NNPCW member Elizabeth McDonald-Zwoyer reflects on the 2008 Leadership Event

Best friends Abbi Heimach and Elizabeth McDonald-Zwoyer look out over the San Francisco Bay on the way back from the city. Photo used with permission.Since starting at Smith College a little over a year ago, I have been searching for a new faith community. Away from my home church for most of the year, I don’t have the base of support that I used to. My faith in the Trinity is not one that I share with many at my college. I was lost in a sea of intellectuals without organized religion, not knowing how, where or when to express my faith. I didn’t find the place, time and manner to do so. They found me.

My best friend in the entire world, Abbi Heimach, has been involved in NNPCW events since we were in high school, ever precocious as she is. And she was always begging me to join her. “Elizabeth, the women are SO amazing!” “We have so much fun, and worship is different than anything we’ve ever known.” “Think of Youth Triennium, but a million times better because we address the issues women face.”

I decided to join her in San Francisco for the NNPCW Leadership Event this summer, and it was the best decision I made all summer.  The Power of Poverty reminded me of who I am at the core of my being: a young woman of faith, a feminist, an activist and someone who cares deeply about the welfare of other human beings.

My oldest brother died five months to the day before I arrived in San Francisco, and I spent the majority of the summer with tears streaming down my cheeks, a short temper and no energy. I stepped off the plane and felt the weight lift off my soul. For the first time in months, I smiled, laughed, sang and danced my way through five consecutive days. It was good to be back in my own skin, full of joy and love, giving of my spirit to everyone around me. 

The community of women into which I was pulled was incredible, is incredible. Abbi didn’t exaggerate one bit. I was able to be myself, wear my grief like a wide-brimmed hat or throw my head back and laugh, knowing that my big brother would hear the joy that was finally taking over my life again.

Hailee Barnes and Elizabeth McDonald-Zwoyer prepare to spend the day visiting the Cameron House in downtown San Francisco.  Photo used with permission.We worshiped each day in a room with a two-story ceiling and one wall made only of windows.  The light that streamed through those windows filled us up. The spirit was in and around us as we discussed, worshiped and gathered for plenary. Our plenary speaker, the Rev. Dr. Katie G. Cannon, challenged us to think about our place within the oppressions that make up our society. The sun shone down on us as we butted up against classism and racism and sexism and heterosexism and able-ism and all the socially constructed differences that keep humans from forming community.  We let our faith in Christ hold us together. 

In this community of intelligent, beautiful, strong, faith-full young women, I realized that I simply needed to let my faith carry me. The glory of God would prop me up, the promise of the Resurrection would hold me together, and the Spirit would push me forth into a life that is, ultimately, beautiful.