Well I've been in California for two weeks now and things have been busy as I've started my year with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. For anyone not familiar with the program, JVC pairs recent graduates with non-profit organizations around the United States. The homeless, immigrant, urban youth, incarcerated, abused women, and gang members are just a few of the at-risk and/or distressed populations that the Jesuit Volunteers, or JV's, serve.
While this program does seek to positively influence these lives, it is not a one-directional relationship, but instead requires that the JV's open their hearts and minds to help and growth as well. Core to the committment of JVC are four values: simplicity, spirituality, social justice, and community. It would be incorrect to label this year as an act of charity which implies that I have all I need but I choose to give to help the less fortunate. Instead, this is a year where I can focus on people more than material things, on developing a more active and informed prayer life, on recognizing whom the marginalized are in society, and on living with others who form a community committed to these ideals.
Now to the good stuff! After a five-day training retreat on the beach near San Jose, my housemates and I drove down the Pacific Coast Highway 1 to Los Angeles. Although the average speed was about 30mph, the views were AMAZING. On my left were cliffs of rock and dense forests and on my right was the Pacific Ocean, with the winding road precariously plotted between the two. This has definitely been scratched off my bucket list.
The house where I live can best be described as cross between your favorite ecclectic campus bar and a fraternity house. Tacky decorations are everywhere, halloween costumes keep turning up in random drawers, no plateware matches in the kitchen, and there is an abundance of sticky walls and floors as evidence from a previous shindig and/or cooking mishap. However, after a weekend of some solid cleaning, the house is definitely clean, but still tacky (wouldn't have it any other way!).
As mentioned earlier, I live in community with six other people and I couldn't have asked for a better group. My roommate is Kevin, the only California native has a knack for saying funny things without knowing it. Jackie is from Minnisoooooota, Erica and Mike (the guitar whiz!) are from Baaaaaaawwwwston, Sonia is from Rhode Island, and Naomi from North Carolina. For my year of service, I am the Christian Service coordinator and College Guidance Assistant at an all male Jesuit prep high school in the neighborhood of Watts, Los Angeles. I've only been at work a week so there will be plenty of updates on this in the future.
Although we've all been getting used to our agencies, there still has been plenty of time for fun. We have already been to the Staples center, toured the Santa Monica pier, and hiked to the Hollywood sign. There will be plenty more to do, but most important for us is figuring out a time to go the Price is Right!
This year has already been so busy and exciting, so I hope this blog gives you a chance to know what I am experiencing. Lastly, I just wanted to express my appreciation to everyone who has been so supportive and excited for me as I begin this year!
So excited for you, Mike! If I had to do it over again, I would have done exactly what you're doing this year...grateful to live vicariously through you. :)
ReplyDelete