December Adventures

Wow...its December and tomorrow is Christmas Eve.  Time has just flown by this month and has been filled with many adventures, meetings, ministry opportunities, and of course celebrations.  I will let the photos do most of the talking to share some highlights of the past month.  

Lima: Gathered with Ronal, Manuel and Walter by the sea taking a nice walk after our National Pastoral Team meeting...so great to be united with folks from all over Peru working in Pastoral Ministry 

Lima:  Taking a moment to enjoy the Naval Park along the sea 

Trujillo:  Donny and I attended and renewed our commitments to our Lay Communities from afar at the Annual Trujillo CLM Commitment Mass....Ahava we are indeed united across borders  

Otuzco:  Fiesta de la Virgen de la Puerta, this feast of the Virgen de la Puerta is the biggest feast in Otuzco which happens December 15th...in days leading up to the bajada (lowering) of the Virgen and the dia principal (principal celebration day) pilgrims walk from Trujillo to Otuzco a more than 18 hour journey on foot 

Otuzco: The fiesta draws people from all over the region and the country, including folks who sell their artesenia 

 Otuzco: The church houses candles of all shapes and sizes during the feast, which are stuck to the floor of the church by just melting the bottom so that the candles of the devotos can flicker their light of prayer to the Lord 

Otuzco: One of the processions of the Virgen...in this feast day she is carried by a group of men and women of the Hermandad of Our Lady 

Otuzco: As tres obras (three works) of Marianists in Otuzco (ChamiRadio, AMAS and el Centro) we celebrated Navidad together

We had a festive Mass, a show for the kids, a meal and dancing...such a fun night!

 Otuzco: Finally as a community in the center we celebrated Navidad together
We had a tasty meal, exchanged gifts in an 'amigo secreto' and just shared time and memories together...another excellent evening!

Blessings to all as we celebrate la Navidad!  You are all in my prayers in a special way as we give thanks and celebrate the birth of nino Jesus!!

Una semana en el campo con AMAS...A week in the field with AMAS

"Creation is a love letter from the Trinity." ~Thomas Dubay 

After about 5 months here of working in the Centro in principally catechetical formation of pastoral agents, I finally had the opportunity to engage another branch of our work here in Otuzco...AMAS (Asociacion Marianista de Accion Social). {As a side note, on Friday I also co-hosted a radio program on Chami Radio [our third work here in Otuzco] so I have been staying involved in a diversity of ministries in our three branches this week}  To get out and use biology after more than a 5 month hiatus  was so fun!  We spent the entire week in the field.  Manuel, Ronal and I took a group of gente from the various pueblos close to the testing sites and helped instruct them about the monitoreo del agua.  We do a couple sets of chemical tests and also screen for macroinvertebrates in an above and below water testing system.  

For me this work is so rewarding.  It is social justice in action.  We are trying to encourage the mines here to have better regulation of their water in order that the communities that live near the mines are not affected or poisoned by the water.  The work is the perfect combination of science and pastoral ministry.  Manuel and I are biologists- so we teach the gente about the different chemical tests, show them how to use the equipment and help identify macroinvertebrates.  Ronal is involved in environmental education so he helps talk to them about the effects of water on their communities.  The work is fulfilling because we are empowering the mountain people with knowledge- doing so on a local level and in the Family Spirit of the Charism.  

