It's been a while since I've written, but life has been a little crazy in the meantime! I was in Chicago for U.S. orientation with all of the YAGMs from August 15 to August 21. This was a beautiful week of community building, learning about how the ELCA does mission work, and having our minds overloaded with information about culture and how to build relationships abroad. It was an intense week, but thankfully it was filled with new friendships and lots of down time.
The hardest part of orientation was building these great new relationships with other people my age, who are passionate about many of the same things I am passionate about. The YAGM community got really close over the course of the week, but it was hard going into those relationships knowing that I will not see anyone (besides the rest of the Mexico group) until re-entry next October. Knowing that I want to be close with all these cool people, while also knowing that the goodbyes were imminent. Then came Tuesday night, when the realities of the year set in. A tearful, emotional final worship service, followed by an entertaining talent show, before starting the painful process of saying goodbye to all my new friends. I'm praying that these YAGM friendships will continue to grow throughout the year, as we all are transformed by a year of service in another cultural context.
The Mexico YAGMs left bright and early on August 22 (by early I mean our shuttle left at 5:30), but a few people were awake to see us off! We didn't hit any traffic on the way to O'Hare, and got through security in about 5 minutes. The whole days things just went our way. After a four hour flight (amazing that Mexico City is only 4 hours away from Chicago!), we got through immigration and customs smoothly, and all our bags showed up! Then it was time to say hello to Andrea, our country coordinator, eat lunch, and catch our bus to Cuernavaca. Upon arrival in Cuernavaca, there were more hellos, as we were welcomed by the sisters of the convent (site of orientation), Luke (Andrea's husband), and Olivia (Luke and Andrea's daughter).
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Friday, August 17, 2012
the revolving door
I am now (as of Wednesday, so this post is a little late) in Chicago for YAGM orientation! It's been a blur of a week, trying to finish getting everything ready at home, saying goodbyes, and traveling to Chicago to reunite with the YAGM family.
On Sunday Trinity included "Thanksgiving and Godspeed" as a part of the service. This included laying on of hands and blessing, but it wasn't for just me. Thanksgiving for Erin arriving safely home after her year of service in Uruguay with YAGM, and Godspeed for me as I begin my journey with YAGM in Chicago and eventually in Cuernavaca.
I only got to see Erin for two weeks, and I think it was an odd transition for both of us. She slept a lot, was clearly experiencing reverse culture shock, and had a hard time finding the English word at times. I, on the other hand, was starting to feel the anxiety that comes with a fast-approaching transition, and was probably a little short in my nerves about getting everything ready to pack up my life for a year. Everyone else in my family will get to spend more time with Erin as she processes her year abroad and transitions into the next phase of her life. I'm stuck doing that, once again, over email. But she has been a constant presence in my thoughts here at orientation. I met Kari, her fellow YAGM volunteer in Uruguay for the past year, who knows far more about Erin and how she's changed than I do. Erin's last advice and gifts stick with me, and I worry that I am once again "Erin's little sister." It's a hard place to be. I'm walking that line between wanting every little bit of advice for how to adjust to the coming transitions, and Erin is a good resource for that, and wanting this to be my own experience, and to experience it without her stories to cloud my perception of everything.
On Sunday Trinity included "Thanksgiving and Godspeed" as a part of the service. This included laying on of hands and blessing, but it wasn't for just me. Thanksgiving for Erin arriving safely home after her year of service in Uruguay with YAGM, and Godspeed for me as I begin my journey with YAGM in Chicago and eventually in Cuernavaca.
I only got to see Erin for two weeks, and I think it was an odd transition for both of us. She slept a lot, was clearly experiencing reverse culture shock, and had a hard time finding the English word at times. I, on the other hand, was starting to feel the anxiety that comes with a fast-approaching transition, and was probably a little short in my nerves about getting everything ready to pack up my life for a year. Everyone else in my family will get to spend more time with Erin as she processes her year abroad and transitions into the next phase of her life. I'm stuck doing that, once again, over email. But she has been a constant presence in my thoughts here at orientation. I met Kari, her fellow YAGM volunteer in Uruguay for the past year, who knows far more about Erin and how she's changed than I do. Erin's last advice and gifts stick with me, and I worry that I am once again "Erin's little sister." It's a hard place to be. I'm walking that line between wanting every little bit of advice for how to adjust to the coming transitions, and Erin is a good resource for that, and wanting this to be my own experience, and to experience it without her stories to cloud my perception of everything.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
PLACEMENT...and more fundraising!
