A new "way of seeing"

Tomorrow we leave for Jamaica and I am torn. On the one hand, I want to be completely open to the experience and not have any expectations. I want to be expectant, but let go of my expectations. On the other hand, I certainly have expectations. Mostly, I am praying that my perspective will be changed by my time in Jamaica—my perspective on the poor, the world, God, myself. In short, I am hoping for a new “way of seeing.” Perhaps it’s my recent reading of Julian of Norwich and her emphasis that we must learn to see as God sees. Reading Julian called to mind something John Cusick often said when I heard him preach in Chicago—that we sin because we don’t see ourselves the way God sees us. John and Julian both agree that God’s way of seeing is love. I’m hoping my time in Jamaica will “open my eyes” to this way of seeing. This is my expectation, but who knows what God has in store for me, for us, for Mustard Seed? We’ll have to wait and “see.”

-Douglas Leal

A deep breath and then a release

It will be a matter of days and hours before our plane touches down in Jamaica. Our last meeting before the trip was a mixture of prayer, smiles and laughs. Some of us are concerned about being open to being a vessel for the work of God. Others are trying not to have expectations. We're all excited that one week from today we'll be sitting in Mustard Seed Communities.

With semester break peeking around the corner we are now kicking into high gear for our academics as well as our trip. Two of our members are completing the first draft of their thesis and others of us are preparing papers that are due this week.

Tonight, we discussed what emotions, smells and sights we will encounter as we touchdown in Montego Bay. Words such as community, cacophony, release, interesting smells and excitement rose during our conversation.

Having only known each other for a short while it will be interesting to see how our relationships develop in the next two weeks.

Logistics are planned out with drivers to and from the airport assigned. We are packing our things and gathering items such as sunscreen, bug spray, medications and water bottles.

We have a sending forth liturgy planned for 12:15 p.m. Tues. at the Holy Spirit Chapel at the STM.

It is hard to believe our trip is here after months of planning, fundraising and raising awareness.

We are unsure how the blogging will work at Blessed Assurance if it will work at all.
A running notebook(s) will be kept from each day and perhaps posted once we return.

Thanks for all your prayers, thoughts and kind words thus far. The most exciting part of our journey awaits.

Fundraiser party for Jamaica

An assortment of juices for a homemade rum punch and five cases of Red Stripe are ready to be consumed for our Jamaica fundraiser this Friday.

Gifts for the silent auction have been set aside and fliers as well as announcements have been made.

We're just hours from our big party. Team Jamaica decided early on in the planning process to have one big thing and one small thing to help raise funds and awareness for our trip.

Although we've received a good amount of funding from the School of Theology and Ministry we are still working on raising money.

We are in the midst of final preparations for our trip. We are getting our immunizations and prescriptions in order. We are putting aside our work pants, shorts and hats. We are entering into our meetings for prayer and logistics.

Our friends and classmates are excited for our party. They are talking up like it's the 'seen and be seen' of the STM. Yup.

If you are around the area Friday come celebrate with us. We are asking for $5 at the door and about the same for drinks alcoholic and non-alcoholic.

The party starts at 5p.m. at 129 Lake Street. Look for the two lions. Roarrrrrrrrr...

Welcome to our virtual community!

In the midst of our graduate studies at Boston College, a dozen of students associated with the School of Theology and Ministry are embarking on what could be a life-changing journey.

For a few days this winter we’ll be packing our bags and heading to Jamaica for a service immersion trip with the Mustard Seed Communities. The community has created a home and cared for disabled and handicapped children for the past 30 years.

We’re not sure what our journey will hold but the unknown is a little exciting. Our team has started talking about the trip’s nuts and bolts. We’ve begun gathering ideas for fund raising but we’re always looking for others. We’ve also begun praying about our upcoming trip as a group.

So why are we choosing to head down to Jamaica for spring break? Sunshine? Maybe. New experiences? Sure. Wanting to give back? Yeah, some of that also.
How about the possibility of experiencing something new and challenging? Most definitely.

We’ve heard from folks who went on last year’s trip that spending time with the community’s children will be an eye-opening experience.

We’re being led by our classmates Nat and Wendy Samuel, who worked in the community before coming to the STM to study pastoral ministry and church management.

During the next few weeks and months we’ll be studying and praying about the four pillars of Mustard Seed spirituality: simplicity, generosity, freedom and community to guide our journey.

Hopefully, our lives will not only be enlightened but also transformed by the journey we have already begun. We leave Feb. 28 and return March 7.
Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. We'll certainly be keeping our friends, relatives and community members in our thoughts and prayers as we prepare for our trip.

And for those who can give a little donation toward our trip please visit the link titled, 'Group fund raising page' under the links on the right side.