The team- returning to the camioneta after the tests (if you are wondering where the road we drove on is...well we definitely take offroading to a whole new level)

Ronal- showing the gente how to work the equipos

One of the sites we stopped at had a waterfall- I paused for a photo op with the reporter from Santiago de Chuco who was doing a story on our work 

Taking some pH measurements and same tests for conductivity and salinity

In Peru we share the road with animals...this campesina was leading her herd of alpacas y ovejas down the road as we passed one morning 

Another waterfall that was along the path to one of our testing points 

Ronal and Manuel taking a pause at one of our testing points...one of our gente is scooping some macroinvertebrates in the background

A good point to ponder...the water testing sites are so beautiful 

The team in action 

Testing the water at a site where we were greeted by people from Barrick (the big Canadian based mine here in La Libertad) 

One of the security guards from Barrick- we told him about our work- then included him as a witness in our report 

More biology fun...this rock formation looks a little like Christ crucified (yes I am sure you are all thinking about the Virgen Mary in grilled cheese....) and thus has become a little shrine outside the community of Usquil

Manuel, yo y Ronal- after 4 long days we climbed to the top of the steps of the little shrine...such a great adventure and incredible view 

An incredible reminder about the beauty and grace of creation, and of the integration possibilities of faith and science!  Thoughts and prayers to all who read this! 

Being together

"We have all known the long loneliness and we have learned that the only solution is love and that love comes with community." Dorothy Day

These past couple weeks we have been doing a lot of 'community' outside of our ministry.  For me this has been very refreshing, because we are not only working together, but we are also taking some time to enjoy the company of each other.  It's helping us grow, I think!  

Futbol tournament in Otuzco

Visiting the Huaca de la Dama de Cao con Donny, Meli, Rodrigo y Jimmy

Paseo: Puerto Pizarro

Paseo: Puerto Pizarro- Crocodile Island 

Paseo de Comunidad

Deysi and I at the dulceria in Piura 

Below are some random pictures from the past couple weeks...of sites we experienced together!

Just relaxing! Hammocks were a large part of our paseo 

The beach

Isla de los cocodrilos

Sunset 

Artesenia 

Pescadores de Hombres 

Prayers and thoughts for my community back home who continue to nurture me from afar!  

On Unity...

"My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together." ~Archbishop Desmond Tutu 

I have been settling back into the work here in Otuzco these past three weeks.  There has been a definitive richness in the work here, which I am really able to contribute to now that I speak Spanish (I am still learning...and have incredible difficulty with making masculine and feminine match correctly, but people understand me now and I can express myself).  Part of the beauty of our work is that we never hesitate to celebrate.  Faith is culture here and popular devotion abounds, so we are never for lack of a fiesta...because there is always a patronal feast to celebrate when there are no birthdays or anniversaries or weddings.  

My Community: dressed our best for our friend Teresa's wedding

 (with some borrowed dresses from Isela- thanks!)

El Rosario Humano: We lined the Plaza de Armas here in Otuzco in the different colors of the Mission Rosary (World Mission Sunday is today) to pray for the people of the different continents of the world- a very powerful witness for me of the power of united prayer- especially when we prayed for North America (I think this Sunday will forever be different for me from here on out...my JVC friends call it 'ruined for life')

Tambillo: Deysi and I helped 'degranar' the corn (sort of like Indian Corn) to feed the pigs, I learned through a huge blister on my thumb...that it is advisable to use another husk to help you in the process

The road between Tambillo and Tarnihual: Deysi and I walked 3.5 hours to meet Jose Luis in the camioneta to return to Otuzco after the Mision (we were always accompanied by other folks during parts of our journey...all walking together)

During our mission visit in Tambillo, Deysi and I shared the tema of the Ano de la Fe, with particular emphasis on the huge devotion here in Peru during this month of October- Senor de los Milagros.  We also talked about and distributed rosaries to the gente.  We ran out of rosaries and Manuel- one of our agentes pastorales- didn't have one...so I worked the one off my wrist to give to him.  This was a powerful moment, because I have worn that rosary since my freshman year at UD- I made it on the Catholic Life retreat with Sarah S. and have prayed with so many friends in many different parts of the world on that rosary.  Now Manuel has it and is learning to pray with it- I told him how special it was that we get to now be united in prayer in a special way.  

