"We are prophets of a future not our own"

The past few days have been a flurry of information and activity. I really didn't think i would be learning as much as i have been while on orientation but it will make a transition into a new culture better. Monday was all about the History of the Passionists where we learned about there history and how we fit into the picture as passionist volunteers. Father Gerry, talked to us and shared about how the passionists were started by Paul of the Cross and his chrism which was based around the passion of Jesus. The passionists really believe in accompanying those who are the most vulnerable and oppressed. When listening to Father Gerry talk about the passionists and what there mission was i felt a huge connection in the sense that is exactly what i am looking for in my service. Its really about walking with those who are suffering and really making a personal connection with them. When reflecting of what i will be doing in Jamaica i think it will be so important to "walk" with those in the communities i work in and really try to understand there suffering. I have done lots of service projects with tangible results but i think the most "real" and true service is living in community and spending time with people to really get to know what there needs are. Father Gerry said to us today "let yourself fall into the hands of God." This quote really stood out to me because if you trust in God then he will guide you to where and what your should be doing. I feel such a strong sense of family when i am among the passionists. All the people i have interacted with here have been so welcoming and generous, they really take the time to get to know each of us volunteers and they listen. I am continually humbled by how much i am learning here. Father Rob talked with us on Monday afternoon and to start his presentation he took us outside to the cemetery on site and took us around to certain gravestones to tell us the stories of what some of these passionists had done on there missions. After his entire presentation he asked us what we were feeling and for me my thoughts were that I think it is so inspiring to follow in the foots steps of such incredible men that took risks and took the time to get to know themselves and what gifts they had. I think that as volunteers if we can do a fraction of what some of these men did we will have succeeded.
Yesterday we had a day full of presentations about Adult Development, two professors from Seton Hill came and spoke to us. It was all sociology based so of course it was right up my alley. The presentations were really focused on knowing ourselves and what makes us anxious and happy. Learning how to communicate feelings. I think it will be so important for us while living together as 5 people to be able to communicate and do it effectively. Last night Father Jim came and talked to us about some changes that will be happening for PVI after this year. After our year in Jamaica we will be changing sites from Stony Hill to Mandaville, Jamaica. There are many reasons for this but i think the thing that stuck out most to me were that we have missions to our international sites to empower people to be able to develop skills so that they can sustain and live in a less oppressed situation. I think it will be hard at the end of the year to say goodbye to communities and people we have worked with for seven years but it is also a time for us as volunteers during the year to really empower and inspire the communities that they can do things for themselves. We can help start projects that they can be the voice and force behind it. I really think its such and honor and exciting time for us as volunteers. I think as well as volunteers we need to make sure we here what needs the people of Stony Hill and neighboring communities have so that we can help empower them as best as possible. I know that while I'm in Jamaica i will get to do some teaching but the rest of it is all up in the air and i think that's so exciting. We will be assigned "missions" and they could consist of so many different possibilities.
I have been spending a lot of time getting to know the four other people i will be living with next year as well and those who will be in Honduras. We were asked to have 1 on 1's with each other to talk about things we like and dint like, living styles, and just things we think people should know about us. Since we only have three weeks its really important to give people as much information about yourself as possible so that when arriving in Jamaica we can be a support system to each other. It is going to be a huge change for each of us in many different ways and we will need to rely on each other for support. We all know there will be good days and bad days but knowing you have a support system in your house is essential. So needless to say they sure do keep us busy here, but we do get to have some fun. Last night we went to the Corner Cafe a bar that's about a stone throw away from the retreat center. Its a really small bar and there was all of us from PVI and about 5 locals. We basically took over the place, we sang Karaoke and danced till the late hours of the night. I cant even begin to explain for grateful i am to have this opportunity. I am surrounded by such and inspiring and great people. I have been laughing a lot and getting lots of time for reflection. I know that i am where I'm supposed to be.