Generosity and a slow goodbye

We've been out of virtual touch for more than a month. It does not seem like we have been back in Brighton for almost two months.

Our lives have somewhat returned to normal or perhaps as normal as it can be for graduate students. Our group met last night to process our trip to Mustard Seed Communities. We learned during our meeting that one of our members, who is graduating in a few weeks, is discerning his experience and considering a return to Jamaica after graduation. Another member shared that she would like to try and help bring a greater awareness to family planning and health to Jamaican teenagers.

Others of us are not quite sure what this trip will mean for us. It has all flown by so quickly. We talked about ideas on going forward and we may continue to meet in the summertime and perhaps try and get in touch with future groups who may take the trip. There is an added benefit to going back through an experience and sharing it with others. It helps with our processing and helps tell the stories of people within the Mustard Seed Communities.

An audio slide show from our trip has been produced and will hopefully be shown to other students or posted on the school's Web site. The slide show was actually used during our reflection Sunday. We used it to draw upon memories of generosity from our trip in Jamaica and now here in Brighton. It is amazing how technology can really re-create scenes and emotions in an instant. If we get the video up and running online we can post a link to this blog. We'll try and figure out a way to share it with people who have been so supportive for us.

On another administrative note we've begun to send thank you notes to people who have supported us financially, emotionally or through their prayers.

This blog may only have one or two posts left given the fact that our processing is coming to an end.

To those who have supported us either with prayers, well wishes or a few dollars we thank you for everything you have done for us. We could not have made the trip without the support of our family, friends and classmates.

This blog has been read around the world and our classmates have come up to us and thanked us for sharing our experience.

It has been a blessing to be the blog's lead contributor and communications person. I hope to upload the slide show soon.



-Clarissa Aljentera