To set the mood, click THIS LINK before continuing.
(Incredibly long story short, Vance Joy’s “Riptide” was the theme song for most activities, mainly because it’s one of the songs Catherine has memorized on the ukelele)
I am going to do my best to make this post concise, but week 2 of orientation was our service week, and if you know me, you know I easily could talk about all the wonderful things we did for hours.
Week 2 started off with many sleepy eyes due to the latest of nights and the earliest of mornings from the get-go. We were gifted baseball tickets for Sunday afternoon. It was the Mets vs. Nationals, tickets said 1:10…game was actually at 8:30ish. But a night of the question game, selfie stick, ice cream in hats, fellowship and a Mets win made it worthwhile. After getting home in the early hours of Monday morning, we awoke a few hours later geared up for a week in Port Chester, NY.
SERVICE WEEK. :-)!
My week began at a summer camp where I got to be with the 4th graders (YES MY CITY YEAR HEART WAS FULL OF JOY AND LOVE) and I was quickly shown how amazing these kiddos were. Between lots of whippin’ and naenae I had fruitful convos with 12 year olds. For example, Shawn* and I were at arts and crafts, melting beads into shapes. He had made a bible and a sword. He then made a frustrated noise and exclaimed “I should of made this connect and have it say ‘bible versus sword’.” I asked him who would win. Then the most innocent, Christ filled eyes looked at mine and said “Well duh, the Bible. Christ conquered all, He will always be the victor.” Be still my freaking heart. Nuggets telling me nuggets of wisdom that I wish I could’ve grasped at 12. On a superficial level, a firetruck came to camp one day and the kids got hosed, and we got to goof around a little, so my 2 days there were pretty chill.
The bulk of my week was spent at a community center and soup kitchen. I felt pretty out of my element because I went from a summer camp with 4th graders (I was employed at the wonderful Camp Rim Rock for one of the greatest summers in existence, and last year I was incredibly lucky to serve in a 4th grade classroom with City Year Boston) to a room full of adults who have seen parts of the world I haven’t in the roughest ways. My fears subsided when we got comfortable with the talented staff and volunteers who were so ready to direct us. We did lots of clean up work, serving lunch, striking up conversations (mainly in Spanish-eeeeeek), turning down men when they asked if I would leave with them, painting, singing, laughing, and gradually getting to know one another more.
My time at the community center was easily the highlight of my orientation. I was loved even when we couldn’t communicate properly, I laughed even when I didn’t get the joke but knew it was about my constant smiling and giggling, but you could see the joy ripple out, and that was a blessing in of itself.
Our days were long, but they began with morning prayer and mass, adoration was available all day-something my heart had been longing for, service, sharing childhood horror stories, evening prayer, the Salesian goodnight, and dinner with-by far-the most comical priests and brothers I have ever encountered. I don’t think I stopped smiling this entire week.
Brother Sal. This man needs his own blog post, but again, concise. This Brother isn’t normally in New York-he was flown up after being asked to craft the papal chair for when Francis comes to America next year. NBD. He caused Erin and I to laugh too much and earned ourselves the nickname “Giggle Gals”. We taught him to whip and nae nae, and he instructed us how to craft paper plate doves. #Luke12:12. I am incredibly grateful for this mans authentic, pure love, kindness, and comedy.
At the end of the week, we were so kindly invited to a Spanish praise and worship event. All these young adults were so on fire for the Lord and that was visible regardless of the language they were speaking. We were welcomed in so warmly, and I am still filled with so much gratitude.
After our final morning at the soup kitchen, we were having a BBQ with a kind deacon, but we heard there was an amusement park and beach down the road, so we went on a little adventure before the planned event. Salt water is great for the soul. I held a hermit crab for the first time-it was gross. It was refreshing to have a laid back moment and just be, together, in a place of peace and fun. We also had one of the most successful jumping pictures I have ever been apart of.
Overall this week was a whirlwind of prayer, love, service, joy, and spontaneity. I feel grateful to have experienced it.
Oh, and we signed a paper saying we would “try our best” to not have relationships at our sites. After 6 men requesting I leave with them, try is a really good term. (just kidding)
There is always the danger that we may just do the work for the sake of the work. This is where the respect and the love and the devotion come in – that we do it to God, to Christ, and that’s why we try to do it as beautifully as possible.- Mother Teresa
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