Changes

During the past couple of weeks, I have been presented with a lot of new opportunities through my work here at the Parish.  I came to San Lucas with the plan to stay for about seven months, into the spring of this year.  However, I had no idea how invested I would become in not only the San Lucas community, but also the volunteer program run at the Parish.  I became aware that Chris and Madeline, the current volunteer coordinators, are both starting grad school in the fall, and will be leaving San Lucas this summer.  I developed an interest in staying on, but I was nervous about what would become of the program after the directors leave.

            Last week, Chris and Madeline met with me to talk about just these plans.  They found a new set of volunteer coordinators, but they cannot start for about two months after Chris and Madeline have to leave.  For the two-month interim, they have asked me to be the transitional leader, helping maintain the program while they are gone, and helping to transition the new coordinators.  I can’t be more excited about this opportunity, partially because I believe in the program, and partially because this is the first time I have felt confident enough to step into a position like this, and that really excites me. 

            The next exciting part of the story is that next week I will be heading to Minnesota with Chona, a woman who works for the Parish.  Chona worked to save a lot of children during the internal conflict, and this year she is getting a reward from the New Ulm diocese for this work.  She needs someone to travel with her and translate for her, so the Parish is sending me as well.  I will get to meet a lot of people involved with the Parish, and hopefully forge a really strong relationship with Chona, an important part of the community.