Discernment - Am I ready?

The first weeks of the Maryknoll Lay Missioners orientation program are considered a time of discernment. It has been a time of learning about the program and about ourselves so that we can make an informed decision before committing for 3 1/2 years overseas.

It seemed a challenge to ponder once again a decision when I already felt like I already made when I sold my house & moved away from friends and family.

As is no surprise to most of you, I have decided once again to go. I feel that there's no place I'd rather be.

One activity we were asked to do was to write our own mission statement.
Here's my first attempt:

As a believer in God's boundless love, I seek to follow Jesus in serving both the people struggling to survive in Kenya and the US Catholic community that supports me, by joining my life story with those in poor communities in Kenya, working with them to improve basic living conditions so that we all might have life abundantly.

The beauty of the fall season emerging around me has been incredible. Each day has been more beautiful than the last.

Our front yard!


Croton Falls - just a few minutes away from where I live.
Croton Reservoir & the infinity edge that feeds Croton Falls

Rockerfeller State Park Preserve - where we spent our last day of discernment
Stone barn Center for Food and Agriculture adjacent to the park

Check out the little turtles sunning themselves on the rock.

The Maryknoll Orientation Program Class of 2009:
Back row: John, Sr Anastasia, me, Lindsay, Nan, Stephen
Front row: Sr Laura, Minh, Cindy, Rena, Sr Genie, Erica

Wishing you all the abundance of the season!

Welcome to Bethany

In the time of Jesus, Bethany was a place of his friends Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. It was a place of stories and friendship, a place of faith and new life. Now Bethany has become my new home. In the past two weeks, this Bethany has become a place for me of sharing stories, new friendships, a deepening faith and a place to seek new life.

Bethany is the name of the Maryknoll Lay Missioner’s house in Ossining, New York, and where I am spending 13 weeks preparing to join my life story with those of the people of Kenya. I join eight others on a similar journey and three Maryknoll sisters in a orientation program designed to help us thrive in our overseas experience.

So far … some of the things we’ve been learning about:
- each other! We each had to design a name card & use visuals to tell our life story.
- Scripture
- History of Maryknoll
- Maryknoll Lay Missioners vision and current direction
- Transitions
- Policies & logistics
- Vaccinations & diseases we don’t want to get but might anyway

One part of our preparation has been sharing the people that have helped make us who we are and supported us on our journey in life so far. I was overwhelmed by the love that I have been given by so, so many people. So I want to start this on-line journal with my gratitude for all of you – as I expect many of you are the ones reading my story. Thank you. Thank you for being who you are and sharing some part of your life with me. Thank you for supporting me and for loving me.

Enough sap! Time for a few photos…

The beginning of Autumn has been beautiful
One of the extracurricular activities ... apple picking. Last week apple crisp. Next week hand-pressed apple cider.

The Maryknoll Society has a farm staffed by volunteers that donates all the fresh produce to local food pantries. I have spent a few quality hours weeding beets & connecting to my roots. Right beneath the sunset (out of view) is the Hudson River.