Hi Friends,
Sorry it has been awhile since my last post in Boston, we are in the middle of a wonderful,but very busy two week in country orientation. When we arrived to Ecuador on July 22nd we were greeted at the airport with screams and hugs from all of the current Rostro de Cristo volunteers living in Ecuador. They have been an amazing example of our hospitality pillar and have accompanied us through our first steps in Ecuador.
This past week we had many sleepovers with the Arbolito house so that all 13 of us could visit each worksite. This week we are now in the process of discerning which worksites we all fit best in. So stay tuned....
In addition to visiting sites we have also had plenty of neighborhood time, as the veteran volunteers introduce us to those neighbors they spent the most time with this year. Again, the hospitality the Ecuadorians have shown us is amazing. Each family welcomed us with open arms and told us that their doors are always open.
The last major introduction we had this week is to the parish life of Mt Sinai. We can attend 3 different masses each weekend led by an Irish priest, Fr John. Each mass had its own unique population and feel - we honstely loved them all. Our group is also plannning to be involved in some of the programming like youth group, rosary, and catechism.
Another update...I´ve had a slight name change here in Ecuador. The name Colleen not only is nonexisent but many have difficulty pronouncing it. So we decided to shorten in to Colie so it still resembles my name. One of my community mates has affectionately created a nickname to explain the pronounciation: Coliflor (cauliflower in english), which always gets a few chuckles from the kids.
Sorry I do not have more time now to share more about what an amazing and crazy first week this has been. I´ll end this with a poem a fellow communitymate (who loves quotations and poems as much as I!) gave me that I have continued to re-read in the past week as we all try to discern our work placements:
Called to become
You are called to become
A perfect creation.
No one is called to become
Who you are called to be.
It does not matter how short or tall
or thickset or slow
You may be.
It does matter
Whether you sparke with life
Or are silent as a still pool,
Whether you sing your song aloud
Or week alone in darkness.
It does matter
Whether you feel loved and admired
Or unloved and alone,
For you are called to become
A perfect creation.
No one´s shadow
Should dispel your spark.
For God delights in you,
Jealously looks upon you,
And encourages with gentle joy.
Every movement of the spirit
Within you.
Unique and loved you stand,
Beautfiul or stunted in your growth,
But never without hope and life.
For you are called to become
A perfect creation.
This becoming may be
Gentle or harsh,
Subtle or violent,
But it never ceases,
Never pauses or hesitates,
Only is -
Creative force -
Calling you
Calling you to become
A perfection creation.
Love and miss you all!
Colleen
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Friday, July 20, 2012
Orientation is coming to a close...
I'm writing one last blog post from BC - the two weeks have absolutely flown by! We got back from our silent retreat last night and are all refreshed, rested, and getting excited/anxious for our departure on Sunday.
This week our days have been filled with more sessions focused on some more practical topics like leading retreat groups and teaching (as many of us will be teaching in some capacity whether that be in schools, after-school programs, or at our parish).
On Tuesday night we "entered into the silence" and then departed for the retreat house in Medway, MA the next morning. Besides meal time, we were given the two days to do whatever we wanted. It was a great opportunity to catch up on sleep, pray, and read. There were trails all over which I wandered/got lost in for hours at a time. Also, Fatima Shrine was just down the street in Holliston, MA so many of us ventured over there to walk the grounds and attend mass.
Tomorrow is our last day at BC. We are getting excited to leave, but it will be strange and sad to leave some of the JV's we have gotten to know so well over these past weeks as some venture off to their own countries and others will be returning home for a few months before departure.
It will be a long day of traveling on Sunday - we will leave here early in the morning, have a layover in Miami, and then arrive in Guayaquil around 10pm. We will have more orientation for our first two weeks in country and will be shown the ropes by the current volunteers living in our communitites. It will probably be a busy and crazy time as we try to learn our way around and most likely immediately fall in love with the country in this "honeymoon" phase. I'll try to post again when I can.
Apparently the library closes in 5 minutes, so I need to cut this short. Love and miss you all! And below I'm attaching a picture of my Mt Sinai community!
Love,
Colleen
This week our days have been filled with more sessions focused on some more practical topics like leading retreat groups and teaching (as many of us will be teaching in some capacity whether that be in schools, after-school programs, or at our parish).
On Tuesday night we "entered into the silence" and then departed for the retreat house in Medway, MA the next morning. Besides meal time, we were given the two days to do whatever we wanted. It was a great opportunity to catch up on sleep, pray, and read. There were trails all over which I wandered/got lost in for hours at a time. Also, Fatima Shrine was just down the street in Holliston, MA so many of us ventured over there to walk the grounds and attend mass.
Tomorrow is our last day at BC. We are getting excited to leave, but it will be strange and sad to leave some of the JV's we have gotten to know so well over these past weeks as some venture off to their own countries and others will be returning home for a few months before departure.
It will be a long day of traveling on Sunday - we will leave here early in the morning, have a layover in Miami, and then arrive in Guayaquil around 10pm. We will have more orientation for our first two weeks in country and will be shown the ropes by the current volunteers living in our communitites. It will probably be a busy and crazy time as we try to learn our way around and most likely immediately fall in love with the country in this "honeymoon" phase. I'll try to post again when I can.
