Listening to the Little Nudges

I first felt called to do a year of service after I discovered I could graduate a year early from my undergraduate degree. I wasn’t ready yet to begin grad school so soon, but I knew I wanted to spend my gift year doing something meaningful and new. While I definitely questioned whether or not I should just get a job to save money or go straight into grad school instead, I felt this small yet consistent nudge on my heart towards doing a year of service.

As I researched different year of service programs, I was reminded by a friend about a program that a recent UD grad was volunteering at called FrancisCorps. As I clicked through the website, I found my first inkling that this might be the right place for me… a big yellow house!! I lived in a yellow house my last year at UD with an amazing group of girls, so continuing this trend post-grad felt like a God-wink. I then found my way to the blogs where I read one from a past volunteer named Daisy. She spoke to exactly what I was struggling with in trying to make post-grad decisions, and left me with a sense of peace that I was not alone in this process. As I read more, I noticed the stories all spoke of so much goodness, love, growth, and finding God in it all. I knew that’s what I wanted for my gift year.

Several months later I found myself being driven to Syracuse, New York by my parents. We stopped at Niagara Falls on our way which was a magical beginning to my year in New York. The orientation retreat was filled with reading, time for self-reflection, and lots of discussions where I got to know the other community members better. Being in the Adirondacks was so beautiful, and in true Franciscan spirit I enjoyed the nature around me by dipping my toes in the clear water and going on runs with Friar Nader and Madeline. Going back to the house and starting service was definitely an adjustment and taught me about being more patient with myself as I figured out a routine, but Joseph’s House has been so welcoming and I’m learning so much from them already! I am also very lucky to have two wonderful new friends/housemates who have helped to make this a fairly smooth transition.

I am very excited for what this year holds for me in terms of growth in all aspects of my life. I am also super excited that I get to continue living in an intentional faith community, but in a new and fruitful way with Amanda and Madeline. Lastly, I’m excited to get to learn and adopt St. Francis and St. Clare’s way of living, loving, and serving and eventually visit them in Assisi at the end of the year!

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