Just Be

So.... during last night's reflection, we discussed our consolations, desolations, and hopes for the upcoming week. There seemed to be a common theme amongst all of us, one by one, as we circled around the room. The theme was how hard it is to leave our lives at home behind - whether it be our hectic work schedules, our families or our everyday comforts & routines - and embrace the simplicity of "just being".

Today we were trying to just be... by waking up and enjoying the gorgeous Jamaican mountainside and wonderful coffee. By joining the local community for mass and being welcomed with open arms and song. By taking in the natural smells of the farm such as cow manure, dead frogs and headless chickens. By jumping into our first task of cleaning debris and grading land around the new well (and boy were we happy to find out that is not where our drinking water was currently coming from). By not worrying what time it was or how dirty we were getting. By working as a team and appreciating each and every person that is here....

We aim to let go of our stresses back home so we can love the children of Mustard Seed with open hearts, provide the support the caregivers need, work physically as hard as we ever have, and completely embrace the opportunity to give of ourselves to others.

~ Gretchen and Suzanne (Three Year Veterans)