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 Although she thinks it could be “fun to be an ethnomusicologist,”
Jessica Mengel thoroughly enjoys her position as Training Assistant at
Harrisburg Discipleship Center, particularly the relational aspects of
what she does - whether it is interacting with team leaders,
participants, or fellow staff.
In this volunteer staff position,
Jessica works closely with Chris Epp, the Training Director. She
schedules speakers for GO! and YES trainings, as well as for post-field
sessions, walks with team leaders as they prepare to lead teams, and
puts together the weekly schedules.
“I love building relationships with the people here,” Jessica said. “It
is great to have the opportunity to grow as we learn from and challenge
one another. I love listening to people and working with them at
finding ways to move forward.” Jessica is serving as training assistant at the Harrisburg Discipleship Center this year.”
“It’s great working in an environment where we are all committed to the
same things, and in those, that we are supporting, challenging, and
encouraging one another,” Jessica said. “It’s about discipleship and
our obedience to Christ. Spurring one another on and continually being
challenged to keep on growing in many areas – leadership, character,
following, surrendering, loving … the list can go on.”
Jessica was a participant at HDC in another role not too long ago. In
2008-2009 she went through the discipleship program and served as a
leader of a YES team which served in South Asia. She spent four of the seven
months of outreach in the Himalayas where she worked with
three discipleship training programs, served at a children’s
home/orphanage, and went on a 15-day prayer trek.
“My time on a YES team opened my eyes to see more of God’s passion and
heart for people, people from every nation, to be reconciled to him and
for his followers to walk with and encourage others on the journey,”
Jessica said. “It was challenging because serving with a team allows
one to see one’s flaws and weaknesses with increasing clarity. It is
humbling. It can be difficult to love in spite of these imperfections.
But that’s the beauty of Christ, he is able to work in and through us
to bring transformation and reveal his goodness to bring reconciliation
between his people.”
“Five words sum up my YES experience: God, love, reconciliation, faith, and journey.”
A graduate of Northern Lebanon High School and Messiah College where
she majored in music education, Jessica attends New Hope Brethren in
Christ Church. Backpacking, hiking, spending time with friends, and
making music are all things she enjoys.
After Jessica finishes her time of service at HDC which will “go at
least through December 2010,” she would like to return to South Asia as
a mission intern. “Each follower of Christ is called to pursue God’s
mission wherever they may find themselves and to whomever is nearby.
I’ve learned that missions is not once and done. It is a lifestyle of
following Christ and obeying him – being willing and available.”
Book currently reading: You See Bones, I See an Army by Floyd McClung
Favorite restaurant: Passage to India
Last movie seen: The Aristocats (with the Epp kids)
Place I would most like to go on vacation: Pokhara, Nepal to go paragliding, or Denali National Park in Alaska
Favorite TV show: Burn Notice
Pet peeve: Retractable pens
Something people may not know about me: I taught high school chemistry for 2 months.
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