As the rain falls in Mandeville, the people line the streets, standing under the store awnings that provide some shelter. Storms in Jamaica are unpredictable, quick, and fierce, leaving little time to prepare for them. Getting out of a taxi, Steve and I found ourselves caught in one of these storms. Instead of waiting it out, we ran through the streets trying to get back home. I stopped for a second, in my soaked clothes, and noticed how the whole town stopped. All of the people stood patiently waiting for the storm to pass, while we were hurrying to go nowhere. Why were we in such a hurry?
A couple weeks later, we went back to Stony Hill. It was an opportunity to visit some of the people who have been so important to the Passionist Volunteer Program. While walking through the mission of Mt. Friendship, I found myself caught in a storm, similar to the one in Mandeville. Quickly, I looked for any type of shelter that could hold me over until the rain stopped. Finding some in a small shop, I sat looking out as the rain fell over the mountains.
Until this moment, I really hadn’t taken the time to just sit and think. This was the first time I had come back to this mission since my previous service trip in January. At that point, I was a student at Fairfield University with no intention of dedicating a year to service. Now, eight months later, I sit as a Passionist Volunteer in the same place. I wondered, “How did I end up here? What am I doing here in Jamaica? Where will this experience lead me?” These, along with many other questions, ran through my mind. After a few minutes, the rain stopped and I continued on with my day, coming up with no answers to those questions.
I realize now that the more important question is: What am I looking to accomplish here? Growing up, many things were based on production. From school to jobs, the harder I worked the more productive and successful I would be. Unlike at home, I can’t be as productive as I want to be here. Changing that mentality is my biggest challenge. I’m learning that the most important thing I can bring is presence, not productivity. In being present with the people, I am giving all that I have.
In 2002, Archbishop Edgerton Clarke welcomed PVI to Stony Hill. He asked that the volunteers share two things with the people: love and truth. By sharing those two gifts, we allow other people to walk with us as we walk with them. Through these loving and honest relationships, we can learn so much about ourselves, while giving hope to the people we serve. Building that type of foundation takes time, especially in this new setting. All we can do is wait out the storm.
- Sean Clores is a Passionist Volunteer serving in Honduras.
Please consider a donation to help the Passionists in their ministry to people living in poverty: Please make checks payable to PASSIONIST MISSIONARIES.
Passionist Missionaries Inc.
526 Monastery Place
Union City NJ 07087-3398
Tel: 888/806-6606
E-mail: AGardiner@cpprov.org
Donate on-line by clicking the button below.
The Donate Now button will redirect you to Caring Habits, Inc. (CHI) which is the credit card processing company for The Passionist Missionaries website.
Related articles
- Jennifer Martin – Learning to Live in Mandeville, Jamaica (thepassionists.org)
- Si Díos quiere (God willing) (thepassionists.org)
- A Day Just to Be a Child (thepassionists.org)
