Transformational Journeys. What’s It all About?
Several years ago, I embarked on my first Transformational Journey (TJ) —a local one, to St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Los Angeles. I packed complete ignorance for this journey, knowing nothing about the Copts.
What I learned was that Copt means “Egyptian,” and that the Coptic church is ancient, tracing its history to the middle of the first century, A.D. Our hosts seated us in their sanctuary, a converted Lutheran church, which now sparkles with gold-leaf images of saints painted in the Byzantine style.
A parish priest, with a long, dark beard and white robe, explained the history and traditions of their faith. He detailed the struggles to establish this facility in Los Angeles in response to the increasing numbers of Copts arriving in the 1970’s. He described the outreach programs the church sponsors to those in need nearby, and he invited questions. We were welcomed to lunch prepared by the women of the church. The smells, the sights the tastes and the hospitality were unforgettable. The menu was traditional Egyptian, and to this day, I remember that beautiful meal. Our hosts were so remarkably generous, welcoming and kind, and, I think, so honored that we had made this trip to meet them. It was an extraordinary day that called up centuries of faith and tradition, all within 20 miles of my front door.
Some time later, I jumped on the Gold Line to join a TJ visiting Homeboys School and Industries. The Homeboys School in Boyle Heights is a gritty, urban, storefront, next door to a pool hall. The school offers a way for students who have left, or been expelled, to finish high school. The energy, enthusiasm and hope in these small rooms is contagious! Later, we saw tattoo removal in progress and learned that because demand is so great, tattoos are only removed from visible areas. Our young tour guide shared his own story of prison and rebuilding his life. To see the work of the Homeboys programs is to understand faith in action.
So, by now, I was a TJ convert and happy to join in the 2017 China/Tibet trip, followed by the 2018 Vietnam/Cambodia and 2018 China/Inner Mongolia trips.
On these trips, each day begins with a prayer, poem, or reflection. Our groups have been privileged to meet with local organizers, Buddhist monks, and the victims of landmines. In Cambodia, we met those forced to flee the Khmer Rouge and spend years in United Nations refugee camps. We walked thru clay tunnels where families hid for years to avoid bombs. We enjoyed the lush decoration of Lama temples and watched women burning offerings on sidewalks in Hanoi. We have seen the incredibly big sky of Inner Mongolia and been welcomed to the very humble home of local landowners.
Our TJ groups have laughed together, prayed together, shared festive meals and waited for delayed planes together, stood in line to use pit toilets together. We have met remarkable people who demonstrate such grace In the face of hardship. If you have not, consider joining in. Transformational, for sure!
To find out more about Transformational Journeys visit their table on the lawn on Sunday, January 13 or contact: Ada Ramirez at 626.583.2734 or aramirez@allsaints-pas.org
