In-Country Orientation!

Saludos from Nicaragua! (Please excuse the typos, the keyboard here at the internet cafe in Ciudad Sandino hasn´t been especially user-friendly!)

I am thankfully here in Nicaragua safely and settling in more and more, in the country more generally as well as my new home here in Ciudad Sandino. Right now, I´m writing from an internet cafe or "cyber" where we pay for internet service on the hour. It´s looking like I might be able to post about every two weeks at this point in time, but we´ll see how it goes! 

I can´t believe it´s been nearly a week! I don´t yet have photos to post but will hopefully put some up soon, especially of where I´m leaving. For a brief recap on the last week:

Thursday, Dec. 11: Met fellow new JVs at the Atlanta airport and we flew into Managua together, where we were welcomed by all of the current and outgoing JVs in Nica, along with Fr. Joe, a Jesuit who is our in-country coordinator and who has been in Nica for many years. There was a red carpet laid out and the volunteers made a tunnel for us to run through. It was a very nice welcome after saying goodbyes at home and a long day of travel.Was hard to believe we were finally here. Then we settled into our respective JV homes, one in Managua and ours in Ciudad Sandino. We chose rooms and got some rest.

Friday: Jumped right into things and visited my soon to be worksite, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, a Fe y Alegria school affiliated with the Jesuits and aimed at popular education. Met Josh, the JV I´´m replacing as well as school members. It was also the Feast Day of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, so there was a Mass there and songs and other celebration. In the evening, all the Nica JVs had a welcome dinner for us. They have all been very kind.

Saturday: In the evening, went to a goodbye party for the outgogoing Managa JVs. Met many community members and danced!

Sunday-Wed: Went to the campo or countryside, for a homestay and also attended a community fair at a center out there centered around community organization, social justice, and solidarity. Got back from the homestay yesterday, the family was extrememly hospitable and had a lot of fun with the boys in the family. Played soccer and watched movies from the Anaconda series!

Today, settling in more and getting ready for a city scavenger hunt!Will most likely do my first cooking here tonight! Wish me luck!

Running out of internet time, but please continue to pray for us in this transition. Hope you are all well and happy happy holidays!!!!

Abrazos,

Alex

Update about Transition to Nicaragua, Keeping in Touch, & Final Fundraising Update

Friends and Family, I can't believe it, but on Dec. 11, I will be flying to Nicaragua to begin my two years of service abroad with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. Thank you so much for the support you have given me since I announced I would be doing the program back in May. Your prayers, support, and encouragement have meant so much over the past months during this transition and I ask for your continued support in this move to Nica and while I am away. I invite you to keep in touch at my email (ainterianonic14@gmail.com) and here at my blog; you can receive regular blog updates by entering your email address at the right of this blog page. Please email me if you would like to stay in touch through snail-mail!

With much gratitude, I would also like to share that in closing my 'Send Me to Serve' fundraising campaign on Nov. 23, a grand total of $3,660.52 was raised to support me and my work with JVC, surpassing the minimum goal of $3,000 by much! I will carry the meaning of this support with me always. (To address some interest in donating even though I am closing the campaign, donations will continue to be accepted.)

Before departure, I will be logging out of Facebook, so if I don't respond to a message there, please email me. I have decided to check Facebook periodically over the coming days before logging out.

With well wishes for the holidays,
Alex

Fundraising Update: Malibu Half-Marathon Completed!

Thankfully completed the Malibu half marathon in 1:36:17 this past Sunday to raise funds for JVC and check my first half off my bucket list! So thankful for everyone's support during training (including coworkers at Run With Us!) and so far in my fundraising campaign. I am also thankful for the birthday love received and 22 years filled with love. Looking back on a wonderful year and ahead to the journey that awaits! I will be closing my fundraising campaign this upcoming Sunday, Nov. 23. It has been an awe-inspiring experience to have friends and family join me in JVC's vision for social justice. To learn more about why I'm doing JVC and to make a donation, please scroll down to my earlier blog posts. Thank you!

Fundraising Update: $3,000 mark reached!

With much gratitude, I would like to share that my JVC fundraising campaign recently reached the $3,000 mark. The generosity of donors has truly overwhelmed me since I kicked off my campaign back in May; the generosity has been at once so tangible and so hard to wrap my head around!

