September 2014 Inspiring and Informing Current Jesuit Volunteers Some Things We Leave, Some We Carry While I know myself as a creation of God, I am also obligated to realize and remember that everyone else and everything else are also God's creation. —Maya Angelou Casa Fred Green JVs with their Program Coordinator. From left to right: Megan DeRosier 13, Billy Hood (PC), Allie Whitefleet 12, Thomas Scharff 12, Kelly Olson 12, John Byrd 13 Kelly Olson, Casa Fred Green, Tacna, Peru 12 Sometimes life seems to be a never-ending series of goodbyes – to childhood, high school, and university friends, to co-workers and bosses, to teammates and coaches, to neighbors, and to acquaintances. Every school, job, summer camp, and city brings with it new relationships and, inevitably, more somber partings. That´s the danger of following our passions, greatest dreams, and divinely-inspired desires – rarely do they lead us down comfortable, familiar roads. But, as is so often quoted, “practice makes perfect,” and learning to say goodbye is no different. The physical act – the words, the hugs, the promise to stay in touch – becomes less painful each time. The unpleasant realization that I may never see this person again becomes less shocking. And the genuine gratitude I feel for sharing part of my life with this person – however earth-shatteringly momentous or simple and understated our relationship may have been – outlasts the sadness of saying goodbye to a person who has shaped me in still-unrecognizable ways. The simple action of mindful thankfulness helps me see the relationship as, at the very worst, a temporal spot of beauty in my life, and, at the very best, the beginning of a rewarding long-distance correspondence and the promise of future, laughter-filled reunions. The Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice Washington DC—Nov 15-17 http://ignatiansolidarity.net/iftj/ In This Issue Journeys of Healing Now That We’re Here… Life is a Circus Seventeen High School Girls How Do You Want to Be Remembered? The Arrupe Pages All these goodbyes throughout the years, these goodbyes that I have perfected, they don´t make my heart any smaller. Sure, we leave a bit of our heart with each person we love, just as we leave our footprints on the sacred ground we walk, our handprints on the people we hold, our sweat on the battlefield, and our tears on the shoulders of the ones who hold us. continued on Page 2 Central American Migration Surge Recipe Corner Journeys of Healing Some Things We Leave (continued) No matter how much we give away, however, we will never be weakened because the ones we love do not take a piece of our hearts without also giving us a piece of their own. e e cummings wrote: I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart) Stephanie Lovina, front and left, at Mono Lake with Homeboy Industries. Stephanie Lovina, Casa Ita Ford, Los Angeles 14 After just seven days of beginning my JVC year at Homeboy Industries, I was invited to attend a five-day camping retreat at Mono Lake in northern California with another case manager and eight homies. I knew I would be learning a bit about the lake, hiking a lot, and sleeping outside, but what I didn’t know is that this experience would be pivotal to how I approach my year as a Jesuit Volunteer. Mono Lake is said to be in a process of healing. In the 1940’s, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power cut off the Mono Lake’s tributary streams, which are the lake’s outlets to freshwater. This caused the lake to suffer tremendously: its ecosystem collapsed, volume decreased, and salinity doubled. It wasn’t until the Mono Lake committee was formed in the 70’s that the government, volunteers, and nonprofit groups came together to restore the lake. After hearing all about this and listening to everything being done to ‘Save Mono Lake’, I couldn’t help but think about the seven homeboys and one homegirl sitting beside me. This is exactly what happened to them. They were deprived and cutoff from outlets of compassion, hope, love, and kinship in turn suffering tremendously. They searched for anything that would fill the voids in their lives and found that fulfillment in the gangs they joined and the lifestyle they lived. It wasn’t until they came to Homeboy Industries and someone started “givin’ a damn about them” (as the homies would say) that they were able to rebuild, restore, and ultimately begin to heal. They found support and compassion, hope, love and kinship at Homeboy Industries. The change that occurs at Homeboys is a process that doesn’t happen overnight and isn’t easy, but I know that as a JV I want to be an outlet to help the homies heal. I want to walk beside them in their journey, listen to their stories, and love them unconditionally. By doing these things, I will hopefully become an outlet they need to realize the self worth they