Day to remember: June 1st 2010

This is the day that we finally received our assignments for the year. We had been informed that it would be the day, but we didn't know when. We, the twelve pioneers that were new to the Caribbean Initiative, had come from all over to Trinidad without knowing where we would be living for the next year. Having finally arrived after months of planning we waited a week while the coordinating team of Continental Counselors found the right combination of two pioneers and one community. This was the source of the rising excitement and joy on the blessed day of June 1st 2010.

I think it was the end of the lunch break that I first realized a pair of pioneers following uncle Bobby (counselor Ganesh Ramsahai) into his office, where I correctly guess the rest of the coordinating staff was waiting. With my curiosity stirring I approached a few other pioneers to ask if any of them had received their assignment yet. A few of the had but they said it would all be announced at once.

In the previous week I had done a really good job of staying detached from the outcome of my assignment, but if I was to be completely honest I felt drawn to somewhere more rural and traditional like Dominica, because it would be in tune with my lifestyle and experiences. This said I really was ready to happily accept anything.

Before I knew it Bobby was next to me asking if I would like to get Philip and come with him. I was filled with exhilaration as I went to where Philip was in conversation, and asked if he wanted to go for a walk. At first he didn't get it, but I think he saw uncle Bobby because he got up and walked with us into the Office. We were greeted by the warm and smiling faces of the counselors. We sat, I offered a prayer, and they told us they would like us to spend our year serving the Kingston cluster of Jamaica.

Well this was the polar opposite of what I was drawn to, and I knew Philip the least out of the guys that didn't have service partners, But as soon as counselor Debbie Kirton told us where our new home was to be something inside me said, very strongly, "that's perfect." The words repeated in my mind, "that's perfect, that's perfect, right, wonderful, amazing... perfect." They briefly gave us more information about the state of the community so we could begin to form ideas of the work to be done. Then we were dismissed.

Later, after rejoining the group of excited pioneers who were all fighting their ardent desires to share the news of their assignment, Uncle Bobby asked for every ones attention. I know that I cant adequately describe the energy or atmosphere of what followed, but I will try. First, it is important to remember that a majority of the seventy some odd people gathered there were dedicated Caribbean Islanders who have been laboring, in some cases with very few numbers, for the betterment of their communities for years, and in a few cases for generations. They were members of National Spiritual Assemblies, cluster agencies and those actively engaged in the process of development in their home clusters. And no one knew who was to receive pioneers.

It is with that sense of anticipation that silence fell. As Bobby prepared us for the unveiling of our assignment I was deeply moved, largely by the reverence I notice spreading from him into everyone there. This was the inauguration of a spiritual conquest. One by one the name of a country was called out followed by the name of the new pioneers that would be joining the ranks of service to that community. The responses were inspirational. With each new announcement, a new level of celebration. Many clapped or cheered, others jumped for joy and gave congratulatory hugs. I recall Watching a mother and daughter leap from their seats and run, tears already beginning to flow, to embrace the souls who would be joining them in their long and lonely efforts. By the time he reached Jamaica, which was one of the first to be announced, being struck by just a glimpse of the true significance of our efforts had reduced me to joyous laughter as Jamaicans swept me into warm embraces and offered gratitude for this great day. This truly was a day to remember.

lost and found

I find myself in astonishment at the rapid passing of time as I become increasingly settled here in Jamaica. We, Philip and I, spent our first two weeks staying in the living room of a local friend while we searched for a place of our own. As tomorrow marks the end of our third week here in Jamaica, it also marks the end of the first in our temporary apartment, which we can rent until the end of August at the latest. Even something this temporary is a big relief. We really need our own space. The Apt is a pretty small two bedroom place, but it gives us a staging ground for all the plans we are starting to make. When we were in someone else's house it was difficult to create the proper environment to consult and pray about the work to be done. Not to mentions I had been living out of my Pack for five weeks by the time I had the opportunity to unpack it last week.

Philip is another servant of the Caribbean Initiative. We met at the training in Trinidad, and a week in, when we were all given our assignments, we were asked to be the team for Kingston Jamaica. Since then we have really gotten to know each other very well. I am continuously finding new ways that our strengths balance off of each other, and look forward to becoming a stronger team player.

