"This I Believe"

This I Believe, Inc., was founded in 2004 as a not-for-profit organization that engages youth and adults from all walks of life in writing, sharing, and discussing brief essays about the core values that guide their daily lives.


This I Believe is based on a 1950s radio program of the same name, hosted by acclaimed journalist Edward R. Murrow. Each day, Americans gathered by their radios to hear compelling essays from the likes of Eleanor Roosevelt, Jackie Robinson, Helen Keller, and Harry Truman as well as corporate leaders, cab drivers, scientists, and secretaries—anyone able to distill into a few minutes the guiding principles by which they lived. These essayists’ words brought comfort and inspiration to a country worried about the Cold War, McCarthyism, and racial division. (These essays are now featured in weekly broadcasts on Bob Edwards‘ satellite and public radio shows.)


In reviving This I Believe, executive producer Dan Gediman says, “The goal is not to persuade Americans to agree on the same beliefs. Rather, the hope is to encourage people to begin the much more difficult task of developing respect for beliefs different from their own.”


-Taken from This I Believe Web site.


For Spirituality Night, Monroe lead us to writing our own "This I Believe" and this is what I came up with:


This I Believe - Farren Style 

I believe in loofa days and great days, in sad days and happy days and that at the base of it all, each day is a gift.

I believe that mountains are just giant hills and that there is more than one way to get to the summit.

I believe in the quiet ocean and the power of the approaching storm.

Saturday's "make me happy" activity.

I believe in patience leading to rewards beyond comprehension. I believe in chasing your dreams with full speed ahead.

I believe in never holding back, but instead sharing your story, your hopes, your trials and your tribulations.

I believe in the power of a hug and doing something everyday to make you happy.

I believe that nervousness calmed by a kind soul that is to confused to notice any worry, but only notice friendship helps heal a soul.

I believe in a blanket of peace over the Earth woven by people who are ready to make a change.

Happiness

I believe in self-happiness with a dose of reality.

I believe in happiness that breaks through the façade so many place before themselves.

I believe in curiosity, questioning and doubt, but knowing all will be okay.

I believe in challenges that enrich the soul and change the heart.

Love

I believe in love: a love that carries you in hard times and good. A love of best friends and soul mates, of families and strangers; a love to risk all for, to cross the country with your thumb waving in the wind.

I believe that all types of love, lost love, forgotten love and unrequited love exist in the world.

I believe that at the end of the day everyone can go to sleep knowing they are loved.

Geoff, Heather, Emily, David and I at Dr. Bordas' in April.

I believe that standing up for your greatest belief is the maximum display of love.

I believe in friendships so strong that I know something is wrong from miles away.

I believe in surrounding yourself with good friends, good food and love to melt away your problems.

Good Spirited

I believe in the goodness found in all, even those who hurt and have been hurt.

I believe in second chances; but I understand protecting oneself.

I believe that judgment before being in someone else’s shoes is wrong.  I believe that accidents happen more often than we realize and that our love for one another is what carries us on. I believe in realizing the difference between perception and reality.

Someone Else Knows

I believe in the power of music to echo our thoughts and the weather to remind us that someone is listening.

What is Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC)?

The following blurb was originally used for my fundraising page, however the information will still be helpful. Please do not hesitate to let me know if you have questions.




Welcome to my Jesuit Volunteer Corps Fundraising page! Over the course of my last two years at Spring Hill College, I found myself with an increasing desire to grow closer to God. Through self-search and through the Spring Hill Awakening Program (SHAPe), I continued my exploration in faith.  As I became closer with one of my best friends, I learned of her sister’s adventures in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.  Shortly after Thanksgiving, I started to think about what to do with the rest of my life. At work one evening, I found myself on the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) Web site and with each click, thought and reflection, I felt more called to a year of service. But what does this service entail? What excites me about this year? The year as a Jesuit Volunteer focuses on four different ideals:

• Community: In this coming year, all of the Jesuit Volunteers (JVs) live together in a community, working together to grow in faith and love.  The communities make group decisions to work together on various projects throughout their own city or around the country.  Additionally, JVs from all four of the domestic regions gather twice a year for a community wide retreat.
• Spirituality: Through a variety of individual and community activities, retreats and reflections, JVs spend a year growing in their faith, becoming closer to God and doing God’s work.
• Simple Living: Each Jesuit Volunteer Community spends a year learning to live and love the basics of life. Living on a tight budget and not always in the most wonderful neighborhoods, JVs learn what it is to live a truly simplistic life. Through this lifestyle, JVs work to help the poor while living among the poor – working to fully enjoy each blessing in life. 
• Social Justice: Each year, JVs become more aware of issues that are present in today’s society both domestically and internationally. For example, one year Jesuit Volunteer Corps – San Antonio (TX) traveled to Fort Benning / Columbus, Georgia to protest the School of the Americas / WHINSEC. In addition, many of the placements for JVs are within organizations that are bringing justice and voice to those that in many cases cannot be heard. 

