The Final Day: A Reflection

Alfonner Vlog, Day 2

The Pitch...

Although it did not take too much effort to assemble my presentation, my thought process behind the whole project was going out of control with ideas. Like I said during my pitch, I've been looking for an outlet to present this idea of ZEEBags in America for a long time.  I was surprised at how eager people were to buy bags, and that gave me newfound hope that my ideas could actually work. I looked at my phone after I presented, and 3 people sitting around the table had already contacted me about helping me make this a successful feat here on campus. I'm amazed at the outcome of my simple, humble pitch, and I'm proud to have been the one to present it. Just the reassurance that people are excited about these bags makes me feel like I'm aiding the problem, not putting a bandaid on. It's a good feeling.
I take this entire ZEEBag project almost as a duty to those women, and to Zimbabwe. I go on and on about my life back home, all the service I've done and all the people and places there that I love. I wouldn't be justifying any of what I say if I wasn't making an impact from this far away. I had the opportunity of talking to the Vice President of Zimbabwe-- Amai Joyce Mujuru-- and we had hours and hours of conversation on women's empowerment over multiple cups of tea on her tobacco farm in the rural areas. Not many people get that opportunity. The topic at hand was such an intense one, and we talked so freely about it. Her being a strong women's activist herself, urged me in later email to continue the work I do with women, and lift them up. In the last email she sent me, she said "Us women, we have to work double the time our male friends do my girl.You know why, it's because we are the chosen ones to nurture people of the Universe biologically,birth,teach and grow them.That needs a heart with immeasurable love."
I'm going to be committed to this project. There are so many factors propelling me to make it successful.
I remember saying at the beginning of the Fall Semester that all the knowledge I gain out of Africa, I'm going to take it back, and implement it there, and make it better in any way that I can. This si still my goal. At the beginning of the year I struggled with moving, and finding device groups that I clicked with instantly, the way I did back home. The problem was I was trying to do service exactly the same way I did there, and that's not how things work in this country. There are more rules, more safety features, more authoritative figures and a larger plan or structure that I had to follow. Now that I've learned how to do that, and service here has become a huge passion, I think I am ready to implement "African service" back into my life. I now know how to balance these two lifestyles, and I know how to incorporate service there into my life here. In doing so, I feel like I am fulfilling my duty, and that motivates me to do the best I can.
Thank you to all the facilitators for such an eye opening experience. No two immersions are every quite the same. Our individual projects were a great way to rap up our events and keep the spirit of this immersion alive for a long long time.

Coalition for the Homeless

I was nice having a slower morning and afternoon to reflect, recuperate, and rejuvenate from the intense work the last two days. It was also nice to have everyone being even more nice to me on my birthday. The drive home was smooth, the weather was perfect and cloudy, and the atmosphere was just mellow.
I was excited to learn about our Commitment Project, and I knew exactly what I wanted to do. The ZEEBags foundation has been in Zimbabwe for almost 3 years now, and I want to make it big at Rollins and in our surrounding communities. I think that America presents so many outlets for small entrepreneurial businesses, and sales here could have an immense impact on the HIV positive women that are trying to make ends meet.
Coalition for the Homeless was not what I expected. Working there as a Bonner volunteer, I had full attention from the people in charge of volunteer services (Marty and Kristen), and it was different doing a group project with the women. Obviously we could not have known what to expect; and neither could the women doing our jewelry making activity. I know a few of them thought we were going to teach them how to make intricate jewelry, and a few didn't eve know if was a jewelry making class. The thing that I saw the most was connection-building. A few women had made really beautiful pieces, but everyone in the room was talking; Rollins  and the Coalition. So often we take basic conversation for granitoid, and I've learned to appreciate it more working with the homeless this week. Although I try my hardest to remember how privileged I am to be living the life I do, this week has taught me that even without material things, and private duration, people are making their lives better in their own capacities. It is my job, as the ones with more resources, to help them one their way- "Hand Up, Not Hand Out"

Blessed beyond compare.

