...so let's set the world on FIRE!!!!!!

“Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire” –St. Catherine of Siena

So here I am. The year is over, and I am still working on getting life back to normal. Only normal will be a whole lot different from now on. First of all, it will look different. I will soon be moving to an apartment in Bridgeport with my friend and fellow volunteer from this year, Morgan. I am starting my graduate classes at Adler School of Professional Psychology to earn my Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology. And I am still working at Visitation Catholic School part-time, doing whatever they need me to and serving any way I can for two days a week.

And in a less obvious way, I will never be “normal” again. I will never go back to my old way of looking at the world. My faith and my beliefs have changed, and I have spent time with people who have showed me what it truly means to live my faith in the world I live in. One of my favorite students this year lived at the homeless shelter servicing mothers with addiction problems. They were there for a year, and have just recently moved out. (I pray that they stay at the school and can re-establish themselves). This girl came to school every day, skinny as a twig and very small for her age, all smiles because she was learning how to read (in third grade). Regardless of any mistakes this girl’s mother has made, she is worth every single day I spent at that school. And at the end of the year, her mom came into school and gave me a hug, thanking me for caring for her child and spending time meeting her needs and educating her. I saw Jesus in that moment. He came to me and said, “When you cared for one of my people, you cared for me.” I don’t feel like I did much of anything this year, and I definitely felt ineffective for at least half the year. Had I known what I was doing the whole time, my kids would have been much better off. But in that moment, Jesus let me know that what I did this year was good.

What I want everyone reading this to know is that my experience has helped me more than I could have ever helped my kids. I saw the face of Jesus in every single one of them, and they touched my life in a way that leaves a permanent scar on my heart. Now, I have two choices. I can be proud of my scar and show it off, telling people how I have come to have this mark on my heart. Or I could hide it, and live uncomfortably with it covered up. Well I am certainly not going to cover it up!!!!! How much of a waste would that be? I am going to live out my faith, and share it with others. The gospel tells us to follow Christ, and that is what I intend to do. 

Now I feel like I need to take a moment and let you all now...I am currently reading a book called The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical by Shane Claiborne. He is a Christian dedicated to living out Christianity as Jesus does in the gospel. And his words have inspired me more than I can convey. It makes me want to find Christ in others, and serve them. 

So although I am still discerning, I had a truly amazing experience this year. I cannot even begin to list off all the things I learned; about myself, my faith, my vocation, being professional, teaching, living in community, and more. I made friends, both with adults and children, and have formed relationships that truly changed my life with people who I will always keep close to my heart. 

And now I am ready. I have to endure a few years of school, but that doesn't matter. I can be of service wherever I am, preach from the pulpit of my life, and become who God wants me to be (I am so DOMINICAN...how did that happen?). 

And I will...I'm ready to set the world on fire:)

20 Days and Counting...

It has been a while! To all who check my blog for updates, I apologize for keeping you hanging. You probably know me well enough to know that no, I did not fall off the face of the earth…I simply forgot about my blog and have kept myself busy with lots of other things…

Speaking of which, I have been up to a lot recently! First, school. I’m finding out what it means to be a teacher in May. I still love my ministry and my kids, and am still 100% invested, but when May rolls around, you really start praying for June 7^th (our last day of school) when you get to say goodbye to all those little rascals and send them on to torment the next teacher!

On another level, the end of the year is becoming a time of panic. As we finish up the year with a final reading test, I am panicking that I haven’t taught my three kids enough. I do literacy work all morning, every morning with three third graders who are all at a first grade reading level. We have a reading test at the beginning, middle, and end of the year that gauges their progress throughout the year. And I’m to the point now that if I haven’t made a difference yet, it is too late. There is a month left of school, and two months left in my volunteer year, and as excited as I am for the end of the year (and mostly for what lies ahead), I want more time with my kids. I want to see them through fourth, fifth, and sixth grade and give them everything they need to get caught up, and make sure they succeed. I love these three dearly, and they have each been through so much in life. I spend three hours with them every day, and have gotten to know them well. And as their final test date approaches, all I can do is pray that God has worked through me this year and has given these kids the confidence and skill they need to make it in life.

But don’t worry. Even though June 7^th is just right around the corner, I have not seen the last of Visitation. For starters, I will be teaching summer school with the 3^rd and 1^st grade teachers. My volunteer contract ends half way through summer school, but my principal has offered to give me an actual PAYCHECK to finish out the summer. So, while I will not be seeing ALL of my kids this summer, I will not have to say goodbye to my three favorites just yetJ They will continue to receive my loving harassments all summer (sometimes I feel like a mom…sound it out…you can do it, just pay attention…just try, and you’ll get it...oh the joys of being a teacher;)) Also, I am not ruling out coming back here someday…and I’ll elaborate in the next paragraph!

