Final Border Servant Corps Retreat

This past weekend I went on my final retreat with the BSC crew. I’ve known for some time now that the year is winding down but it took this weekend for it to finally hit me. In just 2 weeks the 12 of us will be dispersing across the country. Some are heading for home, some of us are heading into another volunteer year, and some are taking on the daunting task of looking for jobs in the “real world”.

We left late Friday afternoon for Ruidoso, NM. New Mexico is always surprising me with its variety of its landscapes. Ruidoso is a quaint little town up in the mountains, tucked away in the Lincoln national forest. I think all of us felt relaxed and cheered when we got out of our vehicles to the smell of pine trees and the cool crisp air. Las Cruces and El Paso has been hot and dry for most of our year down here so a scenery change was much welcomed.

A Lutheran church had agreed to let us stay the 2 nights of our retreat there so we spent our time doing some reflections and meditations on the year as well as just hanging out, going on walks, and exploring the Ruidoso downtown. It was all incredibly relaxing, though, for those who are interested in what downtown Ruidoso is like, all the stores were cutesy shops best for being perused by rich retired folk who love carvings of bears.

BSC on our fall retreat in Cloudcroft, NM.

Saturday night we began writing letters of affirmation to each other. Basically letters to each other talking about the year and the memories we’ve created together. I went to the sanctuary, sat in a pew, and pulled up John Coltrane on my iPod. Writing those letters was rougher than I anticipated and I suddenly realized how close the end was. Over the course of the year I have gotten incredibly close with these 11 people, people who were strangers not even a year ago. As I wrote I started remembering the special memories I’ve shared with each of them; from Lisa and I standing at the airport not realizing we were both waiting for the same person to some of the more ridiculous conversations I’ve shared with Brian and Nate. I feel so close with everyone and know that I have 11 wonderful friends to stay in touch with.

Saturday night was ended with a group reflection led by our director, Ryan. We read passages from several books, sang songs, and meditated on questions that Ryan presented us with. It was incredibly sobering and I think we all really felt it. We ended with a passing of the peace and all hugged each other. I think we all intentionally looked for things to get our minds off of leaving each other by finding ridiculous things to do in the church. We explored the attic and watched some poorly made Christian kid’s videos from the 90’s and all cheered up immensely.

Sunday morning we had to wake up early to get out of the way for church services. I woke up earlier than usual to pack up and get my makeshift bed back into where it was supposed to be. I had been sleeping on the cushions that were used for kneeling during communion and wasn’t sure what level of sacrilegious-ness I was committing but knew I didn’t want to be told by the pastor. A few people joined the church in their service while others of us read and went for walks.

We drove to a park and had a quiet reflection and wrote letters to ourselves that BSC will send us next year. I’m curious to see what my 24 year old, Denver dwelling self will think of my questions and if he will have any answers. He will probably be irked by his past self trying to mother him.

Then there it was, the end of our last retreat. It was nice to get home and crash into my own bed, a little recharged mentally but drained from sleeping on communion cushions.

That is all I have for now, I know these 2 weeks will fly by and I plan to enjoy them as much as possible.

BSC crew as we finish up our service year.