This past Sunday was a pretty exciting day for my preparations for Mexico!
I gave the "Ministry Spotlight" at Pointe of Grace, a partner congregation to my home congregation. It was my first time visiting Pointe of Grace, but my visit went great! I was able to talk to a lot of different people about YAGM and what I knew so far about my service in Cuernavaca, I added several people to my email list, and raised over $600! This puts my fundraising total at right about $4000, which is great news!
I am feeling so supported by my communities, and I'm excited to be able to share my stories from Mexico with everyone.
On to other news...my placement! After coming home from church on Sunday, I received an email with my work placement from Andrea, which just added to my great day!
I'm going to be working part-time at two different organizations. My first site is the Centro de Estudios, Difusión e Investigación en Sexulidad Humana A.C. (CEDISH, aka the Center for Studies, Spread, and Investigation of Human Sexuality). CEDISH is a new organization (I'll be the first YAGM volunteer) that provides workshops on sexuality to different parts of the population. Lately, these workshops have focused on working with people with Down Syndrome and the deaf population. The workshops mainly focus on the connections between human rights, gender, sexuality, disability, and violence.
My second site is Autonomía, Libertad en Movimiento (ALEM, aka Autonomy, Liberty/Freedom, and Movement). ALEM is a sort of community center for many people with disabilities, and they also make wheelchairs. I will possibly be helping to develop some sort of exercise routine that people can do sitting down or in their wheelchairs.
I'm a little nervous about these placements, as they seem a little outside of my comfort zone and unlike anything I've ever done before. But I'm also excited! They seem challenging, but I'm hopeful that, with my supervisors, we can find a good fit for me. My placement is also making my upcoming year in Mexico a lot more tangible, as I now have a better idea of what I will be doing for most of the year. While this helps fuel my enthusiasm, it also adds to the anxiety of such a huge life change, because this is all becoming so much more real!
Less than 3 weeks to orientation in Chicago, and less than 4 weeks until I will be landing in Mexico City!
I gave the "Ministry Spotlight" at Pointe of Grace, a partner congregation to my home congregation. It was my first time visiting Pointe of Grace, but my visit went great! I was able to talk to a lot of different people about YAGM and what I knew so far about my service in Cuernavaca, I added several people to my email list, and raised over $600! This puts my fundraising total at right about $4000, which is great news!
I am feeling so supported by my communities, and I'm excited to be able to share my stories from Mexico with everyone.
On to other news...my placement! After coming home from church on Sunday, I received an email with my work placement from Andrea, which just added to my great day!
I'm going to be working part-time at two different organizations. My first site is the Centro de Estudios, Difusión e Investigación en Sexulidad Humana A.C. (CEDISH, aka the Center for Studies, Spread, and Investigation of Human Sexuality). CEDISH is a new organization (I'll be the first YAGM volunteer) that provides workshops on sexuality to different parts of the population. Lately, these workshops have focused on working with people with Down Syndrome and the deaf population. The workshops mainly focus on the connections between human rights, gender, sexuality, disability, and violence.
My second site is Autonomía, Libertad en Movimiento (ALEM, aka Autonomy, Liberty/Freedom, and Movement). ALEM is a sort of community center for many people with disabilities, and they also make wheelchairs. I will possibly be helping to develop some sort of exercise routine that people can do sitting down or in their wheelchairs.
I'm a little nervous about these placements, as they seem a little outside of my comfort zone and unlike anything I've ever done before. But I'm also excited! They seem challenging, but I'm hopeful that, with my supervisors, we can find a good fit for me. My placement is also making my upcoming year in Mexico a lot more tangible, as I now have a better idea of what I will be doing for most of the year. While this helps fuel my enthusiasm, it also adds to the anxiety of such a huge life change, because this is all becoming so much more real!
Less than 3 weeks to orientation in Chicago, and less than 4 weeks until I will be landing in Mexico City!
Sunday, July 15, 2012
one month...
It's July 15th, which means only one month until YAGM orientation in Chicago! I leave on Wednesday August 15 at 6 am for Chicago. I know at least one other YAGM volunteer will be on my flight with me, and probably another one or two.