        A blessing, as defined by Dictionary.com, is a "special favor, mercy, or benefit". This entire experience over the course of the last five days has proved to be more of a blessing and a challenging growth opportunity for myself rather than a personal giving back testimonial. Time after time, one of my peers or a member of the community we were serving would strike me or speak into my life personally. Time after time, I was engaged, I was challenged, I was pushed, but even more so I was convicted and burdened for the condition at which our world so easily turns their heads in ignorance toward. 

           On the drive back to Lake Nona where I live yesterday, my thoughts kept crossing the occurrences and opportunities I have been given to make a difference in the life of someone less fortune than I. Every single day that I drive to Rollins, I pass at least four homeless individuals partaking in panhandling along side specifically the corner of Semoran and Aloma. There hasn't been a single time that I have chosen to look those individuals in the eye and pay them the humane respect that they are due. I have time and time again chosen to ignore their existence, pretending the problem or the individuals do not exist when they so evidently stare me boldly in the face. 

            I am ashamed of my behavior. I am ashamed at the fact that I have lost sight of the moral truth that all life is sacred and should be placed at a position of honor and respect. No life should be taken for granted or abuse in any way, shape, or form. When I boiled it down, I had been afraid of the poverty, of the issue I was seeing because of the false pretenses being stereotypically infused in my media driven diet. It would be my goal to remedy this fear and combat it with directly engaging the impact area by carrying "go packs" of necessities in my car and on my person at all times. I would use said packs to minister to the under served individuals  I would be interacting with and to provide them with the sensation that they are thought of, appreciated, and loved by someone out in the world. I would pray that this realization in my own life would stem to encourage and to challenge others to take a stand, be uncomfortable, and make the world a place we would be proud to call our home. 

A Leader and A Follower

The immersion has ended but in spirit, I feel like it has already began. It amazes me the amount of leadership ability, experience, conviction, and intellect that the Alfonners have. I was literally blown away by the presentations that were presented. Each Alfonner had their own approach and their own way of conveying their feelings and emotions.

I would personally like to say to all the Alfonners that this has really been a great experience for me. It is so nice to be surrounded by like minded individuals, individuals who want to do so much more with their lives, individuals that want to be a part of something bigger than themselves. That amount of energy in one room is simply amazing.

My act of commitment seemed very fragmented to me so over the upcoming semester I will make it a point to organize my commitment and to make sure that is implemented into action. It's such a hard thing to wrap your mind around that you can make a difference or that you can make impactful change in a big way. I've learned that once you commit to something, once you really evaluate your motives and inspirations, you will stop at nothing to get it done. My goal of self-publishing a book has shown me that if you really want to change your lifestyle and take action you will do anything to do it.

The Alfonners are utterly amazing. If anyone reads this blog know that I second all the acts of commitment that were presented tonight. I will do anything that I can to help others achieve their goals. If this simply means being someone's sounding board or helping someone fundraise or designing posters, I will help in anyway possible. If we've learned anything over the break, I've learned that we are a group that works well together and that cooperation is a must if we want to make lasting, forward progress.

The Final Blog

            Today was very reflection heavy, with plenty of different perspectives and takes on the Immersion experience coming to light. I was absolutely floored by the creativity and sheer passion expressed by everyone at the dinner. Everyone tapped into their creative side to produce beautiful poems, artwork, and displays of what they learned and have to share with Rollins and the community at large.

            The good that lives inside everyone in this intercession course is quite apparent, and I cannot wait to see what everyone accomplishes both in their commitments and in their futures. For their commitments, each person incorporated their own personal talents and visions to create goals that I have no doubt we have the ability to achieve. I am certainly willing and thrilled to help everyone meet their commitment goals.

            This week has resulted in thought provoking experiences, friendships, and perspectives. It has served as a solid beginning to the semester and has provided me with just the perspective I need before I set out to start my second semester of college. The people that we have encountered have profoundly affected my view of homelessness, and I will carry with me the generosity shown by the people such as Jack, the homeless man who offered his jacket, and countless other people who dedicate their lives to doing good in the world. I cannot wait to apply these lessons to my life as a student and an active citizen of the world.

As a reminder of my commitment to let people who have impacted my life know just how much they matter, I have decided to make my last picture a picture of one of the children of my Dominican family who I want to reach out to again. 

Thank you for a wonderful intercession!