Our first meeting was a mix of joy and a little bit of tears. We gathered for a potluck at the STM where we shared about our first two weeks back in Boston. For some of us the transition has been difficult as we ask ourselves, ‘Does it really matter if we have an MA in pastoral ministry when these kids are seeking affection or playing games with us?’ or “How can we incorporate this experience into our daily lives?’ or ‘Where was God really calling me to be present during that trip?’
Sometimes the mere mention of a child’s name can bring tears to our eyes. As we reflect back on our experience with fondness and love it brings a tinge of sadness. It seems like we were there yesterday cradling the children and chasing them around Blessed Assurance.
We certainly laughed at the experiences of the week as we shared fried plantains, fruit salad, and chocolate chip cookies. It was the first meal we had together since we had been back at school. When we were in Jamaica all our meals were in community.
During our first meeting we also discussed what we should do with our excess fundraising money. We talked about dividing it between glaze for the Mustard Seed potters who will need the glaze to make beautiful pottery. We also talked about how we can assist MSC as they overcome the devastating fire to one of their homes. Officials estimate it was a loss of $175,000. The children will need to have everything replaced. Thankfully, they are safe and sound. Some of our group members will meet with others at Boston College to decide how we as a community can best serve MSC.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Devastating fire at Mustard Seed
We learned that one home for Mustard Seed Communities was destroyed in a fire late Monday. Martha's House, which is located in Kingston, Jamaica and houses 30 children was gutted. Two children were sent to a hospital and one caregiver suffered a broken leg.
This particular home housed children with HIV/AIDS. The children affected by the blaze were taken to other homes. Thankfully, their medication was saved. However, they lost everything else in the fire.
Authorities were unclear what started the blaze.
Please keep Mustard Seed Communities in your thoughts and prayers.
This particular home housed children with HIV/AIDS. The children affected by the blaze were taken to other homes. Thankfully, their medication was saved. However, they lost everything else in the fire.
Authorities were unclear what started the blaze.
Please keep Mustard Seed Communities in your thoughts and prayers.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Settling back into life
Time can fly when you are having fun or maybe re-adjusting back into school life.
Seven days have past since we have returned from Montego Bay, Jamaica. And it doesn't seem like it has been a week since we last saw the children. Reality has begun to sink in as our semester winds down.
A few of our group members have caught up with each other this week in the halls of the STM or during informal conversations in our homes and apartments. The first 72 hours of life in Boston seemed to overwhelm some. It was hard not seeing the children and the beautiful faces of Mustard Seed Communities.
Our friends and classmates have bombarded us with questions and some of us have been curt with responses such as awesome, enriching or amazing. The word tiring has not come up yet although many of us are still trying to catch up on rest. It is hard to wrap our hands around the emotions that overwhelmed us and flooded our every being.
We've asked questions of each other such as, "So, what now?" and made statements such as, "I need help processing this."
Our team member, Jess, set up a photo sharing site where we have posted our photographs for our group to see. And looking back at the photographs of the Cathedral in Montego Bay, the cottages at Blessed Assurance and most importantly the children bring us back to a simpler place that didn't include homework demands, context text messages and adult realities of medical appointments and paying bills.
Currently we are planned to gather as a group in a week to help each other process and share a meal. We have been asked to think about our struggles this week and our high points.
We will report back and let you know how that process goes.
Seven days have past since we have returned from Montego Bay, Jamaica. And it doesn't seem like it has been a week since we last saw the children. Reality has begun to sink in as our semester winds down.
A few of our group members have caught up with each other this week in the halls of the STM or during informal conversations in our homes and apartments. The first 72 hours of life in Boston seemed to overwhelm some. It was hard not seeing the children and the beautiful faces of Mustard Seed Communities.
Our friends and classmates have bombarded us with questions and some of us have been curt with responses such as awesome, enriching or amazing. The word tiring has not come up yet although many of us are still trying to catch up on rest. It is hard to wrap our hands around the emotions that overwhelmed us and flooded our every being.