It's coming up! The next month will go by fast! My sister Erin comes home in two weeks from her YAGM year in Uruguay. She's going to get a couple days at home before we leave on a family vacation, and then we'll all be home for a couple of days before I leave. SO SOON!!!
Items on my packing list and to-do list are slowly being checked off, but this week is when I get to really power through and get a lot done! Next week I'll be giving the "Mission Moment" at the partner congregation for my church, which will hopefully help me raise the last $700 or so that I need to raise by August 1st. Otherwise, all is going well!
It's coming up! The next month will go by fast! My sister Erin comes home in two weeks from her YAGM year in Uruguay. She's going to get a couple days at home before we leave on a family vacation, and then we'll all be home for a couple of days before I leave. SO SOON!!!
Items on my packing list and to-do list are slowly being checked off, but this week is when I get to really power through and get a lot done! Next week I'll be giving the "Mission Moment" at the partner congregation for my church, which will hopefully help me raise the last $700 or so that I need to raise by August 1st. Otherwise, all is going well!
Monday, July 2, 2012
When you think Mexico, what comes to mind?
Mexico is a big place, and as one of the U.S.'s neighbors, many Americans think they "know" Mexico. But what Mexico do you think about? A country of beach resorts like Cancún, Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco? A country to avoid because of the recent narco-violence? A country connected to "unwanted" illegal immigrants to the U.S.?
I've been to Mexico once before. In 2008 I traveled to Hermosillo, Sonora (in northern Mexico, only a couple of hours south of Nogales) with people from my youth group on a mission trip. We partnered with a pastor my youth pastor had known for a while. Every day we worked on construction for a new church building and assisted the congregation's youth in running an outreach program at different parks around the city. In between this work we ate delicious food and were showered with hospitality from the families we stayed with.
I stayed in a host family with two other girls. Staying with a host family was quite an experience. No on in my family spoke any English, the two girls who stayed with me knew no Spanish, so I ended up translating during the week because I had taken two years of high school Spanish. Needless to say, there was a lot of smiling and nodding on both sides. This was my first experience with a host family, and it's going to come full circle with my host family in Cuernavaca!
I loved my first trip to Mexico, and it has helped to shape me. But I'm trying to go into my year with YAGM without any preconceived notions. I know the cities aren't going to be the same, I will (hopefully!) be able to communicate much better in Spanish, and the things I will be doing are going to be very different. But it's hard to not take those romanticized ideals of Mexico with me!
I sometimes dream about what my life in Cuernavaca is going to be like. In my perfect world, I will instantly pick up my Spanish, connect well with my host family, feel like I have meaningful work, visit the pyramids, go to soccer games, learn how to salsa dance, etc. But that's not necessarily going to be my reality. I don't know what the mountains in Cuernavaca are going to be like or if they're going to make me homesick for the Olympic and Cascade mountains (after all, I had a view of Mt. Rainier from my apartment all last year). In all likelihood, I will struggle with my Spanish, and will feel awkward around my host family for a while. I will get homesick (maybe even sick), and probably wonder why I decided to move to Mexico for a year. That's what makes my preparations for Mexico so difficult at times. I go in stages; at times I am really excited about everything, and at other times I get terrified at the thought of being in another new city where I am not very comfortable with the language and the culture. What terrible mistakes will I make? But I'm confident that this is where I'm supposed to be for a year, and I'm incredibly thankful for all the support I am receiving from all my family and friends!
Sidenote: Mexico elected a new president on Sunday. Read about their new president here!
I've been to Mexico once before. In 2008 I traveled to Hermosillo, Sonora (in northern Mexico, only a couple of hours south of Nogales) with people from my youth group on a mission trip. We partnered with a pastor my youth pastor had known for a while. Every day we worked on construction for a new church building and assisted the congregation's youth in running an outreach program at different parks around the city. In between this work we ate delicious food and were showered with hospitality from the families we stayed with.
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| 2008 Mexico Mission Team - we all look so young! |
I loved my first trip to Mexico, and it has helped to shape me. But I'm trying to go into my year with YAGM without any preconceived notions. I know the cities aren't going to be the same, I will (hopefully!) be able to communicate much better in Spanish, and the things I will be doing are going to be very different. But it's hard to not take those romanticized ideals of Mexico with me!
