End Transmission: August 19, 2009

So it's been a few days since I left the CASA. After Justiceworx ended we went over to Sean's place for a little wrap up bbq and final hang out session before we all left for home. That night we had good fun playing Ninja and hiding Pinguita places. That was one of the most fun experiences I've had in life.

This summer has been one of the most engrossing, incredible and life-changing experiences I've had so far. I was able to get so into the work we all took part of and make it become a part of my life. I'm going to try to live more simply than I have in past years, as well as try and become more responsible socially and practically (like with my money, for example). I'm going to continue working towards a sweat-free campus, although it seems pretty tough because of time and such. I know that if I keep the will of God in my hearts, I will be able to do anything.

And that's really what this summer has taught me. The will of God is present in all of us. He lets all of us have purpose and drive to get to that purpose. He gives us gifts so that we all can use them in community to figure out the common good and what that should look like. It's our responsibility to make this world a better place for our children, and I think that this experience, while technically is not called "Leaderworx," has made me even more of a leader than last year.

As for the future, I don't know if I'll be back to the programs next year. It's hard to know what the future holds being a senior in college. I'm going to celebrate my two year anniversary with my girlfriend, I'm going to march down at the SOA for one last year, and I'm going to take the GRE for grad school (God willing). I'm going to apply for volunteer programs and I'm going to hopefully be volunteering internationally next summer until...well two years from next summer. All of that stuff is up in the air. What I do know is that without the Worx programs, I would not be the person I am today. Without their loving support and purpose they've given me through all of my emotional, spiritual, mental, and even physical (frisbee, anyone?) development, I would be in a totally different place than I am today.

Last year in the community, our friend MOP had us make yellow shirts with designs on them. She always wears a yellow shirt on wednesdays, and so she wanted all of us to have yellow shirts. I looked at the yellow shirt in front of me, and looked around the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal, and drew a big red X on the middle of the shirt. On the top of the shirt I wrote "MARKED" and on the bottom of the shirt I wrote "FOR LIFE." Because of these programs, I am truly marked for life.

Hopefully this blog has been informative, slightly funny, and sort of insightful. May God be with all of you who have been keeping up with it, and all of you who have not. Let us all let God mark our lives, and learn to give without counting the cost.

-Jeff

::end transmission::

The last time in the Night Duty Room: Justiceworx, Wk. 7, Day 6

Today we took down all the banners around the seminary. The walls are bare and the flourescent lights in the hallway seem to shine brighter without their presence. There's no more color or life in the seminary without those simple banners and pictures being up. I'm going to miss this place like crazy.

Thinking of my life without St. Joseph's Seminary accessible is hard right now. This place is such a spiritual place for me that I don't even believe I'll be torn apart from the spirit of this place. Sean and Brian both had longer relationships with this place than I have, but six years is still a long time. I can't convince myself that we're not going to be having Justiceworx here next year.

Now I sit in this night duty room where for the past three years I have grown in ways I never thought imaginable. I sit on the precipice of starting my final year of undergraduate work and a life that I am unclear about yet. Without this place here it will be harder, but I know that if I keep it as a part of my heart, God will bless it and keep it safe no matter where I go.

I'm going to miss this place like crazy.

-Jeff

The Night I Went Without Wendy's: Justiceworx Wk. 7, Day 5

Today was another great day. This week has been such a high for me, I can't even believe tomorrow's the last day of service for the week! I remember the ice breaker on Sunday night and not knowing what to expect from this group. I have to say that the students this week are an incredible group, and that I am very proud to lead them. They're already ready to take on the world, they just need to be sent home.

As I was sitting in the staff room tonight I thought about our impending Wendy's run. It's been tradition to have Wendy's runs at Justiceworx after the kids go to bed. Not everyday, but every once in a while we'll all pile into a car and drive over to Wendy's to get some food and talk about the week and other various things. In my mind I thought to myself that if we're really teaching kids about how we need to curve our over consumption habits, and if we are really trying to get that message across, then going out to Wendy's wouldn't be the best option for me to eat. It messed with me for a little bit, but I found myself not wanting Wendy's tonight because I have plenty of food.

It's interesting to have confidence in ones' self enough to tell someone "no" when he or she really actually does want to have something. I know that it was the right move not to have any Wendy's tonight because I feel a little bit calmer tonight. I feel a little bit peaceful and tranquil because I don't have to worry about eating a whole burger before bed. It's a small victory for me, but if I continue to practice things like this, I know I will be able to turn down even the smallest eating habit, like Pringles before bed.