As I look ahead to the final month of my fundraising campaign (closing on Nov. 23), I will continue to invite donors to support me as their financial means will allow. Any donations above the $3,000 mark - including those raised in conjunction with my Nov. 16 Malibu half-marathon - will still support my service with JVC. Please message me with any questions regarding fundraising, including half-marathon training and race-day! 

Again, with much gratitude,
Alex

The Namesakes of our JV House in Ciudad Sandino - Casa Cardenal

"It has been a tradition that each JV community has a house/casa name. The houses are typically named after a person from each local community who has been influential in the local culture(s) and/or who has raised awareness around the social justice issues relevant to shaping that locale... The hope is that the JV community names will be one way to draw JVs into an exploration of the local cultural context where they will be living, to learn how the name is significant from the perspective of their hosts, and to carry that meaning as a fire burning for justice wherever they go beyond their 2-3 years of service in that locale.

NICARAGUA - Ciudad Sandino

Name: Casa Cardenal

Casa Cardenal is named in honor of two modern-day saints of Nicaragua and champions of liberation theology: brothers Ernesto and Fernando Cardenal. Ernesto Cardenal, a diocesan priest who studied under Thomas Merton, is known as one of the preeminent poets in Nicaraguan history. He founded an art community in the Solentiname Islands, where he worked for twelve years. Soon after leaving the islands, he was named Minister of Culture for the new Sandinista Regime in the wake of the Nicaraguan Revolution. Here he served for eight years, during which he was infamously scolded by Pope John Paul II for not obeying the request that he resign from his role in the government. Currently, Ernesto Cardenal still lives in Nicaragua where he stays busy writing poetry and promoting Nicaragua culture.

Fernando Cardenal, SJ, became a Jesuit priest in 1969 and moved to Medellin, Colombia for his first apostolate. It was there, living surrounded by people in abject poverty, that he says he found direction and he vowed to dedicate his life to "the liberation of the poor and to the struggle for justice." In 1979, Cardenal was named Minister of Education for Nicaragua and led the country in its famed literacy campaign, which ultimately earned UNESCO's 1980 Literacy Award for raising literacy from 49 percent to 87 percent. Like his brother, Ernesto, Fernando was scolded - though not as publicly as Ernesto, and by the Society of Jesus rather than the Vatican - for his role as an ordained clergy member serving in the government. He was expelled from the Jesuits for his lack of obedience, but eventually readmitted to the Society. Today, Fernando Cardenal works as a Jesuit priest and as the Director of Fe y Alegria in Nicaragua, a Catholic, popular-education network that has schools around the country, including three in Ciudad Sandino which host JVs."

At the link below, please find a recent, moving talk by Fernando Cardenal, SJ, the founder and current director of the Fe y Alegria network of schools in Nicaragua aimed at popular-education, in which I will be working with JVC. He shares stories about his life and work relating to the Nicaraguan Revolution. 

Although the lecture is lengthy, I would recommend watching even just 20 minutes of it. I was moved to tears, laughed, and encouraged to reflect on his and other Nicaraguans' dedication to "the liberation of the poor and to the struggle for justice." The name of our JV community house in Ciudad Sandino is Casa Cardenal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpynthaerTU

Plans Before Departure

This past week I was notified of my departure date to Nicaragua: December 11! It is bittersweet news as I process the reality of this transition more and more. In recent weeks, I have been trying to become more present to the realities of being at home, while making sure to remain future-oriented. We were once told this journey of an international experience is to be future-oriented. What does this mean? Aside from making logistical preparations (loan deferment, vaccinations, paperwork for a Nicaraguan visa, etc.), I believe it also means facing the reality of where I am now in the process, while looking forward, in hope, to the joys and challenges that await. The joys of being reunited with community-mates, being in Nicaragua, being with Nicaraguans, meeting 2nd year JVs, getting to know our "home" for the next two years. And the challenges: saying goodbye to the physical presence of family for a longer period than I ever have before, adjusting to this distance, leaving behind many luxuries and conveniences (which will most likely bring frustration - and a need to convert to new ways - in the initial months of being away), and planting my feet someplace new where I will be a guest.

What I am hoping to do is embrace the messiness, uncertainty, paradox, bittersweetness. As I attempt to prepare mentally, emotionally, spiritually, logistically for this journey, I hope to still remain present to where I am now. As I continue fundraising, getting paperwork together, learning more about Nicaragua and JVC's four values (simple living, social justice, spirituality, community), I hope to spend time with family and friends here in the States while also working part-time for day-to-day expenses as well as other anticipated pre- and post- JVC expenses.

