Amanda and Kristin bond during AMA orientation


Kelly surrounded by young friends at Amanecer in Bolivia

 

 

 

Natalie serving at mentoring program in Worcester, MA

 

 

 

Celebrating your birthday in New Mexico can be dangerous!

 

 

AMA brings out teh smiles in everyone!

 

 

 

Kristen shares her love of tennis with the children in Chaparral.

 

 

 

Paul celebrating one of the many festivals in Mexico.

 

 

It's cold in Worcester for a Florida girl!

 

 

 

AMAs and Assumption Sisters: Growing in faith together.

 

 

 

AMA's reach new heights during AMA orientation

 

 

 

Silly things happen  on a Friday night in Chaparral!

 

 

AMA is about community in the Philippines.

 

 

Making smoothies with kids in Newcastle

Apply Now!

 

We are experiencing difficulty with the server at this time and the form below is under construction.  Please use the form Below, copy and paste into a Word document or use this version. Forms can be emailed to Beth Fleming at ama-usa@juno.com  We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience!

 

Requirements for Application:

  • Completed application form (see below for an easy email version).  Special attention is paid to the personal statement, prior volunteer experience and work experience
  • $15.00 application fee (make checks payable to Associate Missionaries of the Assumption)
  • Two references (one personal, one professional) to be sent under separate cover
  • Documentation of a physical exam done within the last year or completed medical form
  • Psychological evaluation, which consists of an interview with a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist who, in writing on their letterhead, can attest to your emotional ability to handle living in a foreign country/culture as a volunteer for a period of a year
  • Personal interview

  • All completed documentation should be sent to:
    Beth Fleming, Co-Director
    AMA
    16 Vineyard St.
    Worcester, MA   01603

    Phone 508. 767. 1356

    Fax  508.791.2936

First Name:

Last Name:

Date of Birth: mm/dd/yyyy

Street Address 1:

Street Address 2:

City:

State:

Zip Code:

Primary Phone:

Alternate Phone (Cell or Work):

Best Time to Call:

email:

Home Address:

** If different from above and please include street, city, state, and zip.

Religious Denomination:

Social Security Number:

Nationality:

Father's Name:

Mother's Name:

Siblings Name and Ages:

Home Parish Address:
**Include street, city, st, zip

Home Parish Phone:

Name, address and telephone number of next of kin in the U.S.A.:

What is your relationship with the next of kin listed above?

Commitment

For what length of time would you like to volunteer?

When will you be available?

Type of ministry you are looking for?

Where would you like to serve?

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

College/University attended:

Degree/Certification/Years completed:

Other Institutions of Learning/Programs Attended:

Area of Concentration or Professional Skills:

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Describe type of work, name and place of organization, length of time:

Other Volunteer Organizations to which you have applied:

Work Experience


Describe type of work you do, name and place of employer, length of time employed there:

From your work or volunteer experience, please indicate any skills you have gained:

Please list any additional practical skills:

Please list any artistic abilities:

Please list languages spoken and degree of fluency:

Personal StatemenT
Please type a personal statement about yourself. You might want to include information about your family, your educational background, professional training and experience, specifics about your lifestyle and the living situation you are looking for in your volunteer ministry, your reasons for wanting to give Christian service, your talents, strengths and limitations, etc.

 

By checking this box you are agreeing that all of the above are true statements.

Submit

 

 

 

 

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Additional Forms

A Parents View of a Missionary Child

As parents of faith, we work to pass on the faith to our children. Jesus says in Luke 8-8: "And some seeds fell on good ground, and when it grew, it produced fruit a hundredfold." Parents have the responsibility to sow the seeds of faith for our children. However, the parable really shows us that the place where the seed is planted has the most impact.

Our children have been graced by a church community of people, who are true servants. They are the fertile ground. I have witnessed this and give God credit for having them as nurturers.... In August of 2004,

Katie settled down to work as she adapted to her new surroundings in Bolivia.  She was working with girls in the women's shelter. The closeness that the women have with these girls leaves them open to hurt when a girl leaves for the streets, but it is that closeness that saves the many that stay. ...Truly, Katie is developing qualities because of the soil in which she was planted. 

