AmeriCorps

My apologies for the delay in this post. I’ve been working to find my next step during this pandemic and it has taken some time to have something to write.

Ethiopia and Peace Corps 


After my sudden evacuation I was hoping to help my mom around the house and return in November of last year, an early tentative date proposed by Peace Corps. The continued pandemic and sad political events in Ethiopia continue to delay target dates. A return might be this November or maybe later. 

I feel for the strong, brave, hard working, intelligent people of Ethiopia. They have had to face a locust plague, the global pandemic, and political unrest that turned horribly violent. When Peace Corps reopens the current rules would rule out returning to my site and probably my region due to health and security issues.

I continue to pray for Ethiopia and the amazing people. God willing I will return, but I’ve decided to find another service opportunity at home. 

Volunteering 


As readers of this blog know Ethiopia was my third overseas service but not my first time of committed volunteering. Before Peace Corps I volunteered for the American Red Cross local disaster services, Habitat for Humanity, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. 

After nearly a decade of local volunteering I served overseas for about four years. I learned a lot and helped a little working with amazing people who needed little more than some encouragement and maybe a few resources. 

There is a target rich environment to improve the world particularly for those who commit to work hand in hand with people for some considerable time. (However, I also recognize that international development is complicated.) 

I have always recognized that my country and local community also needs help. Peace Corps wasn’t turning my back on my country but expanding the reach of peace and friendship around the world, as well as growing as a volunteer and a good human. I figured lots of people can volunteer locally, but not so many for 2 years overseas. 

After quarantine and then reconnecting with family and friends I began searching for opportunities to volunteer at home in the near term. I admit that a fear of bringing the virus home to my mom was a good excuse for being a bit lazy at times. We can always do more, but sometimes the mind, heart, and body need time to recover. 

I applied to several AmeriCorps opportunities that I thought I could lend a useful hand. I was particularly interested in one involved with refuges.

Iowa Welcome Corps


I was accepted for that opportunity.  On Tuesday I will begin a year with the Iowa Welcome Corps sponsored by the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. I will be working to build capacity with the volunteers working directly with refugees. 

The training and work will be remote until the virus calms down. I’m not sure how all this is going to go, other than knowing that I have a lot to learn and a lot to improve in myself before I can help others. But, that is the way of any new opportunity. 

Violence at home 


Of course Ethiopia wasn’t the only country that had widespread political violence. As I write this on Sunday, I’m hoping for a peaceful transition of power on Wednesday. There are huge problems facing our country, every country, and our planet. 

Certainly democracy at home and abroad always need constant care and attention. The free press needs support because it is critical so that an informed public can provide input to democratically elected representatives and hold them accountable. (Obviously talking about real journalism, not propaganda outlets and alternate facts.) 

The climate crisis will cause so much harm and damage around the world that thinking about it can be numbing and paralyzing. If we don’t make a serious effort to slow our pollution to the least worst outcome we will doom the children and many others alive today to a truly difficult planet. 

I’m sure that everyone reading this can think of plenty more things that they could work on. 

One person is not able to work on all the problems and no problem can be solved by one alone. However, no problem will be solved without people focused on workable improvements and there are small constructive steps that anyone can take. 

We can all take a step in the right direction. Thanks for helping to make things better in your own special way. 

Love always, 
John

Comments

  1. edwilliamsJanuary 18, 2021 at 1:13 PM

    'Keep on keeping on', John. I am searching opportunities and will return to my career when circumstance allows...

    ReplyDelete

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