We've asked questions of each other such as, "So, what now?" and made statements such as, "I need help processing this."
Our team member, Jess, set up a photo sharing site where we have posted our photographs for our group to see. And looking back at the photographs of the Cathedral in Montego Bay, the cottages at Blessed Assurance and most importantly the children bring us back to a simpler place that didn't include homework demands, context text messages and adult realities of medical appointments and paying bills.
Currently we are planned to gather as a group in a week to help each other process and share a meal. We have been asked to think about our struggles this week and our high points.
We will report back and let you know how that process goes.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
We're back!
Hi all -
This is just a quick note to let you know that the missionaries from the STM are back in Boston. We arrived from Montego Bay, JA around 8p.m. It was a wonderful week with amazing folks from Blessed Assurance in Montego Bay. We met 41 amazing children and their caregivers. Each one of them embraced us lovingly.
We will post more later as we decompress, unpack and ready for school on Monday!
Thanks to all who prayed for us, kept us in their thoughts and wished us well.
Take care,
Clarissa
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Mustard Seed update
March 5, 2009
Days and tasks in Jamaica seem to roll together. We have now spent six days here in the Mustard Seed Communities in Montego Bay.
Physically we are worn down from the daily tasks of priming the new Chapel, painting the children’s therapy room and varnishing the floor. We rise at 6a.m. and begin our day with a meal of toast, pok choy with cod and eggs.
Around 8a.m .we move to one of the four cottages that house close to 40 residents aged 18 mos. To 18-years-old. Some are jumping up and down to see us while others, who are bed ridden, are smiling and grinning as we amble through the doors.
We will sing and pray some mornings and other mornings assist with feeding the children bread or porridge.
Once we complete the morning devotions and breakfast we start our own tasks. We’ll work until noon, break for lunch and resume working until 3:30 p.m.
One afternoon we were blessed with a visit from Mustard Seed Communities founder Fr. Greg Ramkissoon. He started the communities more than 30 years ago. That afternoon he was a whirlwind of inspiration as he quickly surveyed the property and began looking at the Chapel. He asked for advice on color and even its name. He asked us our names, our programs and how we were eating.
A few folks in the group are unsure of how this trip will affect our lives. A handful of us were initially shocked at the twisted limbs of the children as we walked through their front doors. The smell of dirty diapers can be overwhelming in the afternoon heat. But once you look past the sights and smells you look into the children’s eyes and see their soul. You can see how happy they are to have company and someone by their side. They tug at your hands and jump into your arms.
They clamor for attention and play peek-a-boo behind their door. They sway to a beat as you gently clap your hands. Sometimes you aren’t sure what they are singing but the beat in their head is prominent.
*************
In Jamaica we hear that things are at a different pace. Less hectic. Less structured. The local word for this is ‘Irie.” Wehave experienced moments of this. We went to Mass at the Mo-Bay (Montego Bay) Cathedral. Bishop Charles Dufour gave a wonderful homily complete with a song in the middle of it. Lots of music and swaying. Engaging and lively. Prayerful and reverent. One of the most wonderful Masses I have attended. And it was two hours. Meeting the Bishop afterwards was great. He is a native Jamaican which is few and far between for this island.
-Michelle Kelley.
***********
Kids are kids. I keep seeing my pre-school nephews in these children. Despite being worlds apart and separated by disabilities, the same things can elicit a smile or laugh – a song, a funny face – the same things are challenges – sharing, setting boundaries. I try to keep this in mind as I see how little these kids have, even though it is much more than they would have if they were not here. I wonder if they are even aware of what they lack. Or if they are simply satisfied with what they have.
-Douglas Leal
**************
Beautiful children, smiles, play, work, prayer, friendships, sun, blessings…There’s no where else I’d rather be right now.
-Nathaniel Samuel
***************
“The Mustard Tree”
Bubbles are wafting out of the girls cottage. They erupt in laughter like giddy summer campers.