For a fundraising update, I plan to close my fundraising campaign a week after my Nov. 16 half-marathon fundraiser, when I will also begin to wean myself off of parts of my lifestyle which I will be changing in Nicaragua, including Facebook and phone usage. JVC staff shared this article with volunteers as we discern how we might live simply in relation to technology: http://www.theminimalists.com/internet/ . I am still reflecting on how I might go about this. Thank you again to those who have partnered with me in this vision and mission. We have reached 96% of the $3,000 goal! As I continue to fundraise, I humbly ask if you might also invite those you know to partner with me, you, JVC, and those we try to be in solidarity with.

While this may be one of my last blog posts until December, I do hope we can stay in touch before then. Please comment here or email me (ainterianonic14@gmail.com). I would love to hear any recommendations you may have for me as to how I might better prepare for living out JVC's values (social justice, simple living, spirituality, community) particularly with regard to any readings, videos, websites, people, thoughts, or strategies to explore. I would also be open to (and enjoy!) conversations (virtual or in-person) about any aspect of this preparation and experience.

Thank you for your companionship :-)

Peace,
Alex

Photos from JVC Orientation!

I am excited to share more photos from Orientation, which can be found at the following link, courtesy of JVC staff: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jvcphotos/sets/72157645580084797/

I have finally completed my reflections on Orientation, which can be found in previous blog posts, but for a brief overview the photos include: various sessions, community nights, morning/evening prayers, a silent retreat, a talent show, and a commissioning Mass! Please let me know if you have any questions about the photos or blog reflections!

Below, I've included a photo of my fellow community-mates, Colleen in the middle and Katie to her right! See if you can spot more funny photos of us at the link!

JVC Orientation Week 2, (July 18-23)

Now for the second and final week of Orientation:

The final week of Orientation was just as challenging and inspiring as the first, with regard to the topics discussed and tough issues we wrestled with. Two things began to sink-in as the end of the final week drew nearer: 1) we would only be scratching the surface of many complex topics and 2) volunteers and staff would soon be parting ways without answers to many of the questions that were raised. Looking back, this was a test in patience about how answers to these questions might unfold over time; moreover, it was a growing responsibility to be continually aware of the complex issues that were being raised. While we might not have the answers, we might continue to call to mind the biases - known and unknown- which we carry with us as volunteers with multiple identities, including that of a U.S. volunteer. A talk on "Conscientization, Privilege, and Power" (which at times felt very shallow) gave us some reference points for deeper awareness of our privileges as well as roles as oppressors/oppressed. Later in the week, a talk on "Teaching in a Cross Cultural Context" shed light on earlier themes of power and privilege, including a striking video on how a village of 100 people would look if it were representative of the world we lived in - if I recall correctly, 1 in 100 people would be college-educated. We also watched this video, which is worth the time if you haven't already seen it: http://youtu.be/D9Ihs241zeg . This presenter, one of my favorites, increased an awareness of biases I need to explore if I would like to do more harm than good in service. Near the end of the week, on different notes, we shared presentations on our respective countries and also enjoyed time together at a volunteer-inspired "Orientation Prom" with snacks, music, dancing, and a photo booth.

Finally, the week ended with an increasing realization that many of us would not cross paths for a while: some were headed to their countries (Ecuador, Belize, Micronesia); some back home; and some to other places in the U.S. Someone shared: "Being here and being with you is a dream I didn't know I had." 

We ended with a Commissioning Mass and closing ceremony: both touched on themes of coming and going, as well as the hopes we carry and the fears we would like to overcome. It was a comfort to know we could keep in touch through social media, email, and letter writing. For the late departures (including myself), it was also a time to reflect on how we might begin to live out the program's values while preparing for service, spending time with family, and remaining in the U.S.

The Orientation gave me space to become more comfortable with the identity of a Jesuit Volunteer, while also exposing me to the complexities and responsibilities that come with it. I sensed there would be another transition in heading back home after the two weeks, but it helped to know there was solidarity with other late departures; we would keep in touch, check in with each other, and hopefully hold one another accountable in beginning to live out the program's values.  

As with Week 1, I have posted some themes, highlights, and quotes below, which I continue to unpack since returning home at the end of July:

Sustainable Ministry, Healthy Communities: (how to serve from a place of abundance; how self-care is not optional, but essential for well-being and service)

"We are all so hungry to be heard; we want to be nourished."

