Is this Real Life?

K.G.

Kara and some fellow AmeriCorps members

Maybe you've seen the youtube video where the little boy just left the dentist office after having surgery.  He is a little out of it and asks his dad "is this real life"? and later he asks "is this going to be forever"?  Sometimes as a Franciscan Outreach Volunteer, I ask myself the same questions.  Choosing to participate in two terms of AmeriCorps services has stretched my horizons and opened my eyes to the struggles of the people I am serving.

My time at Franciscan Outreach has been such a blessing; I've been working here for about nine months.  As the guests come in for services, day after day, I have had the opportunity to develop friendships with many of them.  These relationships have become quite casual and it often feels like my friends are coming over for dinner.  It's easy to get sucked into the idea that this is just a place for them to come eat dinner and I tend to forget the circumstances they are facing as they leave the building.

Guest helping to shovel after the snowstorm

Often times I am snapped back to reality.  I want to give you an example of how I am reminded of the circumstances, mental illness, and struggles that my new friends face on a daily basis.  There is one man who comes in nearly every night for dinner and sleeps in the neighborhood afterwards.  He likes to tease us, tell jokes, shovel our courtyard and sign up for diner as Richard Nixon.  He refuses to stay at a shelter and faces all of the nasty Chicago seasons.  Not only this, but he has a hernia that is literally the size of a basketball that is protruding from his stomach.  From what I've heard, he is scared to have the surgery so he won't get it taken care of.  One night, he was transferring his belongings from his shopping cart in the courtyard to the dining hall, which isn't uncommon, but it took him about three trips, carrying two to three big black trash bags each time.

At that moment it struck me, "is this real life?" and the truth is that this IS his real life.  Every day he has to struggle to move his belongings...Every day he wears the same clothes...Every day he doesn't have access to his own shower...Every day he has to deal with his hernia...Every day he pushes his shopping cart around the neighborhood to get to dinner (which could be his only meal)...Every day he lugs his possessions in and out of the dining hall so they aren't stolen...Every day he finds a place to face the night-time elements and get some sleep...EVERY DAY.

Even though I'm a full-time volunteer who has dedicated a year to live simply, my "real life" and my "every day" is drastically different.  Every day I wake up with a roof over my head...Every day I eat plenty and sometimes more or even throw away food...Every day I have clean clothes to wear...Every day I have the opportunity to take a shower...Every day I sleep in a bed...

Community supporting one of our guests that works lighting for a local theater

It is incredible to me that our "every days" are so different, even though every day we share part of it with one another.  It breaks my heart to know that these guests, my friends, have to face the reality of hunger, homelessness, mental illness, addiction, and degradation on a daily basis.  To me, I feel like every human being should have access to the basic necessities of life; food, water, shelter and clothing.  Although here at Franciscan Outreach we do provide these basic necessities and offer services, we always need more people to be involved, because unfortunately many of our guests still struggle to have these basic necessities. The only way this will change is based on what we chose to do about it and our response to the question of "is this going to be for forever?"

Mid-Year Musings: Facing the Challenges of Volunteering

E.E.

My fellow Franciscan Outreach Volunteers and I have been at Franciscan Outreach for about 7 months now, which is just over the halfway mark on our yearlong commitment.  There is much to reflect on and it's fascinating to see the ways in which the organization has changed, how the friendships within our community have deepened, and how we have all adapted to our work environments and grown in the way in which we care for our guests.

Carissa, Emily and Molly trying to build a snowman.

There are several amusing anecdotes I could give you about the antics that go on around the house with all the volunteers or I could tell you a story or two about what the women I've come to know while working at the Franciscan House homeless shelter and the things they have struggled with.  But what has really been on my mind recently and what I have spent time talking about with members of my community, is how many of us are struggling with staying positive.  Now I'm not going to just start complaining about feeling tired, frustrated, and a little burnt out, but I think it's important to be honest and point out that this is a challenge that most full-time volunteers have to face and more importantly, overcome.  I realize in the grand scheme of things 7 months is no time at all, but when you're working 40-hour weeks at a soup kitchen or overnight at a homeless shelter with people who suffer from drug addiction and mental illness, have survived jail or unspeakable traumas, and have spent years fighting to make it through one more winter with what they can scrape by, it can feel like a lifetime.  Fortunately we are at the point where we know our guests pretty well and are adept at carrying out the responsibilities of our jobs (though there is always room for growth).