When we left Bolivia after visiting Katie, we found it a hard yet fascinating country with people that are easy to love and that love our daughter. We felt more comfort in her being there and pride in the work she, and the others have committed themselves to. I know that we cannot earn salvation; that it is only by Jesus' mercy and grace. However, I believe that for some, upon entering heaven, there will be pearls for those that did the Lord's work.

I humbly pray the words of St. Patrick for all missionaries, that hey enjoy the experience and love that Katie felt in Bolivia:

May the Lord be above you to inspire you
Beneath you to support you
Behind you to protect you
In front of you to guide you
And always by your side as your companion

Dan O'Neill

Father of Katie O'Neill

AMA, 2004-2005

 

"PEOPLE. THEY REALLY ARE THE BIGGEST REASON  for making any one particular place in the world a special place to be. How infinite is our world? How vast is our country? God planned our lifespan just right- we could never grow bored of exploring new places or tire of meeting new people. There would never be enough time to see every place or meet every person. It hasn’t taken me long to find what makes the people of Chaparral so unique.  

     Sometimes they ask me jokingly, “You wanted to volunteer for a whole year, and you come to Chapa?! Why did you choose to come here?!” The question is meant to be rhetorical, but in my mind, I formulate a seemingly simple answer- the people.

     It is in part due to the world the sisters have opened for me. They shower their people with immeasurable love 24 hours a day. No two of them are the same. Diverse in so many ways, and share almost nothing in common. Nothing but the vital key to their success. This key is what brought them together, it is what unifies them in their mission and work- it is their great love for the people in this corner of the world. They are pillars of strength in this community, pillars of love, pillars of hope built on the foundation of Christ’s love and model of service. These women talk the talk and walk the walk every moment. It goes without saying that I am learning from them every day, not to mention their uncanny ability to make me laugh.

Almost every day here in Chapa I am put in an educational setting in which I am to be providing the information. Yet every day, I find myself to be more a receiver of the education, rather than the giver. Acquiring new Spanish words is a constant, but I also learn why the people here are a people of great strength. For example, I learn of strong, innocent children who are being forced to grow up too fast (without their parents), while simultaneously being robbed of something we can never return to them: their childhood. Amidst the separated families (due to a border between two neighboring nations), and the financial burdens that our people bare, the sisters help me find little pieces of wonderful every day:

         Maybe I see it in the strength and determination of an 18-year-old girl. She cares and cooks for her 5 younger siblings, and is trying to get through her senior year of high school. Her parents were deported in a raid last year.  

Perhaps I find it in an adolescent boy planting a kiss on his father’s forehead, just because he loves him that much. Not because he has been away, or has reconciled with him after an argument. Just because he loves him.  My heart melts at the affection children show for their parents and their siblings.

I see it in the smile of 7th grade girl who, unlike her classmates, knows only a few English words. Nevertheless, she still laughs with me at my poor Spanish skills, smiles and says, “Goodbye!” at the end of every class period.

Maybe I see it in the love of a single mother who works crazy hours to feed her family of 9, and uses a large blanket as her front door. Above the door, two signs read, “Vayas con Dios”… “Go with God” and another, “Prayer changes things.” Once again, I am reminded of their immense faith.

Or I find it in an 11-year-old girl’s dream for her family. “I dream that one day we’ll all be together.”

I witness so much love here in this little border town. I am constantly learning. I am trying out my Spanish. I’m witnessing the beautiful mixture of two great countries, two rich cultures. I amuse myself at attempting to continue the construction of such a strong foundation of greatness that previous AMAs have left here with these special people, before I ever knew what or who an AMA was. All the while, I’ll be enjoying the un-shy sun of the southwest, and the beautiful mountains God planted outside my bedroom window."

Ellie Stonecash

AMA, New Mexico

2008-2009