Well, I am beginning to see and
feel the difference between the Midwest and the Northwest. It has just turned into fall weather
with all the leaves changing, but still remaining 60 degrees and I have only
heard cold things about the Midwest.
I will just have to see how the rest of the winter plays out, but right
now I am loving it! Not to mention I fell in love with Washington this past
weekend. JVC Northwest held the
first of three retreats in Monroe, Wa.
The camp is located on over hundred acres of forest because it was meant
to feel as though you were “living” in nature. The A-frame common area building looks out on to a small
lake surrounded by pine trees and rolling clouds. In my mind, this was a perfect setting for a retreat, to get
away from the city chaos and draw nearer to the purpose of the retreat:
community and right relationships.
I
came into this year feeling as though the value of community would be pretty
easy. I mean I have been a part of
many communities in the past and I thrived. However, putting eight strangers in a house (real world?),
sharing money, living simply, and serving at various placements, it causes
challenges that you never thought would occur in a community or with
roommates. At retreat, we were
able to dive into our visions for the house as well as have some one-on-one
time with the other community members to discuss our strengths and barriers in
that relationship. I was blown
away by the community of JVC (the 55 Cascade region JVs) coming together, not
really knowing each other and feeling as though we are somehow all related and
experiencing similar daily lives because of JVC being our base. The last night we all came together to
perform skits indicating what a day in the life of our house looked like. Of course, they were all quite
humorous, but we could relate to everyone’s skit in someway. After this night, I realized that this
was the organization, community, ecosystem that I was meant to be a part
of.
Now
at my placement there are definitely days where I want to pull my hair out or
fall over in exhaustion. Talk
about jumping into your first full time job with a bang! Our numbers for breakfast have doubled
and I am sure I look like I have no emotion or patience for anyone. Of course one youth has let me know how
stern I have become since beginning there and it really made me think about how
I am becoming numb to their situations and not even thinking about their
needs. Granted I still run around
caring for them, answering their questions, grabbing them a toothbrush, making
coffee but I don’t take a breath to realize that I am serving homeless youth
who have experienced a wide range of challenges including abuse, neglect,
addictions, jail time and so much more.
I have been in Portland for almost 3 months now, and I have already
become numb! Every time I stop and take in what I am doing I become so
disappointed because I have stopped becoming an advocate for the youth and
started becoming another disciplinary that they want to push away. There are youth that I have to tip toe
around to not trigger their mental illness or aggravate them if they are on
drugs. Some youth I can joke
around with and be myself and others I avoid because I do not know how to
approach them or I am scared to approach them, which is pretty minimal at this
point in time.
Nevertheless,
the relationships that I have built with some of the youth have completely
changed my view on those experiencing homelessness and those who are trying to
redeem their life. Some days I get
to have conversations and others I am just there to listen. They need someone to support them, give
them a little lift to pave their pathway to a more substantial life. Some youth
have so much fight in them to make their life right again, but others are not
willing to forgive their guardians or fix the mess that they created. Every youth who walks in our door has
difference experiences creating such a diverse environment. After just 3 months of serving, I am
proud to say that I am a part of this diverse, chaotic ecosystem that provides
support to a community of youth who deserve a chance to make it!
No comments:
Post a Comment