Well here it goes... the first post of my life actually and the first to start off what will about to become, cross your fingers as I am doing too, one of the best experiences of my life. I just had a recent article published in the local paper, the Minneota Mascot. I am very happy and please with how nice it was for them to contact me and how beautifully it was written! I may live in small town but it definitely has a large heart for the amount of care and support that have shown me! I hope be a great representative of our community to the new community that I will be soon entering! Thank you again all you of the Minneota Community!
Other than that, life has been continuing on. I am still currently studying for the MCAT and will be taking that July 30th in which I am asking for a prayers and few miracles here and there as well! It's a tough one but it will all be work out... I just have to keep a positive attitude!
Along with that I am also still training to Run the Minnesota Half Marathon as a fundraiser for my trip. I have to raise $1,800 for travel, medical purposes and other retreat cost. Any thing that I would raise over that will go directly to mission that I will be working for through the FrancisCorps. I will attatch the fundraising letter if you would like to take a peak at it and if you would like to make a contribution you can find all the necessary information! If you are not able to assist, I totally understand and just ask for your prayers throughout my experience!
I will write again soon to keep updates on how things are going...
Que le vaya bien! (Hope all goes well!)
Jordan
Fundraising Letter
Help Send This Chico to Help the Ticos!
Hola a Todas… or Hello All!
I am writing to share with you a vision in which God has called me to act on and has graciously given me the opportunity take part in over the next year. I believe that I have been called to live and work as a FrancisCorps Volunteer in San José, Costa Rica for one year, beginning September 3, 2010. FrancisCorps is a Franciscan sponsored faith-based volunteer program for recentely graduated Catholic-Christian college students. The work I plan to do as a volunteer will include tutoring, mentoring and assisting the students at Fernando Centeno Guell School- a school for blind, deaf and mentally challenged students in San José. I will be working with a staff of professionals including teachers, social workers, and counselors and other volunteers.
Latin proverbs states, By learning you will teach, by teaching you will learn. It is my hope that my being in Costa Rica and working with the FrancisCorps will help me experience the true meaning behind this insightful quote. It will be by learning from those around me that will teach me the most that I will need to know to provide the most beneficial service I can. I have been blessed throughout my life with so many things that I hope I can in return give back to those that are less fortunate than many of us are. It is my goal to work, live and grow with the Costa Ricans so that we can learn and teach each other throughout our time together.
I ask for your prayers. My work cannot be sustained without God’s guidance and presence in my life. It will be through his wonderful and glorious works that will guide me to do what will be most beneficial for the people I will be serving and give me a chance to grow mentally, physically and spiritually. But with all things there comes a cost, in which I am writing to you today for assistance. I must raise $1,800 to assist with my travel and medical insurance expenses so that I can fulfill the wonderful experience that has called me to serve. Instead of just asking for donations, I thought I need to work a little bit for it so I have signed myself up for my first ever half marathon. I will be running the Minnesota Half Marathon on August 7th in the Twin Cities and am asking for your support through both prayers… because I will need them, and by sponsoring the 13.1 miles I will run. I was thinking you could make donations for each mile I run or if you just want to make a general donation. Please, do not feel obligated to do this; support through prayers is just as great too.
Even better for you… all donations are tax-deductible. Checks should be made out to FrancisCorps Volunteers-Costa Rica Fund. Please return your donations by July 31st. I will forward them on to Brother Jim Moore, OFM Conv, the Director of FrancisCorps or you can send them in my name to FrancisCorps Volunteers, P.O. Box 11166, Syracuse, NY, 13218.
I have enclosed a stamped, self addressed return envelope for your convenience. I promise I will keep in touch with you during my travels. If you wouldn’t mind passing on your email or mailing address, I can make sure you receive the stories and pictures of my time with the FrancisCorps. You can also keep up with me through my blog at www.jordandifferding.blogspot.com I will try and keep it updated as much as possible but I don’t want to miss out on action down there so bear with me I also welcome any questions that you may have as well. Please feel free to contact me at 507.828.0271 or by email at jmdifferdin@gmail.com
I pray that you will share in this wonderful opportunity that God has graced me with.
Thank you so much and God Bless
