Get to know G-Sham

Hello.

For those of you interested in knowing more about the fabulous people with whom I am spending one year, I am pasting the "blurbs" we compiled about ourselves for the church bulletin. St. Henry's has been super-supportive of us so far (they're fixing our bikes, spraying our house for bugs, helping us get into bedroom doors that mysteriously lock on us, giving us food, you name it!), so they requested an insert for their bulletin so that they can get to know us better. I thought you might like to see it. Enjoy!

Meet this year’s Gresham ("G-Sham") Jesuit Volunteers!

Erin is from Tacoma, Washington. She graduated from Seattle University with a degree in Psychology. During college, Erin volunteered as Fundraiser Co-Coordinator for Daughters of Mary, raising money for orphanages and schools in Uganda. She also volunteered extensively with the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. Most recently, Erin acted as Coordinator for the Haiti Benefit at Seattle University, organizing on-campus events to fundraise for Friends of the Orphans. In her free time, she loves to sing, paint and read. This year, Erin will be working with Catholic Charities Kateri Park as a Family Case Manager.

Lindsay P grew up in Davis, CA and attended Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA, graduating with degrees in Spanish and Biology. In college, Lindsay worked as a Resident Assistant for three years and was a part of Gonzaga’s Program for International Education and Relief. She loves running, hiking, baking, painting, and poetry. Lindsay will be serving as the Health Clinic coordinator at the Wallace Medical Concern, an agency that works to provide health care for uninsured members of our community. Lindsay is very excited to be living in Gresham and she looks forward to getting to know everyone at St. Henry’s.

Daniel is originally from Bainbridge Island, Washington. Daniel graduated from Santa Clara University in 2010 with a major in History and a minor in Sociology. In college, he acted as the Program Coordinator of CHAM Homeless Shelter, running an after-school tutoring program. He was also the Associate Director of Santa Clara’s Community Action Program. Daniel interned for a summer in London and studied abroad in Hungary. He enjoys traveling, hiking, reading, and playing hockey. Daniel’s placement for this year is at JOIN, where he will be serving as the Immersion Coordinator.

Amanda is a native of Oshkosh, WI and a graduate of Marquette University. She earned dual degrees in Writing Intensive English and Social Welfare and Justice. At Marquette, Amanda was a Resident Assistant, a Campus Ministry Retreat Leader, and a Coordinator for Midnight Run, a direct service organization that emphasizes relationships and reflection. As a senior and a Manresa Scholar, she served at Casa Romero in Milwaukee as the Director of a family retreat program for Latinos. Amanda also spent 6 ½ months studying in Santiago. She loves to travel, browse used book stores, run, write poetry, and take photos. Amanda feels very blessed to be working in Family Services as the Anti-Poverty Specialist at El Programa Hispano this year.

Jillian hails from Buffalo, New York. At Boston College, she was a Psychology major and a Women’s Studies minor. She also worked with the Boston College School of Nursing Eating Disorder Research Team as an Undergraduate Research Fellow. In addition, Jillian volunteered at the Buffalo Psychiatric Center, tutoring patients suffering from various psychiatric disorders, and she was a Freshman Interest Group Facilitator at the campus’ Women’s Resource Center. Jillian enjoys cooking, traveling, and Buffalo snow. This year, she will be the Volunteer Coordinator at Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare/VIEW.

Colleen is from San Diego, CA and is the oldest of four children. She graduated from Santa Clara University with a degree in Economics. In college, Colleen participated in several immersion trips to Japan, El Salvador, and the Arizona-Mexico border, where she studied immigration. She was also an ESL tutor for campus employees. Colleen loves reading, hiking and rock climbing, and she played tennis and rugby. She will be working at the Gresham Human Solutions Inc. office, coordinating funding for energy assistance to low-income families and individuals. Colleen is very excited to be living and serving in Oregon and to get involved in the local community!

Jenna grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania amidst the rolling farmland of Amish Country. At Boston College, she earned a degree in International Studies with a Pre-Med concentration. She was the recipient of an Advanced Study Grant and examined gender roles and the vulnerability of women to HIV in Guatemala City. More locally, she worked with low-income, HIV-positive individuals with a history of substance abuse as a 4Boston Council Member. She spent the spring semester of her junior year in Quito, Ecuador. Jenna enjoys reading, photography, hiking, snowboarding, and learning languages. She is very excited to be working at Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement Program as a Refugee Advocate this year.

Lindsay R is from Keizer, Oregon. She graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Human Development and Family Sciences. In college, Lindsay interned at Family Building Blocks, working in therapeutic classrooms and going on supportive home visits. She also interned at ABC House Child Abuse Intervention Center, assisting children and families dealing with traumatic life events and spending time with a teen girls’ self esteem support group. Most recently Lindsay worked as a Student Teacher at OSU Head Start Child Development Center. Lindsay loves music, tea, and art. This year, she will be the JOIN House Coordinator.

I'm writing from work right now because I needed to take a break from answering phone call after phone call from clients, most of whom I can't help because they want energy assistance and we don't have anymore funding. Are there really far more people in need than there are resources, or does it just seem that way?

I made a list of things I'm grateful for yesterday, and it included such things as: my run up the butte nearby, which provided a beautiful view (annnd I was about 15 feet away from a deer, Dad!); the sunshine!; actually getting to do a few more hands-on things at work (I helped someone with a resume); live music in the park on my lunch hour; talking to Bridget; time after work for letter-writing and reading (I just finished The Catcher in the Rye... for the first time, if you can believe that!); picking roses; and home-made dinners.

My point is this: there are many, many beautiful things that help keep me hopeful. But today at work is pretty discouraging! This is why it's all the more important to do this sort of work in a context of community-- I really need outlets for this types of feelings of discouragement and helplessness. When a client tells me that her power is about to be shut off and she has a son with a disability and all I can say to her is that we don't have funds at this time, I forget about the pretty deer and the sunshine and the roses alongside our house. I'm just not sure what to do with those feelings.

Anyway, thanks for letting me vent to you all. I've appreciated the emails and insights I've received so far. Know that I truly appreciate and am grateful for YOU and your support (and in some cases-- ahem, Molly Ryan-- your delicious cookies).

Sending special prayers to Bee today.

Also, HAPPY 26th BIRTHDAY, BETH!!!!

Love,

Amanda

LUNCH HOUR TIME! YAY!