Goodbyes and Hellos. For the past few years, that's all I seem to be doing. Saying goodbye to one juncture of my life, and saying hello (albeit hesitantly) to the next juncture. Our Send-Off was Thursday, and I've been taking a few days to process it all. I miss my roommates, I miss the kids we ministered with, I miss the adults to nurtured us and helped us do the job we were called to do. However, I'm not sad. I feel like we did a fantastic job this year, and I feel a sense of closure and accomplishment, which is a great feeling. I received a lot of cards and gifts from people, and the kind words that they said to me were both gratifying and incredibly humbling. One young woman said that she hopes to be half the woman that I am some day. Talk about a compliment! Still, I feel like they have all given so much more to me than I ever could to them. It's a great feeling, knowing that you did a good service for a year, and that your presence will be missed by a lot of people. It somehow makes all the rest of the drama and crap worth it.
So now I'm home with my family for about a month. I've spent the past few days trying to clean out my room, which has spent the last five years collecting tons of stuff that I just don't need or want anymore. Couple that with the unbearable heatwave we've had lately, and this becomes a near impossible task. Still, I am doing a little each day. I managed to finally clear off my bed, no small feat, so now I can have some space to unpack my clothes and give a lot of things away. My trip to Kentucky made me realize how much unnecessary stuff I have in my own room, so I've already donated about five garbage bags full of clothes. There's always more to do...
So, this is just a brief check-in. Things are good, things are relaxing, and things are humid. So, you know. We're surviving. I went to the library on Friday and checked out a book. I haven't done that in probably six or seven years. It felt glorious.
I hope all is well with you and your world, whoever you are. May you know how deeply you are loved and cherished by our Creator. :-)
Peace.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Something to Remember Us By
Well, our mission trip has come and gone, and we've been home since Sunday afternoon. It was nothing short of incredible, to be totally honest. The van ride down was pleasant and fun because my van group was just full of great kids who were quiet when it was appropriate to be (like 4:30am), and full of joy and laughter the rest of the time. Our community puts a lot of effort into maintaining this sense of comraderie and togetherness, and to stress the fact that no one's ministry is any important than any other. I was doing outreach, but there were also five manual labor sites, a VBS, and a nursing home ministry. So, we did a lot! It was exhausting, but totally awesome.
The ministry itself was amazing, and we met so many people who have left an impact on my life. The first day, we set up shop in the parking lot of an apartment complex and began knocking on doors to let people know we were outside. As a natural introvert, the prospect of knocking on stranger's doors to let them know that I have free clothes and school supplies to give out...well, it's a little daunting. But as the leader, I had to go ahead and do it, or else none of the kids would have. At least I thought that. In reality, many of them were a lot better at it than I was. Can you imagine being fifteen years old and just talking to a total stranger in a place that's so different than your own home? It was impressive.
We met a young woman fairly early on, and her story has stuck with me. Her name is Jessica, she is 22, which, if you didn't know, is exactly how old I am, and she is the mother to four children. FOUR CHILDREN. The oldest child if eight, which means that she had him when she was a mere 14 years old. She's also raising them virtually by herself, since her boyfriend is in Iraq and will be there for the next year, with little to no communication. And here's the craziest part: she didn't want to take too many clothes because she wanted to save it for the people in the complex "who need it." I'm pretty sure she needed it as badly, or even more so, than many of the residents of that area, but she didn't want to be greedy and she wanted to share what little clothing we had. Her selflessness astounded me. We ended up talking to her for a long time, and we felt an immediate connection with her. What great courage she must have, to raise four children in poverty when she is barely out of adolescence herself. It struck me how vastly different our lives have been, and how my worries pale in comparison to hers. It was an incredibly humbling feeling. When we were about to leave, she gave us two small pictures of her with her family. She said that she wanted us to have them so that we had "something to remember us by." I don't need a picture to remember her, but Jessica and her family's faces now reside in the photo section of my wallet, so that I can carry them with me always.
This was just an example of the many, many families we met last week. Not only was our ministry amazing, but I had the opportunity to bond and grow closer to many of the teens whom I have ministered to all year. In a hilarious moment of humility, one teen said to me, "Liz, I had no idea that you were fun!" Well, better late than never, right? I am filled with gratitude for our trip, that we were safe and successful, and that we ended our volunteer year on a really high note.
