How do I begin to tell the story of my mentor relationship with MJ Park? For my notes, I jotted down a list of words a mile long to describe the kind, caring, and compassionate individual, but that is only the beginning. When I arrived back from Bolivia, apprehensive about my transition back to the U.S. and how I was going to stay true to my calling, a friend (Shout Out to Lizzy Balboa!) passed along Ms. Park's contact info. I arrived on her doorstep cold (read: DC Blizzard of 2016) and overwhelmed, and I left with a Little Friends for Peace manual in Spanish and a commitment for lasting mentorship. MJ's promise to mentor me as I pursue my dream to open a domestic violence shelter in Cochabamba, Bolivia has exceeded my wildest expectations, and has given me hope at just the right moment. Her positive, peace filled, motivational demeanor helps to encourage me when I am reaching for a solution to an issue, and her patience as a listener allows me the space I need to reflect and find the answers that were already hiding somewhere deep within me. She reminds me to give myself permission for self care, following the Franciscan Mission Service mantra that one must first be healthy in order to care for others. MJ also understands and affirms my focus on empowering individuals within the Bolivian culture, and honoring the rich diversity of knowledge that already exists in the Latin American continent. Her experience with partners in El Salvador and Cameroon only enhances her ability to offer real life anecdotal advice from a viewpoint that is enlightening and inspiring! Through monthly phone calls and emails in between, she keeps me on my toes and I feel her support regardless of where I am located geographically. She keeps me accountable with goal check ins, and is always open to offer a fresh viewpoint or another outlook with any questions I throw her way. In today's mentor spotlight, I would like to thank MJ Park for being my rock, advice lifeline, spiritual guide, and a peace guru each and every time I reach out. You are truly a mentor in all senses of the word, and I thank God for the blessing that you have become in my life!
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AuthorValerie Ellis, who is in alignment with the Black Lives Matter Movement and everyone whose life is impacted, now or before, by times of social injustice. Archives
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