"When no one else is supporting you, the earth is."

"You don't have to make suffering less than it is... you just have to hold it in a bigger space."

"When we are out of balance, we are obsessed with ourselves."

"You have to embody loving kindness in what you do."

"Worrying does not accomplish anything."

"A lot of joy in my life can be cultivated by noticing the things we don't notice [...] 'I don't have a toothache!'"

"If you can sit with your loneliness, you can know what it feels like. Practice with loneliness."

JVC Country Context: (discussed respective country contexts)

Conscientization, Power and Privilege: (becoming more conscious of our roles as oppressed/oppressors; what powers and privileges we carry and should become more aware of; multiple identities one carries)

"Seeing the other not as a stranger, but part of me."

"I want you to live with patient impatience."

"The illiterate of the 21st century are not those who cannot read or write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn."

Gender Roles and Identity: (how these influence our lives and a cross-cultural service experience)

Teaching in a Cross-Cultural Context; Lesson Planning; Teaching Practice and Debrief: (reflected more on power/privilege and their intersection with education; international education standards and efforts; teaching as a profession; tips for teaching) 

Finance & Program Integration: (logistics for community living, such as budgeting and program support; paperwork for Visa)

Self & Community Care: (safety and security, including program support; navigating tough community dynamics and developing more positive ones)

A funny volunteer photo before our Commissioning Mass: 

Fundraising Update: Malibu Half-Marathon Fundraiser!

"Fundraising is proclaiming what we believe in such a way that we offer other people an opportunity to participate with us in our vision and mission." - Henri Nouwen

Pulling out the running shoes again to raise funds for my service with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps! I am so thankful for the donations made thus far (formal thank yous coming soon!). We have almost reached the minimum goal of $3000, yet I still hope to partner with ~50 more donors at donations of any amount! I believe in the program's goal to "[enhance] the capacity of local organizations to serve their communities by providing Jesuit Volunteers to directly serve the poor and marginalized in the U.S. and developing countries." Without the generosity of donors, this work and opportunity would not be possible.

To advance this mission, I will be running the Malibu Half-Marathon on Nov. 16 to raise funds for the Jesuit Volunteer Corps! I have begun training and hope to share fundraising/training updates through Facebook, Instagram (alexinteriano), and here! Anyone who will be in the area on Nov. 16, please join me in the race or meet me near the beach afterward! This conveniently falls on my 22nd birthday and I look forward to celebrating in this way! In lieu of regular gifts this year, I am inviting friends and family to make a donation of any size to this cause!

How your donation supports local organizations, their communities, those on the margins, JVC, and Jesuit Volunteers like me:http://www.jesuitvolunteers.org/about-jvc/donate/why-give

Where to donate (please click 'Sponsor Me'):https://jesuitvolunteers.myetap.org/fundraiser/sendmetoserve/individual.do?participationRef=37.0.1172275683

Malibu Course Map: http://www.malibuintmarathon.com/course2014.htm

Thank you!

Alex

JVC Orientation, Silent Retreat (July 15-17)

Now for the silent retreat! As mentioned in my previous post about Week 1 of Orientation, we transitioned into Week 2 by way of a silent retreat. "A silent retreat?" you may ask, as I did. I had heard about them, but had only been on a short retreat last fall with some time for individual reflection: not nearly 48 hours of silence!

Before the retreat, we had short discussions on introduction to prayer and silence. First off, prayer. What is prayer? A great presenter and new friend, Jimmy, described prayer as an encounter, not a performance. While rote prayer (such as the Our Father, Hail Mary, etc. for Christian examples) are important forms of prayer, he urged us to see prayer as an encounter, a relationship with God. Like any relationship in life, we were told prayer requires three things: time, effort, and trust. Easier said than done sometimes, right? But I appreciated this simplification, yet expansion of prayer, which helped relieve some of the pressure in trying to figure it all out as quickly as possible; it gave me a framework to explore how prayer might enhance a personal relationship with God.

