Today, we continued our mission in deepening our understanding of ourselves, each other, and the problems that poverty and inequality bring. Our day began as usual; sleepy-eyed and ready to help the Father McKenna center in any way possible. Our duties included cooking the meal and serving it, cleaning the center, organizing the pantries, and generally trying to make ourselves useful and helpful. While very important, these tasks were not the catalyst in the change that we experienced today; through talking to the many guests at the McKenna center, to those who live on the street, and to those who were willing to share their life with us, we have begun to break down the divide between “us and them.” And we have realized that we are not so different after all. While the magnitude of our problems might be different, it is what we share that makes us one family of brothers and sisters. From the infections laughter, to the stories of our homes, to our losses of our loved ones, or to the simple notion of not wanting to eat a meal alone…. We have realized that we are not so different after all.
Today we also got the chance to help serve at a different church during a peace dinner. The hosts stressed that they were not simply feeding the hungry; they were opening their doors to share a meal with anyone who wanted to join. Unlike at the Father McKenna center, there were men, women and children of all ages. You couldn’t necessarily tell who was homeless, hungry, a volunteer, or a part of the congregation. The reality is that any one of us could be one or a collection of these things. As we spoke to different individuals, we learned that many were college educated. As students who are pursuing education as a means of bettering our lives, this was jarring. Our whole lives we are told that if you follow certain steps you will be rewarded with a fruitful, successful life. Many of the stories we bared witness to refuted that. While recognizing the humanity that connects us all is important, it is equally important to realize that everyone faces different burdens in life.
Much love,
Mari and Korey
Today we also got the chance to help serve at a different church during a peace dinner. The hosts stressed that they were not simply feeding the hungry; they were opening their doors to share a meal with anyone who wanted to join. Unlike at the Father McKenna center, there were men, women and children of all ages. You couldn’t necessarily tell who was homeless, hungry, a volunteer, or a part of the congregation. The reality is that any one of us could be one or a collection of these things. As we spoke to different individuals, we learned that many were college educated. As students who are pursuing education as a means of bettering our lives, this was jarring. Our whole lives we are told that if you follow certain steps you will be rewarded with a fruitful, successful life. Many of the stories we bared witness to refuted that. While recognizing the humanity that connects us all is important, it is equally important to realize that everyone faces different burdens in life.
Much love,
Mari and Korey
Such a powerful post! Thank you for your service and for the hard (and rich) internal work of reflections. Looking forward to seeing you all when you return!
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