Three months ago I made the commitment to become a full-time volunteer with the Augustinian Volunteers. At the time I was in school talking with friends who were about to embark on similar journeys, but now that I've graduated it's easy to forget why I had the urge to jump into something so unfamiliar to me. I began doubting that I wanted this anymore because I was scared. I was scared of being away from everything I know and love; my family, friends, boyfriend, dog, state. It's also hard to see all of my friends getting jobs or going back to school because there is this constant feeling that I should be doing those things too. Backing out seemed like an easy option, but the reality is that those things will be here when I get back and I have the rest of my life to find a job.
Yesterday I had the opportunity to speak with many of the people who were very much a part of my discernment process, most of whom are former volunteers. While I was back at Cabrini and listening to their experiences it all became very clear again. When I really think about it I can't see myself doing anything else and serving others is what I've been doing my whole life and this is the next step. [That stupid Robert Frost poem keeps popping into my head (sorry Robert). I guess that poem is relevant in many stages of life, but certainly for me as I take this next step. I had two options--find a job or volunteer for one year. Obviously you know the one I decided.] I'm fortunate to have such a wonderful network of people who will lend me support and advice during the next year. I hope that after my year, I'm able to help others realize their options of volunteering after graduation (maybe even through this blog).
Basically this waiting period has given me much time to talk myself out of this commitment. However, it's a healthy challenge because without having second thoughts I wouldn't have had as many opportunities to remember exactly why service is important to me. In school service was, in a sense, shoved down my throat every day so when I wasn't there anymore, I felt lost in a way. But I think back to my Appalachia trips, being in Ecuador, the sleep outs for Hunger and Homelessness Week, CRS events, retreats, etc., and it all comes back to me. I don't know what exactly to expect when I get there and I think that's one of the most difficult thing for me during this waiting period. I have so many questions and anxieties but the waiting ends soon, on August 23 to be exact.
I'm excited to share my experiences with all who are reading and hope that they will inspire you to do something you never thought possible.
[Just a note, I can get a little crazy sometimes so if for some reason I ramble or am freaking out/overly excited about something, just know that's normal for me.]
Peace and love,
Shannon
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Kristie is waiting
Right now, as I type, I am waiting. I’m waiting for nothing and a whole lot of things at this moment- I mean who isn’t always waiting for something? For example, I’m waiting for my facebook page to refresh (my computer is really slow these days). I’m waiting to get tired enough to go to sleep (I really shouldn’t have had sugar after 8). I’m waiting for Tuesday night so I can see my first love in concert (Hanson). And I’m waiting for my other bloggers to post on waiting (I need some inspiration).
Yet right now as my facebook successfully loads and I can check how many people commented on my post about this blog, I find myself at a stand still for just a second. The stand still scares me because it forces me to refocus on what awaits me next- volunteering.
Now don’t get me wrong, I can’t freaking wait to start my volunteer experience at St. Ann’s. It’s going to be an incredible experience to teach elementary school children living on the Turtle Mountain reservation in Belcourt, ND. I’m looking forward to communal living and to growing in my relationship with God. I am a little intimidated but excited to experience a completely different culture than that of my Jersey shore upbringing (no, I’m not talking about Snooky, MTV, or any reality show about New Jersey. Although you should know that I can shout just as loud as anyone on Cake Boss and I do love a good boardwalk).
I guess what scares me about what’s next is what’s going on right now. I leave for ND in about 11 days. While this is an incredible time to spend with the ones closest to me, it’s also a time that’s marked by many questions and a whole lot of disbelief. I get a lot of questions from other people, the most common having to do with why on earth I would pick North Dakota out of the other 49 states to volunteer my time (the answer has everything to do with God). And I have a lot of questions myself. Can I do this? Am I going to be a good teacher? Will I make friends? Will I miss my family, friends, and boyfriend too much? Sometimes these questions become overwhelming.
As for the disbelief, I just can’t grasp the fact that it’s almost time to start this next chapter of my life. The first time I ever thought about post-undergraduate service was sophomore year of college. Throughout the next 2 years, I spent a lot of time thinking about what I might want to do as a volunteer. By the summer before senior year, I had made my decision to only apply to volunteer organizations instead of also applying to graduate school. In November, I attended a day of discernment where I was directed to the Catholic Network of Volunteer Services. Through their website, I found St. Ann’s in February. I applied and was accepted by April. It’s July 26th now but that afternoon in early April seems like it was just yesterday.