I sometimes dream about what my life in Cuernavaca is going to be like. In my perfect world, I will instantly pick up my Spanish, connect well with my host family, feel like I have meaningful work, visit the pyramids, go to soccer games, learn how to salsa dance, etc. But that's not necessarily going to be my reality. I don't know what the mountains in Cuernavaca are going to be like or if they're going to make me homesick for the Olympic and Cascade mountains (after all, I had a view of Mt. Rainier from my apartment all last year). In all likelihood, I will struggle with my Spanish, and will feel awkward around my host family for a while. I will get homesick (maybe even sick), and probably wonder why I decided to move to Mexico for a year. That's what makes my preparations for Mexico so difficult at times. I go in stages; at times I am really excited about everything, and at other times I get terrified at the thought of being in another new city where I am not very comfortable with the language and the culture. What terrible mistakes will I make? But I'm confident that this is where I'm supposed to be for a year, and I'm incredibly thankful for all the support I am receiving from all my family and friends!
Sidenote: Mexico elected a new president on Sunday. Read about their new president here!
Monday, June 25, 2012
Mission Moment at Trinity
Yesterday I gave the "Mission Moment" at my home church, Trinity Lutheran. This meant I spoke at all three services for about two minutes, giving a brief description of YAGM, the (few) details I know about my service in Mexico, and the ways people in the congregation can support me and share in my year ahead. Between services, I had a table set up in the narthex with a poster and information on my service in Mexico.
I was shocked by the phenomenal response! Over 30 people signed up to receive my email newsletter, and I raised over $800! While some of the people who came to talk to me were old friends, many of the people interested in my service were people I had never spoken to before. I felt so embraced by this community of faith, and I am excited to be able to share my stories from Mexico with more and more individuals. Thank you for all of your support!
Fundraising update: Thanks in large part to members of Trinity, and the work my family put in at the Junktique on my behalf, I have raised almost $3000. This means I still need a little over a $1000, but this seems much more feasible now!
I was shocked by the phenomenal response! Over 30 people signed up to receive my email newsletter, and I raised over $800! While some of the people who came to talk to me were old friends, many of the people interested in my service were people I had never spoken to before. I felt so embraced by this community of faith, and I am excited to be able to share my stories from Mexico with more and more individuals. Thank you for all of your support!
Fundraising update: Thanks in large part to members of Trinity, and the work my family put in at the Junktique on my behalf, I have raised almost $3000. This means I still need a little over a $1000, but this seems much more feasible now!
Friday, June 22, 2012
In TWO MONTHS I will be in Mexico!
I was reminded by a fellow YAGMs blog (Thank you Jane! Check out her blog about Madagascar here.) that in exactly two months our international adventures will begin! Orientation begins in Chicago on August 15 and lasts for a week. I'm really excited to see the rest of the 2012 YAGMs again after last seeing them in April in Wisconsin. I don't mean to brag, but we are a really cool group of people.
On August 22 everyone will leave for their respective countries, which means I, and the rest of the Mexico YAGM team, will be leaving for Mexico City! I am super excited, but it's also weird to think that Mexico City is only a 4 hour plane ride from Chicago (if you fly direct), which is about the same amount of time it takes to fly from Seattle to Chicago. Only 4 hours, to be in a completely different climate and culture! That's less time than it takes to fly to Hawaii, or Washington D.C. from Seattle. Only 4 hours in the air to start the next phase of my journey.
Preparations for my year in Mexico are starting to intensify. I'm looking at backpacks for packing (I'm planning on bringing a large backpack and one rolling suitcase, along with a small carry on), reading about Mexican elections (July 1st), continuing my fundraising, and trying to wrap up all the loose ends here at home. I'm speaking at my home congregation for the "Mission Moment" this Sunday, so I'm also preparing my talk and some materials to give to interested members. At this point in time, I'm about halfway to my fundraising goal of $4000, so it's time for another push! If you're interested in donating on my behalf, please contact me!
On August 22 everyone will leave for their respective countries, which means I, and the rest of the Mexico YAGM team, will be leaving for Mexico City! I am super excited, but it's also weird to think that Mexico City is only a 4 hour plane ride from Chicago (if you fly direct), which is about the same amount of time it takes to fly from Seattle to Chicago. Only 4 hours, to be in a completely different climate and culture! That's less time than it takes to fly to Hawaii, or Washington D.C. from Seattle. Only 4 hours in the air to start the next phase of my journey.
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| 2012 Mexico YAGM group |
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