Why We Give

The holiday season is always filled with a wide array of festivities with people to see and things to do! My December was filled with JV Christmas parties, Secret Santa gift exchanges and of course, service! From Thanksgiving on, the season of giving is in full swing. There is Giving Tuesday, more people than ever want to volunteer and give back to their local community and holiday themed events fill up the calendar. At HomePlate, there is a desire to provide the same feelings and experiences of giving to others during the holidays that many enjoy. At each drop in for one week, a Holiday Store is created that provides the youth a chance to "shop" for gifts including toys, clothes, books and much more! Volunteers help by donating the amazing gifts, their time to transform drop in into a festive place with lights, sparkle, photo booths and amazing dinners!

It was a true privilege to witness the joy of giving this December. I witnessed the happiness of volunteers helping youth pick out presents, take family photos and enjoy an evening together. I was warmed by seeing the youth find joy in choosing gifts for their children, parents and friends. Generosity is something that can give such joy to both the receiver and the giver. The youth of HomePlate are able to partake in these experiences through the hard work and generosity of the local Hillsboro and Beaverton communities. 

The Holiday Store gave a different meaning to Christmas for me this year. Generosity was on my mind and spending more time reflecting on how the experience of giving can change others made me reflect on why we give. We give to feel happiness, to help others and to make a difference. At the root of all this giving is love and that in turn is what I feel is the true meaning of Christmas! 

Thankful Four Times Over

Over the past week, I have been asked countless times how I feel about not going home for Thanksgiving. Many assume that for a JV far from home it is hard to spend the holidays away from loved ones. In all honesty, but it is not a new experience to be the one absent from the family dinner table around the holidays. I haven’t experienced a family Thanksgiving in five years and since moving west have missed two family weddings. Distance is my reality.

The challenge of distance is made easy by today’s modern conveniences. Access to Starbucks’ (or hip Portland coffee shops’) Wi-Fi make emails, Face Time and blogging a fun weekend activity and excuse for a treat in the form of a caffeinated beverage or warm seasonal sugar high. The world clock app on my phone aids in remembering what time zone all my friends and family around the world are in order to configure call times. While the three hour time difference makes calls home less spontaneous and in need of forethought, the ease to pick up the phone and have a warm and loving hello at the other end is a blessing. Letter writing is an act of nostalgia rather than a requirement to know the happenings of friends performing years of service of their own. The modern world makes being a JV away from home for the holidays not so bad.  Although I was unable to attend the traditional family festivities this year, I did not go hungry. Instead, I was fortunate to experience four Thanksgiving dinners.

The first Thanksgiving (no not that one!) was a Casa de Paz Vegan Thanksgiving. Each community mate created a dish to add to the feast. I introduced traditional bread stuffing into the mix. Who knew that my grandmother’s simple recipe was vegan or such a crowd pleaser! Another festive addition brought to the Casa de Paz dinner table by yours truly was mulled wine. It was the first time I created the spiced, holiday concoction from scratch, but it turns out my culinary talents are not limited to only bread stuffing. The seasonal treat has been requested to be a part of a community Christmas feast and I have no problem obliging the women of Casa de Paz. Our ‘Friendsgiving’ turned into a day full of fancy dress, laughs and celebrating three months of community and service in Hillsboro.

The second and third Thanksgiving dinners were quite different from the first. In the midst of drop-in and surrounded by the youth I serve, I experienced Thanksgiving food and drinks prepared for the masses. We are in the midst of the season of giving, the season of generosity where dinner groups and volunteers try to recreate a sense of tradition for youth who have not been raised in an environment where family tradition is nurtured or valued to the same extent of my own. We provide a sense of consistency, weekly meals that youth can count on no matter if they are holiday themed or not. It is here that I find routine, like my youth, to root myself to.

