All is Well in the ATL

Everything is going smoothly here in Atlanta. The four sisters we live with are awesome. They're overflowing with entertaining, informative stories that reveal a wealth of diverse experiences. I'm still not fully adjusted to my new schedule despite the fact that I've been here for 2 weeks. I wanna be more active after school (that is when we get out at 5) but its been hard to find the required energy so far after eating dinner and attending our community prayer session. Everyone at ICS had been real receptive and supportive of Amy and I. The staff is committed to enhancing the lives of the children through the implementation of thoughtful instruction and a commendable dedication to maintaining a positive, empathetic attitude. The kids at the school are energetic, loving, and willing to learn. I hope that as the year progresses my responsibilities will increase with regard to the actual presentation of lessons. We've spent some time around the city with the Jesuit Volunteers in Atlanta. My initial impression is that they're all quality people that know how to have a good time yet are focused on serving society within their specific ministry assignments. The year is still in its initial stages but so far I'm satisfied with my decision to join DVUSA. I hope everyone else is adjusting well to thier new environment and can say the same. I'm confident this well be a fruitful, fulfilling experience for each of us in a variety of unique ways If anyone wants to spend a little time in the ATL let me or Amy know the deal. Also, I'm trying to get to Chi-Town sometime before Christmas. I'd appreciate it if those residing there could start thinking about a tenative date that works for them and let me know whats good.

Peace and Love,
DB

PICTURES!!

Hello all--

I am still waiting for all of the pictures taken by Dominique to be sent but, here is what I have so far.

For those of your without facebook....

Ok so maybe that is just Dan, BUT for the benefit of family and friends I wanted to put up some photos of us during orientation, most of which I snagged from the facebook pages of others. Kira has some great pictures from our NYC outing she'll be showing off soon too!

Hanging in the parlor at Mission San Jose after commissioning

The beautiful grounds of Mission San Jose

A California sunset :-)

Jen and Kira unknowingly framing Sarah after our talk on the Dominicans in the United Nations

Just hanging out on the tolly...too bad it ended up being broken
(L to R: Amy, Stefanie, Dan, Trent, Joe, Kira, Jen and Emily)

Busing to the BART station. Too bad we don't have mass transit like this in the OH!
(Joe, Trent and Dan, Becca and Emily)

Looking classy post-commissioning
(Back: Joe, Emily, Sarah. Middle: Becca, Jen, Katie, Kira, Dan. Front: Rachel, Kristen, Emily, Liz, Bridget and Trent)

A group hug before the last group left
(Too tangled up to tell)

Amy, Bridget, Sarah and Trent wait for a cable car

My love extends to all of you and to all the volunteers out there :-)!

I cannot find a boat in Texas!

Hey ya’ll! Greetings from Weslaco, TX! People have been asking me “What is it like?!?” Well first of all it is HOT! It is almost as bad as Jamaica which is why I take nice COLD showers. I have kind of stopped wearing make up since it will sweat off as soon as I step outside. I have my own room and the color is lime green (I was so excited about that!) Right now we have one volunteer mid-wife (who is leaving in like a month) and 2 other volunteer nurses who will be here for a year with me. Tomorrow we are getting a mid-wife who will be here for up to 6 months and in September we will get both a nurse and mid-wife who will both be here for a year! We have clinic Mondays, Tuesday s, and Thursday s. This is where women get prenatal care and have check-ups (side note: I will have to start drawing blood from pregnant women which scares me!). Wednesdays are meetings and catch up days. We have to be ready for a birth at any time though especially since I am still going through orientation as a new nurse. Once I get more experience I will have specific “off” days. It is interesting living and working with the same people but so far no fireworks. I do have access to a car and yes they do pay for the gas. We do have chickens where we live and they lay eggs for us. We feed them twice a day and there is a rooster who is meaner than anything. We share food as a community and we have been cooking food together if things are not really crazy. There is no Chick fil a near which makes me sad but I cannot really afford to eat there as much as I use to.

