Going to California
Hello,
Welcome to another break and another Headlights Immersion trip! This time we are going to East Los Angeles, California. The last time we visited East LA was in the Fall of 2007. 15 students will be traveling with Nathan Scheidecker and myself to learn about the realities of gangs, the complexity of immigration and about a community that has worked hard for the future of their children. We will primarily be spending time at Dolores Mission – A Jesuit parish and school and we will also tour Homeboy Industries in downtown Los Angeles.
As we travel the students will be reflecting on their experiences and the new people they meet.
Be sure to follow us!
Peace,
Colleen
Participants
Nathan Scheidecker – Butte, MT
Matea da Rosa – Meridian, Idaho
Fred Collins – Helena, MT
Mary Gillette – Miles City, MT
Ryan Anderton – Seattle, WA
Jacob Winegart – Florence, MT
Hayley Dahlem – Seattle, WA
Andrew Schneller – Tacoma, WA
Tyler Frohlich – Billings, MT
Kirby Longo – Billings, MT
Stephanie Johnson – Portland, OR
Travis Biederman – Big Fork, MT
Darbi Brady – Fairfield, MT
Jon Campbell – Pasco, WA
Liz Thompson – Idaho Falls, ID
Brekk Bass – Miles City, MT
A few days later…
Hi everyone,
We’ve been back from Rochester, New York for a few days and I thought it would be helpful to reflect on my experience. As I look back on the week we spent with the Sisters of Saint Joseph in Rochester, there are lessons that I bring back to Helena: give generously, serve with a smile, and love continually.
I was fortunate to spend a week with thirteen outstanding Carroll College students who were eager to give of themselves each day. As I process the week and look ahead to my future, I can’t help but think that is the most generous gift that I can give others, the gift of myself. It was a great feeling to share ourselves with those we served, whether it was women in a house of hospitality, children at a daycare center, students in schools, clients at a community center, patrons of a soup kitchen, the sisters who hosted our group, or one another. I hope to listen to God’s call to give of myself more fully to others.
We’ve all heard the phrase, “Choose your attitude” time and time again. Our time of service and ministry was a great reminder to me about the importance of serving with a smile. My time at Nativity Prep, I was shown how students react to someone’s smile, something they unfortunately aren’t shown every day. Their reaction isn’t completely unpredictable; they smile back, which is an amazing reward. I hope as I serve others in the future, to do so with a smile on my face and in my heart so others know that I am happy in helping them.
It’s not always easy to love others. Occasionally, I catch myself making up an excuse to not love. I become selfish with the greatest gift God gave me, the ability to love. I was reminded on this trip the importance to love others first, just as God loves me. Not just when it is convenient or when it will benefit me, but all the time.
I had a great week serving and growing with some amazing people. We shared an abundance of laughs, a few tears, some early mornings and some late nights, and many prayers together. I can’t wait to do it all again!!
Thanks for all the support through prayers and generosity!
Dan
Stuck in Rochester
I sat at the airport today and wondered where the plane was. A voice came over the loud speaker informing us our plane had not even left Detroit. Quiet panic settled in as we calculated flight times and realized we would not even be off the ground when our next flight would leave from Detroit.
It is currently four hours later, and I’m back in the kitchen at the convent. We are here until 7pm tomorrow and (God willing) will be back in Helena by midnight.
With all the extra time, I’ve been reflecting on my week. I volunteered at a Catholic elementary school. I worked in a class of first graders.
On Wednesday we had a prayer service at the school. A kindergarten class sang “Amazing Love.” Some kids were belting the song out at the top of their lungs, some were just doing the motions, a couple kids were completely distracted, and one even had his back to the audience. I sat there and couldn’t help but think, “Do these kids have the slightest clue what they are singing?” Then a thought hit me upside the head, “Do you?”
These kids had shown me so much love. Not only that, they have their innocence. Their imaginations haven’t been taught there’s a limit, and they believe in the impossible. Who better to understand impossible love?
