When I was first placed in the Holy Cross Immersion in Mountain View, I had to take time to discern if this was truly an experience that I felt called to lead. I had signed up for the Saint Francis immersion program with the intention of immersing myself in a different culture through lived experiences and service. I never anticipated that I would have to learn what it means to be immersed in my own culture.
I went into the week with low expectations, reminding myself to smile, if only for the students visiting Saint Francis. However, by the end of the week, I would gain unforgettable memories, best friends, and a new understanding of my own community.
Over the course of a week in early June, my immersion group performed acts of service at Sacred Heart Community Service, Animal Assisted Happiness, Martha’s Kitchen, Villa Siena, Casa de Clara, and others, all within the San Jose-Mountain View area. I had been to a couple of the places that we volunteered at, but this time we went into the experience with the intention of more deeply connecting with the whole community and acting out the Word in flesh.
When we dined and communed with unhoused people at Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church, it struck me that I didn’t know how impoverished such a large portion of the South Bay is. Through the immersion, I was able to overcome the assumptions I previously held about the wealth of the Bay Area and build a stronger bond with everyone in the community.
On the second night of the experience, none of us had our phones, and when I walked into the dance room (our sleep space) after a shower, I found some of the girls participating in a late-night Bible study. Having little else to do, I joined. While reading and discussing Matthew 8:14-17, I realized that I’ve never been able to participate in a gospel study with people my own age before. In an age when many youth are moving away from religion, I have few gospel friends and am rarely comfortable discussing my faith aloud. As we lay on our sleeping bags with our notebooks and pens, I was filled with such joy and renewed faith.
Post-Bible study, we talked well into the night with our flashlights illuminating our faces, whispering about our life stories despite having met each other mere days before. Who would have thought that I would miss the sometimes-too-cold, sometimes-too-hot dance room after going home from immersion? Certainly not me. But as I think back to sharing a single-person sleeping pad and talking until three in the morning, I wouldn’t trade the memories and friends I gained for the world.
From laughing as the Capitola kelp entangled with our legs and quieting our giggles in the middle of the night to Bible studies, small group reflections, and days of service, the Holy Cross Immersion was truly one of the best experiences of my life. Although I was only a few miles away from home, I found a new outlook of my city, an appreciation for the opportunities around me, and a new understanding of what it means to be God’s servant in the world.