So I have been in at Holy Family Birthing Center a little over one week and finally have time to post something about what’s going on. God has already started to change me in such a short period of time. Even though I am still in the US, it is very different down here especially being so close to the border. The town I am in Weslaco has about 20,000 people living here and they are mostly Hispanic. The poverty is worse than I expected. I got to go along on a postpartum home care visit and the house the family lived in was extremely small. It was probably smaller than the size of our kitchen here at the center. Another thing that shocks me is the level of education of our patients. Most of them dropped out of high school in like high school and so they sometimes do not understand the basic medical terminology. I am going to be completely honest about one thing that has started stirring in my heart that I know God will work on stretching throughout my time here. I was a little worried about coming here in the first place because I got frustrated at times with the Hispanic population. I would think, “Why do they just come over here to America to have their baby and just use up our resources? That is just not fair!” Also I wondered why they would just stop having sex so they would not keep getting pregnant. But probably the 3^rd night I was here I was walking back to my room and it suddenly hit me: It really is part of the expectations that the culture puts on the girls. They are to grow up and have babies and work some job but not to pursue a higher education. And once realizing that I became heartbroken for them. I was so blessed with amazing parents who told me I was capable of doing whatever I wanted and wanted me to go to school and get a job that I could support myself with. But that is not the case with the Hispanic population and that is so sad to me. They seem to have little self confidence to me and I just think it’s sad they do not try to peruse something other than having babies. And I am not saying having babies and being a mom is not a noble thing. It is a very noble thing but if you think that is all you are capable of doing then that is when I think it is sad. And after thinking some more they come to America to have their babies because they know their children are in better hands over here than over in Mexico and I hope all parents only want the very best for their child’s health. I mean would we, America, be the greatest country in the world if we let women go without prenatal care and safe birthing facilities which could lead to both the mom’s and baby’s death? I still struggle with the issue of illegal immigrants but I hope God will continue to shed some light on this issue on my heart.

IF you're going to San Francisco--Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair

Here we are. this buidling here = the convent and the front of the high school. Have we told you how long our commute is? it's unbearable... seriously the 20 or so feet--longest commute ever. (did i mention that the walk from the convent door to the high school is covered?)

i am sorry for all the others who have a legit commute. I will stop with the comments now :)

California has been great. First day of ministry was last Thursday, which was just a mere day after DV orientation ended. Liz and I entered the Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP) office amongst a flurry of activity. CampRey had just started. All the students have come to school a week early to learn important business skills before they start working in their corporations. They all look so sharp in their business atire, but playing dress code cop at 7:30 in the morning is not so pleasant.

Let's see, what else have we been up to? O! Liz and I both get to supervise afterschool typing classes, and tomorrow is our big day--we will be doing lots of supervision throughout the day. We have been hanging around the CWSP office doing finishing tasks that need to be done ASAP-- the seniors start working on August 31st. please keep ICA-Cristo Rey in your prayers, we still need at least 13 corporate sponsors for all the students (and Lord, if they could be paid positions...)

Living in the community has been really interesting. On Saturday we had the beginning of the year meeting. It was intense, but i think everyone feels better now that we have our schedule set. Prayer starts at 6am. So even though there is a big time difference, it seems that we will probably be waking up at the same time... :)

The women we live with have amazing stories!! All other DV's, I encourage you to sit down with your community and ask them to all share their story with you. I can guaruntee that it will be a conversation starter.

Well, I think i have said my share so far. Weather wise we have been blessed with sunny and warm all the days we have been here.

LOOK out Cali---- :) :)

~ Liz and Rachel

Amityville NON-Horror

Well hello at least mildly interested readers! We're on day 5 of life in a new community, and I have throughly turned around. Directions have never been something that came easily to me, and it took all of 4 years at UD to be able to find my way around. However, I have hope as I have acquired a map of the small village of Amityville and (with the help of my fellow traveler, Kira) have been able to successfully navigate to the Long Island Railroad station, Walgreens and the library without getting (too) lost. Additionally, I have been able to run in the neighborhood without mistaking something to be one landmark and having it turn out to be something completely different (see my sophmore year Campus South incident...s)

Besides the humble village of Amityville, Kira and I have been introduced to a small number of Amityville sisters (we had a cook-out and played poker with a few...I can't wiatmto get good and take all of your money in February) and to Montauk point, the mos eastern point on LI. We were also able to view some property once owned by the sisters. The property is of course in the Hamptons. I only wish we would have been able to visit good old Ina Garden while located in those parts.

Besides some occasional humidity and being initially denied a library card due to our lack of proof of address, life has been not too bad out in the home of the house of horror (which, according to Sisters Barbara and Eva, has been relocated and renovated due to tourists blocking roadways AND did in fact not actually have a gateway to hell in its basement...shocking, I know). We delt with the humidity through a large dehumidifier which fills up with a disgusting amount of water each day, causing Kira and I to be weired out by the amount of H2O that was in the air. And we both finally got library cards. And my mom sent me CHOCOLATE.

This week Kira and I will (hopefully) reuinte with Jen as we are spending four days in NYC (specifically Jamacia) with Sister Alice. On the 24th we will (please God let this be true) start our ministry with orientations and then will offically start after Labor day. More to come when this gets underway!

Sorry for the length/typos.

My love goes out to you all!

Peace,

Sarah

GOOD LUCK!!!

Hopefully you all are settled in and making your community feel like home. Just wanted to let you know that I'm thinking of you all as you begin your ministries. May you find God's presence, peace, and grace in the people you come into contact with!

Blessings on your first week!

Stefanie

First Post!!!

Hello all-I hope you figure out how to use this well :-) Let the updating begin!!!