I also realized, even if they don’t have the slightest understanding of the words they sing, how could God not be pleased with their song? Does it not still bring God glory? Does it not still praise Him? We cannot even fathom the depths of God’s love. We may not know the meaning of the words we sing, or the difference we make in another person’s life. That doesn’t mean we honor God any less with our life.
When I looked back at it all I realized everyway I have served this week, I could have done in Helena. I wanted to come to Rochester so that I can serve, looking for a life changing experience.
Today it hit me, ultimately what lasting difference would the trip have made in my life if the service opportunities ended with the trip? If I could only find service opportunities unique to Rochester, my experience would have ended when I got on the plane. The service cannot stop here!
Another thing I wanted to do was make a visible difference in someone’s life. Although I had become quite attached to these kids, I wasn’t convinced my presence made any difference beyond saving the teacher sometime correcting papers. That was until I received a thank you card from one of the girls in my class. Of all the kids, I thought she was the most indifferent to my presence. The card itself was construction paper and the majority of the words were spelt wrong. (In fact, I’m not even sure what a couple of the words are.) But what I could read was very heart felt and almost made me cry. I also found out later that she is going through a particularly difficult time. We never know the impact our presence will have on another person’s life.
Thus far I have learned…
There is work to be done everywhere; it is not necessary to travel thousands of miles to make a difference in someone’s life.
Service sometimes takes the form of simply being present with an open heart.
There’s nothing like celebrating Marte Gras with these sisters.
Listening does not consist of silencing your mind in order to hear someone else. Listening is accomplished by opening the heart.
Amy
New Experiences
Hello Gentle Readers!
Thank you all so much for following us thus far! This week has been a completely new experience for me, but a good one, nonetheless.
I have never driven that long in the car…new experience number one. I have never been the minority. At Cristo Rey, three percent of the student population is Caucasian—new experience number two. A vocabulary lesson in slang terms: “juice”, “crispy”, “bucci”, “gucci”, “jeffin’”, “deuces”, “What’s good?”, “What’s goin’ down baby?”, “Bye Cuz (or Fam can be used)!”, and “Ima holla at you”, are a few examples—still working on usage however, new experience number three. New experience number four was in Mrs. Hughes’ English classroom. Oftentimes Fred and I would hear statements that if said on the Carroll campus—or at in least any classroom I’ve ever been in—would be severely reprimanded for. The culture is completely different from what I’ve grown up with, and it has been a very unique experience learning from it and beginning to understand where the lines are here versus where they might be for me. And finally, new experience number five was never being fully certain of what state I’m in. After traveling halfway across the country and going back and forth between Kansas and Missouri all week, I’ve just stopped trying to figure it out. =)
Last night, during prayer with the sisters at the Xavier House, we got into a conversation about the fruits of our immersion and service here in Kansas City. We discussed the opportunities that we have had to connect with the students at Cristo Rey and the relationships that we’re building. Unlike last spring break, we have not always been able to see concrete effects that our service is having. I noticed this when I felt “productive” after cleaning lockers and walls for a couple hours. So… the last couple days (Wednesday and Thursday), I have worked to identify any products of our time, conversations, work, and service.
Here are a few things that I noticed: the feeling that the students were genuinely interested in and attentive to the answers to questions that they were assigned to ask us; the fact that 16 more students will be receiving donated computers fully restored and protected; even if it was just grading papers or addressing envelopes, we gave the gift of time to the teachers and administrators who we were assigned to; a YouTube video posted by adoring fans; being given culture lessons that included handshakes, the “stanky leg”/the “flex”, and urban slang; being greeted enthusiastically by name in the halls or upon entry to “our” classrooms; and last, hugs from people we had and hadn’t met at all Thursday—especially when it was announced that it was our last day.
