It’s been nearly three weeks since I headed south for a
yearlong adventure in Oregon. Life has been so full!
On August 4th, I caught the Greyhound in
Ellensburg at 4:30 in the morning and started on my way down to Portland and
eventually to Camp Adams for orientation. Everyone who is doing JVC NW starts
at Orientation (or “O”). There are nearly 150 JVs serving in over 20
communities throughout the NW. It was overwhelming meeting so many new people,
and at first it felt like welcome week but instead of asking everyone what
their major is, you ask them what their service placement is. There are JVs
from all across the country as well as some JVs from abroad.
Each day of orientation was themed around one of the four
JVC NW values: simple living, community, spirituality, social justice. Each day
had music, speakers, breakout sessions, time in community, and all the
information we will need for the year, as well free time and fun activities.
Square dancing was a highlight.
I appreciated the space that was given for reflection at orientation.
I needed that time to both look back and look ahead as I enter this new year.
In a lot of way I don’t really feel ready for the year. How college ended was
rather disorienting and opened up a lot in me – who am I? Where is God? How do
I want to be in relationship with friends and family? What is most important in
life? Death was so present at the start of this summer. Within what that brought
up in me, one thing I found was a re-realization of how much I am loved and how
much I love so many people and my community. But then I am graduating college
and taking off for a life with many new people and new community. As much as I
am glad to have finished undergrad, part of me wishes that there was another autumn
start of school to come back to.
But I do feel that I am in a good place, the right place for
me right now.
Life in community has been going very well so far. After a
week of orientation, we headed to our house in Gresham (aka Greshvegas, or Greshlehem,
or the house that zen built). It’s huge! Nine bedrooms for six of us. We’ve
been getting to know each other better day by day, and I think all of our
personalities are starting to come out more – at first we were all very quiet. We’ve
watched many movies (several Robin Williams films, in memory), explored
downtown Portland, picked blackberries, finished a puzzle, dumpster dived
(dove?) and enjoyed a night at Gresham’s local watering hole, the Gresham Inn. Six
nights a week a pair of us will cook dinner for the whole house. I love sharing
meals together – to eat and be with each other is truly such a spiritual act,
and it’s these small practices that form who we are. We also share household responsibilities
and a community account for housing, utilities, and food expenses. One night a
week we gather for spirituality night which allows to get to know each other on
a deeper level. It’s really all so counter-cultural – to live life together,
mutually responsible with one another – and it has/will have its share of
difficulties, but I am loving it and know I will grow in community.
I started work at JOIN as the new immersion coordinator. The
first three days were hard and a bit intimidating, but I am starting to get
into more of a rhythm. So far, I've mostly been working in the day shelter
space, called “the House.” Friends of JOIN can come to the House during the day
to have a place to be, get some food, take a shower, use a computer, check
their mail, and access other services. The House runs on a barter system where
guests can do chores in the space to earn points that are used to on services –
allowing people the opportunity to work for services provided dignity. The
House is intended to be a community where guests, volunteers and staff
collaboratively run the space and are in mutual relationship. Of course, there
is always going to be a power differential, and limited resources and security
concerns prevent the full realization of this ideal, but nevertheless it has a
huge impact. JOIN seeks to be relationship-based rather and rules-based and
operate from a place of trust rather than fear or control. Guests are to be
friends rather than clients. With this comes a whole host of challenges, but it
is beautiful and welcome change from other social service environments I have
been in.
I have also been impressed so far with how JOIN lives out
its values not only in its social work but also as an organization. There is a
real sense of community and collaboration. It very non-hierarchical and
egalitarian. I have felt very welcomed. My role in the House is definitely
going to stretch and challenge me, but it seems there a lot of support and
attention so that those challenges become places of learning and growth. I’ve
also already signed up for a 60-mile relay race with the executive and
associated directors.
I think that’s it for now. Hopefully there will be more blog
posts to come, soon!
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*The content of this blog is solely that of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of JVC NW*
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*The content of this blog is solely that of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of JVC NW*