Emily and Justin working at the shelter

I've found that lately though, that I've been getting frustrated with our guests more easily and at times I feel more cynical than compassionate.  I also believe the fact that we are still smack dab in the middle of winter (Chicago winter no less) adds to the struggle.  I personally have never liked winter and I am from Texas where it lasts about a week.  Many of us have also been dealing with the loss of family members or breakups or have started worrying about where we'll be after this year.  While I think our problems often pale in comparison to what our guests are going through, it still adds to the stress of learning to serve others in an environment where you often cannot predict what kind of interactions you will have with people that day.

While there are many things that we cannot change or fix and may continue to frustrate us, we need to continually go back to the reasons for joining this program.  We didn't choose a year of service with a Franciscan program simply because we wanted to have fun exploring Chicago.  We chose this to learn how to be more selfless in giving our time and our energy in service to those in need, to further understand the injustice of homelessness, and to better see Christ in other people and within ourselves.

Emily (left) and her fellow shelter volunteers on retreat

Hopefully we will also find time to rest and be renewed as we continue to seek each others support and love.  As an intentional community we try to be purposeful in asking each other how work and life in general is going and be there to just listen or sometimes join in venting about our frustrations.  I cannot stress enough how valuable it is to live with other people who also participate in and truly understand the work I do and the situations I face each day.  In addition, besides our weekly reflections we've also been having community prayer/reflection time early in the morning each day of Lent, which has given us opportunities to read God's Word and find the strength to show mercy and love when we are running low on patience.  I look forward to the next 5 months of our volunteer year, which are sure to surprise us with new experiences, friendships, and a sense of accomplishment.

Mid-Year Retreat

Memories from our first half of the year

C.M.

To open our retreat on a beautiful January day in Frankfort, IL, we had the opportunity to make our own collages with pictures from the past six months.  This gave us the chance to reflect on our time in community so far and all of our shared adventures.  The pictures were placed in the middle of a large table and everyone went around, searching for their personal favorites.  Pictures were shared and faces were cut out to form the perfect memories.

After lunch, we had personal and group reflections.  In the beginning of the year, we wrote a letter to our future selves which we were able to read during our individual reflection time.  We had the opportunity to write a new letter naming our goals, feelings and hopes for the next half of our service year.  It was a good time to focus on myself again and have some quiet time because most days our focus is on thinking about other people (the guests or community members).  After our individual reflections we gathered in small groups, with people from the opposite service site, to discuss and reflect on questions about our work, core values and community living (an activity that could lead to surprising revelations abut yourself).

Walking the Labyrinth

Free time was also a part of the retreat and we were able to throw the football around.  Most of us took the opportunity to walk around and enjoy the nature on a bright and sunny winter day.  This environment is the total opposite of working and living in the big city. We spent time exploring an old chapel from the 1800's and walking the labyrinth.  The labyrinth is in the shape of a circle and finding the way to the center can help you reflect in prayer.  When you finally arrive in the middle, you can sit on the stones at the center.  We also had the opportunity to see more of nature and to go on a walk at a creek, play games together and drink hot chocolate, continuing to bond with one another as a community.

Franciscan Outreach Jeopardy game, diving for the buzzer!

In the afternoon, we all gathered around a table with a big bowl of water.  Each person was able to drop a stone into the water and to light a candle to place on the water.  We used this to represent things (habits/behaviors) we wanted to "sink" or let go of and other things we wanted to "light" or begin doing.  This final session of reflection and the atmosphere in the room made us feel ready for the next six months of our service in the soup kitchen and shelter.

All-in-all I can say that the retreat was an important time for us, both individually and as a community, to recharge and put ourselves together again.  I appreciate the chance to go away with the whole community and venture away from Chicago, to have the opportunity to get to know my community members even better and prepare for the next half of our year.

2012-13 Franciscan Outreach Volunteers

 For more retreat photos check out our facebook page!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from Franciscan Outreach Volunteers!

Charlie entertains fellow guests during dinner at the Marquard Center

A New Way of Celebrating the Holiday

M.S.

Molly Anne enjoying Chicago

It is that time of the year, the holiday season.  The past four holiday seasons have been filled with stressful tests and papers followed by a month-long break.  However, this year I am not in college; I am a full-time volunteer with an allocated amount of time off, ten vacation days.  I went home to North Carolina for the week of Thanksgiving knowing that it would be the last time I would be at home for any holiday during the 2012-13 volunteer year.  While I was at home though, four of the other full-time volunteers worked during the Thanksgiving holiday because the soup kitchen is open every day of the year.  Now those housemates are going home around the Christmas season instead.