possess. This patch-work heart that beats in my chest knows no borders nor race nor gender nor creed. It is broken each day by the injustices and pain present in the world but also strengthened each day by the promise and hope present in each of my students. In five months, my time as a Jesuit Volunteer will come to an end and I will leave Peru; the magnitude of the goodbyes I will soon have to say is daunting. But still, my heart, a sortof masochistic drummer boy, keeps time as I march towards that moment. It is a realistic, not fatalistic, reminder that the heartache of a goodbye is part of what I signed up for: as a volunteer and as a human being. Without the Crucifixion there is no Resurrection. Without dark there is no light. Without grief and pain and heartache, how do we know the true depth of our love? Solidarity on Tap Solidarity on Tap is a series of gatherings at local pubs to discuss faith and social justice. JVC and the Ignatian Solidarity Network welcome all people connected to the Jesuits (including JVs, FJVs, and Jesuit school alumni) to join! The next meeting will take place: Wednesday, September 24 —6:30pm-8:00pm Urban Chestnut 3229 Washington Avenue St. Louis, MO 63103 The camping trip was incredible and a great introduction to everything that Homeboy Industries stands for – it lit a fire under me and left me wanting more…I can’t wait to see what else this journey brings! Page 2 Now That We Are Here… Sarah Estrada, Berrigan House, Syracuse 14 Life is a Circus and Ruben is the Magician “Now that we are here, nowhere else matters.” As I drive along the side streets in the city near Downtown, I try my best to slow down and take a good look at those words written across a bridge. Before I go to the underpass, I contemplate taking my phone out and taking a picture of it. But, does stopping and taking a picture of something beautiful, captivating, marvelous or wonderful, or something that draws my attention actually taking in that “moment?” Being present is one of the most difficult things to do. It challenges one to surrender to the possibilities of life, the chance, the luck of the draw, etc. It goes against the somewhat independent nature of the self, and causes one to simply be open and vulnerable to the unknown. It has been roughly two weeks since moving to the East Coast, and I am trying to be an open book. Amidst my obviously displayed difference written all over my small eyes, flat nose and tan skin, I am doing my best to be present. Sometimes I feel too hopeful to learning and trying new things that I forget who I am and lose myself. Sometimes I forget the worth of my personal experiences. But it is not easy when I feel that someone else’s reaction dictates its significance, or importantly, m y significance. There already have been times where individuals I have come across with dictated to me my stance and my place in their life. How, in certain situations, my reaction, my perspective, etc. is due to the “difference” written all over my face. The way that some individuals address me or fail to look me in the eyes makes me forget that I am part of the story. Is it bad that I almost expect it? Wangari Maathai House JVs on retreat in the spring. From left to right: Alyson Erin Van Tiem Navaro, 13, Dar Erin es Navaro Salaam, 13, Tanzania Katie McCann 13 12, Kathleen Kardos 12. Erin Navaro, Wangari Maathai House, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 13 There is magic in every corner of my universe. Every student is a magician and every laugh is a successful trick. Ruben is the ringleader of every scheme. He steals the light with his enormously round-shaped eyes. He is clever, he is sly, he is the star of his own show. Yesterday, unbeknownst to me, I was sitting front row at Ruben’s performance. I was looking, quite frantically, for my last piece of new, white, unbroken chalk. “Ruben,” I thought, “he must have it.” Who else would steal the chalk? (The actual answer is that it’s pretty much fair game in grade IV). When asked, Ruben responded with a dubious look and a more dubious reply, “Me, teacha? Nahhhh.” Knowingly, I checked his hands, his pockets, and succumbing to the magician, I came up empty handed. It is just so unfortunate that I have allowed my own self-belittlement to influence my outlook on the present. But is it my fault that I was born with the color of my skin, the culture in my heart, and into a society where such aspects of my life have already been deemed “different?” Slightly confused and slightly alarmed at my forgetfulness (you better be as sure as hell to keep a 20/20 on your brand new piece of chalk, because in a 4th grade classroom it’s like gold), I left the room, but not the show. I turned around to give Ruben my best “evil eye” and almost as if he’d calculated my reaction, he spun around and winked as he held between his thumb and his pointer finger, a