Each of these four values help JVs to truly live a JVC life, enriched with the love and support from the JVC Community. With each day my excitement and faith grows more to begin such a wonderful year-long adventure. So now that you know what JVC is all about, you are probably wondering what I am doing as a member of JVC. I will be working in Austin, Texas with Catholic Charities of Central Texas as a Case Manager.  I am looking forward to being part of the first JVC community in Austin.  Throughout this summer, Jesuit Volunteer Corps has asked that we, as incoming JVs, raise awareness and funds for the organization so that the organization can continue to grow, continue to help communities across the nation and the world, and continue to help volunteers grow.  Please help me raise money for the Austin community’s inaugural year as we begin our adventure becoming “the change [we] want to see the world” –Gandhi.


Thank you for your prayers, thoughts, love, support and assistance,
Elizabeth Farren


www.jesuitvolunteers.org
http://www.ccctx.org/

We've Been Here a Month?

JVC - Austin House: (back row): Joel, Monroe, Rachel
(front row): Pamela, Elizabeth

September 20

Howdy Y’all!

It’s hard to believe we’ve been here a month already. On August 10, Monroe and I adventured from Dallas to Pinehurst, Texas to begin our year as Jesuit Volunteers. Finally meeting our other housemates late that night, the five of us became fast friends. The next five days were filled with getting to one another, learning about JVC and spending time with other communities, which range from Houston to El Paso to Georgia and randomly, South Dakota.

On Sunday, we adventured to what would be our home for the next year. Two and half-hours later we were welcomed with opened arms to the live music capital of the world. We spent Monday and Tuesday getting a crash course on where specific places are located in Austin. Wednesday came quicker than any of us could have imagined and away we went to work. Pamela works for Casa Marinella, an organization that provides emergency shelter for immigrants, especially ones seeking asylum. Monroe works at Casa’s sister organization, Posada, which is an emergency shelter for women and children. Rachel is spending her year at St. Louise House, which just transitioned to permanent supportive housing from women and children. And finally, Joel and I work at Catholic Charities of Central Texas. Monday through Wednesday, we work as Case Managers and Thursdays and Fridays, we work as Food Pantry Assistants.

Summer Nutrition Program
boxes line the wait area
of the food pantry.

Starting next week, we will get our first cases. Spending care time with each client to help with everything from budgeting to accomplishing personal goals they set aside, such as finding a job or setting a plan to rid themselves of debt. The Catholic Charities’ Food Pantry, whose official name is the Angels of Hope Food Pantry is open every Thursday and Friday. Every second and fourth Thursday we serve our senior clients. This group can also include anyone receiving Social Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Income (SSDI). The first and third Thursdays we help to distribute summer nutrition boxes for local families with at least one child directly related to them, under the age of 18 living in the house. Then, every Friday, we are open to the general public. Clients have to meet specific requirements in order to be served a second time, however anyone can come in for one time food assistance or an emergency food bags.  

However, our adventures around Austin have not been all work-related. We’ve discovered Yellow Bike Project, an organization that teaches people how to repair and fix their own bikes. Rachel, Pamela and I have biked Lady Bird Trail – I dragged Monroe back a few days later. Speaking of random adventures, we have attended the Bat Festival, which is on the Congress Street bridge, home to one of the largest urban habitation of bats in the world, and we even got to go to a minor league baseball game.

Joel, Monroe, Pamela & myself at a Round Rock Express Game.

 

Fear not, we are not just mingling within our little community. We have gotten to know our direct next-door neighbors: the four graduate students are part of the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) program out of the University of Notre Dame. We have also had visitors, two Jesuit Volunteers and a co-workers of one visited us from Houston over the Labor Day weekend. 

-Elizabeth