Tag Archives: international

Feels Like Home

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When I first arrived in Jamaica there were many times I didn’t feel “at home.” Things were new and different and uncomfortable for me. There were times I wondered when or if it would ever get easier and feel more comfortable. Then I found Mt. Tabor Beatitudes Home, a home for boys with special needs. I came across this home in October while on a retreat at the Mt. Tabor Home in Iron River. I didn’t have the opportunity to visit the boys’ home while on retreat, but returned later that week and fell in love with the boys and the home itself.

These boys have been abandoned by their parents and are cared for by the Brothers of Missionaries of the Poor and local community supporters. The home has forty young boys with a wide variety of disabilities. Some are wheelchair-bound, non-verbal, and have body deformities. In my opinion, their greatest challenge is the lack of parents who can play a role in their lives. For the young boys without a mother figure in their lives, I tried to step in and take on that role myself.

With forty boys at the home lots of attention is needed. At times I have felt like there isn’t enough of me nor time to get to each of them. The brothers gave me the opportunity to have ten of those boys in a class, teaching them basic skills and activities. We color, blow bubbles, draw outside with sidewalk chalk, read, sing songs, play outside on their new play ground. The best part of all is seeing the smiles on their faces! It is not uncommon for me to be ambushed with hugs from Anthony and Bradley upon arriving at the home and it’s always a struggle for me to leave at the end of the day with arms outstretched from Shaky who is asking for one more hug.

While getting involved in this experience I soon learned that I wouldn’t be able to provide all that I wanted to for the boys. This is something I have had to learn to accept and to be ok with. It is really hard when I sit with Charles on my lap and he insists that I give him all my attention. I must, at the same time, cheer for Andrew when he has colored a really pretty picture, or take Mark outside for extra play time on the swings.

I have learned that it’s not about giving these boys everything I want to. It is really about giving them love. Families and homes come in all different shapes and sizes and together the boys and I have built a family and a place to call home.

Sarah Vickers is serving in Jamaica with Passionist Volunteers International.

Please consider a donation to help the Passionists in their ministry to people living in poverty: Please make checks payable to PASSIONIST MISSIONARIES.

Passionist Missionaries Inc.
526 Monastery Place
Union City NJ 07087-3398
Tel: 888/806-6606
E-mail: DLisotta@cpprov.org

Donate on-line by clicking the button below.
The Donate Now button will redirect you to Caring Habits, Inc. (CHI) which is the credit card processing company for The Passionist Missionaries website.


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Ms. Doris Breaking Barriers

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Ms. Doris is a prominent figure in the community I serve, and as the head Eucharistic Minister in the church she holds the key, both figuratively and literally, to the church. My true journey with Ms. Doris began when I felt led to invite her to an all-woman’s Bible study I attend outside the mission. The majority of the women in the Bible study come from the wealthier class of Jamaica, and naturally I was a little hesitant to bring Ms. Doris for fear she would not feel completely comfortable. However, Ms. Doris had the opposite reaction and had a positive impact on the group; she was not only confident in herself and her faith, but she was able to break that socio-economic barrier between the two represented classes in the group.

Ms. Doris represents the marginalized in Jamaica; individuals that don’t get a chance to enjoy some of the luxuries of both the middle and upper class. Most of the women in the Bible study see the poor as a ministry for them to reach out to, and for the most part provide monetary support. The women were now opening and sharing their personal feelings and experiences with someone they originally thought they could only help, not receive help from. Over time, I watched in awe as Ms. Doris would reach out to the women and share her knowledge and faith in God’s Word. With little in her pocket and a huge bank of faith, Ms. Doris was using the study as her own ministry, reaching out to some of the women that are poor in their faith.

There is one particular incident that stands out in my memory; and it was when Ms. Doris was giving feedback on the topic of “incarnational” love – which searches what it means to enter into the life of others and how Christ put on human flesh so He could experience what we experience, feel what we feel. Ms. Doris then shared how she tries to be more understanding of people despite her own feelings because, “You have to look at their pain and think how you would want to be treated.” You could hear a pin drop. Ms. Doris had fully captured the attention of every ear in the room and for many of the women she had opened their eyes to the reality that God works through all people.  There was this new birth of reverence given to Ms. Doris after that day and she quickly became very popular among the women. While Ms. Doris doesn’t have much herself, she still thinks about what she can do to serve others that are in a more desperate state; whether it’s through giving material goods or spiritual encouragement.