I must admit that none of that really matters because August 7th is coming soon and I have a lot to do before then. I have clothes to buy, people to see, and many prayers to be said. But in spite of my packed 'to do' list, I must challenge and remind myself to wait just a little less. I need to stay in the present and enjoy these last 11 days until I board the plane that will take me away from here and bring me to that next chapter. I don't want to miss out on the present because I'm too concerned about the future. So I'll take the time to have coffee with friends, to go out to a movie with my boyfriend, and spend some time beating my family at Scrabble. I'll hang out with my cousins, stay over my Grandma's house, and DVR more Modern Family and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to be watched after a few hours at the beach. I'll stay focused on being focused on today and not tomorrow.
"So do not worry about tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself"- Matthew 6:34
Peace,
Kristie
A NETter Before He Fishes!
Hello to all! My name is Bobby Moren and I am a Cabrini Graduate from the Class of 2008! I was a Religious Studies Major and was a founding member of the Cabrini Baseball Club. I also was very involved in the Campus Ministry program found in the Wolfington Center and was on the first Cabrini trip to go to Duran, Ecuador!
I am here writing on this blog to share with you how my life as a Cabrini graduate is going to be taking one of the biggest turns of my entire life! The journey that I and 120 other young Catholic men and women will endure will be starting on August 19, 2010. We will be full time volunteers with an Organization known as NET Ministries (National Evangelization Teams). NET is based out of St. Paul, Minnesota and is committed to being a witness of God's love and mercy to the youth of our country! On my journey around the country in my team of 12 members, we will be Challenging young Catholics to love and embrace the life of the Church!
Now this first blog is to simply tell you how waiting for the mission to start has been! Well, I was asked to raise money to help pay for some necessities and my monthly stipend of 100 dollars a month! We were asked to raise $4,000 but with much prayer and hard work, the Lord has blessed me in raising about $5,000 for my 9 month trip! As for the spiritual part of my waiting; it has been brutal on some days and on other days, I have been able to really see God in certain things. From about the time I accepted this volunteer position, I have been tempted many times over; and yet, through my failures and my trials, I have always been able to keep God close in my prayers and in my heart, which has led me to where I am today writing this blog!
Before I really figured out how close I was to leaving, I thought, "I can do this by myself! It is only 6 months away and that is really not that far away!" Well, I was wrong and the beginning was tough, Fundraising was tough, praying was tough! And then one day I looked and saw that wow, 3 months has passed and my fundraising was completed! My prayers had changed from "Lord please help me" to "Thank you Lord for this awesome blessing!" Life was less tough, things began to work out for me in all aspects of life! Now today I am leaving in a few short weeks, I have made many friends with my NET brothers and sisters, and even here at home the Lord has blessed me with caring friends, family, girlfriend and a very supportive group in my youth group teens that I have been ministering to over the past couple years!
So what is it like to be a NETter waiting? The example that comes to mind is of a fisherman! Before a fisherman goes out on the boat, he checks everything, and then, he checks it again, and then, he checks it one more time! A fisherman makes sure his nets are secure, his boat is safe, his fellow crew members are up to the task! Life before experiencing NET is one of mixed emotions of leaving my home, family, friends, and my life for 9 months! But it is also an excitement that is overwhelming to even express into words! I am giving 9 months of my life to ONLY God, by running Catholic Retreats in order to be a witness of God's Love and Mercy! I am going to be an example to thousands of teens around America of what God has called us to be in this world! So waiting has been up and down, but it has been an experience that I would never give away because it is also one of the greatest feelings I have ever felt. I will end by saying, I have made it through the preparation stages of the trip! I am ready to get on that boat and go fish with my NET!
I am here writing on this blog to share with you how my life as a Cabrini graduate is going to be taking one of the biggest turns of my entire life! The journey that I and 120 other young Catholic men and women will endure will be starting on August 19, 2010. We will be full time volunteers with an Organization known as NET Ministries (National Evangelization Teams). NET is based out of St. Paul, Minnesota and is committed to being a witness of God's love and mercy to the youth of our country! On my journey around the country in my team of 12 members, we will be Challenging young Catholics to love and embrace the life of the Church!