Before arriving in Kansas City, Colleen mentioned something about how on a service or immersion trip, you always seem to get more out it than what you feel like you’re putting in. After this week, especially, I’m noticing it. I’m returning back to Montana with several new vocabulary words and more importantly, a reminder to always have an enthusiasm for life. No matter what their specific mood, the Cristo Rey students were totally super enthusiastic!
Finally, before returning to the Xavier House this evening, we stopped at the Holy Family House. It is a Catholic Worker house with the philosophy that all who enter (who are sober and safe) are welcome and encouraged to participate positively in the Holy Family House community. Sometimes that just means having a hot meal, coming in to play the guitar and sing, using the phone, purchasing a bus pass, participate in liturgy services, picking up groceries, or talking with other guests and volunteers—no matter one’s state with the law, economic status, marital status, religion, or sexual orientation—no questions asked. We hung out for a bit with some of the guests who stopped by, had Mass, and then had dinner before coming home. It was a great opportunity to get a glimpse of the realities outside of the walls of Cristo Rey.
As my time in Kansas (or Missouri—wherever the heck we are) is drawing to a close, (T – 9 hours until we leave) I’m grateful for this immersion into the Cristo Rey and Kansas City culture. I’ve enjoyed all that has happened so far and am dreading the time that I will have to devote to homework in the car in the coming couple of days…but I suppose that it’s time to return to the Carroll world…
Thank you for keeping up with our blog so far, it means so much to us!
Deuces and Bye Fam!
Kirsten Rotz
“Driver and Co-Pilot in Action”
So today was an interesting adventure to say the least. Our morning started off similar to most, except for the fact that all of us were half-asleep since we weren’t going to any of our work sites today. Sister Donna shared with us an analogy to consider as we prepared for our road trip to Niagara Falls. Our life is a car and we are the drivers, and Jesus is trying to get into our car. Sometimes Jesus is standing on the street corner asking for a ride, sometimes we throw Him in the trunk for when we decide we really need Him, sometimes He’s in the backseat (where He’s not much of a backseat driver at all), and sometimes he’s in the front seat co-piloting or even in the driver’s seat. It’s up to us. Personally, I reflected on the fact that right now I feel like Jesus and I are in the middle of a Chinese fire drill: the car is stalled and I’m crawling out of the front seat into the passenger seat, and Jesus is outside running around the car because I just can’t drive it anymore. It feels as if I’m out of control of the situation, but it’s only a matter of time until Jesus takes the wheel (Carrie Underwood shout-out).
Our day then took us to Bethany House, which is a house of hospitality serving women. We were put to work cleaning the house, unpacking diapers (a task taken on by all three of our boys on the trip), and unloading boxes and boxes of food. One of the interesting things that came to mind while working was the fact that there was SO MUCH. Pantry shelves were packed, freezers were full (thanks to some awesome toss-and-catch abilities) and there were bags and bags of diapers. I was shocked at the fact that this was considered “not very much” and that the Bethany House has food delivered on a weekly basis and is constantly short on diaper and baby donations. It just made me realize just how many people are in need in this city, and it was a very humbling experience overall.
Enter driver and co-pilot. With Dan in the driver’s seat, yours truly received the humble honor of being the co-pilot, which carries a lot of pressure! I was in charge of directions, the car DJ, potty-break coordinator, and more. We made it to Niagara Falls successfully without getting lost (yet). We took some pictures, and then the majority of the group went to visit Ben’s homeland. I went with a smaller group who stayed on the American side of the border, and we wandered around across the bridge to the island where there is a smaller falls called the Bridal Veil Falls. This might have been my favorite part of the trip so far, because watching Dan’s excitement and then disappointment with seeing the Bridal Veil Falls and then realizing that they were closed was truly beautiful. It’s not very often as a college student that I’m able to see an honest example of true love and devotion to one’s future spouse. So shout-out to Brittany, who I have yet to meet, because you two are already a role model for me of the kind of love that I hope to one day experience.