Now comes the scary part…ENTERING THE REAL WORLD…well, I’m not yet. It’s back to school I go. I was accepted to the Adler School of Professional Psychology in my beautiful city of Chicago. And after a some contemplation (and a lot of procrastination) I enrolled yesterday, submitted my deposit, and prayed that I made the right decision. I am going for my Master’s in Counseling Psychology, and hope to become a school counselor, but in the context of school’s like Visitation, whose counselor’s are more like therapists; they help kids adjust to a school social life and help them deal with issues they are having at school, home, anything. They are an all-around friend and advocate for the child. And that is what I want to do. And Adler will definitely help me get there. The mission of the school is what drew me. They are very hands-on and experience based, requiring a practicum in your second year. They are also all about service and social justice, requiring a community service practicum, and running a lot of community service projects, including one in Englewood, where I currently serve. Tying this back to one day working at Visitation, many of our counselors are current Adler students and are doing their practicum’s for United Stand, a counseling agency that contracts out with private schools throughout the city, serving in schools like Vis to bring free services to kids who need them. I cannot tell you how excited I am about all of this!!!! It is what I was born to doJ

So yes, family and friends, I will be staying in Chicago next year. I’m very excited to be so close to home, and have always wanted to live in Chicago. I’m so glad I get to continue to do so!! I’ll still even be able to pop in and say hi at the DVUSA office…Mike and Erica have not see the last of meJ

And one of the best things about living in Chicago…the chance to stay connected to the wonderful sisters of the St. Martin de Porres convent on the south side of Chicago. Judi, Judine, Beverly, and Pat have been amazing mentors this year, supporting, laughing with, teaching, and cooking for Sean, Stephanie, and me. They even sent us to Jubilee Farm, a sustainable farm run by their congregation, the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, for a retreat. Julia, Morgan, Sean, and I spent the weekend walking the trails, eating fresh eggs, and talking to the llamas, all while learning more about the Catholic churches take on Creation and what more we could be doing to live in solidarity with the earth. It was an incredible weekend, and was topped off by spending the day with Sr. Judi at her motherhouse, where we got a tour, sang the Magnificat (TWICE), and met some more incredible sisters. We were also promised lots of stories about Sr. Judi, but alas we were unable to hear anyL.

My year is not over yet, but it is coming to an end, and this fact is causing me to look back and reflect on my year. And these four amazing women have played a critical role. Coming into this program, I didn’t know much about Dominican’s. I was a Jesuit kind of girl! But our mentors have taught me so much about what it really means to be Dominican. They constantly put others before themselves, have amazing insight and inspiring thoughts, and always seek the truth in every situation they encounter. They are selfless and caring, and have given me every reason in the world to treasure Wednesday night dinners. They are some of the times I will remember most about my year with DVUSA. But hopefully these good times will not end here! I still plan to visit often, if not once a week. I am not done growing spiritually, and need the Dominican influence in my life!

Okay…onto happier things. I can’t think about the end just yet. There is so much to do still!! I just wanted to take a moment and reflect on how much of a blessing this year has been, and to share with you the amazing times I’ve had. More to come as the year actually does come to an end…and even more as my adventures will not end here!!!!

Lots of love, Becky

Sacrifice

It's that time of year again...when we start looking at our lives and thinking of ways we can become closer to God. Every year, I have a hard time thinking of things to give up. I live a pretty simple life, and not that there aren't things to give up. There most definitely are. But none of the things I usually choose to give up are things that bring me closer to an understanding of God and his people. 


Last year, I began participating in Relentless Acts of Sacrifice, a guided Lenten sacrifice and reflection program to help you put yourself in the shoes of another human being that is not blessed with the many things you have in your life. This year, I am participating again, and each week I will choose something to sacrifice based on that weeks reflection. 


Sacrifice means taking something that is important to you, and giving it up for God. Each week I will take something in my life that is important to me, or that I sometimes may take for granted, and give it up. I'll offer it to God, and become closer to Him and His people. 


To just do the Relentless Acts of Sacrifice seems a little uncreative though. I mean, it's not even my idea! And I also want to do something in Lent related to the spiritual journey I am going through in my life. I'm always very attentive to feeding the "social justice" side of me, but this year I have begun to focus more on the spiritual side, and getting to know God and Jesus. So this Lenten season, I will also look for God. I know He is all around me, and appears everywhere I go, but very rarely do I actively look for Him. Beginning February 22, I am going to look for and record the places I see God. 


The reason I'm telling all of you this is to hold myself accountable. Finding God in people is NOT my strong suit, and so in order to keep myself on track, I will record all the places I saw God in a journal, just so that I make sure to reflect on Him every day. And I will share with you those stories that might give insight on where I see God, and maybe how you can see God in your own lives. And hopefully by the end of Lent, I will no longer have to look for God. I will just see Him wherever I go. 


Happy Lent everyone...I love you!

A Tour of Visitation

For our program, the Assistant Director made several videos to show future volunteers what ministry and community are like. Fortunately, this also provides all your readers with a break for your eyes, and a chance to see my school, hear our choir, and hear me say "umm" about a hundred times!!!!


DVUSA Video: Visitation

Enjoy:)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

                                        Alright, my Christmas and New Year's wishes are a little late, but nonetheless, I wanted to share my Christmas joy with you all. The last day of school before Christmas, the kids put on their concert, and I brought my camera:) Enjoy my second graders, and always remember to smile!

 

Just too cool for school:) 

 As much as these kids give me a hard time, I can't help but smile at their antics:) Just look at those faces!!!

 What troublemakers!!! The one on the right gives me a run for my money every single day! Yesterday he started singing the intro to "Baby Got Back." The part that goes "Oh my God Becky, look at her butt. It is so big." I put a stop to that right away!

The one covering has face also gives me gray hair. Coincidentally, he's also one of my favorites!! lol

And the one on the left is the sweetest little girl you'll ever meet!!! Love her:) 

Who could resist that smile?!?!

 There are no words...

These girls are exhausting...right now I guess they are friends...but they come with SOOOOO much drama:) It's tough to be a girl in second grade!