“Be joyful in hope, patient
in affliction, and faithful in prayer.”
–Romans 12:12
The
experiences I have had this year tested my abilities to live true to this
verse. This is my favorite Bible verse; it provides simple, yet direct guidance
on how to handle the different challenges you come across throughout life. The
challenges I have faced this year have been great learning experiences, where I
have been behind the curve more than I would like to admit. I wish I could
share everything that I’ve learned from my YAV year, but I feel like I’ve been
constantly learning. So, in order to keep this less like a novel and more like
a blog post, I’ll give you a few examples.
First, I have learned the true value of persistence,
and how to recognize it in it’s many forms. I’ve
repeatedly witnessed the dedication this community has. They are driven to be
involved in their community, to learning and achieving something for themselves
and others. One woman in her 50’s, Mrs. Patsy, has been studying and practicing
for years to try and pass the GED test. She is relentless. Every time I talk to
her and ask her what she’s been up to she answers with some version of “I
worked on my math worksheets all last night, I’m trying real hard to bring up
my math score.” She is so diligent in
trying to achieve this goal of having her GED.
Another
example of true perseverance is Mrs. Fatuma, a Somali refugee who has been
attending the ELL and Citizenship classes at the CWA Learning Center all year.
She applied for U.S. Citizenship, made the trip to Memphis, and failed her
first interview attempt. Shortly after, the classes at the Learning Center were
letting out for summer break and she would no longer be receiving constant
tutoring and guidance, the way she had been. Considering her few months left to
prepare for her second interview, I told her that if she could come to the
center twice a week I could continue to tutor her for her upcoming
interview. I had no idea the amount of
information potential citizens had to know in order to be prepared. There was a
lot of information to cover, but each tutoring session Mrs. Fatuma was there
and attentive and ready to learn. She was so determined to pass this interview,
it made me devoted to helping her. We were in it together. She even studied on
her own at home so that she could know the answers to the questions for our
next session. I truly enjoyed the opportunity to be able to laugh and learn
with her while we prepared for her interview. I am ecstatic to report that I
received a phone call from her today, informing me that she passed her
citizenship interview! I could not be happier for her. I feel like this entire
journey has truly been a case of being “joyful in hope”.
Now, this example showcases how willing the community is to give and be
involved in their neighborhood. During the holiday season, I was given the
opportunity to lead a project. This project was community blanket making and
required no sewing, knitting, or crocheting skills in order to participate. It
was an opportunity for community volunteers to learn a new skill while also
producing blankets to be distributed out to the babies in the community. The
blankets were fleece fabric, and the concept was to cut the edges into strips
and tie knots in them. The community
volunteers tied in their hopes and love for each of the babies with each knot.
It turned out to be a great way for the community to give back to each other.
But it also showed me something that I had previously not seen. The women that
live in this neighborhood were eager to participate in this project and donate
their time. They enjoyed being able to sit around together making the blankets
and talking with each other. The project was extremely successful. In fact,
when we finished the allotted amount we needed for our holiday event, they
asked for more fabric so that they could continue giving back and having the
opportunity for fellowship. I know they feel a true sense of connection to
their community when they see a baby in a stroller covered up with one of those
blankets.
My
most important lesson from this year would have to be the importance of
relationship building. I know this is the most important one because I saw
evidence of it every day. Relationships are built on respect, actually on
mutual respect. The CWA Learning Center has a computer lab, it’s open to the
public Monday through Thursday from 10am-2pm, and all different types of people
come in for the computer access. One thing I know is that it does not matter
who walks in the door, you have to treat each person exactly the same way. This
is the best way of laying the foundation to relationships. I always greet each
person and ask how he or she is doing. I basically make small talk with them,
but from those conversations they see that I care and am making an effort. This
leads to so many things. One woman has been trying to get a job for some time
now and has applied to multiple, been on interviews, and actually got a job,
then was accepted into a new training course at the YWCA. How do I know all of this you ask? Because
she tells me, she is always so excited to come to the center to tell me her
updates. Last time, when she came and told me about the training program, I
congratulated her and she thanked me for my support. I haven’t done anything
other than listen to her and talk with her about her progress towards finding a
job, but that relationship made her feel like she had somebody backing
her. Another woman, a Somali refugee
mother comes into the center each time she checks her mailbox. She walks in the
door, hands me her unopened mail and says, “What does the mail say today Miss
Susan?” This is because she cannot read English. So, I open each envelope and
we work our way through what is in her mail. I explain things like
solicitations and flyers and then we discuss things like bills and even call
offices to set up payment plans when necessary.
Her verbal English is excellent but her abilities to read and write
English are at a stalemate. This is because she has three young children that
she watches each day at home and has no place for them to go if she were to
attend the ELL classes at the CWA Center. There is no childcare provided for
the ELL students’ children. This is a perfect example of being “patient in
affliction” as she tries her best to navigate her way through with her Limited
English Proficiency (LEP) until she is able to find a way to attend classes.
These
are only a few examples of what I’ve learned this year, but I think it’s safe
to say that I truly could write a novel.
As for my future plans, I will be studying a Master’s Program in Human
Rights and Genocide Studies for the next 18 months in Europe. Click here to check out the program's website, if you're interested. When I complete
my master’s degree I hope to attend law school and eventually work in the field
of international human rights law. Considering the intensity of the field of
work that I intend to enter, I completely recognize the necessity for me to be
“faithful in prayer.”
Thank you all so much for your prayers and support throughout this year! It's been an amazing experience that will forever shape the person I am. :)
Thank you all so much for your prayers and support throughout this year! It's been an amazing experience that will forever shape the person I am. :)