But enough for the sappiness. So the rest of our day was spent partying (with respect to dance of course). As the car DJ, we ended our trip rocking out to some satellite radio, including KE-dollar sign-HA and multiple occasions of fist-pumping. We learned that numerous members of our trip have quite the vocal range, that Dan enjoys a good knee-slap or wheel-tap on occasion, and that there is nothing better to bring a group together than some good old tunes and shuffles in the seat while driving.
Peace everyone!
Rachael
Encountering Stereotypes
Today was Ash Wednesday and there was a school Mass. I was lucky enough to have first period free and get to hang out in the Church while students prepared for Mass and was able to talk teacher free with some of them. Students at Cristo Rey are nothing what I expected. Every student I talked to has a dream plan for college, their goal for “getting out” as one student put it. The students are so amazing and tug at your heart by the simple things they say and do. You realize all that you have taken for granted of in life when talking. School is a privilege, not a right. Not all students want to go there, but they know that they are better there being prepared for college rather than in a public school where their dreams would be almost unreachable. I came on this trip thinking I was meant to have a lasting impact on someone’s life but I never thought that I would be the one who’s world was changed. I never realized how many stereotypes that were in my mind until faced with the reality that they are not true. We’re taught that “Inner-city” kids are so different because they are “less privileged” but they have the same if not more dreams than I ever imagined for myself. These students are more than a stereotype, more than a cliché. They break the barriers set against them on a daily basis. In fact, students at Cristo Rey share responsibility with each other, they stand up for each other, demanding respect of and for all their peers. I haven’t talked to one student that said they aren’t going to go to college. It’s like the word can’t isn’t in their vocabulary and they know that nothing can hold them back unless they allow it to, because they are the holder of their own future. They truly “look forward to the good that is yet to be.” I will never look at people through the same stereotypical eyes again. I am not better than anyone else, no matter what their circumstances and no one is better than me. I leave you with this, a prayer that is prayed in the classroom I’m in daily, “God, help me to open my eyes widely, look about me, and see other peoples not blinded by color, not based on race. Help me to see each man as my brother, each person my equal, each woman my sister. Let me live my life with equality.”
Peace,
Ardis VanMeerten
Offering Encouragement
Hello everyone!
Serving at Cristo Rey, Kansas City is an awesome experience. Today is Wednesday, the third day we have been helping out at the high school. I am enjoying trying to learn names and seeing the students get excited every time our group is around. After classes today we stayed a little longer to help with an after school study session. I was able to help a couple of students with their math homework and seeing them start to get it was really encouraging. I love how creatively this school was set up. There is a focus on getting the students to college and each student has the chance to experience a white-collar work environment all the way through high school here. I am excited to be encouraging these students to keep going on this path, and by seeing how simple it is to be a good influence I hope to bring their attitudes home with me. I hope you are all doing well and I will see you later.
Sincerely,
Lee Martin
Ash Wednesday
Hi!!
This week has been amazing so far. So many wonderful experiences have happened already and we still have 3 days left to our adventure. I have been able to meet so many new people here who have inspired me already. Yesterday I was able to talk to a junior girl here at Cristo Rey. The first thing she told me was how scared she is about college and how she wants to be a nursing major but is afraid of how hard college will be. Talking to her reminded me of some of the fears I had when I was going to college and the things I struggled with when I was a freshman.
Today is Ash Wednesday and the teacher I am following this week had his students write down on pieces of paper what they are giving up for Lent, and he plans on keeping them and giving them back to the students after Lent. I got to hear a little bit about what these kids are doing during lent, and a lot of them said stuff that related to helping other people like doing chores for their parents and doing more community service. The kids at this school really have big hearts and you can see that through the way they treat others and give back.
I keep meeting a lot of the wonderful students here, but have also gotten to see what is behind the scenes. I worked yesterday with an administrative person who coordinates all of the jobs for the students when they have to go work for a day out of the week. Her job is definitely a busy one and I can’t even imagine how much work she does for the school. It makes me think about and really appreciate of all the teachers, family, friends, and others I have had in my life who have supported me and gotten me to where I am today.
