Last Sunday night, an Alternative Spring Break trip from University of Detroit-Mercy joined us for dinner at our house to learn a little bit about the life and work of a JV. It was great to share a meal and put our recruitment materials (aka JVC bookmarks) to use. However, as I listened to my roommates talk about their work and clients, I was struck by just how much we have learned in the last 7 months. As I listened to John talk about working on Skid Row and homelessness in downtown, I realize just how our eyes, minds, and hearts have been opened. By sharing our stories in the evenings, I have learned so much more than just about working with kids…I have learned so much from my housemates and other JV friends who passionately talk about their life and work. As I look back on the last five months, I am so grateful for the network of JVs that is here in LA. We are blessed to have 4 communities with a total of 22 fantastic individuals all doing unique and important work across the city.
Last Saturday, we took a day trip to Laguna Beach, where Zach’s girlfriend and her roommates were staying for their spring break. The beach was amazing! Later in the evening we celebrated Mardi Gras at Casa Ita Ford. On the actual day of Mardi Gras, we went to Dolores Mission for Noche de solidaridad (night of solidarity). This was a prayer service and all-night celebration with the men in their homeless ministry. Each night, about 25-30 men sleep in the church. Noche de solidaridad was a night filed with prayers, testimonies, and music, and also an open invitation to sleep out in the plaza of DM. They were going to end the night with an Ash Wednesday service and breakfast at dawn. We didn’t spend the night but enjoyed a couple of hours socializing with other JVs, the men in the ministry, and various immersion groups visiting DM.
On Ash Wednesday, Verb students attended services by grade, which gave the opportunity for staff to lead reflections that were particularly relevant to the students. I went to Julie’s service with the seniors, which was beautifully done. (Way to go, Ms. D!)
Last night, we celebrated Mardi Gras again at Verb’s annual fundraiser event. The event is held at The California Club, an elegant club for the well-to-do businesspeople (traditionally businessmen) of LA. Verb hosted a Mardi Gras-themed dinner with a cocktail hour, presentations, awards, and a silent auction. Julie, Zach, and I helped with the setup, registration, and silent auction. There were so many cool items donated to give away: lots of wine, designer jeans, student artwork, signed movie posters, Rosetta Stone in 5 languages, handmade jewelry, trips, tickets to games and shows, and so much more. I was the sole bidder on a signed cast picture from Off the Map, ABC’s new jungle/doctor/soap opera drama (Aunt Cyndi, I hope you’re proud!). It also came with a script from one of the episodes, also signed by the cast, and a candle...all for $10!
Since today is the end of the quarter for Verb, we have had around 15 volunteers each day at Urban Compass for the past two weeks as the guys rush to get their Christian Service Hours done. These days are particularly calm in the classroom because the students get to work one on one with tutors, meaning they are more inclined to stay in their seats instead of running around yelling to me for help. It’s great! It also gives me a chance to talk to Verb students. Half of them think I’m in college and I have a lot of fun watching them interact with the little ones. The funniest moment from this week was when one of my most outgoing first graders yelled at her Verb tutor, “No me touches!” In her beautiful spanglish, she was trying to say “don’t touch me” which should have been “no me toques!” She had been talking in Spanish to the tutor everyone started laughing at her mix-up. She didn’t quite know why, but when we explained, she thought it was hilarious.
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