Ms. Doris’ reflection resonated in my own ears and challenged my level of incarnating myself into the lives of the people I spend time with. This brought me to reflect on my own service in Jamaica and how I’ve “somewhat” incarnated myself into the lives of the Jamaican people; whether it’s dreading the loss of water when there is a drought and the water trucks don’t always make it up to every home, or simply sharing a few tears with a mother who is trying to find her place in her own community.

On one of our car rides back up the hill to Ms. Doris’ house she gripped my hand and firmly said, “You don’t know what this [the Bible study] is doing for me,” with her bottom lip trembling as she fought back the tears. I had never seen Ms. Doris cry. I had no idea that bringing Ms. Doris to these weekly Bible studies would cause me to understand her better, in the context of her life. Most important, Ms. Doris was being encouraged and challenged, just the same as I was, to love people through understanding their life circumstances, pain and suffering. This is true empathy. Her presence alone ministers to the women in the study and she is able to open their eyes to the reality that some of the marginalized in Jamaica may not be materially rich, but many are rich in their faith. She forced this reality in their faces and challenged these women to see that God works through all people; from the poor to the rich.

Charity Calloway is serving in Jamaica with Passionist Volunteers International.

Please consider a donation to help the Passionists in their ministry to people living in poverty: Please make checks payable to PASSIONIST MISSIONARIES.

Passionist Missionaries Inc.
526 Monastery Place
Union City NJ 07087-3398
Tel: 888/806-6606
E-mail: DLisotta@cpprov.org

Donate on-line by clicking the button below.
The Donate Now button will redirect you to Caring Habits, Inc. (CHI) which is the credit card processing company for The Passionist Missionaries website.


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Merging Communities

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From March 5-13, PVI Honduras welcomed nine students from Elms College to Talanga. Luckily, they arrived with positive attitudes and an eagerness to serve and learn since we had planned plenty of work for them in their short time with us. The Elms students’ main project was painting the exterior of the Catholic Church in Terrero Colorado, an aldea about 25 minutes from Talanga. PVIs have been active in Terrero for four years now; past groups built latrines there and began the church renovation project. Actually, when the Elms students visited two years ago, they painted the interior of the church. Unfortunately, the community had not been able to secure enough resources to finish the exterior of the church, so this year, we made it a priority to help them out, and Elms was crucial in making that happen.

Although Elms came the second week of March, preparations for their visit started months before. We knew that Elms would provide the manual labor painting, but before they could paint, we needed to finish the exterior walls of the church to create a paintable surface. The church community in Terrero worked tirelessly to raise enough money to repellar the exterior walls; they held lots of fundraisers selling yucca and nacatamales, and everyone tossed a few extra lempiras in the collection basket. Their efforts paid off, though; when Elms arrived, the church was ready to be painted.

The students from Elms, Sr. Carol, Fr. Mark, the PVI’s, a Honduran foreman, and the entire community from Terrero painted together for two full days to finish the church. But, of course, we did way more than paint. What seemed like hundreds of kids swarmed the students and their bags of toys, games, and beads. While some kicked around a soccer ball, others made necklaces and bracelets, and still others painted. Women from the Terrero community were astonished to also find themselves with paint rollers performing a typically male job. The Elms students got to know certain members of the Terrero community more intimately when they stayed the night with a family there. Each paired with a PVI, the Elms students roughed it without electricity or running water for the night and ate the typical rice, beans, and eggs for dinner and breakfast. A few even got to know the cockroaches and other buggy creatures as well.

The two days that the Elms students and PVIs stayed in Terrero was about far more than painting the church; it was a celebration of communities merging – two very different communities at that. The people of Terrero were just as excited to invite 9 students from Massachusetts into their community and into their homes as they were to have their beloved church painted. Similarly, the Elms students were just as eager to play with the kids, chat, and learn about life in Terrero as they were to paint. Having witnessed seamless friendships form and a job very well done, I was proud to be a part of the love, joy, and energy that enveloped our entire, unified community.

Carolyn Plunkett is serving in Honduras with Passionist Volunteers International.

Please consider a donation to help the Passionists in their ministry to people living in poverty: Please make checks payable to PASSIONIST MISSIONARIES.