So now I'm packing. Our send-off prayer service is tomorrow night, where the community will show up to show us their gratitude and to say goodbye. I'm trying to pack and fit my life into my car, but it's difficult. Before I move to Boston, I'm going to need to seriously downsize. And you know what? It's completely possible to live with less. I've seen it, and I can do it. So, even though I asked for a Kindle for my birthday, I've decided to rescind that request, because I don't need one more expensive electronic in my life. A digital camera would be nice, but really, I don't need it. It's a freeing thing to realize that you can live with less. I've been inspired by the people who cried with joy because we gave their child a new pair of pants or for the group who put new siding on their house. I witnessed true joy, and it's something that means more than any shiny new toy could ever provide.
Pray for us in our final 48 hours. Peace.
The ministry itself was amazing, and we met so many people who have left an impact on my life. The first day, we set up shop in the parking lot of an apartment complex and began knocking on doors to let people know we were outside. As a natural introvert, the prospect of knocking on stranger's doors to let them know that I have free clothes and school supplies to give out...well, it's a little daunting. But as the leader, I had to go ahead and do it, or else none of the kids would have. At least I thought that. In reality, many of them were a lot better at it than I was. Can you imagine being fifteen years old and just talking to a total stranger in a place that's so different than your own home? It was impressive.
We met a young woman fairly early on, and her story has stuck with me. Her name is Jessica, she is 22, which, if you didn't know, is exactly how old I am, and she is the mother to four children. FOUR CHILDREN. The oldest child if eight, which means that she had him when she was a mere 14 years old. She's also raising them virtually by herself, since her boyfriend is in Iraq and will be there for the next year, with little to no communication. And here's the craziest part: she didn't want to take too many clothes because she wanted to save it for the people in the complex "who need it." I'm pretty sure she needed it as badly, or even more so, than many of the residents of that area, but she didn't want to be greedy and she wanted to share what little clothing we had. Her selflessness astounded me. We ended up talking to her for a long time, and we felt an immediate connection with her. What great courage she must have, to raise four children in poverty when she is barely out of adolescence herself. It struck me how vastly different our lives have been, and how my worries pale in comparison to hers. It was an incredibly humbling feeling. When we were about to leave, she gave us two small pictures of her with her family. She said that she wanted us to have them so that we had "something to remember us by." I don't need a picture to remember her, but Jessica and her family's faces now reside in the photo section of my wallet, so that I can carry them with me always.
This was just an example of the many, many families we met last week. Not only was our ministry amazing, but I had the opportunity to bond and grow closer to many of the teens whom I have ministered to all year. In a hilarious moment of humility, one teen said to me, "Liz, I had no idea that you were fun!" Well, better late than never, right? I am filled with gratitude for our trip, that we were safe and successful, and that we ended our volunteer year on a really high note.
So now I'm packing. Our send-off prayer service is tomorrow night, where the community will show up to show us their gratitude and to say goodbye. I'm trying to pack and fit my life into my car, but it's difficult. Before I move to Boston, I'm going to need to seriously downsize. And you know what? It's completely possible to live with less. I've seen it, and I can do it. So, even though I asked for a Kindle for my birthday, I've decided to rescind that request, because I don't need one more expensive electronic in my life. A digital camera would be nice, but really, I don't need it. It's a freeing thing to realize that you can live with less. I've been inspired by the people who cried with joy because we gave their child a new pair of pants or for the group who put new siding on their house. I witnessed true joy, and it's something that means more than any shiny new toy could ever provide.
Pray for us in our final 48 hours. Peace.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Appalachia, Here I Come!
In a little under 24 hours, I will be embarking on a rather large endeavor. I, along with 85 other teens and adults, will squish into 10 large vans, and make the drive down to Harlan, Kentucky, for a nine-day service trip. It is our Capuchin Appalachian Mission, and it's the biggest (and final) event of the year. We've been preparing for it for months now, and at this point, I just want to GO! I'm sitting here on my last office day, with an hour left, listening to the rain downpour outside, and I'm just anxiously awaiting tomorrow morning where we will pack up the vans and leave. It's something that we've all been looking forward to (albeit anxiously) for a long time, now.
My specific ministry down in Harlan is outreach. I, along with our resident priest, work with a group of ten or so other teenagers, and we go from neighborhood to neighborhood, passing out clothing, school supplies, and children's books to individuals and families in need. I did outreach once in high school on this exact same trip, and it's an experience that has stuck with me for years. As a natural introvert, I struggle with making conversation and getting over my fear of not being relateable to the people we meet. But, I just need to place the whole experience in God's hands and let Him work through me. I've been doing that this whole year, especially when I've lacked confidence in my own abilities. I'm anxious about all the details that need to be taken care of once we're down there, but I know that the priest with whom I am working is competent and has been doing this trip for a long time, so I really don't need to worry.
