My name is Rayna, and I am the summer intern at Jonathan House. Over the past month, I have had the privilege of spending time building relationships with some of the female residents. I have been overwhelmed by the kindness and hospitality the women have shown me as a newcomer.
After circumstances I cannot begin to imagine, I continue to see courage and resilience. I have also been overwhelmed by the pain of legal setbacks and the weight of frustration over the slow pace of systems. But hope insists on showing up at Jonathan House. It shows up in laughter around shared meals. It shows up in tears turned into prayer.
God’s goodness is reflected by the friendships formed and contagious joy. Through the cracks of uncertainty, light keeps breaking in. Thank you for welcoming me into the Jonathan House community and for being part of this story of shelter, hope, and healing. I have written a couple of reflection poems below based on my first month as a Jonathan House intern.
Keessumsiisa
Hospitality came in the form of a cup of chai.
I did not ask.
It was given freely.
Free of expectations for anything in return.
Connection came in the form of shared warmth from the cups.
I drank.
A blend foreign to my tongue.
I listened.
An accent foreign to my ears.
I stayed.
A familiar calm.
Hospitality came in the form of Injera.
I did not ask.
It was given freely.
Free of expectations for anything in return.
Connection came in the form of a shared meal.
I gripped.
A consistency foreign to my hands.
I ate.
A spiciness foreign to my tongue.
I laughed.
A familiar embarrassment of my face growing red from spicy food.
It wasn’t just tea you offered.
It wasn’t just food you offered.
It was a bridge between worlds.
Not quite erased.
But shared borders.
You didn’t ask for kindness.
You just poured it.
You just cooked it.
I am unforgettably full.
Hospitality came in the form of you.
Feelings Wheel
Bad
Anxious about legislation
Helpless in the courtroom
Hostile toward potential outcomes
Scared and frightened for the future
Overwhelmed by a lack of control
Nauseated and furious by a lack of empathy
Despair and grief from new revelations
Frustrated by the lack of change
Happy
Interested to learn about the residents
Proud to be a contributor
Accepted and valued as part of the team
Trusting in the talents God has given me
Joyful when seeing smiles and laughter
Confident in God’s plan and justice
Energetic with ideas
Hopeful that I will see God move
Thankful for the opportunity to serve
Inspired by the resilience and strength I see
Amazed by the hospitality around me
Excited to witness my growth
The wheel of feelings goes round and round
Can I speak beauty to the pain?
Will I be a resounding gong?
Questions I cannot answer
But I am reminded
The greatest of these is love
I love by learning
I love by listening.
I love by playing.
The wheel of feelings is forever turning
But God’s love stays the same
Above all the feelings
God’s love is constantly there
Forever fierce
Written by Rayna Welch, Jonathan House Intern. Apply for an internship today at: https://jonathanhouse.org/jonathan-house-internship-program/.