There are definitely those days during the Peace Corps when I say "Avital, what the heck are you doing all the way in Ukraine? Home is where the Muth family is located! Home is where sushi is always fresh and pizza is cheesy! Home is where a rolling pin is not a water bottle! Home is where your brother is celebrating his engagement! (mazal tov, D&R) Home is where beer comes in more than two flavors - light and dark! Home is where buses have stop buttons and streets are clean! Home is fast paced, easy, comfortable, familiar... There is nothing miraculous about service. I don't feel like I am home and I don't think I belong."
But, today (!), today, was a day. A fantastic day for not just me, but for also a good friend and I said "Well, I'll be damned. Look at us volunteers go - instilling good values in Ukrainian youth." Today, I counted kopeks with my Ukrainian students and personally, I have raised 349.98 hryvna. All the other classes are bringing in their kopek jars, and it looks like we're going to be raising well over 1000 hryvna just from coins.
And this all comes in the most joyous of seasons - Purim! A miracle hidden in story, a divine power nowhere to be found. Divine presence is seldom felt in our lives, and during service, I can say that I have had my fair share of feeling like anything I'm doing feels important, or well worth the 7000 mile separation. Sometimes, our reasons for acting don't even mean anything at the moment - how could I have known 18 months ago when I started a kopek jar that I would be (eventually) teaching Ukrainian children about philanthropy and the power of small change - just like the Queen of change herself (Esther saved the Jewish people from death - my kids are helping a health organization battle death in Ukraine). What a crazy world - I can reflect on what's happening in my head and in the calendar at the same time.
So, get a jar. Take out your coins daily. In 18 months, maybe you'll get some change worth change.