This discussion on prayer segued into an introduction to silence and the "rules" of the retreat. For the introduction, we were given two analogies for silence: a wringing of a sponge and the dusting of a fossil. In the former, if our theoretical sponges are full, we might not be able to take in more information or be filled in new ways; hence, the time to pause and unpack what we have been going through in the time leading up to the silence. In the latter, within silence, we can take time to wipe away dust and debris to discover something within ourselves that we might not have seen had we not taken the time to do so. As I believe Jimmy expressed it, "If we remove the dirt and debris from our daily life, we may discover something there that we didn't realize." And as for the "rules" of the retreat, or I should say "rule," we were free to do whatever we liked during our roughly two days at the retreat house, except acknowledge one another's presence. When I first heard this (about half hour before the retreat began), I thought it was blasphemy! A fellow volunteer even asked, seemingly half-jokingly,"Is that what Jesus would do?" The reasoning behind this rule was that, while one might feel the need to acknowledge someone else even with a simple smile, you might not be helping the other, if they are in a deeply reflective moment; in this way, despite good intentions, one might do more harm than good. This made sense, but seemed very counterintuitive for me! I remember entering the silence with much apprehension, but must add that I was looking forward to some solitude and down-time after a full week's schedule.

Our silence began as we left the session on an introduction to silence, and we were off to a nearby lake. Some options for spending our time included reading, journaling, writing letters, walking, running, meditating, eating, slack-lining, the possibilities were endless! There were also optional opportunities to break the one rule: one-on-one spiritual direction; morning and evening prayer; and Mass in the center's chapel, which had a lovely view of the lake. The sign of peace at Mass was probably the longest I've ever been a part of! The priest did emphasize what a powerful sign it is to wish one another peace.

Although the retreat was fairly short, it helped me to reconsider notions of presence and 'encounter vs. performance' in not only individual prayer, but also with others. As 42+ people navigated the same space, you could sense community, communion. There was comfort in knowing others were there with me... making an effort, taking time, trying to trust. And there were many moments of introspection when I considered if and how I truly encounter others, beyond mere performance in engaging with them. And the same of my relationship with God. I tried to slowly begin living the questions just a bit more, knowing two days was a gift, yet a finite period of time. I had many reflective moments, some felt deeper than others. There was a point in the retreat when I felt noticeably more restless (about 2/3 through) but came to find that the remaining time would allow for another especially reflective moment.

We finally broke the silence with a shared group prayer and reflection, before swimming in the lake, playing volleyball, having dinner, packing/cleaning up, and heading back to the University of Scranton. The "revival" of conversation was refreshing and seemed to reflect an even deeper sense of community.

Below the photo at retreat's end, I've included a wonderful reflection on silence from a retreat handout. It expresses some of what I felt, reflected upon, and continue to unpack. (Forthcoming post on Week 2 of Orientation!)

EXCERPT FROM: With Open Hands by Henri J.M. Nouwen (New York: Ballantine Press, 1972)
     Silence is full of sounds. The wind murmuring, the leaves rustling, the birds flapping their wings, the waves washing ashore. And even if these sounds cannot be heard, we still hear our own quiet breathing, the motion of our hands over our skin, the swallowing of our throats, and the soft patter of our footsteps. But we have become deaf to these sounds of silence.
     When we are invited to move from our noisy world into this sound-filled silence, we often become frightened. We feel like children who see the walls of a house collapse and suddenly find themselves in an open field, or as though we have been violently stripped of our clothing, or like birds torn away from their nests. Our ears begin to ache because the familiar noise is missing and our bodies have become used to that noise as if it were a downy blanket to keep us warm. Thus, we are like addicts who must go through the painful withdrawal process.
     But still more difficult than getting rid of these exterior noises is the achievement of inner silence, a silence of the heart. It seems that a person who is caught up in all that noise had lost touch with the inner self. The questions which are asked from within remain unanswered. Unsure feelings are not cleared up, tangled desires are not straightened out, and confusing emotions are not understood. All that remains is a chaotic tumble of feelings which have never had a chance to be sorted out.
     It is hardly surprising, therefore, that when we shut off all the daily racket, a new inner noise can often be heard, rising from all those chaotic feelings, screaming for attention. Entering into a quiet room doesn't automatically bring us inner silence. When there is no one to talk to or listen to, an interior discussion may start up which is often noisier than the noise we just escaped. Many unsolved problems demand attention, one care forces itself upon the other, one complaint rivals the next, all pleading for a hearing. Sometimes we are left powerless in the face of our many twisted sentiments which we cannot untangle.
     It makes you wonder whether the diversion we look for in the many things outside us might not really be an attempt to avoid a confrontation with what is inside. "What should I begin when I'm through with all my work?" This question leads many people to flee from themselves and hold fast to any number of things which make them feel very busy! They say to themselves: "Where do I turn when I have no more friends to talk with, no music to listen to, no paper to read, and no films to see?" The question is not whether we can live without friends or without feeding our eyes and ears with new impressions --- we obviously cannot --- but whether we can stand to be alone from time to time, shut our eyes, gently push aside all the assorted noises, and sit calmly and quietly.
     To be calm and quiet all by yourself is hardly the same as sleeping, but means being fully awake and following with close attention every move going on inside you. Silence requires the discipline to recognize the urge to get up and go again as a temptation to look elsewhere for what is close at hand. It offers the freedom to stroll in your own inner yard, and to rake up the leaves there and clear the paths so you can easily find the way to your heart. Perhaps there will be much fear and uncertainty when you first come upon this "unfamiliar terrain," but slowly and surely you will discover an order and a familiarity which deepens your longing to stay home.