Apparently the library closes in 5 minutes, so I need to cut this short. Love and miss you all! And below I'm attaching a picture of my Mt Sinai community!
Love,
Colleen
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Orientation begins...
Hi Friends,
I am writing from Boston College! We are one week into orientation and I honestly cannot believe we are here! We have had some wonderful talks and activities and time to just meet and get to know the other volunteers. It's has been crazy busy, but very informative and fun. I'll try my best to review the week.
We have a packed schedule from about 7:45am-11pm each day. We've had some wonderful speakers come in. Yesterday we listened to a lecture by Fr. Jim Martin S.J. I forgot the book that I have by him (The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything) in my backpack so I wasn't able to get that signed, but I LOVED the talk. We've also had presentations on countless things like call, spirituality, Catholic Social Teaching, missology, safety, sustainable ministries, and crossing cultures. The nerd in me has really enjoyed some of these.
The staff has also gotten creative in trying to prepare us for our upcoming year or 2 years of service. One day we had rice, beans, and corn for every single meal (which for me meant A LOT of rice haha). At first we all thought this was meant to be a lesson in simplicity. But in further reflection, the activity was meant to help us see how we react when things do not go as expected or as we would like. While in country we really will need to be prepared and energized for whatever we may encounter and be willing to relinquish control over a situation.
On Thursday we were assigned our houses. I will be living in the Mount Sinai community...I'm psyched!! The community is characterized by it's active faith and parish life which really excites me. I will be living with 5 other awesome volunteers (Ana, Heidi, Jimmy, Greg, and Mike). Once we arrive in Ecuador we will have a two week in-country orientation with the current volunteers and the in-country director. After this we will determine which work sites we all will work at. We will be about 45 minutes away from the other 7 volunteers living in El Arbolito and will get together with them at least once a month.
There have been awesome Rostro de Cristo alumni volunteers with us sporadically throughout the week. The passion that they have for the program and seeing the friendships they've formed amongst each other is really inspiring. They've been really helpful in suggesting everything from recipes to try to places we must visit when we take vacation time.
It has been a crazy, emotional, busy, and reflective week. It has really been a gift to spend time with 12 other RdC volunteers and 26 JVC volunteers. The room has a tangible energy of the Magis - the more. It is humbling and amazing to sit and listen to 38 young adults articulate their call to volunteer and their desire to give and to do more.
We still have one more week ahead of us. We are all starting to feel a little overwhelmed by the quantity of information being thrown at us. Luckily, we have a silent 2-day retreat ahead of us next week which I'm looking forward to as a time to rest and reflect.
Love and miss you all,
Colleen
I am writing from Boston College! We are one week into orientation and I honestly cannot believe we are here! We have had some wonderful talks and activities and time to just meet and get to know the other volunteers. It's has been crazy busy, but very informative and fun. I'll try my best to review the week.
We have a packed schedule from about 7:45am-11pm each day. We've had some wonderful speakers come in. Yesterday we listened to a lecture by Fr. Jim Martin S.J. I forgot the book that I have by him (The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything) in my backpack so I wasn't able to get that signed, but I LOVED the talk. We've also had presentations on countless things like call, spirituality, Catholic Social Teaching, missology, safety, sustainable ministries, and crossing cultures. The nerd in me has really enjoyed some of these.
The staff has also gotten creative in trying to prepare us for our upcoming year or 2 years of service. One day we had rice, beans, and corn for every single meal (which for me meant A LOT of rice haha). At first we all thought this was meant to be a lesson in simplicity. But in further reflection, the activity was meant to help us see how we react when things do not go as expected or as we would like. While in country we really will need to be prepared and energized for whatever we may encounter and be willing to relinquish control over a situation.
On Thursday we were assigned our houses. I will be living in the Mount Sinai community...I'm psyched!! The community is characterized by it's active faith and parish life which really excites me. I will be living with 5 other awesome volunteers (Ana, Heidi, Jimmy, Greg, and Mike). Once we arrive in Ecuador we will have a two week in-country orientation with the current volunteers and the in-country director. After this we will determine which work sites we all will work at. We will be about 45 minutes away from the other 7 volunteers living in El Arbolito and will get together with them at least once a month.
There have been awesome Rostro de Cristo alumni volunteers with us sporadically throughout the week. The passion that they have for the program and seeing the friendships they've formed amongst each other is really inspiring. They've been really helpful in suggesting everything from recipes to try to places we must visit when we take vacation time.
It has been a crazy, emotional, busy, and reflective week. It has really been a gift to spend time with 12 other RdC volunteers and 26 JVC volunteers. The room has a tangible energy of the Magis - the more. It is humbling and amazing to sit and listen to 38 young adults articulate their call to volunteer and their desire to give and to do more.
We still have one more week ahead of us. We are all starting to feel a little overwhelmed by the quantity of information being thrown at us. Luckily, we have a silent 2-day retreat ahead of us next week which I'm looking forward to as a time to rest and reflect.
Love and miss you all,
Colleen
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