Welcome!

Hi all. I hope you are doing well and enjoying what's left of summer. As for me, I'm making the most of the time I have left with my family before I embark upon my next adventure: Living in LA for 2 years.

You may be wondering why I've opted to leave the beautiful, familiar, rolling green hills of Wisconsin for a more urban life, which probably doesn't involve much green at all. Well, it's all because of an organization called the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC). The JVC is an organization that serves the poor and socially marginalized by providing volunteers to various agencies who work with the disadvantaged population. I will be working at a place called Dolores Mission, which is a church located in the largest public housing project west of the Mississippi River. My position is as a youth minister, so I'll be hanging out with Hispanic youth, developing their faith and (hopefully) keeping them out of trouble.

I'm excited for the opportunity - this is my dream job - and to get to know the people who will be a huge part of my life for the next 2 years. I'm also a bit nervous and sad - It's hard to say goodbye to my family, who are my best friends and biggest supporters, and I've never lived in a city as big as LA before, so I'm not quite sure how I'm going to fit in. But I trust that the Lord will watch over me and keep me safe, that He'll provide the support that I need, and that He'll watch over my loved ones while I'm away.

If you're interested in learning more about the JVC, or about Dolores Mission, do check out their websites. They're both great organizations, doing great things for people in need.

Thanks for checking out the blog - come back soon!