Eighteen young adults from 13 Episcopal Church dioceses will be serving as missionaries in the Young Adult Service Corps (YASC) for the 2012-2013 term in locales throughout the Anglican Communion, including eight new ministries.

This year’s group of missionaries boasts the largest number of YASC volunteers ever. 

YASC is a ministry for Episcopal young adults, ages 21 – 30, who are interested in exploring their faith in new ways by living and serving in communities around the Anglican Communion.

The Rev. David Copley, Mission Personnel Officer, noted that while the day-to-day duties of each placement vary, the experiences of the YASCers are life-changing.  “YASC brings young adults into the life of the worldwide Anglican Communion and into the daily work of a local community,” he explained.

“YASC offers young adults an opportunity to live out their Baptismal Covenant by seeking and serving Christ in people all around God’s world,” commented Elizabeth Boe, Global Networking Officer.

Each YASCer maintains a blog, detailing their service, reflections and adventures. Boe, a former YASC volunteer who served in Tanzania, reported that blogs provide an ideal means for connecting with others in the Episcopal Church and around the world.

Meet the YASCers

Primarily working in administration, communication, education, and agriculture, the 18 YASC missionaries, their home dioceses, assignments and blog addresses are:

Ryan Abrams, Diocese of East Carolina

Serving in the Diocese of Costa Rica, Ryan is the Companion Diocese Officer for the Diocese of Costa Rica and the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina. Based in San José, Ryan is the first YASC missionary to serve in Costa Rica. fromcoasttocostarica.blogspot.com

Ashley Bingaman, Diocese of Virginia

Serving in the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti, Ashley is a music instructor at the Holy Trinity Cathedral music program in Port-au-Prince. Ashley is the first YASC missionary to be placed in Haiti after the January 2010 earthquake. ashleybingaman.blogspot.com

Nina Boe, Diocese of Olympia

Serving in the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil, Nina works in the Provincial Secretary’s office in São Paulo. This marks the first time there has been a YASC placement in the Brazilian Provincial Office.  ninaboe.blogspot.com

Carrie Díaz-Littauer, Diocese of New Jersey

Serving in Switzerland in the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe, Carrie is the Office and Project Manager for the World Student Christian Federation based in Geneva. Carrie is the first YASCer to serve in Switzerland. diazlittauer.wordpress.com

Grace Flint, Diocese of Kentucky

Serving in Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui, Grace is a mission intern with the Mission for Migrant Workers in Hong Kong. tohongkongwithgrace.blogspot.com

Jared Grant, Diocese of Western North Carolina

Serving in the Diocese of Lesotho in the Anglican Province of Southern Africa, Jared works at St. James Mission Hospital and in the office of the Bishop of Lesotho. This marks the first time there has been a YASC placement in Lesotho. jaredgrantyasc.blogspot.com

Andrew Joyce, Diocese of Kentucky

Serving in the Diocese of the Northern Philippines, Andrew works at the Tadian Learning Center and Demonstration Farm. Andrew is the first YASCer to serve in this ministry. andrewwjoyce.wordpress.com

Doug and Jenny Knight, Diocese of Arkansas

Serving in Japan, Doug and Jenny are volunteers at the Asian Rural Institute. thatwemayservetogether.blogspot.com

Jenny Korwan, Diocese of Atlanta

Serving in the Diocese of Kajiado, Kenya, Jenny works with Be the Change-Kenya, based near Nairobi. This marks the first time there has been a YASC placement in this ministry. jennyskenyaadventure.blogspot.com

Benjamin and Elizabeth Locher, Dioceses of Virginia and Washington

Serving in the Diocese of Central Tanganyika, Tanzania, Benjamin and Elizabeth work at the Msalato Theological College in Dodoma. Elizabeth teaches theology and Benjamin works in the college’s technology center. www.oneholyname.com

Holly Milburn, Dioceses of Lexington and New York

Serving in the Diocese of Cape Town in the Anglican Province of Southern Africa, Holly works in the HOPE Africa office in Cape Town as an administrative assistant. hollyincapetown.blogspot.com

Brian Orlay, Diocese of New York

Serving in the Diocese of Central Tanganyika, Tanzania, Brian works for the Carpenter’s Kids program as the program coordinator. brianorlay.wordpress.com

Phillip Shearin, Diocese of Connecticut

Serving in the Anglican Church of Mexico, Phillip works as a communications officer for the Province, based in Mexico City. reflectionsonmissionandministryinmexico.wordpress.com

Stephen Smith, Diocese of California

Serving in the Diocese of Grahamstown, South Africa, Stephen is an assistant teacher and resource center assistant at the Holy Cross School in Grahamstown. He has been in this role for a year and will continue for the 2012-2013 YASC year. steveyasc.blogspot.com

Cameron Spoor, Diocese of Texas

Serving in the Diocese of Grahamstown, South Africa, Cameron is an assistant teacher and resource center assistant at the Holy Cross School in Grahamstown.

cameron-abroad.blogspot.com

Katie Young, Diocese of Northwest Texas

Serving in the Diocese of Tohoku, Japan, Katie just finished a year of service in Nagoya. She will begin her second YASC year in early October, working for the Let Us Walk Together program in Sendai. Let Us Walk Together is a coordinating body that oversees earthquake/tsunami recovery efforts being carried out by various dioceses in Japan. Katie’s position in Sendai is a new YASC placement. peaceloverice.blogspot.com

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