fragment of what used to be my new, white, unbroken piece of chalk. As I reflect on that quote written on the bridge, one day I will change it to this: “Where I have been has led me here. Now I am here. And I matter.” I suppose that’s what all great magicians have in common: the ability to master their own audience. Leave them feeling both violated and special. They convince them that perhaps they aren’t in control but maybe it’s better that way. More special. One day I will garner the strength to move this beyond a small blog post and do “something” about it. But isn’t it unfortunate that it has to be me, the girl with the “color difference” to be the one to initiate the change? They cut their audiences. They dirty them. They chop them up, and put them together again in a way that leaves them feeling more whole than they were in the beginning, before they even sat down in their seats. And more whole than they’ll ever be again. Like being chopped up and glued together again was the only way life could happen. Page 3 Seventeen High School Girls flock to Punta Gorda for the chance of a lifetime - to serve the people of Belize. Old tennis shoes are brought out of hiding, Nalgenes are purchased in bulk, and flights are booked. And just like that, swarms of high school and collegeaged students from the United States arrive in Central America for one week of service work. They build schools, they tutor students, and they sing songs. Week after week. neighbors go to. I eat tortillas, rice and beans, Hudut, tamales, and panades just like my co-workers; I listen to the same radio stations, wear the same clothes, and catch the same flu viruses; I will eventually speak Criole. Yet, though our lives are so in sync, I realize I will never entirely understand what it means to be a Belizean. This is why I believe I struggle with international service groups. Like me, And then it happens. Blogs are opened they are eager to get the most out of and pictures are downloaded, one after Pat Decker, Julian Cho House, their experience. Serving in Belize w as another. Me and m y best friend , Punta Gorda, Belize 13 Life-Changing. Like me, they will eat the Roberta, from Crique Sarco Village. same food for a week and maybe even Building a school for the poor in Belize. Last night, I walked into a room with 17 learn a few Criole words. But what they And of course: They d on't have m uch girls on a one-week service trip to Punta will not do is feel complete solidarity but they are so happy. Gorda, Belize from a private high with the people of Belize (and neither Recently, an unnamed girl from a school in Denver, Colorado. will I). They have probably never lived service trip took a picture of a in a village, and therefore shouldn't call Picture it: tie-dyed t-shirts and schoolboy after he said he didn't want a villager their best friend after one bandanas just so to match. I enter his picture to be taken in the library. He week. They will never build a scho ol for amongst giggles and quickly made my ran to his teacher, "Miss, I don't want the poor, because Belizeans aren' t poor. And way to an open chair. Once seated, they the white girl to take my picture they will never fully understand the wanted to learn more about JVC so I because she will make me look naked true joys or struggles of any Belizean gave a brief and well-rehearsed on Facebook." because one week is just not enough. introduction about myself and work. Like them, I will never feel I am not here to change "My name is Patrick... I'm from unblemished solidarity with the people Minnesota... I studied psychology at of Belize. anything. I am here to be me, college in Maryland...I work with and I am here to be transformed These trips and these experiences aren't teachers in the Toledo village schools..." by my neighbors, my coworkers, for the people. They are for us, and this Then it was question-and-answer time, is one of the most important lessons we and my community. and the girls didn't hold back. can learn from our time abroad. I am not in Belize to serve anyone. I am not Something I have learned about the “What is the most challenging part here to m ak e a d iff erence . I am not here application of solidarity since arriving about living here?" Honestly... do you to change anything. I am here to be me, in Belize is that it is an imperfect really want to know? It's when groups and I am here to be transformed by my aspiration. I now believe that solidarity, like yours come and act as if you are neighbors, my coworkers, and my in its purest form, can only be an this country's saving grace. community. abstract idea. "The distance from family and friends," Whether it is for one week or two years, Once this notion is developed, the I reply, compromising. a person will never be able to fully walk whole experience begins to change. in another culture's shoes. This may One question