Romans 13:12

Woof. Can you believe it!? Time sure has come and gone, the surreality of these past two weeks has sunk in and been overcome. And now, here we are. The night before the beginning of a grand adventure. This past week has been one of great preparation, packing, farewells and friends. After all this time, the Spring at CSB/SJU, graduation, a two week preparation retreat in the monastery at SJU, 2 weeks of Staff training at camp, 9 weeks of Scouts, and 12 days at home, the day...has finally...come....welp...tomorrow.

This past week has put me through the full range of emotions, and after all the farewells and well-wishing, I think I'm finally ready to go. As of a few days ago there were a few...mildly substantial tasks still to be addressed, those being:

-Not knowing our housing situation

-Not knowing our jobs for the next...8 months

-Not having a visa...

-Not knowing...if Manila knows we're coming...umm...ergh...

Well, we ARE getting picked up at the airport. We'll have our visa situations taken care of pretty quickly when we show up. We get a 21 day travel visa upon arrival (due to the good relations between the U.S. and Filipino governments). As for our jobs, the Abbot in Manila wrote that "We have two huge schools(total student population close to 14,000)-- coed students, from elementary to College in 3 campuses. We can always use some help." So, it sounds like we'll be teaching somewhere! Regardless, I found a great quote the other day that, for all intents and purposes, describes my journey in the Philippines.

"I see my path, but I don't know where it leads. Not knowing where I'm going is what inspires me to travel it." (Rosalia de Castro)

  

It truly will be an incredible adventure, and again Abbot Tarcisio describes our purposes well when he wrote, "But I still have in mind your purpose for coming here, a monastic experience in another part of the world and working with people from another culture. I am sure you will enjoy living and working here."

Matt and I have been told by several monks at SJU who've been to Manila before that we're going to be treated SO well, that there is SO much love at Our Lady of Montserrat (the monastery in Manila), and the food is incredible! As Ayn Rand said,

"In that world, you'll be able to rise in the morning with the spirit you had known in your childhood: that spirit of eagerness, adventure and certainty which comes from dealing with a rational universe."

As most of you know by now...or maybe not, the Benedictine Volunteer Corps (the BVC), aka the organization I'll be volunteering with, has been sending volunteers around the world since 2003, is now sending volunteers to 12 locations on 5 continents this year. But, this is the first time they've sent volunteers to Asia and the first time they've sent volunteers to Manila, so, Matt and I are the trailblazers. Another great quote I came upon this week reflects that, this one by Ralph Waldo Emerson:

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." And, as Voltaire said, "If we do not find anything very pleasant, at least we shall find something new."

So, I think the best way to describe my mood is that it's one of optimism, anxiety, excitement, and readiness. I'm ready to go headfirst into my adventure. I'm ready to get my butt KICKED by culture shock, from the unknown, from the heat and humidity, typhoon season, and monastic life. BUT, I am SO excited for every day to be a new adventure, I'm SO excited to learn every day, and I'm SO excited to just LIVE. Thank you ALL for your prayers, thank you all for your time and love and support. 

This past week a dear friend of mine sent me Romans 13:12 as a comfort, as a charge to go head on into the unknown.

Romans 13:12- "The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light."

And with that, thank you all, good night, and good luck.