things I will miss about Camden (in no particular order, and absolutely incomplete):
- walking the four blocks between my house and St. Anthony's every day, several times each way
- guys who lean out their pickup truck windows as they pass me on the street and shout out "God bless you, sweetheart!"
- ladies who sit on their front porch steps and greet me as i walk by with a "hey sweetie, how you doin?"
- little kids from my music classes and Peace Art program who yell and wave at me from their yards, "hi Miss Anna!"
- fresh garden vegetables from our backyard and from our plot in Brother Jerry's Garden across from the church and from the Mt. Ephraim produce stand
- Mexican rice and beans...Puerto Rican rice and beans...Dominican rice and beans...
- Marta's tamales, hot chocolate, and other refreshing drinks...
- anything baked or brewed or fondued by Father John
- living 5 minutes from Rita's Water Ice
- living 7 minutes from the Pennsauken Library
- yes, the view of the Philadelphia skyline is quite nice, but i wouldn't say it's the best thing about Camden as some have sarcastically stated. i'll just say it's nice.
- and so is the bridge between Camden and Philadelphia, which i will miss trekking across every so often
- living two blocks from a mural that i helped in the process of creation and celebration, which is literally a concrete testimony to how a community can live out peace and restore its streets to safety and beauty by taking care of ourselves, each other, and the earth, and a call to this community to step up and do that
- being able to sit with one of my ESL students after class and hear her story of seeing her mother and brother shot in front of her eyes in El Salvador, and of living in fear and wanting a better life for her children, and coming here to Camden and having her house broken into and herself held up at gunpoint for what little cash she had on hand, and then a few months ago breaking her foot and just the other day finding out that there's some bones out of place in it that the doctor can't fix (not sure if it's an impossibility issue or a money issue), but either way she might just always walk with a major limp...pray for 'Maria', por favor
- collaborating with CCOP and our local organizing committee to make a difference in the neighborhood with the numerous abandoned houses and the hazardous activities in the park
- weekly prayer and fun and everyday life with my housemates...always eye-opening experiences and conversations
- having the keys and knowing the tricks to open every door at the church, the friary, Francis House, Clare House..
- semi-weekly trips to the Treehouse coffee shop
- deejaying Eddie's concerts in the Francis House chapel, listening and watching his passionate, love-filled performances of Michael Jackson, Barry White, the Temptations, Earth Wind & Fire, Teddy Pendergrass, and more...telling his story of how he's survived growing up in Camden and living over three decades with HIV/AIDS, and watching the audiences' eyes widen at what a miracle this 'man in the mirror' is...
- planning and leading creative, interactive prayer services at Francis House and seeing the motto "Love Heals" lived out in our midst
- every prayer circle before every meal at Francis House, joining hands taking deep breaths, shouting out prayer requests, bowing our heads as a family and proclaiming together, "God, grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference. God's will, not ours, be done. Amen amen!"
- Tuesday evening prayer with the friars, reading from the daily Office, especially the Franciscan prayer for vocations, "God, help us to be people of prayer after the example of Francis and Clare. May our lives of prayer be our source of strength in serving the people of God."
- Tuesday evening dinner with the friars, cooked by Sue!
- the beautiful holistic multicultural prayer that is mass at St. Anthony's
- the First Baptist Church of Moorestown with their welcoming embrace to me as a new member
- lunches and spiritual food with Rene
- going on trips to Georgia and Washington DC to advocate for peace and justice with Father Jud
- going on trips to Lancaster and NYC and Long Beach Island to refresh our bodies and spirits with Father John
- coming home to Camden. knowing that I have a home there.
goodbye for now, Camden. i love you.
