Time flies. At least,
that is what most people would say. But for me, it did not.
My year of service was
slow, but I am OK with that. The year never seemed to end, but I appreciated
that I had more time to enjoy the year and to do the work that I set out to
accomplish.
The first half of the
year certainly felt slower in Ethiopia, which had more to do with the fact that
I was not living in a society connected to 24-hour news cycles, instant access
to communications, deadline-driven environments, and so forth. I learned to
enjoy time at a slower rate than usual, which allowed me to reflect on the
community I was living in.
My favorite memory of
Ethiopia was the smiles of the children, adolescents and young adults whom I
taught and worked with in Dilla. Their smiles and infectious laughs reminded me
that we can be happy regardless of how much or how little we have.
I also learned that
being a teacher is no easy job, and I congratulate all the teachers who are able
to go day in and day out to work with many children and help them develop into
our future generation. You cannot imagine how many times I was in front of the
classroom, thinking, "How am I going to get through this class?" But
I managed to get their attention, get through the class and have fun, as well.
Often, I would think
about my old teachers, and I finally understand how they must have felt since I
was now standing in their shoes. So while it was a challenging role, I enjoyed
using my mind in a different, creative way and channeling my energy to doing
something more creative and hopefully rewarding for my students.
My visit to Rome over
the summer to attend the VIDES conference was special because not only was it
my first time in the city, but it also connected me with many other VIDES
volunteers of different cultures, backgrounds and ethnicities. We all had one
thing in common, and that was our desire to help children and adolescents
through the Salesian family spirit.
Going to Rome after my
sojourn in Ethiopia was also a good segue for the second part of my journey in
Geneva. In the "city of peace," I admired how others dedicated their
lives to promoting human rights, but I was also dismayed that in this day and
age, humanity has not yet reached a point of maturity in which we can respect
the rights of others to live peacefully without the feeling of being threatened
or insecure.
I am also grateful
that I was exposed to the theme of unaccompanied migrant children, which
somehow wove itself through my year of service. It started in San Antonio,
where we spent time with adolescents who crossed the border from Mexico and
other Central American countries.
In Rome, my VIDES
colleague and I co-presented on this topic at VIDES' XI international
conference. The presentation focused on children migrating from Central America
and what programs VIDES and the Salesian sisters were doing to ensure that they
receive proper treatment: health, education, and security.
Finally, in Geneva, I
delivered an oral statement on this topic at one of the U.N. Human Rights
Council sessions. I also wrote a report on the global issue of unaccompanied
migrant children for our human rights office because Salesian sisters work with
these children and adolescents on a regular basis in their missions across
Africa, India, Latin America and Southeast Asia.
These children are a
vulnerable segment of our society that need help from our communities to feel
safe and integrated. Our actions toward them make an indelible mark at their
age and could set a positive or negative course for the rest of their lives.
When I sought out this
journey, I am glad I pushed myself out of my comfort zone to see what life was
like outside of my own Western world. It made me appreciate that life is so
much different in other countries than what I was used to. It was also amazing
to see the good that is being done by others, whether they are missionaries,
teachers, volunteers, or NGO workers for the betterment of the communities that
they work in.
There is much going on
out there, and people need help. And not just the monetary kind, but also
old-fashioned human interaction: a hand to lift, a mind to grow, a body to heal
and a spirit to nourish.
More importantly, I am
glad I made this experience through VIDES and that I was exposed to the world
of the Salesian sisters. Every community that I passed through received me with
warmth, care, spiritual healing and a good plate of food.
But more importantly, I
learned a lot from the sisters who have dedicated their lives to helping
children who are poor, marginalized, lacking in a proper education and do a lot
to break the vicious cycle of poverty they live in. Every sister I met had an
interesting story to tell about the lives they touched and the challenges they
faced, but they all carried the spiritual adversity to continue on their
mission, no matter the odds. I only wish that my heart had been touched by the
Salesian spirit at an earlier age, but at least I am satisfied with the
experience and knowledge that this journey brought me and with which I can
carry forth in the years ahead.
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