My fourth and final Thanksgiving dinner of the week occurred on the actual day. Many assume that working on a holiday is brutal, but in all honesty I quite enjoyed myself! It wasn’t like I was working retail and preparing for the madness of Black Friday sales and customers! I had the privilege to share another meal, a fourth Thanksgiving with the youth I see three times a week. Many came for dinner even though they had already eaten dinner with family, friends or caretakers. They came for the community, the sense of belonging. In this space, it was not the great assortment of pies and sweet fixings that brought youth and volunteers to the dinner table. It was the community that filled the space with warmth. This Thanksgiving may not have been shared with crazy uncles, cousins or traditions dating back from the awkward pre-teen years. No one at the table asked about my future plans after July or my dating prospects. It was another Thursday drop-in. It was an evening of community and thankfulness for another chance to meet youth where they where at. My Thanksgiving made me four times as grateful to not be spending my holiday at home, but rather within the warm confines of a drop-in dinner and the community drawn together week after week.


*The contents of this page, and all links appearing on this page, do not represent the positions, views or intents of Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest. 

Building Community… One Plate at a Time

In a community of six, there is one Vegan, one Vegetarian, four Carnivores and six JVs exploring the Social and Ecological Justice of Food. Food is personal. Food is debatable. Food is always a conversation. Therefore, upon entering life as a JV, I quickly learned that my previous eating habits and preferences were not those of a JV community budget, but also vastly different from those of my community. We were all raised in different households with unique traditions and special family meals. There are also six different interpretations of food justice, social justice and ecological justice which impact how an individual eats. Our differences, however, do not necessarily mean that food cannot bring us together.

Over the past three months, there have been numerous discussions and opinions stated. Food is not a one and done topic. It is continually revisited because opinions are being reformed, enlightened and impacted by the day-to-day experiences that are a part of a year of service. Although the community of Casa de Paz has an array of varied beliefs, we are able to come together for community meals.

What have I learned over the past three months? I have learned that the more I make an effort to inform myself and be open to the beliefs and even dishes of others, the closer my

relationships with those of my community become. As I explore the bounds of my culinary talents, my community shares in meals rooted in love, friendship and an inherent dignity of those we break bread with!

My Actual Creation! Yumm! 

And if anyone is interested, here are a couple vegan recipes that were a community hit and easy to make!

Lentil Burgers! 

Macaroni and Cheese! 


*The contents of this page, and all links appearing on this page, do not represent the positions, views or intents of Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest. 

Is the West Coast the best coast?

As a life long East coaster I have some pretty big biases about how awesome life in EST can be. I think we have some of America’s best food, best sports teams and some pretty awesome places to visit aka Boston, New York, Washington D.C. The East coast is wicked awesome in my opinion, especially the great Commonwealth of Massachusetts. However, whenever I meet someone born and raised in the far off distant lands of California, Oregon or Washington I soon hear “the West Coast is the best coast!” Well it’s time to put the West to the test! Here are a few differences or things that have intrigued me so far during my time in the Pacific Northwest!

Number One: The trees are wicked tall!

I’m not joking. Sequoias are massive trees, but it seems that almost every tree throughout Oregon stretches to infinite heights. Taller than most buildings, even the trunks of these trees are far too gigantic to wrap your arms around. Hugging trees is not as easy of a task as I once thought. And it’s not only their height that amazes me, but also how straight they are. Man was not the first to build skyscrapers. These natural marvels beeline right up into the clouds without a curvature of the trunk. My neck ends up feeling sore after an afternoon of looking at trees because it is simply impossible to see the whole of these impressive wonders without craning my neck.

            

Number Two: The actual coast.

Every summer of my childhood, I enjoyed the sandy beaches of Falmouth, Massachusetts. The great Atlantic Ocean humbly ebbed and flowed along the rocky shoreline. The Oregon Coast on the other hand is rough, tumultuous and frigid. The imposing darkness of the forest abruptly stops as it meets the sandy dunes of Cannon Beach, Indian Beach or Seaside. The aged tree trunks and weathered rocks transform into grainy sand dunes that meet the barrage of endless waves. There are no small jetties you can walk onto. There is no small island of inhabitants to stare at off in the distance. There is simply water, endless ocean as far as the eye can see. This image provides my imagination with the ability to see myself as a great explorer making my away across the sea with no vision of land in sight. There is just the horizon. I have to admit, the view is breathtaking and as you watch the sun kiss the waters edge at sunset you feel as if you have seen the edges of the world.

