Friends

Here in Immokalee, we, the volunteers, are blessed with a wonderful community of friends. This community was present from the time that we were picked up from the airport by a former volunteer. Even today, her words, spoken to us during the hour drive from Ft. Myers to Immokalee, resonate with me. “You do not know it yet,” she said, “but you have a lot of friends already in Immokalee who are very excited to get to know you and find out who you are.”

And what she said could not be truer. We, as Humility of Mary volunteers (known as the voluntarias catolicas in town), arrived in Immokalee to find a supportive community of friends. Past volunteers, having built up wonderful connections and friendships with people from all aspects of the community, had left the program with a great reputation and we, as the new volunteers, benefited from these associations.

Now, for me, community is one of the most valued parts of the experience. We have all established invaluable relationships. Just today, for example, another volunteer and I woke up to head to one friend’s house to hang out, eat ice cream, get centered, and help plant seeds for the garden. Tonight I will go with another friend from work to a paleteria in town to get paletas (popsicles). The examples are endless. There is hardly ever a lonely moment in Immokalee with jewelry making with the girls, working in child care on Sundays, having people constantly walking into and out of the house, having friends working in the garden in the backyard, partaking in sports nights at the park, having community dinners, etc.

Each day, I am continually thankful for the blessing of community that is here in Immokalee. I am thankful for how open the people were to us when we arrived and for how kind and wonderful they are.

Sarah

Picture is from google images