17 to 18

17 to 18

Friday, September 25, 2009

"We Come to Help, and We Come to Listen"

"We come to help, and we come to listen. If we listen with our ears open, then the needs of total strangers, can become the requests of new friends."

So said the t-shirt from last year. In a v-neck no less, because, "Mr. Magee, v-necks are the coolest. Don't you know that????"

I asked the next group of prospective carpenters, painters, scrapers, crap haulers, and water girls to reflect on this statement when they signed up to be a part of our trip.

Here are some of their words.

"I believe in the "stranger"; I believe in myself" and most importantly, I believe in the unity of US together." student Class of '11

"A true example of someone who has seen the needs of others and has sacrificed so much to help them is my dad." student Class of '11

"Service is not what I hope to do one day but rather my everyday actions and purpose for living." student Class of '11

"I don't want to build a house, I want to make a home"

"I will bring an open heart,good attitude, and my loretto values of community, respect, faith and justice."


We will be ready, will you?

John Magee

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Biloxi 2010

We will meet tomorrow Wednesday in the EAC. I keep trying to make this trip better. This year all students that want to be a part of this trip will be required to write a short essay, about why they want to come. This assignment should not take more than an hour, so don't fret about it.

Becky Dale, NH '08, was asked the same question about why she should be selected to be a roadie this summer for Invisible Children.

Here is one of the most incredible essays I have ever read, not to discourage you, but to realize that this is what Nerinx students can do. This is what one Nerinx student did.

"There's a great big world out there. It's a beautiful world filled with the laughter of children and the spray of water crashing on rocks and creatures yet undiscovered stalking through the underbrush of some long-forgotten rainforest. It's a sad world filled with the uncomforted tears of mothers and the hatred of brothers and the accidents of those who throw caution to the wind. It's an exciting world filled with wonder and adventure and incredible impossibilities. I love that world.

I am here to learn--to see the majesty of that world wherever I am, to hear the words and the stories of the people who walk it, to recognize the similarities between us.

I am here to face a challenge--a personal challenge to keep fighting, a greater challenge to promote change, even greater to inspire.

I am here because I was changed and challenged years ago. I was shown a beautiful world so different from my own and invited to be a part of it. I am here to join that world making it a part of who I am and to share it with everyone I meet.

I am here to love and to hopefully bring peace."



Good luck in your reflection, discovery, and writing.

Thanks for your participation and your interest,

John Magee