that came towards the Relationships form, friendships end was, "Do you think it's worth it for sound harsh, but it is a reality we must blossom, and soon I am jumping from assume if we are ever going to make a us to come?" I sat speechless. I sat house to house - laughing with difference. speechless because I know the truth. neighbors, sharing meals, drinking rum, No, it's not worth it for the people here. and most importantly, allowing my I have been living and working in And then I paused... but it is worth it new friends to teach me how to live in a Punta Gorda, Belize, for more than one for you. new way. The state of Belize will not year now. I work at a job that a Belizean change during the two years I live and could easily hold and I go to the same Time after time, group after group, work here. But what has and will ideology after ideology, service groups farmers market and church my continue to change is me. Page 4 How Do You Want to be Remembered? Andy Devivo, Santiago, Chile 12 Today my school celebrated a mass for our eighth graders. The slogan of the mass, “The Start of a New Path,” could have just as easily been the slogan for me in eighth grade or the slogan for the start of my current transition as I spend my last semester in Chile. The mass was beautiful with the eighth graders having planned it, deciding the songs, and the readings. When it came time for the homily the priest began to read a passage written by Martin Luther King Jr. in which he asks to be remembered not for what he won or earned, but for how he loved the people around him. And then he asked the question, “How do you want to be remembered at this school?” The school, Instituto Pad re Hurtad o , is a small school located on the outskirts of the city of Santiago. On my first day in the school I met the founder, a very elderly lady named Tía Irm a. She said, “This is your house. Whatever you need just tell me.” And after twenty months there I can tell you that this is true not only for when I am in the school, but for any aspect of my life in Santiago. And it is not only true for me, but for all the members of my community. I learned that the ultimate act of justice I could do was simply to show dignity to each of my students by loving them. The students at my school are, to use a favorite Spanish word, cariñosos. Or as we would say in English loveable and caring. A lot of them grow up in houses that rob their innocence, but they will hug you, take care of you and be loyal to you if you only show them the respect they deserve. When I first arrived at the Instituto Pad re Hurtado to be the new English teacher I felt welcomed by the administration and that seemed to be enough to calm my nerves. They taught me some tricks about discipline and gave me some tips on teaching. Andy Devivo, left in back with his community in Santiago, Chile. However, when I met the students I learned about how to have patience, love, and trust. I learned that a smile is more powerful than a yell. I learned that the ultimate act of justice I could do was simply to show dignity to each of my students by loving them. So now I return to the question posed by the priest, “How do I want to be remembered at this school?” When he asked me at the mass in front of my students, I said that I want to be remembered for always being able to find one good thing in each of my students and encouraging them to nurture that thing. completed and with these assignments and the conversations outside of class, I have come to know who my students are, where they come from and where they want to go. I am not the best English teacher and I really do not care to be remembered for my role as an English teacher. However, I do hope that when someone asks Harold how he plans to become an Airplane Mechanic he can remember that in Mr. Andy’s English workshop he outlined his future plans in English while writing a letter to Wiz Kalifa. I hope that when Fabian thinks of his pet rabbit he remembers that Tío Andy cares so Not all of my students are good at English, much about his pet too. And I hope that but some are excellent brothers, sisters, when Isidora stands in front of a crowd and friends, artists, sports players, singers, speaks she remembers that the first time she dancers, mathematicians, writers, etc. The conquered her fear of public speaking was beauty of being an English teacher is that I at an English spelling bee in a downtown can learn about my students as they learn hotel. I hope that when my students think English. of me they say, “He cared enough to listen and pay attention,” and with that I would Design a family tree. Write a paragraph about what you want to do when you finish be forever content. school. Design the perfect town. These are all assignments that my students have Page 5 Welcome to The Arrupe Pages! This special section of the In the Field newsletter is