Well, Gretchen's parents thought they had prepared their daughter pretty well for college by teaching her about relationships, money and drugs and alcohol, but this question caught them off guard.

"Uh...I stuttered and giggled like a mother whose child has just asked, 'Where babies come from?'" said her mom. "I guess I neglected a part of her education."

On Sunday, November 19, Gretchen found her way to St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Billings. "I arrived about 15 minutes before the end of the 8 a.m. service," she said. "I stood in the back trying to look inconspicuous because they were taking Communion. The priest saw me and sat down and talked to me for about 20 minutes afterward. I stayed for the 10:15 a.m. Eucharist service and at the coffee hour, the congregation welcomed me with open arms."

"Where are you from? What are you studying? Would you like to come to my house for Thanksgiving? Do you need a ride to church? You must come over to my house for Sunday dinner. We need to make a nametag for you. And so on," they said.

"It was wonderful to be back with the same fellowship I have at home on Lopez Island. The Episcopal Church welcomed me in a way none of the other churches in town had. It was so cool to find out that Episcopalians everywhere share the same fellowship, and it was really great to finally take Communion."