Advent - A Time of Waiting

 This night we pray our lives will show this dream He had, each child still knows. 

We are waiting. We have not forgotten.

Sitting here, in a Pilsen coffee shop writing lesson plans and listening to Christmas music, I could not be happier. But it is Advent, and I have made it my mission this season to wait, and to not forget. I need to remember why I am here, volunteering in Chicago, but also how and why Christ came to be with us on Earth, and what that means in my life. Advent is about waiting, but in the sense that if you listen to God’s call, although it may not make sense at the moment, if you wait long enough, God’s purpose will become clear. Follow His call and you will eventually find your purpose.

This is NOT an easy task, especially right now when I am trying to discern what to do after my volunteer year. I feel like I just got here, but now have to start thinking about what will come next. This means choosing between going back to school and volunteering abroad. Choosing between staying in this beautiful city, close to my family and friends, and going back to the Dominican Republic, keeping my Spanish honed and visiting my campo family (who called me again a few days ago, and I did not understand one word my campo Dad said to me…I felt awful) and continuing direct service. Either way, this means leaving my kids that I have become so close to at Visitation, and hoping that all the work I have done this year with the kids I have been helping with literacy is kept up. I know they will not be forgotten, but I have a small problem with letting things go. I know I can’t stay there forever, but I will miss it. And there is so much turnover at that school, that I can’t help but remember that I will just be one more person staying for one year and moving on.

Another piece of my Advent adventure is finding some sort of service to do in Chicago. I know, I know. I am already volunteering at least 40 hours a week. But if there is one thing the Jesuits have taught me, it is to be restless. And ladies and gentlemen, I am restless. There is so much to learn from the people in Chicago, even just in Pilsen, that I can no longer just go to work and go home. I have failed so far to immerse myself in the community, and am finished sitting back. I could be in no better place to learn about immigration and other social justice issues.

This is my Advent mission. I will, of course, continue after Advent, but what better time to start changing myself and pushing myself to do more than in this time of waiting? So I would like to ask for your help. Hold me to this. I’ll keep you updated on the progress I make, and I need you to remind me of the drive I have right now to be restless and do more.

Have a Merry and Blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

Love, Becky