To busy to write a blog…please leave a message after the beep.

So it has been one month and 11 days since I have posted on my blog, something I thought would never happen and honestly cannot believe. I would like to blame it on some freak occurrence, such as my inability to speak English anymore or my house actually burning down (okay, well maybe not that excuse). The only explanation I can possibly come up with is that I have just been too busy. Time has a way of escaping us here. The days seem to drag on for what seem like forever but the weeks and months just fly by. To think it is April and that I have now been in Chile for more time than I was in Bolivia is simply shocking.

About the time the last blog was written, summer vacation had just ended in Chile and everyone was starting to go back to work (most take off work for the summer months). Work started up for the Holy Cross Associates as well, which meant we, the first years, had the daunting task of finding jobs that would not only fill up our 20-hour a week requirement but would be fulfilling enough to justify not living and working in the United States. Summer camps, trips to the beach, and having enough time to read three books and finish knitting my very first sweater were all nice, but I was excited to get into a regular schedule and rhythm of life, to get into what I am down here to do: work and serve.

From what I am told, the first year is a challenge. We leave Bolivia with the ability to speak a new language and the experience of seeing third-world poverty on a daily basis, ready to start the program we had been accepted to almost an entire year before and been preparing for throughout the last 5 months. Instead we enter Chile at the beginning of summer and the end of the work season, with a lot of free time on our hands. When the job search begins, we are eager and willing to serve in any way possible (as I reflected above). Thus, the typical first year is somewhat frustrating, filled with various odd jobs, agreeing to work wherever help is needed, and “experimenting” with different areas of interest. Such jobs are working in an orphanage, homeless shelter, food kitchen, battered women’s shelter, home for the elderly, or at a nearby school teaching English. The result of this subconscious process is the ability to not only see what Chile has to offer but to discover what talents you possess and can provide the Chilean people in your second year.

As a first year, I have to say that I have been truly blessed with the opportunities that presented themselves to me at the beginning of my search. When I went on the Missions trip in early January, the principal of the high school we were accompanying was in my group. It was only on the 12th of our 14 day trip that I learned what his position was at the school (why no one bothered to fill me in on this major detail is still a mystery to me). Nevertheless, this lack of information allowed me to create an informal relationship with Padre Pepe and at the end of the trip, he offered me a position to work in the English department. Graciously accepting his offer, I emailed him a month before the new school year and had a meeting with the head of the English department soon thereafter. I now work at the high school, coordinate the school’s student exchange program, and teach English to a class of Juniors every Friday. I have permission to do whatever I want for the class and it has now been named by my students as “Fabulous Fun Fridays.”

Within the same meeting with the head of the English department, I was asked, “I know this is random, but do you happen to have any debate experience?” Telling her that yes, in fact I have 8 years of experience, caused her to say that I was sent down from heaven to answer her prayers. I don’t know about that, but I have since started a debate team in order to participate in a tournament sponsored by the Chilean government and the U.S. Embassy. The winners and all schools who show improvement between tournaments receive an increase in next year’s funding of English instruction. Our topic for the first tournament is “Should countries in Africa unite to form a political and economic block?” Yes, a tough one and if have any thoughts on the subject, we are happy to listen.

Also within the beginning of my search, I was eating dinner with one of my Chilean co-facilitators, Isabel, and I told her of my desire to find a job here in Chile in the area of immigrant rights. She told me of Vicaría Social, a social justice non-profit organization sponsored by the Bishop’s Office of Chile where she worked several years ago during the dictatorship. After a few phone calls from my Chilean director, Pedro, I received an interview with the director of the organization and the opportunity to visit each department, determining which I would like to work in. I have chosen the refugee and immigration service office of the organization and for two days a week I will help immigrants from Peru or Colombia, as well as refugees from Africa, become legal citizens and get incorporated into their new life by finding them jobs and housing.

All of my work, combined with volunteering at an orphanage for an hour every night for “homework club,” makes for a very busy week. As I said, I have been very blessed with the opportunities that have been presented to me. This thought did not occur to me at first. My purpose here is to live in solidarity with and serve the poor. I found myself asking, “Is teaching English, coordinating an exchange program, and being the coach of a debate team really fulfilling this purpose? Should I even work at a non-profit, restricting myself to work only in the local food kitchens and orphanages nearby like other Associates?”

Too much as happened for me not to say that God has played a part in what work I am doing. I feel it is no coincidence that the jobs I ended up with are jobs that I am well-suited for. God is with me and with my other Associates as well throughout their search. Sure, my work may change over time and new opportunities may arise. But knowing that someway or somehow, God is involved, provides the comfort that can definitely keep me working here for the next 2 years.