Finally, this weekend we had our Retiro de Jovenes.  15 jovenes (young people) joined us at the Centro de Formacion for a retreat about what it means to be a Lay Person in the Church today.  This retreat for me, has been my first major solo participation here in the Centro.  Gian, Isela and I had a bulk of the preparation-as the other part of our community was in Milagro helping facilitate their patronal feast this weekend.  I gave an interactive presentation on the 'Oracion de las Tres and the Role of the Laity in the Church Today'...and towards the end of the presentation when we did a quick review...the jovenes had learned what I was trying to teach.  Such a graced moment!!  We had other opportunities to share prayer through lectio divina and a celebracion de la palabra, where I was able to witness God at work in the lives of these incredible young people.  

La Presentacion: Oracion de las Tres y Laicos en la Iglesia Hoy

Conversaciones sobre los Tres Ministerios de Jesús- Sacerdote, Profeta y Rey 

 Sharing the fruits of the conversations and how as young people in the Church they are living out the ministries of priest, prophet and king in their communities 

Through sharing the rosary, participating in Mass, providing themes for Mision, leading a retreat for young people...I have been incredibly struck by our unity.  There is a unity in the human family that transcends cultures.  We all have to eat, we all are trying our best in our communities and most importantly we all have the desire to love and be loved.  When I approach my work through this lens- it is much easier to enter in with an open heart and mind.  I think too, that this important lesson will be something to take with me as I continue work/ministry in other parts of the world. (I am doing my best to live in the moment, but often find myself reflecting about how this experience of perpetual mission can relate with the life I will lead when I return to the States)  What I am doing here is relevant- because it is engaging people in their pursuit of loving and being loved- and this will need to remain my 'perpetual mission' in whatever work I engage in in the future. 

God's Minute

To say that life has been an adventure this past couple weeks is an understatement.  Last week I was in Chile and this week I am in Lima, before I head back to the mission in Otuzco.  But really the past couple weeks have been mission as well.

Santiago, Chile: Visiting kids who are on kidney dialysis with Hermana Leti

We played games with them all afternoon, while that sat in their chairs for dialysis.  It was a really powerful experience...just letting them be kids, even though they are sick...they do not often have this opportunity.

Talca, Chile: The Marianist Sisters in Talca 

from L to R- Marcela, Carmen, yo, Adelia y Patty

I had the opportunity to visit with some CLM folks in Chile too...but didn't have time to snap a pic

It is such a blessing to see the Charism in action in other parts of the world

Talca, Chile: Visiting the Brothers before class 

Santiago, Chile: Part of the Marianist Sisters Community 

from L to R

yo, Asuncion, Leticia, Carolina

This is the chapel in the Sister's House, I love the carving and getting to spend some time with Asuncion who is 90 years old and 70 years of Religious Life was pretty cool too

Santiago, Chile: Taking to the streets to feed the homeless a late night meal 

These folks were so pumped to share their lives with us and were excited to be on camera!

Santiago, Chile: The tomb of Padre Alberto Hurtado, the second Chilean saint 

His witness to justice and work are truly inspiring

Callao, Peru: Festijoven...here is Chami...this was a gathering of teens from all around the Callao area, the Movimiento Marianista had about 50 teens there

Lima, Peru: Circuio Magico, this park had water works which lit up at night...

It was a really incredible visit

Callao, Peru: Part of the Brothers Community

John, yo, Hno Santy

Through all these adventures and others which I did not capture on camera (Mass in the prison, meeting various Marianist Family members and attending CLM meetings, sharing photos with the Sisters about culture and sharing stories) I have been learning about what a good friend of mine calls "God's Minute".  I strive to grasp God's presence in every person I meet, even if it is just for a minute.  I am called to show God's love through smiles, hand shakes, kisses on the cheek, listening, praying, sharing a meal/pan (bread)/cafe.  I must live my life enjoying people for who they are, as they are.  I have to embrace laughter whenever there are large differences and to keep the faith even when some Church people are not faithful to serving God's people.  Looking forward, yet remaining present to my here and now, must be my daily mission.