I hope I can continue this practice.

-Jeff

Epic Dance Party: Justiceworx, Wk. 7, Day 4

Quick update because I need sleep.

-The Wednesday activity ended on a great note. Everything went as best as it could and it seemed that the students really had a great experience

-Mass was incredible. It's a shame that I won't be seeing that chapel ever again. Well, probably not "ever" again, but I'm not going to see it for a very long time.

-We had an hour and a half long dance party with the kids. It was so epic and just a great way for everyone to bond.

-I'm really proud of how our students are handling this week and giving it there all. It reflects the fact that I'm giving it my all as a leader for these kids.

That's it from here. It's almost over, but my heart hasn't left yet.

-Jeff

Latika! You're my destiny!: Justiceworx, Wk. 7, Day 3

This week is exceptional. I have been enjoying the kids immensely because they bring so much energy to the table. We have a split between the newcomers and the old comers in terms of numbers, but all of them seem to be meshing pretty well. They're meeting each other and hanging out. We've been playing a lot of games as well, such as Ships and Sailors, Bunny Bunny Donka Donka, Wah!, and other "ice breaker" type games. I'm glad to see that they enjoy them so much; they're doing a good job getting to know each other.

My family group is really outstanding. Today we had a wonderful discussion about God, and it made me realize how much these kids want to know and understand God. It's incredible to me that these kids haven't given up on God because of all of the stuff that has been going on in the world. Although some of them don't have as much faith in God as others do, everyone here isn't afraid to question their faith and engage it in such a way that it will grow and not just grow stagnant.

This week is shaping up to be a good week. Can't wait to see how it ends up.

-Jeff

Bunny Bunny: Justiceworx Wk 7, Days 1 & 2

So my two roommates are sleeping in the beds nearby; I'll make this a sort of quick update.

-Kids this week seem to be pretty good. We have a good mix of returners and new comers, so we will have an interesting dynamic.

-Sunday was tough because we were lacking in supplies. The reports from Appalachia seem to be very good, so it was worth it. Good job to all the leaders on Justiceworx: Appalachia! Congrats on an awesome week!

-Today was a good day. I had a lot of energy at the work site and I enjoyed working with my work group. They all seem ready to open up and excited for the work.

-This week feels like a Justiceworx week from when I was a participant. I can't really explain that without going into more detail, but what I will say is that I do enjoy the mystique of the whole week: keeping the campers guessing at what happens at every moment. They seem to have really jumped into programming and things like that.

Alright, bed time (after one more round of night duty!). Good night all.

-Jeff

Another week off: August 2nd-8th

It's crazy how outside life seems to creep up on the programs. I remember entering the CASA thinking that this summer was going to be long because of all of the changes to the programs. I should have judged from my past expereince: this summer was shorter than last summer. Chalk it up to the fact that the "leaderworx" community (i quote l-worx because technically, we aren't the "leaderworx" community)didn't mean on June 1st last year, or to the fact that this year we only had seven weeks instead of 8 (which is also not true because as I write this here a week of J-worx is happening in West Virginia). Maybe the speed of time can also be attributed to the fact that we have had two weeks off this summer in which we are able to enter back into the "real" world and see or talk to people we haven't had contact with due to our job.

I think the truth of the matter is that no matter what time's speed is attributed to, we can all agree that no matter what, it does not slow down for anyone. It seemed like yesterday I was meeting new people from Michigan and getting to know people I met last year better. Now I sit here, typing on the eve before the last Justiceworx week of the summer. I know this next week is going to fly by, we'll pack up, leave the Seminary one last time, come back to the CASA and call it a summer. So that's why next week I'm going to leave it all on the table.

This whole summer I feel like i've done an alright job leaving my energy on the table. I think as a community we've done a great job doing that. Every week I feel like we try to be as present to these kids as possible. That can be attributed to the fact that we all know the common goal: to teach these students about Catholic Social Teaching and what it means to enter into the common human struggle. We all feel as if that's what these students need to understand. For my own part the energy I give every week sometimes avails itself to a fault because it can make me worried or anxious to get to the next activity and event. What I have to remember is that for this next week, time is against us. The faster the week goes, the quicker this summer will be over.

So next week will be our final week. No other weeks ahead of us, everything is behind us. We must be ready to show these students the love of Christ and how radically it can change the world so that when they return home they can live out the quote on the back of their t-shirts: "Changing the world, one summer at a time."

All for the Greater Glory of God,

-Jeff