Decision Time?

Dear Friends,

This time last year I was discerning about coming down here, my how time flies and how things can change in a year. I have received quite a few emails from future RDCers and I know how hard the decision is. In true ignation fashion, the best advice I can offer is to imagine yourself here, pray on that, go through a whole day here, what do you see? what do you do? HOW DO YOU FEEL? Peace? Anxiety? Pain? Misery? Happiness? Joy? All of the above?

Having trouble imagining a place you´ve never been? Let me see if I can help...

Picture youself here among the people, the mud, the unpaved road, the malnourished, dirty, abused children...see yourself living in community, working out problems, laughing harder than you´ve ever laughed, crying together, giving up your independance...loving it, hating it...never wanting to go home, being homesick....reflecting on the face of Christ in yourself and others...being moved at mass, leading a retreat group, dealing with misunderstanding from home, being sicker than you´ve ever been, being joyful....think about everything, picture youself here, really do it, and then tell yourself how you feel...Pretend you´ve said yes, go through the hole day as if you´ve accepted, how do you feel? Pretend you´ve said no, go through the next day like you´re not coming down here, how do you feel?? Listen to your heart, that´s all we can do.

Life is precious, and life is short. Make decisions, stick with them, and no matter what, never give up the good fight. Whether you are applying to RDC or graduate school or the working world, we´re all fighting for the same thing: survival, whether it be our own or someone elses, this is the good fight. It´s an uphill battle some days, but it´s worth sticking with, if we don´t, then what the heck are we doing here and why?

Good luck,
Peace.

Emily