Hannah Underwood
I (Max) sipped my Pandan Cold Brew–an Academic staple–as Hannah enjoyed her Pumpkin Spice Hojicha. What that is, I don’t know, but it smelled good. She’d just returned from a day trip to Mt. Tam with her dad, who enjoys taking her hiking. Hannah is from Gilroy, the land of the garlic festival; she’s got a brother and two awesome parents who care for her well. She’d like to emulate their faithfulness, family-focus, and adventure! Hannah has been attending Garden City since 2023, when she sought a church closer to San Jose that met in-person. After watching elsewhere online, she missed the power of gathering together, and on her first Sunday, I was preaching on Supernatural Community!
She didn’t attend the Gilroy Garlic Festival until she was about 13 years old, which is surprising, because she loves garlic. She made her own 19th birthday cake shaped like garlic bread (see below). “What do you like to put garlic on?”, I asked. “I put garlic in pretty much everything.” How much? “You measure garlic with your heart,” she replied. I think that’d make a great T-shirt. Hannah worked at the Garlic Festival for three days in the summers of High School to fund her involvement in the marching band or her attendance at Hume.
Hannah wanted to be a vet until she learned they had to put animals down. She wanted to be a sign language interpreter until she realized she didn’t know sign language. So, because she “couldn’t live without music,” she went to SJSU pursuing a degree for music education; she’s working on a grad program that prepares her to teach.
She’d like to teach middle school band, because she’s crazy. And because she’s passionate about speaking to young people like adults with valuable opinions, and fascinating perspectives. This is also why her hero is Mr. Rogers–the gentle spirit, the sweaters, and the ability to speak with children in a kind, educational, and dignifying way. Because she spent so much time playing music for undergrad, she’s working on doing things for fun again, like cross-stitching, reading, and other crafts. But when that makes her sound like a grandma, know that she got a last-minute tattoo on her ankle on Friday the 13th, and didn’t tell her parents for months!
“What are some books you’d recommend to Garden City?”, I asked. She thought for a moment, and mentioned How to Break Up With Your Phone, saying it’s been helpful for her. She also mentioned That Quail Robert. It made her cry, but so do lots of things… Since coming to Garden City, she’s now “a happy cryer”; welling up during the songs, and every time someone gets baptized. But she’ll even cry over the very hungry caterpillar: “When I think about the caterpillar and how he ate all that food, it just makes me sad!” I asked if the Bible is also a book she’d recommend. “The Bible is great!”, she smiled. She’s read through the whole thing 2-3 times, and her favorite way to spend the early morning is with the scriptures, some matcha, and an avocado bagel, which she liked before it was cool.
Hannah is a quiet force for the Kingdom, adventuring her way into rich conversations while schooling, working at the SJSU library, or cleaning horns at Quicksilver Music Repair with Robert, the owner and the only other employee of the shop. God is teaching her patience, and she's trying to remember that rest is productive. She’s also excited to be bolder with her faith, weaving Truths into everyday conversations. We can pray for her financial stability, and for her peace, in this crazy Bay. We can also pray for her relationship with boyfriend Josh, our beloved former member, bass player, and sound guy extraordinaire who’s moved down the coast to San Diego for his own post-grad studies.
Let’s honor Hannah by believing 2 Cor 5:17 (her favorite passage right now), listening to It’s Okay, It’s Alright, a tune of the same scripture, or by eating a slice of Nob Hill’s garlic bread, which Hannah says is the best food in the Bay Area! And give her a high-five if you see her at our Sunday Gathering!