I am defiantly looking forward to our final day tomorrow, getting to know these kids has been a huge privilege.
(by the way new slang word we learned… deuces means goodbye.)
So Deuces!!!
Amy
Seeing Christ
Hello Blog Readers!
Today is our third day at the Cristo Ray High School and it never fails to be exciting. The students here are always laughing, smiling, and joking. It is almost impossible not to put you in a better mood.
From the first day I saw similarities between Cristo Ray and my high school experience. Like Cristo Ray, my high school was a college prep school with a strict dressed code and hard academics. I remember the days of khaki pants, along with the attempts to break dress code in the sneakiest way possible. It was not until after I graduated high school that I realized how blessed and fortunate I was. Not only did I receive a great education with inspiring teachers, but I was pushed to do my best and think outside the realm of high school. Students at Cristo Ray are also receiving a great education. And while they are learning the usual algebra, history and biology, they are also learning how to behave outside the world of high school. By going to this school they have the upper advantage. They learn the responsibilities of being a working adult; how to dress, how to act and much more. The tools they learn now will help them succeed later on.
The students have often said to me “aren’t we the most rambunctious bunch you have ever seen?” And the answer is yes; but this is not necessarily a bad thing. I have much respect for the teachers and the patience they demonstrate with the students. And when I got the chance to talk to the students one on one, I saw a different side to them. Not only are they bright, but they also are passionate about what they believe in. They have goals, dreams, and ambitions. They know what they want and don’t want in life. I can’t help but be inspired to live my life in a similar way.
In our night-time discussions, after we have finished our day at the school, we are asked the question, ‘Where did you see Christ today?’ And while this is a difficult question, I can’t help but think that I see Christ everywhere in this school. I see it in the hallways, the classrooms, in the teachers, and in the students. His presence is always present in this school.
Peace and Love ☺
Hayley
Greetings from Nativity Prep!
Katie after first assembly
This morning marks our third day of service at our sites this week. As I take a little break from all the excitement of the day, I’ll share with you a little bit of my week so far.
Dan and I were placed at Nativity Prep School, which is a small multi-cultural middle school just across the parking lot from the convent. It has only been up and running for 2 years, and currently holds grades 5-7. There are 35 amazing kids attending that have such unique personalities. Most of the kids come from low-income families and a majority were falling behind in the public school system. From the very first day we walked into their morning assembly, I felt so blessed to get to spend time with them and experience diversity that I never experienced growing up in small town Montana.
Throughout the week we’ve done many different tasks including reading with students and tutoring after school. Yesterday I had the opportunity to work with 4 different students after school, and we had a blast. They are so energetic and of course they wanted to do anything but homework. I have to say that I have gotten attached! I have had so much fun reading with a fifth grader named Treveon. He gets so into the stories, does sound effects, and is always asking when we can read together again. It’s going to be very difficult to say goodbye at the end of the week.
Overall, I am very impressed with the school. The faculty, which consists of experienced teachers and volunteers, really care about their students. They constantly strive to help the kids be the best they can be. It really reminds me of Carroll’s motto “Not for school, but for life,” because they really are taught life lessons that will change their future.
Back at the convent, last night was our Mardi Gras celebration. We ate way too much, ice cream sundaes and brownies included, and had a dance party. The highlight of my night was watching the sisters dancing the Macarena and The Electric Slide (pictures and videos will be available!) We really have become a little family here and I have been blessed to get to know some amazing classmates on this trip that have really become friends.
The whole experience has been very humbling and I have come to see and appreciate how much I really have. The kids I work with everyday are so full of life and it has really sparked something in me, and I thank God for that. The experience has been inspiring, and there is so much yet to come. Thank you for all of the support and to the Kansas City group, we are praying for you!
Katie
Carroll College Campus Ministry 