JVC Orientation, Week 1 (July 9-15)

It's been nearly two weeks since I attended JVC's Orientation for international volunteers at the University of Scranton. It was an amazing time.

After spending about a month and a half at home after graduation, I flew back out to the East Coast for Orientation at the University of Scranton. As I'd guess is the case for most people, I had only heard of Scranton as the location for the TV show, The Office, but it also happens to be home to the University of Scranton, a Jesuit University. Many of the volunteers that flew to Orientation arrived at Newark Airport, from where we took a bus ride into Pennsylvania. It was so great to see familiar faces from the application process. [During JVC's application process, they host four Discernment Weekends across the U.S. in which they bring together applicants who have also been invited for a second interview. This allows the applicant to meet staff and other applicants, as well as gather more information and reflect more on the two-year commitment of serving internationally. There were many applicants, and eventual matriculants, from Boston College!]

It was also really great to see new faces! JVC hosts their Orientation with the Rostro de Cristo (RdC) program, which shares nearly identical values with JVC and sends volunteers to live in two communities in Guayaquil, Ecuador for a year. I also finally got to meet both of my future community mates, Katie and Colleen, in person - they're fun! I was fortunate enough to first meet Katie at our Discernment Weekend back in DC, and had only met Colleen through Facebook. Finally, I also got to meet former volunteers from both programs, who were so insightful, supportive, and fun over the course of the Orientation. So here we were, 42 volunteers who said "yes" to one or two years of international service, with our individual and shared hopes, anxieties, and excitement... in Scranton, the Electric City!

It was so great to finally meet and be with all of the volunteers who were in the same boat as me, especially the late departures: volunteers headed to their countries in late November and early December, usually due to the different academic years abroad. ("Early departures" and the RdC volunteers were off to their countries immediately following Orientation.) 

For a brief overview of the Orientation community:

6 JVs off to Micronesia (early departure)

5 JVs off to Belize (early)

6 JVs off to Nicaragua (late)

4 JVs off to Tanzania (late)

2 JVs off to Chile (late)

4 JVs off to Peru (late)

15 RdC volunteers off to Ecuador (early)

I had been reunited with people who played such a large part in drawing me to the program in the first place. After a day of introductions, welcomes, and goodbyes to family who came in with volunteers, we were off to bed to get ready for what would be two of the most fun, challenging, and transformative weeks of my life. 

We were a diverse group from across the U.S. (including a disproportionate amount of kindhearted people from Boston College and the state of Wisconsin!) The general outline of a typical Orientation day included: breakfast and morning prayer; morning sessions; lunch and/or Mass; afternoon sessions; some free time; dinner; evening sessions and prayer; and nights in the Community Room. Most of the two weeks' days looked like this, with a silent retreat sandwiched between Week 1 and 2. Although JVC and RdC had shared and internal sessions over the course of the weeks, the sessions and days' events built upon each other regarding the intersectionality of program values (simple living, spirituality, community, social justice) and both the theoretical and practical ways of living them out; they were facilitated by guest presenters as well as JVC/RdC staff and volunteers. 

I could probably write an entire blog post for each session, but below I'll share some of the Week 1 session topics, highlights, themes, and questions I remember for further reflection (the quotes were gathered by staff over the course of the Orientation; a recurring theme was the idea of "living the questions" in our lives, from the final paragraph of this reflection):

Week 1

The Essential Call (our call to serve the poor and marginalized)

"Don't wait until you are on your deathbed to give your heart to God. When you give your heart to God, God will give [God's] heart back to you."

