From crumpets to crowns...a day in the life of Lynnea

What am amazing day I had on Thursday! I started off the morning by speaking to a group of 25 women who had gathered with the sole purpose of learning more about The Salvation Army. They drank tea and ate crumpets while I shared information and my own personal stories with them, but what I really enjoyed was listening to their own stories of how The Salvation Army has helped them. Whether is was getting free coffee and doughnuts during World War II from a Salvation Army canteen, or giving birth to a child in a Salvation Army hospital, it seemed like they all had a story to share. I feel as though I learned more from them than they learned from me, but they assured me that that's not true.

That evening, I went to the Winter Carnival in St. Paul to volunteer for the 2009 Coronation, as a way to meet more people in St. Paul and to share with them about what The Salvation Army is also doing in the community. I had never been to a coronation before, and the world of crowns and princesses is completely new to me. I spent the evening meeting royalty and helping with the production of the event, and I was amazed at the kind hearts of every person who spoke at the coronation. How inspiring to see these St. Paul leaders speaking of the importance of community and working towards improving the lives of those around us.

As I watched the young women receive their crowns, I thought about how my day had shown me the deep capacity of people of all ages to serve, to love, and to help others. From my morning of tea and crumpets with women who have decades of history with The Salvation Army, to my evening with a young generation promising to work to improve the community, back to my desk at The Salvation Army where I read e-mails and newsletters about all of the wonderful work The Salvation Army is doing throughout the world, my hope for the future is strengthened more than ever.