Number Three: Retirement?

They call Portland a place for young people to retire and I am finding that to be true. The pace of life is slower than that of the high energy and go-go-go nature of places such as New York and Boston. Don’t mistake me for saying Portland is lazy. It’s just that there is a different emphasis on time and how a person conducts their life. It almost seems healthier to me. A weekend is not meant for working, but rather enjoying time outdoors, spending days with friends and family and exploring new music and cultural urban hubs. If you send someone an email after 3pm on a Friday do not expect a response until Monday. It may not seem as if Oregonians are getting much done, but don’t be fooled by this easygoing nature. Portland is one of the fastest growing urban centers in the country. New business and industry is constantly arriving. Life in the Silicon Forest is modern, high tech and testing the bounds of how people get stuff done.

           

 I’m still exploring Portland, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. While I’ll always be an East Coast girl, I have to be honest and admit that I’m loving my time here on the West Coast. I won’t admit that West Coast is the best coast just yet, but I will admit that every day is a fun adventure.


*The contents of this page, and all links appearing on this page, do not represent the positions, views or intents of Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest. 

Up, Up and Away!

My day began at three am as I woke up restless and unable to sleep. I was afraid that I would sleep through my alarm, miss my bus and in turn miss my flight. The opposite, however, occurred with me waking up full of energy and wide-awake. It always seems to happen that when I have something big or important to do, I find this store of surplus energy helping me function as if I was super woman. These super powers have their limits and even as I power through the day and my checklist I am fully aware that this surplus store of energy is limited in quantity. Without warning it will hit empty and I will be a walking, grumpy zombie. Let’s hope this happens after I arrive at the hotel in Portland saving the general public from a tired and moody Deirdre.  With a good night sleep and a meal or two, I will back to normal ready to face my nerves and feelings of excitement for this new adventure.

            My journey to Portland began before the day even saw its first rays of sunlight. My packed bags were already loaded into the car. All I had to do was get up, shower and head out the door. Before I could leave, however, I received a notification that my flight was delayed. The delay was only fifteen minutes providing me comfort that I would have a few extra minutes to go through security and grab breakfast before take off. I headed to Framingham, MA to catch the 5:30 Logan Express to Logan airport. The bus ride into the city was uneventful which is exactly what one would prefer from a trip on the Mass Turnpike. Thinking I arrived with plenty of time to drop off my bags and go through security I exited the bus calm and relaxed. This feeling of bliss lasted all of ten seconds when I saw the line for baggage drop off. Wrapping around walls and through hallways, the line looked never ending. Fear entered a pit in my stomach. Was I going to make my flight or would I be another stranded passenger featured on the nightly news describing my horrific attempt to fly? With a little luck, a prayer and a quick call home I moved through the line. Passengers leaving earlier were expedited to the front getting me through baggage drop off and off to security with ease. For as many people that were flying, the airline moved the line along and I was able to not only make my flight on time, but grab a muffin to hold me over.

            Just so you are aware, this blog is being written about 35,000 feet in the air. Yes, wifi on airplanes actually works and is quite efficient. We are currently flying over Wisconsin. I strategically picked a window seat when booking my ticket. As a typical east coast girl who has never stepped foot in the Pacific, I wanted the opportunity to at least catch a glimpse of the great lakes, Canada and all those states in the middle. As I fly up, up and away, I am surrounded by fluffy white clouds and strain to catch a peek at the unique landscape that is the Midwest. All I can say is that by the end of this six-hour plane ride I can at least claim that I broadened by horizons and saw some new horizons 35,000 feet in the air!