Passionist Missionaries Inc.
526 Monastery Place
Union City NJ 07087-3398
Tel: 888/806-6606
E-mail: DLisotta@cpprov.org

Donate on-line by clicking the button below.
The Donate Now button will redirect you to Caring Habits, Inc. (CHI) which is the credit card processing company for The Passionist Missionaries website.


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Healthcare From the Heart

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As a volunteer in rural, Jamaica, my time is mostly spent in a place called Mt. Friendship.  Just as the name reveals, I give myself to this community as a friend. I make home visits to the sick and shut-ins, as well as to many families.  I work in a school, where I try to tackle the issue of literacy and give my love to the children.  I offer what I can and receive joy and wisdom from the people I serve in Jamaica.

As a nurse, I have been able to help many of my friends here in Jamaica stay healthy. I have become a resource for information and help to many.  I have been a listening ear when things seem hopeless, and try my best to connect others with resources that are necessary for good health.  Walking the hills and dirt roads of rural Jamaica, with my blood pressure cuff on hand, has become a daily occurrence for me. I frequently hear voices say, “Miss, come take my pressure today!”  I look forward to my visits, where I can help others stay healthy and happy.

In March, a group of students from Elms College came to volunteer with us over their Spring break.  With their help and the help of my roommates, I was able to organize a health clinic in Mt. Friendship, where people could come to get their blood pressure and blood sugar tested, and see the doctor if needed. This clinic offered easy access to healthcare at no cost to the people.  Over 60 people in the community took advantage of this opportunity.  Because healthcare is not easily accessible or realistically affordable for those who live in Mt. Friendship or any other rural community throughout Jamaica, organizing clinics such as these are answered prayers for many people.

It has been so rewarding to help the people of my mission community with their health issues.  It is a way for me to show my love for the people I see each day.  To me, nursing is accompaniment.  We stand by the side of those suffering, become a voice for those who do not have one, and make sure people have the resources and ability to live a healthy life.  I hope that my time in Mt. Friendship will reflect one value I hold close to heart:  that God wants his people to care for one another.

Tracy Petersante is serving in Jamaica with Passionist Volunteers International.

Learn more about Passionist Volunteers International at: http://www.passionistvolunteers.org.

Learn more about the Passionists in Jamaica at: http://www.thepassionists.org/Jamaica.html and http://www.passionistsisters.org/CCM.html

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A Contrast in Education

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Jamaica’s state of education, particularly in terms of funding and resources, is quite dismal.  The gravity of the situation becomes very clear when you witness children fighting over something as basic as a pencil.  The fight is not over something trivial, like design or color; it’s a response to the reality of scarcity.

In the midst of such realities there exist low literacy rates, understaffed schools, large class sizes, limited use of technology, high drop-out rates and a low percentage of educators who hold advanced degrees in their field.

However, in contrast to all the disheartening challenges that such a system brings to its people, Jamaica does educate her children in a way that reaches far beyond any amount of funding.  There is a connection, almost a sort of bond between the child and his/her environment.  They do not act apart from the world, but rather within the world.

Amidst this relationship comes an awakening of the senses which can often times become clouded by artificial toys and trinkets and theories of how a 21st century child should play, learn and grow.  This child learns through imaginative play.  He feels the ground between his toes as he runs down the mountain, balancing a simple stick and wheel.  He is in awe of a friend who climbs for a juicy, ripe mango high up in the tree.

Two school girls learn rhyme and rhythm as they sing, “…down by the banks with the hanky panky where the bullfrog jumps from bank to banky with a hip hop hip hop hop skiddle diddle turtle pop!”, while playing a popular hand game.  A child learns of mathematics as he designs and builds a car made from twigs and string and bottle caps.  And as she runs, the young girl understands the world around her. She is connected to the trees that bring her food and the streams that give her water and the mountain breeze that gives her reprieve from the Caribbean heat.

This education of the world and the connectedness we have with it is free. Not even a system of scarcity in school funding and resources can take that away.  Yes, there must be increased support for schools in less-developed countries and this is not to make light of very harsh realities.  But, Jamaica can teach us a lesson, not only of education, but, of life.  Take your shoes off, be within the world, awaken your senses.

Matt Messing is serving in Jamaica with Passionist Volunteers International.

Learn more about Passionist Volunteers International at: http://www.passionistvolunteers.org.

Learn more about the Passionists in Jamaica at: http://www.thepassionists.org/Jamaica.html and http://www.passionistsisters.org/CCM.html

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