The beginning of this year has been challenging for me – I transferred placements early on, my partner and I are doing long distance, and I was trying to authentically engage in a new community where I didn’t feel like I fit in. After the retreat, something had changed – I even felt sad to say goodbye for a week as I went home for Thanksgiving. A bit of reflection on our shared time at the Midwest Fall Retreat, helped me to realize that it was a pivotal moment for me in my journey as a Volunteer. I was a bit apprehensive about the retreat,Read More →

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The Holiday Mask Ushered in by bowls of candy treats and costume masks the holiday season launches with the donning of a different mask Leaf by leaf the trees turn crimson, gold, and angry falling like confetti woven into a soggy carpet of flames The air turns crisp and bitter children delight seeing their own breath others despair the cost of heat or lack of a roof to call theirs A snow falls blanketing the earth in pure white shivers, and sleepless nights elation and misery in the air as tangible as the delicate burning snowflakes Thankfulness is celebrated with family, friends, alone for theRead More →

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Nebraskan weather may be getting colder by the day, but what we lack in warm weather, we make up in warm hearted guests. In the past month we have had the opportunity to host a few of our friends, either those we’ve just met or those who we’ve known from back home. When we looked back on our month, we found that it seemed like so long ago that our first visitors had come by. Everyone, from former LVC participants to family members, blessed us with their presence. So many of our days, we can feel like we are caught up in work or ourRead More →

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Greetings from Casa Romero!! It’s almost time for our first Fall Retreat and last but not least, turkey day! However, we must always remember to give thanks for the things we have everyday and not just on Thanksgiving Day. As we are fresh and adjusting to the LVC life, we have expressed moments of gratitude to one another while embracing the challenges we face as a house. We are still going through the journey of finding ways to appreciate everything and give back to the community we live in, while building a strong foundation in our community in the Casa Romero House. As we embarkRead More →

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Before sitting down to write this blog post, one of my housemates pointed out that we were approaching our third month of being in LVC. I feel like while adjusting to the many transitions within the program, the days can feel long but the weeks blow by. To offer a glimpse at what Casa Romero in Chicago has been up to lately, I figured I’d follow Bex Klafter’s (Redeemer House) lead and provide a day in the life at my placement. My name is Levi Todd (photo above, 3rd from left) and I’m placed with Namarig Kram (photo above, right, front), another LVC volunteer, atRead More →

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