            When I arrive in Portland, my priorities are finding my luggage, getting to the hotel, grabbing a much needed meal and sleeping the rest of the day away. I want to kick back and relax before I start the week. I will travel to Molalla, Oregon and spend the week at Camp Adams for the JVC Nortwest's orientation week. Throughout the week, I will have no access to technology in order to be introduced to simple living and be able to fully immerse myself in the program and with fellow volunteers.  I am excited to meet my community members, fellow volunteers and program leadership. Am I nervous? Of course! New experiences are exciting and rewarding, but they also come with many challenges. I hope that I have the strength of faith and heart to meet those challenges.
              Since my year of service begins tomorrow, I am filled with anticipation as to what this experience will be like. It makes you think about what my goals are for the year and what I hope to do. Two weeks ago, I attended mass in Falmouth, MA and the priest’s homily focused on the biblical story of the loaves and fishes. Jesus takes the small offering of bread and fish and is able to transform them into enough food for nearly 5,000 people. The priest focused on what we are able to give, what we all have in our baskets. My gifts and talents are not enough to solve every problem present in the world or even in my intended Oregon community, but that does not mean that my basket is worthless. What I have to offer can be multiplied and impact the masses. With the help of Christ, what I have to offer has a greater impact than I can measure. Volunteering isn’t about solving the world problems, but rather taking the gifts you have and investing them in people and society. We go forth to love and serve the Lord. Throughout the next year, it is my hope that my hands on work with the youth of Oregon and my work with JVC Northwest will share with Christ what is in my basket and be a part of his good work.  

Painting a New Canvas

"Life is a great big canvas; throw all the paint you can at it."

-Danny Kaye

Painting over the old design...

In the Fall of 2013, I started my Junior year at The Catholic University of America. While most of my classmates were figuring out their lives and making plans for the future, I hit a wall. After having spent two years studying history, doing curatorial and museum internships and preparing for a life working in as a museum educator, I discovered I was bored. My lessons confused me, my research overwhelmed me and my prospects discouraged me. This is not how anyone, especially someone halfway through college, wants to feel. Before this 'quarter life crisis' I had a plan. If you know me, you know I like having a plan, a roadmap to know where I am going and what to do next. For the first time in my life, however, I didn't know what came next.  Should I still look into grad school? Maybe I should look for jobs? Move home or stay in DC? I had no answers for my friends, family, teachers, but most of all I had no answers for myself. It was time to slow down, stop planning and just look around.  I had to embrace this time in my life where the future was unknown and the possibilities endless. It was a hard transition, but the more time I spent enjoying myself instead of planning life, the happier I was. Throughout my Junior and Senior years at CUA, I embraced all the experiences, people and opportunities that entered my life. As I walked across the Basilica steps on graduation day, I was warmed with the feeling that I was moving from one great life experience to another.  

"Whatever you do, do with joy and gratitude."

The idea of long term service was just that, an idea. I didn't consider it seriously until my mission trip to Kingston, Jamaica during the spring of Junior year. While serving the people of Kingston, I found a sense of joy and peace that had escaped me.  Whether  I was mopping the floors of Jacob's Well, teaching school children the Baby Shark song or reading to the elderly, I felt that my presence and service to others had a purpose. During our final mass in country, the priest told us all that "whatever you do, do with joy and gratitude." These words expressed my experiences from the past week and my year of the self discovery. A new adventure was beginning.

Faith and Service

I knew I wanted to do long term service. I wanted to help others in a direct and hands on way, but a year of service would also be challenging and introduce me to new life experiences. If I was going to undertake this journey, I knew that a spiritual component was key. Just like my CUA experience, the presence of a strong faith life would  help me grow and serve others better. Spirituality had to be a core value and because of this I found myself drawn to the Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest. The core values of Spirituality, Community, Simple Living/Sustainability and Social and Ecological Justice captured my desire to serve and connect with my faith, global community and environment.

Join me on the trail and #explOREGON with me! 

On August 2nd, the adventure begins! I intend to take Oregon by storm, learn to love the rain and hug as many trees as possible! Follow my journey and learn about service in the Pacific Northwest. I'll be updating this blog with reflections, thoughts and pictures to let you be a part of my experiences!

Here's to the future and all good things to come! And remember, whatever you do, do with joy and gratitude!

Deirdre