This is our last event at Capuchin Youth and Family Ministries. Four days after we get home from the mission trip, we have our Send-Off, which is an even prayer service and reception dedicated to thanking the volunteers for the work they did. It's always a beautiful service and a lot of people show up to see us off, but it's so strange that we're already at that point in the year. We've been having so many conversations lately about closure, and praying our goodbyes (an excellent book!), and learning how to transition out of this experience and into the next one, and it be honest, there's too much in my head right now to have any clarity about it all. Maybe in a month from now, when I'm home and enjoying a few weeks of summer vacation, I'll be able to process the year a little better. When I think about this entire year, it blows my mind that we made it through. I'm proud of the work we did, and I'm grateful for the many, many opportunities for growth that I have experienced.
So, now, I need to stay present and attentive to this one, last experience. It's our biggest one, and it's going to take the most energy. But I'm ready for it. We're going out with a bang, and it only seems fitting because youth ministry is always a little chaotic!
Whoever reads this, I ask you for your prayers. Pray for traveling mercies as we drive down to Kentucky, as well as to and from our work sites every day. Pray that the community we foster will be uplifting and affirming and light-giving, both to the teens and to ourselves. Pray that God works through us to share His light and His love to the people of Harlan, and pray that we may be bold enough to love them, even when it's uncomfortable or difficult to do so. Just pray! :-)
See you on the other side! Peace.
My specific ministry down in Harlan is outreach. I, along with our resident priest, work with a group of ten or so other teenagers, and we go from neighborhood to neighborhood, passing out clothing, school supplies, and children's books to individuals and families in need. I did outreach once in high school on this exact same trip, and it's an experience that has stuck with me for years. As a natural introvert, I struggle with making conversation and getting over my fear of not being relateable to the people we meet. But, I just need to place the whole experience in God's hands and let Him work through me. I've been doing that this whole year, especially when I've lacked confidence in my own abilities. I'm anxious about all the details that need to be taken care of once we're down there, but I know that the priest with whom I am working is competent and has been doing this trip for a long time, so I really don't need to worry.
This is our last event at Capuchin Youth and Family Ministries. Four days after we get home from the mission trip, we have our Send-Off, which is an even prayer service and reception dedicated to thanking the volunteers for the work they did. It's always a beautiful service and a lot of people show up to see us off, but it's so strange that we're already at that point in the year. We've been having so many conversations lately about closure, and praying our goodbyes (an excellent book!), and learning how to transition out of this experience and into the next one, and it be honest, there's too much in my head right now to have any clarity about it all. Maybe in a month from now, when I'm home and enjoying a few weeks of summer vacation, I'll be able to process the year a little better. When I think about this entire year, it blows my mind that we made it through. I'm proud of the work we did, and I'm grateful for the many, many opportunities for growth that I have experienced.
So, now, I need to stay present and attentive to this one, last experience. It's our biggest one, and it's going to take the most energy. But I'm ready for it. We're going out with a bang, and it only seems fitting because youth ministry is always a little chaotic!
Whoever reads this, I ask you for your prayers. Pray for traveling mercies as we drive down to Kentucky, as well as to and from our work sites every day. Pray that the community we foster will be uplifting and affirming and light-giving, both to the teens and to ourselves. Pray that God works through us to share His light and His love to the people of Harlan, and pray that we may be bold enough to love them, even when it's uncomfortable or difficult to do so. Just pray! :-)
See you on the other side! Peace.
Friday, July 1, 2011
It's JULY!!!
This is crazy. I can't believe it's July 1st. I remember moving into my community house on August 22nd, and wondering what would happen and how I would change and transform between then and July. There have been many moments this year where I wondered if I would even make it to July, and if my community would stick through everything together. But I can sit back and now say that I am proud of the work we've done, even if we're not quite done yet.
I'm on a retreat high because we just finished our Capuchin Outreach Program, which ran from Sunday evening until today. It turns out that I was able to stay on the retreat with some restrictions: I couldn't spend the week with my work group, I couldn't lead a theological reflection group, and I had to sleep in a private room at the retreat house at night. The last one was actually awesome, so I didn't mind that. At first, I was frustrated that I couldn't have a work group or reflection group to call my own, but I soon realized that there was work that needed to be done at the home base, and I was the person for the job.
