“I really learned how other people view faith. Before GSV, all my friends believed in basically the same things, but this year I was able to get out of my bubble and challenge myself to another level of faith.”Program Information
The 4 Tenets: Spirituality
Volunteers have the opportunity to enhance their spirituality through reflection and action throughout their service experience. Through retreats, community reflection, and spiritual direction, volunteers can challenge themselves to put their faith into action. As theologian Anthony Gittens has said, “We had the experience but missed the meaning.”
This urges us to use reflection in our lives in order to make sense out of our everyday experiences and grow from them.
We welcome people from all walks of faith and all religions. GSV invites each volunteer to deepen their own spirituality, share their spirituality with their fellow volunteers, and learn about the faith lives of others. Volunteer communities have regular Spirituality Nights as a way to deepen faith, support their ministry, and grow in their relationships with each other and God. Also, each volunteer is given access to a spiritual director who can assist them in developing their spirituality. The spiritual director can meet regularly with the volunteer and assist the volunteer with questions, challenges, and new ideas for exploring their spiritual life.
Reflection on Spirituality
from the GSV Volunteer Community, Cusco, Peru ‘08-10
Tasi Rodriguez, GSV Cusco, Peru ’08-10, walking a girl to school
As I walk down dusty roads or
busy concrete boulevards
help me God to take the time to see in the eyes of the other,
to recognize the other, in order to respect.
As I encounter many peoples, many races,
help me to appreciate the hand of the other,
to recognize those hands that create and build, in order to work together.
As my path calls me to various places,
help me to learn to walk together with others on paths that lead to peace,
recognizing that by walking with others, in working together,
we learn to recognize ourself in the other,
to recognize and appreciate our differences.
And begin to recognize what love is about.