Now this first blog is to simply tell you how waiting for the mission to start has been! Well, I was asked to raise money to help pay for some necessities and my monthly stipend of 100 dollars a month! We were asked to raise $4,000 but with much prayer and hard work, the Lord has blessed me in raising about $5,000 for my 9 month trip! As for the spiritual part of my waiting; it has been brutal on some days and on other days, I have been able to really see God in certain things. From about the time I accepted this volunteer position, I have been tempted many times over; and yet, through my failures and my trials, I have always been able to keep God close in my prayers and in my heart, which has led me to where I am today writing this blog!
Before I really figured out how close I was to leaving, I thought, "I can do this by myself! It is only 6 months away and that is really not that far away!" Well, I was wrong and the beginning was tough, Fundraising was tough, praying was tough! And then one day I looked and saw that wow, 3 months has passed and my fundraising was completed! My prayers had changed from "Lord please help me" to "Thank you Lord for this awesome blessing!" Life was less tough, things began to work out for me in all aspects of life! Now today I am leaving in a few short weeks, I have made many friends with my NET brothers and sisters, and even here at home the Lord has blessed me with caring friends, family, girlfriend and a very supportive group in my youth group teens that I have been ministering to over the past couple years!
So what is it like to be a NETter waiting? The example that comes to mind is of a fisherman! Before a fisherman goes out on the boat, he checks everything, and then, he checks it again, and then, he checks it one more time! A fisherman makes sure his nets are secure, his boat is safe, his fellow crew members are up to the task! Life before experiencing NET is one of mixed emotions of leaving my home, family, friends, and my life for 9 months! But it is also an excitement that is overwhelming to even express into words! I am giving 9 months of my life to ONLY God, by running Catholic Retreats in order to be a witness of God's Love and Mercy! I am going to be an example to thousands of teens around America of what God has called us to be in this world! So waiting has been up and down, but it has been an experience that I would never give away because it is also one of the greatest feelings I have ever felt. I will end by saying, I have made it through the preparation stages of the trip! I am ready to get on that boat and go fish with my NET!
Waiting
Our first posts will be about the period we are all currently in- the time between making the decision to commit to our organizations and actually leaving for our assignments. Waiting can be fun, challenging, exhausting, and enlightening. We hope you enjoy and can benefit from our thoughts on this topic!
Peace,
Kristie
Peace,
Kristie
Purpose
Hello!
I (Kristie) wanted to dedicate the first post to telling you a little bit about this blog and what you can expect from it for the next year or so. The authors are three 2010 graduates from Cabrini College. Each of us have chosen to spend time as full time volunteers through Augustinian Volunteers (Shannon), Covenant House (Byll), and St. Ann's (Kristie). Chiming in sporadically will be Bobby Moren, a 2008 graduate who is doing his service through NET- National Evangelization Teams. We created this blog as a way to communicate with our loved ones, families, classmates, friends, mentors, professors, supervisors, and anyone else interested about our experiences volunteering. Our goal is to blog every few weeks about a certain topic and how it relates to each of our experiences. We'll also provide updates and stories when we can.
We appreciate your comments, encouragement, support, and (most importantly) your prayers as we embark on the next chapter of our lives. Thanks for reading!
Peace,
Kristie
I (Kristie) wanted to dedicate the first post to telling you a little bit about this blog and what you can expect from it for the next year or so. The authors are three 2010 graduates from Cabrini College. Each of us have chosen to spend time as full time volunteers through Augustinian Volunteers (Shannon), Covenant House (Byll), and St. Ann's (Kristie). Chiming in sporadically will be Bobby Moren, a 2008 graduate who is doing his service through NET- National Evangelization Teams. We created this blog as a way to communicate with our loved ones, families, classmates, friends, mentors, professors, supervisors, and anyone else interested about our experiences volunteering. Our goal is to blog every few weeks about a certain topic and how it relates to each of our experiences. We'll also provide updates and stories when we can.
We appreciate your comments, encouragement, support, and (most importantly) your prayers as we embark on the next chapter of our lives. Thanks for reading!
Peace,
Kristie
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