Howdy ya'll.This is Mary writing.
Each night we have what we call a tribal council. The first council on Monday morning in the PSTCC parking lot, we made the following tribal agreements: a) always travel in groups of no less than 4; b) confidentiality- we can talk and write publicly of our individual experiences and share about others' experience in a way that does not reveal who they are (that's why you'll notice much of our writing is phrased as "some people" of "someone" instead of naming names in our stories); c) is to listen before deciding; and finally d) be on time when we're given a specific time for an activity/meeting.
At our tribal council last night our group decided to name ourselves the Yellow Ninjas! The long-term volunteers had heard rumors that they (EC) was getting a bunch of volunteers - more than any other group at one time - so they got creative an made up what we were like and to make sense of why so many were coming down to Buras! Someone said that perhaps we were Ninjas coming from afar! Hence, the Ninjas arrived and yellow is for our Pellissippi Yellow Outdoor Club shirts that most of us have been wearing!
At each of our tribal councils we check in to see how the group is doing -one word feeling words to get the pulse of the group; we also have learned some techniques to dialogue; also we have an opportunity to acknowledge anyone in the group who we saw doing something spectacular, inspirational, admirable the we want to publicly recognize. The person getting acknowledged stands in the middle of the circle to receive the acknowledgment and the applause, hoots and hollars! BIG smiles all around while hearts open to receive the praise! One of our group memebers was acknowledged for his first day of no smoking; another was acknowledged for being so quick to say "I'll clean the port-a-pottys". I think you get my drift of this exercise in intentional recognition!
The rest of the council is open to shares about the day; what was experienced, what was learned, what was touched in them about the work we're doing and the people we are serving.
I am in Awe of our group -the quality of students and advisors who are here warms my heart, they are truly loving and caring individuals. Their willingness to step in and do whatever is necessary is inspirational and fills me with pride. I just walk around feeling blessed and privileged to be a part of this stellar group --- we are "Wow-ing" the resident and long-term volunteers with the amount of work, creativity and willingness coming from our group!
I also want to tell you how exciting it is to read posts from those of you who are following our journey. Someone came up to me with great excitement and said, "Audrey sent an email out to PSTCC and Dr. Edwards sent us a message!" Thanks to all of you who are writing --- it matters to us to hear from home!
Be well, be grateful!
Love, Mary B
4 comments:
Mary, what a great project! Congrats to you, Kim, and your entire group for this effort - I look forward to hearing about it when everyone returns.
Mike North
Dear Ninjas--I have been reading these trip reflections with great interest each morning! What a worthwhile, inspiring mission you are on. As I sip my hot cup of coffee (yes, Mary, I know what that cajun coffee is like and it's STRONG with chicory!), I am struck with how vivid and authentic this experience must be for all of you there together. You are giving of yourselves in ways that few people have experienced. You are embodying what it means to serve.
I can also hear your appreciation for what you are doing; you stories are compelling to read. To participate in the guided reflections each night at the Tribal Council--to allow each member to give voice to his/her experience--is an important, necessary addition to the trip. It's a path to meaning-making for the whole group. Shared reflection is so often forgotten or taken for granted in our modern, fragmented lives where individuals think they can do it all without input from others in the culture they, in fact, are co-creating.
You are making waves. You are working hard helping real people and doing needed things to heal another community; at the same time you are making friends and human connections that will not be forgotten. Reflecting on that shared experience is having a threefold effect: It makes it YOUR OWN as individuals, as you hear shared stories--it becomes THE GROUP'S, as you participate in an intentional way making meaning of what you do--and it makes it OURS, too, (back home) as you write about it. Thanks for sharing!
I look forward to hearing more about your adventures.
Best, Annie Gray
Phi Theta Kappa sends appreciation and respect for what you all are doing this week.
We are with you in spirit!
I know your adventure is almost at it's close and you have all been doing some very hard and rewarding work. I hear from Christy every night and she seems very happy with her experience there. Mary and Kim, I miss you in the office and can't wait for your to get back and hear of your experiences.
Gwen
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