focused specifically on social justice, advocacy, and community engagement opportunities for JVs. The contents on The Arrupe Pages may be used for community and spirituality nights, or to host discussions on social justice issues in the U.S. and abroad. The Arrupe Pages is a product of the partnership between JVC, Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS)/USA and the National Advocacy Office of the Jesuit Conference. As Jesuit Volunteers, many of you are working in direct service positions and witnessing social injustice on a daily basis. Advocacy is how you will begin to address the root causes of this injustice and work for change on a systemic level. Think of The Arrupe Pages as a resource for you as you seek to take action and advocate for the communities in which you live and serve. We know you are busy and that between your placements, community and spirituality nights, and trying to spice up those Ramen noodles, it isn’t easy to find time to advocate for the issues you care about. This newsletter is meant to give you some inspiration and empower you to take action. The current JV serving as the Outreach Coordinator of JRS/USA is responsible for getting the content out on the Arrupe Pages. But ultimately, we would like to make The Arrupe Pages accessible and useful, and would love to include more features that highlight the great work JVs are doing to organize around social justice issues in their communities or on a national level. If you have any photos, links, other media, reflections, or advocacy articles that are between 100 to 250 words, and you would like to be featured in The Arrupe Pages, please e-mail [email protected]! Some advocacy ideas for JVs in the U.S. include: Participating in a rally Contacting lawmakers through a letter-writing campaign Scheduling an in-district meeting with your representative Attending the Ignatian Solidarity Network’s annual Teach-In for Justice Working with local coalitions to advocate for issues impacting your community Ignatian Spirituality and the Society of Jesus The Daily Examen is a technique of prayerful reflection on the events of the day in order to detect God’s presence and discern his direction for us. The Examen is an ancient practice in the Church that can help us see God’s hand at work in our whole experience. The method presented here is adapted from a technique described by Ignatius Loyola in his Spiritual Exercises. St. Ignatius thought that the Examen was a gift that came directly from God, and that God wanted it to be shared as widely as possible. One of the few rules of prayer that Ignatius made for the Jesuit order was the requirement that Jesuits practice the Examen twice daily—at noon and at the end of the day. It’s a habit that Jesuits, and many other Christians, practice to this day. Busy? Try doing a six-session “Lunchtime Examen”: www.ignatianspirituality.com/ ignatian-prayer/the-examen/lunchtimeexamen/. This is a version of the five-step Daily Examen that St. Ignatius practiced: 1. Become aware of God’s presence. 2. Review the day with gratitude. 3. Pay attention to your emotions. 4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it. 5. Look toward tomorrow. Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ (19071991), was a Spanish Jesuit priest and the 28th Superior General of the Society of Jesus. His commitment to justice and his conviction of living a life dedicated to the poor and marginalized helped transform the Catholic Church worldwide. Taken from www.ignatianspirituality.com/ ignatian-prayer/the-examen/#examen-part-ofyour-day. Source: http://www.xavierhs.org/ Page 6 Engage the Issues: Central American Migration Surge Migration from the Northern Triangle of Central America – El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras – has risen steadily during the past four years due to an increase in violence. Organized criminal networks in the drug trade and in some cases of the political sector, along with trafficking groups and corruption, often causes conflict along smuggling routes. Children in particular are caught in the middle of this conflict. The powerful members of organized crime are now collaborating with street gangs from the late 90s by carrying out extortions, assassinations, and force recruitment of children into their ranks by using “join or die” tactics. These children are as young as five and six and can also face sexual violence at the hands of gang members. This is why schools have become a popular place for this type of recruitment. Unfortunately, teachers who intervene and try to protect their students are killed. If they witness a crime or they are the victim of a crime, their only choice is to move since there are no real witness protection systems. If they do not flee, they know they will be targeted long before the case ever gets to trial, if it even gets investigated at all. These