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News Detail
Mojo Dojo Casa House
Greetings my fellow compatriots. Discovered within the bounds of our encounter we have agreed as a conglomerate to bring compassion, perspective, humility, and hospitality back into our humble abodes.
An important thing that we, as a class, can bring home is a different kind of perspective. When we first landed here, I can say for my classmates that we had a pit in our stomachs because of the adventure that lied ahead. As we landed after the total 17 hours including flights, layovers, and drives we all felt a little awful entering this immersion. I realize now that the pit in my stomach was not necessary. Today we got to watch a slideshow that included all the memories we made during this trip because tomorrow is the last breakfast, last reflection, and the last dinner we will all eat together in the house. The pit was replaced with a gratitude that we got to come here together as somewhat strangers and leave as a family with a lot more perspective. Entering this trip, perspective was just an idea, something we had studied but never had. As we got to learn and watch as these people who are committed to having a better life and help do what best for their kids, we finally got to see the perspectivism Beyers had talked about. As of now we have helped and played with the kids, tilled ground, build half a house, and painted a fence for The Center's garden. After all this time and a long day of travel still to come tomorrow, our class will have a good perspective to bring home. And, as Mr. Beyer says, "God waited our whole lives for this experience." I believe this applies to our perspective too.
Another essential element of this encounter for us to take back with us is compassion. The longer I am here I realize that we lack the same level of community and compassion that this community has. The people here forfeited personal gain in order to help the community. Today we were told about a person who works at The Center who quit a much higher paying job in order to come back and help the community that supported her. There is a volunteer here that has decided not to finish his master's degree in the US and stay for a second year as an English teacher here and he is on an intensive track to get his teaching degree in Ecuador in December. This level of compassion is rare to see, at least in my daily life. The consideration for others when everyone is struggling is stronger in so many ways then what we I see in my life. If I am able to bring back a fraction of the compassion we have seen, then the world will be a better place.
Humility is an important virtue. Over the course of the week, we got to meet and connect with different families and children. We had the opportunity to learn about their daily routines, struggles and hopes, even getting to work alongside them in service projects. Something we will never be able to leave behind is just how humbling this experience was. Firsthand we witnessed how hard they work, and what felt like an exceptional amount of dedication and persistence from us, was just part of their everyday lives. Meeting and playing with these children at The Center is incredible knowing how strong they have to be and the dedication that is required.
Hospitality has been a big theme during our time here in Ecuador. One instance of this is when we were invited into two homes for the family visits and we met with the mothers. We were undeserving guests and yet they still invited us into their homes with open arms. The way they were able to treat a group of complete strangers like family was so astonishing, because in today's world it is uncommon for anything of the sort to occur. The respect and kindness they have towards complete strangers is so eye-opening and something I wish I could imitate in my life. I wish that I am one day able to become as hospitable as those women and I think it is something we should all strive for.
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Another essential element of this encounter for us to take back with us is compassion. The longer I am here I realize that we lack the same level of community and compassion that this community has. The people here forfeited personal gain in order to help the community. Today we were told about a person who works at The Center who quit a much higher paying job in order to come back and help the community that supported her. There is a volunteer here that has decided not to finish his master's degree in the US and stay for a second year as an English teacher here and he is on an intensive track to get his teaching degree in Ecuador in December. This level of compassion is rare to see, at least in my daily life. The consideration for others when everyone is struggling is stronger in so many ways then what we I see in my life. If I am able to bring back a fraction of the compassion we have seen, then the world will be a better place.
Humility is an important virtue. Over the course of the week, we got to meet and connect with different families and children. We had the opportunity to learn about their daily routines, struggles and hopes, even getting to work alongside them in service projects. Something we will never be able to leave behind is just how humbling this experience was. Firsthand we witnessed how hard they work, and what felt like an exceptional amount of dedication and persistence from us, was just part of their everyday lives. Meeting and playing with these children at The Center is incredible knowing how strong they have to be and the dedication that is required.
Hospitality has been a big theme during our time here in Ecuador. One instance of this is when we were invited into two homes for the family visits and we met with the mothers. We were undeserving guests and yet they still invited us into their homes with open arms. The way they were able to treat a group of complete strangers like family was so astonishing, because in today's world it is uncommon for anything of the sort to occur. The respect and kindness they have towards complete strangers is so eye-opening and something I wish I could imitate in my life. I wish that I am one day able to become as hospitable as those women and I think it is something we should all strive for.
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Regis Jesuit High School
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Regis Jesuit High School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic and other school-administered programs.