Tears, laugher come with first reflection meeting

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.

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.

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...

Freedom and beyond

As our year starts to wind down we think more of schedules and 'to-do' lists than we do living in the moment. For many of our fellow students within the STM our thoughts are on finishing finals, packing for our Christmas trips home or perhaps how we'll spend our holiday time.

There's a hurried pace at which people scurry by us on the sidewalks or around campus. With books and papers in hand everyone is in a rush to finish the semester strong or at least as strong as they can.

It feels almost breathless some days. But in the midst of the hectic times of holidays and finals our group gathered for another meeting to talk about another pillar of Mustard Seed.

Our focus that afternoon was freedom. We talked about images, phrases and people that meant freedom. Our conversation led us to images of water, children playing and Martin Luther King Jr.

Some of us also shared where Mustard Seed fits in our prayer lives. We were asked, "Have you been praying about Mustard Seed?"

And one of us admitted that it hadn't entered into prayer yet. That was echoed around the group. It seems tough enough to complete assignments for class, work part-time jobs and find time for friends.

But for the sake of our journey as a community and as individuals some of us acknowledged it was time to start chipping away at that part of our lives.

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.