I got to COP on Sunday night after my sister's high school graduation (!!!), which was insane because I sometimes still see my sister as a 12-year-old. Her graduation was beautiful and she looked stunning, and I literally beamed with pride when she walked across the stage. She manifested her adulthood and freedom by wasting no time and going sky-diving on Tuesday, the video of which is on facebook and it's probably the coolest thing I've ever witnessed. My sister is so awesome.
Anyway, I got to the retreat Sunday night and settled in, feeling a little out of place and useless because I wasn't really in charge of anything. But as soon as Monday dawned, there was plenty of stuff to get done. So, I spent the week running errands, buying stuff for work, and visiting the work sites as the official Picture Lady. It was a different experience than what I was expecting, and in some sense, I am lucky that I was able to see all the work sites, instead of just one. The kids seemed to get a lot out of the week, and no one wanted to leave this afternoon (well, we did...but the kids didn't seem to understand that.) This week, I learned how to go to the Home Depot and buy water sealant (a major accomplishment for me), I visited a manual work site where Habitat for Humanity was stationed and learned a very humbling lesson about my own sheltered upbringing, and I experienced a feeling of true humility by cleaning up after every meal and making sure that all the needs of the community were met.
So, it was different. But it was actually awesome. I'm feeling incredibly grateful right now: grateful for my community, grateful that I have spent a year in a place that has supported me and sustained me and given me life, grateful that God has challenged my limited understanding of service and gently pushed me towards greater boundaries. I'm grateful that teenagers told me this week that they would miss me, and that I made an impact in their lives. I'm just filled with joy and gratitude, and it's such an organic feeling that nothing can really replace or match it.
Our last day is in less than three weeks. We have one more week of office days, and then we head off to Harlan, KY for our ten-day mission trip. It's going to be difficult and tiring and smelly, but I know it's going to be incredible. So, keep us in your prayers and let the good times roll.
Literally. Because my Chinese food just arrived. Peace.
I'm on a retreat high because we just finished our Capuchin Outreach Program, which ran from Sunday evening until today. It turns out that I was able to stay on the retreat with some restrictions: I couldn't spend the week with my work group, I couldn't lead a theological reflection group, and I had to sleep in a private room at the retreat house at night. The last one was actually awesome, so I didn't mind that. At first, I was frustrated that I couldn't have a work group or reflection group to call my own, but I soon realized that there was work that needed to be done at the home base, and I was the person for the job.
I got to COP on Sunday night after my sister's high school graduation (!!!), which was insane because I sometimes still see my sister as a 12-year-old. Her graduation was beautiful and she looked stunning, and I literally beamed with pride when she walked across the stage. She manifested her adulthood and freedom by wasting no time and going sky-diving on Tuesday, the video of which is on facebook and it's probably the coolest thing I've ever witnessed. My sister is so awesome.
Anyway, I got to the retreat Sunday night and settled in, feeling a little out of place and useless because I wasn't really in charge of anything. But as soon as Monday dawned, there was plenty of stuff to get done. So, I spent the week running errands, buying stuff for work, and visiting the work sites as the official Picture Lady. It was a different experience than what I was expecting, and in some sense, I am lucky that I was able to see all the work sites, instead of just one. The kids seemed to get a lot out of the week, and no one wanted to leave this afternoon (well, we did...but the kids didn't seem to understand that.) This week, I learned how to go to the Home Depot and buy water sealant (a major accomplishment for me), I visited a manual work site where Habitat for Humanity was stationed and learned a very humbling lesson about my own sheltered upbringing, and I experienced a feeling of true humility by cleaning up after every meal and making sure that all the needs of the community were met.
So, it was different. But it was actually awesome. I'm feeling incredibly grateful right now: grateful for my community, grateful that I have spent a year in a place that has supported me and sustained me and given me life, grateful that God has challenged my limited understanding of service and gently pushed me towards greater boundaries. I'm grateful that teenagers told me this week that they would miss me, and that I made an impact in their lives. I'm just filled with joy and gratitude, and it's such an organic feeling that nothing can really replace or match it.
Our last day is in less than three weeks. We have one more week of office days, and then we head off to Harlan, KY for our ten-day mission trip. It's going to be difficult and tiring and smelly, but I know it's going to be incredible. So, keep us in your prayers and let the good times roll.
Literally. Because my Chinese food just arrived. Peace.
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