BOSTON COLLEGE STUDENTS’ ALMOST-SPRING BREAK
Eleven Boston College students spent a rather wintry alternative spring break with us the first week of March. In spite of the weather and the various things that went wrong they helped with a variety of work and, according to their evaluations, enjoyed their week at the farm. Several students have expressed an interest in returning during the warmer months to help out for a day or a week or longer, and we look forward to seeing them again and to the energy and new perspectives they bring.
The group went by bus to Scranton along with fellow students in the Appalachia program bound for other sites. From there they headed north in two vans. They were following directions they had gotten from the Internet to Wart Road in Lacona, NY. They ended up pushing their vans along unplowed roads, unable for a while to get their cell phones to work. They finally were able to call and tell us they were thoroughly lost. When we realized they were on back roads in Boylston, we told them to stay and wait and we’d come find them. Joanna and Zach went to the rescue and they pulled into the farm parking area a couple hours late. We abandoned the plans for the evening, passed around hot cider and cookies, learned names and unloaded the vans and left the rest for morning. Overnight the temperatures plummeted well below zero and the wind rose to a gale. By morning the hot water pipes had frozen in the barn—no hot water on any floor. The furnace had quit in the house and those of us who had moved over there to make room for the group fled back to the barn. But amid the cold and the difficulties, we laughed and began to work and to get to know each other.
Over the week the BC students painted two large rooms at the Sandy Creek food pantry, did cleaning and painting and repairs in two private homes, worked one-on-one with the children at the after-school program, helped deliver Meals-on -Wheels and pass out food at St. Patrick Mission in Williamstown, helped with computers and other jobs at Rural and Migrant Ministry, and started seeds and taped drywall at the farm. The after-school children were delighted with their college buddies, someone to read with them, someone to teach their favorite games and draw pictures or do origami with them. The elders who were helped spoke with gratitude not only of the work done but of the kindness of the students who worked in their homes. We who have spent the winter here enjoyed the energy and the insights of these guests.
In addition to the work, there was time for discussions, planned and spontaneous, time for prayer and reflection and opportunities to meet the other people with whom we work. Sr. Sharon and Sr. Louise and Deacon David Sweenie came for supper Thursday and talked with the students about their work at RMM and the Spanish Apostolate. On Ash Wednesday the students went to Unity Acres to eat supper with the men, play games and visit and then attend the evening service. Students spoke of these times and of the morning silent prayers and the mealtime conversations as high points of their week.
Saturday morning they needed to be on the road at eight so breakfast was earlier and the time in the chapel briefer than usual. Zachary had shoveled snow away from the front of the St. Francis Farm rock so they could take pictures of their group there. By then we were all very tired but grateful for the work done and questions raised and stories shared and blessings given.