It's safe to say that I learned a lot as I explored Europe for two months. Every culture has its own personality, every city has a history with ups and downs, and every person has a unique and beautiful story. Yes, I've learned many things from my travels but the most important lesson is that I have much to learn; the diversity of people, places and ideas in the world is both humbling and inspiring. These lessons are equally applicable to travel and life in Europe and the States and I look forward to seeing how they apply to my time in Tanzania. I find myself between two worlds as I process my trip in Europe and prepare for my mission in Tanzania. As much as these adventures may differ, I have faith that God will continue to be present in every encounter.
Gifts of a Pilgrimage
My pilgrimage of El Camino de Santiago was a time for personal reflection, making connections with pilgrims from all corners of the globe, and an abundance of spiritual gifts. As I walked through Spain on roads trod by millions of pilgrims before me, I felt connected to the universal Church and the common goal of growing closer to Christ while walking closer to the tomb of His apostle James.
As I spent hours and hours walking each day, I realized the greatest gift we have is time. Every moment we have on earth is a gift, and how blessed are we to be able to share those moments with people we love? That's not to say that moments alone aren't precious. I found a lot of peace with God during the early mornings and late evenings when I was walking alone; those times helped me focus on my prayer intentions. It was quite amazing to take time to pray alone exploring questions and often finding God's response to my questions--most often in the form of different questions--when I would walk and talk with fellow pilgrims, each of whom amazed me with their ideas of the world and reasons for embarking on their Camino. Though the physical aspect of the walking was demanding because of my short timeframe, I eventually found comfort in letting go of control and trusting in Christ's strength to walk the miles that I could not. The resounding lessons from my pilgrimage were
TRUST THE LORD and BE NOT AFRIAD!
Preparing for Departure
Now that I'm back home in Wisconsin I'm processing my trip in Europe while preparing for my December 2nd departure for Tanzania; each day has been a gumbo of reading, journaling, skyping and packing. Many tough goodbyes have passed already and more are soon to come. I've discovered that my initial placement at St Peter Claver High School will be in the school's campus ministry and computer departments; I look forward to sharing the joys and challenges of these roles when school starts in mid-January. Until then we new volunteers will be going through in-country orientation (to build on the two-week orientation we had in Scranton over the summer) which includes Swahili language school, a stay with a host family, and a retreat.
Overwhelming Generosity
I'm very happy and grateful that my Send me to Serve fundraising is coming right along! Peoples' generosity has been overwhelming thus far; I've felt so much support by people who've contributed with small and large donations. Right now I have similar feelings about my fundraising as I did during my pilgrimage. On the very first day of my Camino I was surprised with a delicious lunch buffet of Spanish food offered graciously by a local woman I had never met. Likewise, some of the huge donations I've received thus far have been anonymous or from people I've never met in person. And, just as I felt halfway through the Camino pilgrimage, I recognize there is a long way to go but I trust that God will find a way to help reach my fundraising goal. This process of asking for money is very new and humbling for me and I thank you so much for joining the ministry of JVC in this way. Please find the fundraising page here and remember that every little bit counts toward my goal of $3333! Muchas gracias
The Opportune Moment
Something dawned on me as I was flying to the States from Europe; every moment is an opportunity. A long flight is an opportunity to rest and watch some movies. A late bus is an opportunity to practice patience. A mistake is an opportunity to improve. A meal is an opportunity to give thanks. An encounter with a stranger is an opportunity for a friendship. A conversation is an opportunity to share ideas and experiences. As I now take time at home to connect with family and friends, I look forward to the opportunity to begin my life as a Jesuit volunteer in Tanzania. Thank you for your prayers and support, I feel my mind and heart ready for whatever God has in store for me.
Peace & love,
-Ryan-
rknotttza14@gmail.com
PS for anyone concerned about me and the Ebola outbreak, this article sheds light on the tragedy as a whole and this article puts in perspective where the disease is and how it is affecting the entire African continent. I don't want to assume you are ignorant of the epidemic or geography, but it sure is interesting that I was closer to the outbreak's epicenter when I was in Europe than I will be in Tanzania.
