day life.

I learned about the Diocesan internship program last year at a conference and immediately was interested.  I am currently working toward a degree in biochemistry in hopes to be a physician’s assistant.  Even though my tasks at the Diocese don’t directly relate to my field, the experience has been more beneficial than anything else I could currently be doing.  I am putting together many projects in which I get to read the Bible every day.  That is probably my favorite part.  Being in scripture daily, along with Bible studies and morning services several times a week, has thoroughly reinforced my faith.

The work I’m doing at the Diocese really means something.  It has given me real work experience in which many of my skills have considerably advanced. One of my projects is to put together a Bible study for ACYOA chapters.  My hope is that a Diocesan-wide Bible study can be put into place to spiritually connect our youth while further developing their relationships with God.  I am also writing bi-weekly Advent reflections for the upcoming Christmas season with themes from verses found in our lectionary calendar.

I was recently appointed co-chair of a committee that is making a book to commemorate the ACYOA’s 65th anniversary. Therefore, another part of my job is to sort through archives for pictures and memorabilia to use in the commemoration. This project not only will be preserving the memories of our past generations, it will raise money to support ACYOA’s promising future. Looking through the archives, I have found that the youth are not very different today than they were 50 years ago.  We all have similar questions and struggles.

My relationship with God has always been a vital part of my life, and I have passion for serving the Armenian Church. I have held the position of chair of my local ACYOA chapter, and am currently serving as vice chair.  Teaching Sunday School has been by far the most rewarding experience in my service to the Church.  I strive to help instill in my students a strong love for God and an appreciation for the Armenian Church. Even though my purpose in service to the church is to give and not to receive, I feel I have gained vastly more than I have contributed.

Megan Karanfil is interning in the Department of Youth and Education.

Tags: summer internship

This entry was posted on Friday, July 23rd, 2010 at 3:39 pm and is filed under Youth. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.