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.
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