JV/JVC Identity (the obvious and hidden identities we carry in a cross-cultural context)

"We must be intentional about calling to mind our mission and our motivations, why we’re here. It will nourish & sustain us for the journey."

JVC Tree of Life (explored our personal/spiritual journeys that root our experience today)

Pastoral Circle (learned about this tool for individual and communal reflection upon experiences in service; include four steps: an Experience, Social Analysis of contributing factors, Theological Reflection in light of faith, and Action or response)

Empathetic Listening, Conflict Resolution, and Emotional/Mental Health (how these contribute to good communication, self-care, and solidarity with the poor and community mates)

"We all carry bags of rocks.  Some are heavier or lighter than others.  We shouldn’t ask others to put more rocks in their bag."

"I hope you get a lot of practice being dorky, awkward and stupid."

JVC Covenant & Handbook Lived (reflected on our commitment to the program and how dialogue and discernment works with in-country situation, including travel and relationships)

World Cup Final

Mission Spirituality in an Epoch of Change (what does the word "mission" mean to us today; how the Church and world are changing in a post-Vatican II era, including topics of gender, sexuality, religion; the need for new criteria to answer new questions)

"Does church have a mission, or does mission have a church?"

"We’re all from the same source, and all creation is from the same source.  We’re all stardust."

"When you squash cultures, you limit experiences of God."

"Spirituality is the right to a profound life."

"We may forget that God was here even before we arrived."

"My purpose is to support and help other people grow within their own culture."

Tech, Communication, and Simple Living (what does simple living with regard to solidarity mean today, in a world where there is more global access to mobile phones than toilets)

"In giving up gadgets and tech devices, I’m saying in a symbolic way that I’m here to serve in whatever way you need."

Prayer as an Authentic Encounter (prayer as an encounter not performance; a relationship that requires time, effort, and trust)

"Prayer isn't magic; it's an encounter."

"Be gentle with yourself."

Introduction to Silence (the role of silence in our lives; preparation for our 2-day silent retreat at the mid-point of Orientation)

"If we remove the dirt and debris from our daily life, we may discover something there that we didn’t realize."

  

Fundraising Update: 79% reached!

Since kicking off my Send Me to Serve (SMTS) campaign back on May 11 to raise funds for my JVC experience, I have entered into partnership with 30+ donors who support JVC's mission to serve the poor and marginalized with Jesuits and volunteers. Through their generosity, $2,368 of the minimum goal of $3000 per international volunteer has been reached for my campaign. Only with the generosity of donors are volunteers, like myself, able to carry out the program's mission. I am honestly so grateful for this unique opportunity to serve made possible.

A sincere thank you to all those who donated any dollar amount. I am grateful to be equal partners with you in this journey. 

As I look ahead to the next four months of fundraising, I ask donors, new and old, to continue to partner with me in their donations, prayers, and conversations, which help get volunteers through the most joyful and challenging of days. 

To learn more about my campaign and/or to make an online donation, please visit my webpage at:

https://jesuitvolunteers.myetap.org/fundraiser/sendmetoserve/individual.do?participationRef=37.0.1172275683 

And please don't hesitate to reach out to me with any concerns, inquiries, updates, or just to say hello! Thank you!

My email: ainterianonic14@gmail.com

Welcome! and Why JVC?

Welcome to my blog! If we haven't already met, please take a look at the right of this page for a brief description of who I am and my plans for formation and service with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) in Nicaragua from December 2014-2016. Thank you for joining me in this journey! I hope you will continue to be with me, as I hope to be present with you, Nicaraguans, fellow JVs, Jesuits, donors, and the larger JVC program. I hope all involved in this journey can be present with one another as equal partners. I also hope to foster dialogue here in the comments section below each post about any comments, suggestions, concerns, memories that arise. Please also feel free to follow by email by entering your email at the link on the right: you will only receive an email update when I have posted new content. Thanks!

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I find it hard to believe that I am here and now. By "here and now," I mean: four months after being offered a placement to serve with JVC in Nicaragua; two months after graduating from college; four days after completing JVC's two-week Orientation at the University of Scranton; and four months from moving to Nicaragua for two years. Talk about transitions! It's been a time of serious flux with many uncertainties, surprises, joys, and challenges. Leaps of faith and conversations; laughter and sorrow; "see you laters" and "forever hellos"; World Cup watch parties and a silent retreat; changing identities and dependable relationships; dancing and resting; learning and unlearning; action and reflection; being loved and loving. The things that make life so interesting. 