cycles all add to corruption in the region that leads children to seek refuge in other countries. No matter how many times they move within their country – to a new neighborhood, or a new city – safety is hard to find. Therefore, their only option is to leave their country and flee to a surrounding one, often Belize, Panama, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Mexico, or the United States. When they end up on our border, in our country, they deserve to be protected and cared for in a system that acknowledges the violence and corruption they’re fleeing and the victimization and trauma they’re experiencing. Unfortunately, on June 30, President Obama announced that he would ask Congress to eliminate the screening process that protects immigrant children who arrive in the United States without guardians. These children are screened by the Department of Homeland Security in order to evaluate the severity of the way they were possibly trafficked and to identify if they are eligible for refugee status. Therefore, lives of vulnerable children are at risk of being endangered if Congress passes this bill and eliminates the screening process. (See article: http://bit.ly/1yaqj6I) On July 29th, in response to this, the outgoing President of the Jesuit Conference, Fr. Tom Smolich appealed on behalf of the Jesuits of the United States with a letter that called on our nation’s political leaders to “uphold the dignity of the human person and the sacredness of human life” when considering policy solutions that address the increasing numbers of children fleeing violence in Central America. Help us to preserve due process protections for unaccompanied children fleeing harm under the bi -partisan Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008. We need you to take action now to build strength behind Fr. Smolich’s message by emailing your elected leaders through this link: http://bit.ly/1qsGyat. After you take action, watch this video http://bit.ly/1q4Vy0J for more information about the conditions compelling children and families to flee Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. For more information about the myth and fact on Central American Migrations Surge visit here: http://bit.ly/1zzHNZ6. TAKE ACTION Sign up to become a Jesuit Advocate (to receive Action Alerts & Updates from the National Advocacy Office of the Jesuit Conference & JRS): Go to JRSUSA.org, then click on “Stay Informed” (on the top middle). Click on the Action Alert after filling in the appropriate contact information. Page 7 Red Kidney Beans Prepared the JV Way Your Writing in Future Editions of In The Field What issues are on your mind? Contact your program Source: http://www.hellodoctor.co.za/ coordinator to share submissions or ideas for From Belize City JVs, from their own “Kitchen Component” Cookbook compiled many, many years ago! content you’d like to read These tips are good for any dry beans. We mostly use red kidney beans but black beans make a nice change. Belizeans have an uncanny sense of how much rice and water to add when they make rice and beans -- we don’t, so we use this method. In the Field. about in future issues of The easiest way to prepare beans is to soak them in the morning. Put them in a large pot because they will expand. If possible, use rain water because the beans will soften up quicker and cook faster. Make sure there is plenty of water over them. Add chopped garlic as this will cut down on gas later on. After noon, put them on to boil. Simmer for two hours. Keep an eye on the water level so they won’t burn. For Rice and Beans: Drain and save liquid. Measure 2 cups beans, 4 cups bean water, 2 cups rice, 1 cup coconut oil. Add 2 small onions (chopped), 1 clove garlic, and salt and pepper to taste. For Stewed Beans: Great over corn bread. Keep the water just at the top of the beans. They will automatically soften and make a sauce. For Refried Beans: Drain some of the liquid and mash with the bottom of a bottle you have lying around. Garnishes: Did you make too many beans? No problem. Make a good amount of refried beans (1 cup per person), adding additional bean juice for a soupy consistency. Fry corn tortillas until stiff. Drain on pieces of torn brown grocery sacks (we can’t believe we used to waste paper towels for this!). Schmear bean sauce on fried tortillas. Top with these shredded or diced toppings: cheese, hot sauce, pickled peppers, onion, green peppers, or cabbage. Say hello to the Berkeley, CA Jesuit Volunteers of Casa Thea Bowman! Left to Right: Jenny Spink, Cassie Sodergren, Anthony Russo, Courtney Weber (front row), Kate McGovern, Victoria Richey, Lauren O’Brien (back row). Connect Share, post and explore the JVC community online. All of the following social media outlets can be accessed from our home page jesuitvolunteers.org.
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