In the babies’ dorm Jane patiently feeds Curtis and learns Jasmine’s spirituals. Michelle plays with mobile Marissa and Heidi dances with string-legged Robert. Douglas pushes the twins down the avenue.
In the early morning the rooster crows, the kittens meow and the children begin their calls. In the spreading down their choral of whimpers and shouts plays.
The boys hang out the window, clamoring for attention. Their frustration spills out into whacks on each other and on the volunteers, grabbing and other boyish mischief.
All the emotion is palatable, right there on the surface bursting into joy and sorrow. The light of their candles burns glorious kindled by care and love.
The care givers love them like their own, diligently bathing and feeding and wrapping them in kind discipline.
The tree is growing strong, branches thick with fruit. The light of Christ streams from the well and pours out light in their eyes in the smiles, in their touch.
Like the withered hand that is healed, the growth isn’t always easy. The tears balm the wounds – all of ours, but we are all pulled toward the Son, whose love grows inside ours.
-Bill Gural
******************
Come!
“Come!” Tis is the word the children here at Mustards Seed Communities use to get your attention. They use it to invite you to come and sit with them. Come push their wheelchairs. And come play peek-a-book through the pink shutters of their house.
I felt excited, anxious and emotional all at once as I entered the boys dorm for the first time. I honestly don’t think that anyone or anything could have prepared me for what I saw as I walked through those doors.
A dozen little boys, laying on beds, curled up in cribs, sitting in wheelchairs, peeking down at us from the stairs, jumping around, and a few calmly starring out the window. Their twisted limbs and frail bodies made me hesitate, their loud wailing and moans startled me. I took a deep breath, kneeled down and reached out my hand to a boy who was immobile on a bed to the left of the door. As I looked into his eyes I was moved. I saw the mystery within him. It was not that the pain and suffering was not, but only that I was able to see past his contoured body and see him.
Come. Come hold their hands. Come let the children be your teachers. Come look into their eyes. Come, learn their abilities and disabilities. Come, come to Mustard Seed and see.
-Heidi Kallen
*****************
Look Beyond
Look beyond my useless body and see the face of Jesus.
Look beyond my anger and pain and see the face of Jesus.
Look beyond my frailties and see the face of Jesus.
Look beyond my crying out and see the face of Jesus.
Look beyond my angry outbursts and see the face of Jesus.
Look beyond my tears of frustration and see the face of Jesus.
Touch my heart with your heart and see the face of Jesus.
Look into the loving smile on my face and see the face of Jesus.
-Jane Lash
Days and tasks in Jamaica seem to roll together. We have now spent six days here in the Mustard Seed Communities in Montego Bay.
Physically we are worn down from the daily tasks of priming the new Chapel, painting the children’s therapy room and varnishing the floor. We rise at 6a.m. and begin our day with a meal of toast, pok choy with cod and eggs.
Around 8a.m .we move to one of the four cottages that house close to 40 residents aged 18 mos. To 18-years-old. Some are jumping up and down to see us while others, who are bed ridden, are smiling and grinning as we amble through the doors.
We will sing and pray some mornings and other mornings assist with feeding the children bread or porridge.
Once we complete the morning devotions and breakfast we start our own tasks. We’ll work until noon, break for lunch and resume working until 3:30 p.m.
One afternoon we were blessed with a visit from Mustard Seed Communities founder Fr. Greg Ramkissoon. He started the communities more than 30 years ago. That afternoon he was a whirlwind of inspiration as he quickly surveyed the property and began looking at the Chapel. He asked for advice on color and even its name. He asked us our names, our programs and how we were eating.
A few folks in the group are unsure of how this trip will affect our lives. A handful of us were initially shocked at the twisted limbs of the children as we walked through their front doors. The smell of dirty diapers can be overwhelming in the afternoon heat. But once you look past the sights and smells you look into the children’s eyes and see their soul. You can see how happy they are to have company and someone by their side. They tug at your hands and jump into your arms.