Having just finished Orientation at the University of Scranton, I feel there has been very much a culmination of these things. Over the last two weeks, I was reminded of why I said "Yes" to JVC in the first place: the people and the program's values. I first came across JVC when I felt drawn to post-graduate service and time for discernment about what might be next for me. From my college experiences, this developed into a draw to service abroad and doing so with a focus on community and spiritual growth; I particularly felt called to the Jesuit sense of spirituality, also known as Ignatian spirituality after the Jesuit founder, St. Ignatius of Loyola. (* for my limited explanation of Ignatian Spirituality.)

This same sense of spirituality played out in the application process with JVC which included two unique pieces: mutual discernment and apostolic availability. First, mutual discernment meant that throughout the application process, we talked about not only whether I would be a good fit for them, but also whether they would be a good fit for me. This first piece fed into the second piece, apostolic availability, which meant that applicants be willing to serve where the program best matched the volunteer and work-site. In the mutual discernment process, I was able to share my desires for where, when, and how I might volunteer, and JVC took this into consideration. Eventually, when JVC offered me the placement in Nicaragua, I had two days to accept the offer and commit to living their four values, with the hope that I had discerned whether JVC would be the right fit for me by the time I was offered a placement. 

Saying "Yes" was a big step, but the mutual discernment process helped me to see why JVC's values would be a good fit for me. After returning to a practicing faith in college, I felt drawn to post-grad programs rooted in spirituality. After being part of different communities back in college, I felt drawn to living alongside people who were willing to wrestle with questions of faith and injustice. After traveling to El Salvador and being with and hearing the stories of many marginalized Salvadorans, I felt drawn to serve the poor and marginalized, live in solidarity with them, and be present with them in their joys and sufferings, which are too often overlooked. And I felt drawn to doing all of this with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, who creates an opportunity for volunteers to do all this at once. And with the Jesuits, who at their best appear to approach faith and injustice with open hearts and minds, dialogue, discernment, holistic care, global awareness, and a preferential option for the poor. (cue: Pope Francis, the Jesuit Martyrs, St. Ignatius, Pedro Arrupe, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Jon Cortina, James Martin... a few I have encountered more intimately.)

I felt this same spirit when I met other applicants in the application process and at our Orientation. All of this continues to inform my ongoing "Yes" to JVC and its values, alongside other JVs. It also helps to balance the challenges that come with saying "Yes" to: living away from family and friends for two years; embracing the ups and downs of community living; only having visitors in the second year; waiting (im)patiently to be in Nicaragua; and saying "see you later" to JVs and staff who won't be serving in/near Nicaragua. However, within these tensions of saying "Yes", I do feel a growing sense of falling in love with this something new...

Fall in Love

Attributed to Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ (1907–1991)

Nothing is more practical than
finding God, than
falling in Love
in a quite absolute, final way.
What you are in love with,
what seizes your imagination, will affect everything.
It will decide
what will get you out of bed in the morning,
what you do with your evenings,
how you spend your weekends,
what you read, whom you know,
what breaks your heart,
and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.
Fall in Love, stay in love,
and it will decide everything.

- See more at: http://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/prayers-by-st-ignatius-and-others/fall-in-love/#sthash.OBoZsN6l.dpuf

*Of those reading this, there is likely a spectrum of familiarity with Ignatian spirituality: from those who know nothing to those who attended Jesuit schools/parishes for much of their lives. I personally am only just beginning to understand it more fully. For my very limited and brief description (readers more familiar with this, I would love to hear yours in the comments section), Ignatian spirituality holds core tenets for a practical, real-life way of cultivating an awareness of what is good in our lives, examining our desires, and directing these desires toward what is ultimately good. I am actually moving through a "must-read" book for Jesuit Volunteers called "The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything" by James Martin, a Jesuit. The book has been great so far as I seek to learn more about JVC's value of spirituality; moreover, it is presented for the broadest audience, including "Spiritual, Religious, Spiritual but Not Religious, and Everything in Between." I recommend it so far, and hope to learn more about Ignatian Spirituality through it. I hope to do a future post on the book.