Puzzle Pieces - Our intern from The Netherlands shares her insights

In April, Eva Kortekaas joined us as an intern from the Netherlands, where she is training to become a Unitarian minister. She comes from a small, Amsterdam-based community whose members gather once a month from across the country.

Eva spent her three weeks in the UK between Rosslyn Hill Chapel and the Kensington Unitarians, gaining valuable insight into different aspects of congregational life. She plans to return in October for a further three weeks.

So, what did she learn from her time in the UK?

“Has someone ever handed you a bowl of puzzle pieces from all kinds of places and asked you to assemble them into a three-dimensional puzzle? This is what training to be a minister can feel like sometimes. It is not just learning knowledge and skills, but you’re working with the heart, spirit and soul. And training in a different country, in a second language, adds a whole other layer.

During my time at Kensington Unitarians and Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, I’ve had the opportunity to deepen my understanding of pieces I was already aware of but hadn’t fully appreciated. I’ve particularly valued learning more about the quieter, behind-the-scenes work - from the different approaches to administration, to the careful planning and logistics that make a Sunday service or rite of passage come together.

I’ve really enjoyed my time with you and I’m very grateful to everyone for making this possible. I look forward to seeing everyone in October again and I hope to pop in online where I can.”