They clamor for attention and play peek-a-boo behind their door. They sway to a beat as you gently clap your hands. Sometimes you aren’t sure what they are singing but the beat in their head is prominent.
*************
In Jamaica we hear that things are at a different pace. Less hectic. Less structured. The local word for this is ‘Irie.” Wehave experienced moments of this. We went to Mass at the Mo-Bay (Montego Bay) Cathedral. Bishop Charles Dufour gave a wonderful homily complete with a song in the middle of it. Lots of music and swaying. Engaging and lively. Prayerful and reverent. One of the most wonderful Masses I have attended. And it was two hours. Meeting the Bishop afterwards was great. He is a native Jamaican which is few and far between for this island.
-Michelle Kelley.
***********
Kids are kids. I keep seeing my pre-school nephews in these children. Despite being worlds apart and separated by disabilities, the same things can elicit a smile or laugh – a song, a funny face – the same things are challenges – sharing, setting boundaries. I try to keep this in mind as I see how little these kids have, even though it is much more than they would have if they were not here. I wonder if they are even aware of what they lack. Or if they are simply satisfied with what they have.
-Douglas Leal
**************
Beautiful children, smiles, play, work, prayer, friendships, sun, blessings…There’s no where else I’d rather be right now.
-Nathaniel Samuel
***************
“The Mustard Tree”
Bubbles are wafting out of the girls cottage. They erupt in laughter like giddy summer campers.
In the babies’ dorm Jane patiently feeds Curtis and learns Jasmine’s spirituals. Michelle plays with mobile Marissa and Heidi dances with string-legged Robert. Douglas pushes the twins down the avenue.
In the early morning the rooster crows, the kittens meow and the children begin their calls. In the spreading down their choral of whimpers and shouts plays.
The boys hang out the window, clamoring for attention. Their frustration spills out into whacks on each other and on the volunteers, grabbing and other boyish mischief.
All the emotion is palatable, right there on the surface bursting into joy and sorrow. The light of their candles burns glorious kindled by care and love.
The care givers love them like their own, diligently bathing and feeding and wrapping them in kind discipline.
The tree is growing strong, branches thick with fruit. The light of Christ streams from the well and pours out light in their eyes in the smiles, in their touch.
Like the withered hand that is healed, the growth isn’t always easy. The tears balm the wounds – all of ours, but we are all pulled toward the Son, whose love grows inside ours.
-Bill Gural
******************
Come!
“Come!” Tis is the word the children here at Mustards Seed Communities use to get your attention. They use it to invite you to come and sit with them. Come push their wheelchairs. And come play peek-a-book through the pink shutters of their house.
I felt excited, anxious and emotional all at once as I entered the boys dorm for the first time. I honestly don’t think that anyone or anything could have prepared me for what I saw as I walked through those doors.
A dozen little boys, laying on beds, curled up in cribs, sitting in wheelchairs, peeking down at us from the stairs, jumping around, and a few calmly starring out the window. Their twisted limbs and frail bodies made me hesitate, their loud wailing and moans startled me. I took a deep breath, kneeled down and reached out my hand to a boy who was immobile on a bed to the left of the door. As I looked into his eyes I was moved. I saw the mystery within him. It was not that the pain and suffering was not, but only that I was able to see past his contoured body and see him.
Come. Come hold their hands. Come let the children be your teachers. Come look into their eyes. Come, learn their abilities and disabilities. Come, come to Mustard Seed and see.
-Heidi Kallen
*****************
Look Beyond
Look beyond my useless body and see the face of Jesus.
Look beyond my anger and pain and see the face of Jesus.
Look beyond my frailties and see the face of Jesus.
Look beyond my crying out and see the face of Jesus.
Look beyond my angry outbursts and see the face of Jesus.
Look beyond my tears of frustration and see the face of Jesus.
Touch my heart with your heart and see the face of Jesus.
Look into the loving smile on my face and see the face of Jesus.
-Jane Lash
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