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Three young adults from the Baltimore-Washington Conference recently began their three-year assignments as mission interns, working internationally on social justice and leadership issues.

David Hosey, of Baldwin UMC in Millersville, is serving in Jerusalem with the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center. Lindsey Kerr, a member of Dumbarton UMC in Washington, is in Davao City, Philippines, with the In Peace Program. Elizabeth Thiombiano, a member of Westminster UMC, is working with the Shade and Freshwater Project in Nova Almeida, Brazil.

The trio was among a class of 17 young adults (ages 20-30) who were commissioned as 'a gift to the world,' in July by the General Board of Global Ministries.

They will spend half of the next three years abroad and half working with an agency or organization in the United States.

Hosey, an inquiring candidate for ordained ministry, believes his time working among Palestinian Christians in Jerusalem will be 'an amazing opportunity for me to struggle with my call to peace, justice and service in the context of my faith.'

Kerr agreed, saying, 'I cannot stand idly by while social and economic systems oppress whole populations, whole generations of souls. I hope to aid the church's work at home and abroad and am eager to grow in my relationship with Christ.'

For Thiombiano, the experience will be about relationships. She hopes to 'learn from the people I'm working with and walk with them while working toward social justice.'

At the commissioning service, two US-2 mission interns were also sent to serve in this area for the next two years.

Kathryn Wheat, from Ohio, will work with community outreach development at Foundry UMC in Washington. Rebecca Yount, of Oklahoma, will be an assistant public policy advocate for Church World Service in Washington.