Hey friends!
So come August 1 of this year, I'll be embarking on a flight to Guayaquil, Ecuador. 15 other Americans and I are volunteering for the year with Rostro de Cristo (http://www.rostrodecristo.org/), a Catholic volunteer and retreat program based in Duran (a small town outside of Guayaquil). The mission is "to provide spiritual and educational opportunities for young people from the United States to live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ together with the people of Ecuador." Pillars of the program include spirituality, simplicity, community, hospitality and social justice.
You may be wondering why I am doing this. RdC is a fantastic organization (I went there fall of 2008 with a Villanova group) that really has everything I looked for in a year of service program. I wanted community, so we can all support and encourage each other as we grow through our challenges. Service and social justice have been foundational in my life for years; I want these things in a program. I also want the chance to strengthen my faith even more. RdC also focuses on "being" as opposed to "doing", reminding us of the importance of relationships in all areas of our lives.
I will be living in one of three RdC houses with some of the other volunteers. We each have a morning and afternoon worksite placement - options include working with people who have Hansen's disease (formerly known as leprosy) or AIDS, in a school or after-school program, or possibly in a street children's program or detention center. I won't know any of these details until I get there, but I'll keep you posted!
I’ve been getting to know the other volunteers a bit, and they all seem SO cool; I cannot wait to meet them. Everything we do in Ecuador is with at least one other year-long volunteer:
--living (we’re split up between three different houses, two in Durán and one in Mt. Sinai)
--eating (each house cooks and eats together)
--praying (we’ll have Spirituality night once a week – kind of like a VU break trip reflection)
--laughing (Community night also once a week, to bond and have fun)
--working (you will be at your worksite with at least one other RdC volunteer)
--talking (in English and Spanish, haha!)
…and more!
Other than our regular work placements, we can help with the youth group and at a soup kitchen. We also have the opportunity to lead one or two “retreat groups” – the name given to a group (like Villanova) who comes to RdC for a week or so. One year-long volunteer is paired with each retreat group to take them to the worksites, guide them in reflections and answer questions about Ecuadorian culture. It’s like leading a service break trip all over again!
Good news too - I will have regular Internet access! As far as I know, it'll probably be a bit every week or so, which should be enough to keep you guys posted and reply to any emails. I'll also have SNAIL MAIL (email me if you want the address!).
My blog address is http://bethgoestoecuador.blogspot.com/. Feel free to email me and tell me what's up in your life! Please keep me, the other volunteers and the program in your thoughts and prayers as we transition to this new home.
Thank you guys so much -- your love and support mean the world!!
Peace,
Beth
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