One of the most significant things that I have been learning about is how to balance having an open heart for everyone I meet, with a level head that doesnt dismiss possible threats. I have always disliked the cold and impersonal nature of cities, but I got a reality check when my pocket was picked my third day in Kingston. I realized what had happened just after, but the thieves were gone. This turned out to be a very cheap lesson, because a man biked up and handed me my wallet about two minutes later. All that was missing was four hundred Jamaican dollars, the equivalent of $5 USDs. This experience left me worried about having to become a robot

whenever I was downtown, and having to change my attitude towards the people I meet.

However, in the weeks since I have been finding a balance I am more and more pleased with. I am finding many ways to cut past the walls people put up as they go about their business, and this has led to a number of very warming conversations. Children are always ready to love and be loved, and they have been a source of joy and inspiration in my short time here. My heart is melting for these people just a little bit more every day, and I think they just might be understanding us a little more

as well.

Dreams like rocks: hard to carry, but tangible and good for building foundations.

The dream might be about a family that will love you as their own, a youth that will settle for nothing less than justice, or a few people that will work for a better world in such a way that it shakes the very fabric of a community. Dreams might be heavy like rocks, but they are never too heavy to carry, and they are always going to be useful, wherever you take them. Dreams have been the objects of every war and the inspirations for every peace. Dreams can’t always be thought as clearly as they are felt.

A small child found a dream between the cracks in the side walk, the ones so small that only his fingers could reach in to pluck it out. He planted it deep into his palm and clasped it close to his heart waiting for it to sprout. When it did he took his new found treasure and pressed it between my outstretched hands, gently closing my fingers around it, and asked me to take care of it. He told me I would have to find the perfect soil to plant it in, water it every day, tend to its growth, protects its fruit, and collect its seeds. Then he said that I would succeed in this, and from the tree would come so many seeds that every child on earth could have one, and that was worth a thousand new found treasures.

Arrival in Kingston

Well, I made it. I have been in Kingston for about 22 hours and really like what I have seen. When I arrived in Trinidad 2 weeks ago I was help back from immigrating twice and got pretty stressed out. The both times the lady told me to walk to the other side of this huge room and sit in the chairs all by myself, while I watched dozens of others stream through immigration without a problem. But today I was able to stay pretty calm and collected when they decided to detain us, me and Philip, in the Kingston airport. Evidently we had to show that we were going back to the USA soon and going back to Trinidad was not sufficient. After a bit of jockeying and confusion we were able to show him our return flights from Trinidad to the USA later this year.

Two crazy, fast, bouncing, and swerving van rides later we had dropped off our stuff at the Baha'i center, gotten some local food from the rosta cook house, seen a bit of the city and purchased a cell Phone for myself, Philip is going to try to hook his old phone up soon.

Last night we were picked up and taken to a local friends house where we got some beds, shortly followed by some sleep.

Today will be a couple of bus rides and a visit with a friend that we met in Trinidad who lives in a bit of a rough hood in north east Kingston. We are also going to try and get son money changed, and buy some more essential.

If there is anyone that does not know about this blog and you thing they should know, feel free to tell them.

Much Love

new life

I have been in Trinidad for just over a week now and already I feel as if I am reaping the spiritual benefits of the effort I am taking part in. I am here with Caribbean Initiative, which is a program focused on uplifting the spiritual and material conditions of selected Caribbean islands. This is a special initiative sponsored and overseen by the Baha'i world center. It is, to the best of my current understanding, a pilot program that is devoted, like the rest of the Baha'i world, to community building on the grassroots level. This is in the light of the most recent guidance from the Universal House of Justice, the leading institutional body of the Baha'i world, that we are increasing our efforts to build strong bonds of love and friendship between all those concerned with the material and spiritual well being of their communities and provide a framework for development in those areas, primarily spiritual education.
I am currently attending a very enlightening training pertaining to these areas of service in Trinidad. I am joined my three members of the continental board of counsellors (advisers to national communities), returning members of the Caribbean Initiative, and local Baha'is from different islands that will be working with us in our service. It is particularly beautiful to participate in this process because of how many cultures and nationalities are represented. I am talking about Baha'i from all over the world, coming together with people from islands all over the Caribbean. Its gorgeous!
So after the suspense I now know that I will be living in Kingston Jamaica for the next year, starting on the 7th of June, 2010. Please know that there is no need to tell me all of the statistics you know about the dangers of Jamaica. I am well informed and well prepare. May God's blessings shower peace upon you.