Alumni Blog

Jessica Speaks from Dominican Republic

JESSICA VORSTERMANS
El Arca de la República Dominicana
Santo Domingo Oeste
June 22, 2009.

¡Hola! My name is Jessica.  I am an Intercordia alumni and am currently living in the L’Arche community here in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic. I am also an Intercordia mentor to the two fabulous students that are placed in Consuelo, a small town that is about an hour’s bus ride from Santo Domingo. The mentor program is intended to create an additional bridge in the transfer of learnings from L’Arche to Intercordia.  At the heart of Intercordia is the formation of relationships, especially relationships across difference. Difference can take on diverse faces … here I am in Santo Domingo sharing life with people of different abilities and disabilities. One of the most special things about this L’Arche community is the relationships between the coremembers (people with disabilities – those at the core of L’Arche).

The Dominican Republic is a country where you see shiny new SUVs driving through barrios with no running wáter and open sewers. The economic status of the coremembers here reflects this reality. There are a few coremembers that come from very wealthy families and they are working and living with other coremembers who spent part of their life living on the street. That is the beauty of L’Arche – bringing together people from such diverse backgrounds and realities to live together, to share meals together and to work at the same table together.
There is so much life and joy here! At times it is challenging, overwhelming and chaotic, but I am experiencing such beauty and growth. I feel so privileged to share in these relationships, to live with people who have the unique capacity to form relationships across such profound difference - wIth people who have a huge capacity to love and to accept their fellow human beings for who they are – differences and all!