Charlie playing Christmas music

I have finally come to the realization, which is always delayed, that I will not be at home this Christmas.  My parents mentioned the other day on Skype that they are sad that I will not be home but know that being a volunteer means giving up normal life routines such as being at home with my family for every holiday.  The radio has been playing Christmas tunes all morning in the soup kitchen, and one in particular, "I'll be Home for Christmas" hit me hardest because I will not be home.

Franciscan Outreach Christmas party

I am sad about being away from my family over Christmas, but I am excited to celebrate the holiday season with the guests at the soup kitchen, with the part-time volunteers, with the full-time volunteers, with my cousins and aunt, and with my boyfriend's family.  One of the guests who is a very nice man, but normally is shy and quiet, came up to the coffeepot that I so regularly find myself using, and said it is "that time of year".  I agreed and spoke to him about my adventures at home and my future Christmas experience at the soup kitchen.  He shared that we treat him so well and that he is looking forward to spending the holiday together with us.

Donald providing dinner entertainment

So just the moment I felt sad about my time apart from my family and friends, I realized that I will be celebrating Christmas in new ways and with people who I consider my family, the guests and full-time volunteers at the soup kitchen.  No, I will not be opening Christmas presents under the tree while eating homemade pumpkin bread and drinking mimosa's, but I will be spending my day in Chicago with people who know me better than most.  This is my home, Franciscan Outreach, and this is my family, the guests and volunteers.  The gifts that I will be opening are not materialistic presents, which I never desire anyway, but gifts of fellowship and love.  I will be experiencing the most Christ-like Christmas-serving, as Christ did on Earth.

Thanksgiving

J.G.

Thanksgiving decorations from a local school

"So what is Thanksgiving?" I asked myself.  We don't have that back home.  I am from Germany, so I was both excited and clueless about the Thanksgiving holiday.  I wondered why people go home on that special day, travel miles and miles to see relatives and parents.  My image of Thanksgiving was of turkey, wool sweaters, pumpkins and lots of food.  So I set out to figure out what this holiday was all about.

I have loved my work at our soup kitchen so far this year.  We are open every day of the year, including Thanksgiving, so I was able to get a unique perspective on the holiday by spending it with our guests.  One of our guests, Hector, helped me to understand Thanksgiving by sharing wild stories about the pilgrims.  The dining room was decorated; stacked pumpkins and greens helped make the room look nice and festive.  School children donated artwork wishing our guests a Happy Thanksgiving and detailing things they were thankful for this Thanksgiving.  I noticed that the people around me were in the best mood, not that they aren't all of the time, but especially during the holiday.

FOV Community Thanksgiving

Then there was the food.  TURKEY...tons of turkey!  We spent about 3 days preparing turkeys for Thanksgiving.  I got to learn what the Thanksgiving menu is all about.  Turkey (of course), mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing and casseroles.  Delicious!

Despite being open on Thanksgiving there was no rush or hectic feeling to the day which I really enjoyed.  Being together with the guests, without rushing, enabled me to enjoy great conversations that made me truly thankful.  I have a sense of security and welcome here with the guests and especially on Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving also showed me that all of our guests are deeply grateful for Franciscan Outreach and what we are doing.

For about two weeks before Thanksgiving our community began planning our own community-Thanksgiving which was on the following Sunday.  I loved being together with everybody for a "lunch-dinner-meal" at 3pm in the conference room of our home.  We each took a moment to share what we were thankful for, many sharing their gratitude for being in community with one another this year.  There, I think I really felt what Thanksgiving was all about, sitting together with people you love and just enjoying good food and conversation.  Delightful!

Thanksgiving feast!

All-in-all, I can say that Thursday-Sunday taught me a lot about Thanksgiving, being in community and especially being thankful for all the small things.  On Thanksgiving it is important to just enjoy being with people you love.  Thanksgiving is a day of relaxation, of love, of joy and of giving thanks.

Franciscan Outreach Video Presentation

During our recent Open House event, we presented our new Franciscan Outreach video!  Carolin Hubscher, the video's creator, is a member of our Young Professionals Board.  The video includes stats, tours and interviews with guests. 

Click through the presentation to find out more info about the services provided at Franciscan Outreach!

Franciscan Outreach Video Presentation