NOLA was just what I needed. All of Louisiana was, really. I left Houston on Saturday with a heavy heart, mourning for Boston and my friends whose lives have been so seriously altered. I returned last night refreshed and calm, even though I'd had a very emotional week. Louisiana is good to me that way.
As I drove down I-10 and entered that gorgeous city, I was reminded of hope and resiliency. This place that had gone through so much tragedy was doing just fine. Sure, there are a lot of lasting problems that still remain from the hurricane, but the spirit of the city is back, and stronger than ever. In fact, I'm not sure it ever left. This made me feel calmer: Boston, a city of tough people, will recover. They will be fine. They will run the marathon next year, and it will be beautiful.
The weekend was filled with amazing food, beautiful people, great music, and a lot of fun. JVs are some of the best people in the world, and the 30something of us who were gathered together in the NOLA houses were happily squished. The boys from South Dakota, the girls from Phoenix, people from Austin, San Antonio, and Mobile were all there, as well as our house, the two NOLA houses, and the other Houston house.It's so rare that we all get to spend time together, and having a weekend of fun to enjoy each others' company was so much fun.
One of the best parts of my time in NOLA was being able to share the city I'm so passionate about with my community and fellow JVs. Over different parts of the weekend, I took friends to get po'boys at Parkway Bakery, on a tour of the Lower Ninth Ward, and to Cafe du Monde and the French Quarter. We stumbled upon a second line parade that lead us to a giant Earth Day festival on Sunday, and I remembered why I decided to be a JV in the first place.
In the Lower Ninth, I took my community and the girls from Phoenix to the Lower Ninth Ward Village, an incredible community center set up after the storm that is run by locals- the people who know best what their community needs. Mack, the man who founded the village, has an incredible story, one that is at the roots of why I love NOLA. When we pulled up in front of the former auto body shop, we were greeted with open arms. Even though we weren't there to volunteer, Mack spent an hour with us sharing his story and showing us his project. I felt so blessed to be able to return to this place of resiliency and hope, and for my community members to gain a bit more of an understanding of why I feel the way I do about NOLA.
We got to spend a lot of time with the boys of the South Dakota (SoDak) community, which was also so restoring. They have what I believe are the most challenging positions in JVC- they live on a reservation in St. Francis, SD, working with the Lakota tribe. They are overworked and exhausted, sometimes frustrated, but so full of life. They have an isolating placement and do so many different kinds of jobs- anything that might be needed, they do, including radio DJ. They were very happy to have some time with other JVs, and their stories and amazing spirits were so wonderfully shared. Two of them will be on the East Coast next year- one in PA and the other in DC- I can't wait to hang out with them more!
On Monday, we left the Lower Ninth Ward and headed to our retreat in Convent, LA, about an hour from NOLA. We arrived to the gorgeous old plantation and got to spend time with the JVs who didn't make the trek to NOLA for the weekend, enjoyed a delicious dinner, and then we entered into silence.
The retreat was a "preached" retreat, which meant that we had a series of short talks each day that we attended, and then were guided in personal prayer. The grounds of Manresa, the retreat center named for Ignatius Loyola's own retreat into a cave near the town of Manresa, Spain, were stunning. Ancient live oaks were lined all over the property, which abutted the Mississippi River. I was able to pray and reflect in the sunshine of the gardens, in my room, in the gorgeous chapel, and in runs along the levee next to the river.
The silence was beautiful. It was so nice to have some time to think and pray and really be by myself- something I never get to do as a JV, except in the car. I had been really working at my relationship with God over the past few weeks, but this retreat was what helped the most. When I spent time in Kenya, a lot of that time was spent in prayer. I was able to pray in community with the Dominicans, and the combination of that prayer and my service was a perfect balance. I returned feeling grounded and loved, and I felt that way again while at Manresa.
I was able to connect to God so well, and I had a lot of time to pray contemplatively, something very Ignatian. This is when one reads a passage from scripture and really imagines themselves in the passage- what was it like to be there? I had a lot of reflection on Christ's love, His humanity, and His sacrifice, and it has given me much to think about in my final few months of JVC. I was able to reflect on sin, and how and why I want to do better. I have gained new insights into myself and who I am called to be, and the choices I will make after this year is over.
While on retreat I had ample time for reading. Much of this time was spent with scripture, but I also read "A Jesuit Off Broadway," a great book by Fr. Jim Martin, SJ. He spent time with the cast of the Public Theatre's The Last Days of Judas Escariot, and his reflections on working with actos, their relationships with God, the making of the play, and the connection between acting and prayer really helped me to dig deeper into prayer. He put into words the connection I've always felt, and I'd highly recommend the book to anyone, especially those who are theatrically inclined.
Driving back yesterday, I was filled with peace. I am tired, but happy, and ready to conquer the last quarter of this year.
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