Lets dig right into it. Thanksgiving. Turkey, football, family, friends, food, and home. What a warm holiday to bring us all together at the table to share a meal. We celebrate being together. No wonder why so many people love Thanksgiving, they feel at home. What a great feeling of togetherness! This Thanksgiving lets share in abundance and unity.
I will be missing my second consecuative Thanksgiving. It is always sad to miss one one of my favorite holidays. To be away from family and friends. To be away from home. But this Thanksgiving, I am reminded that thanks giving is a choice.
This is not an origional thought, this notion came up in a conversation with Eduardo, one of our security guards in Ecuador. It was one of those late nights, sitting on a branch of our mango tree, outside the guard shack. We would just exchange stories. But mainly, he would talk and I would listen. Eduardo told me of his story, from struggling as a youth, to becoming a man. From selling clothes on the street, to getting a new job, to building a house and starting a family. He had a golden rule through the good times and the bad. His Golden Rule was gratitude at the end of the day. To count your blessings, give thanks to God, and share everything with those near to you.
Everyday he worked his hardest and whether he sold 2 shirts or 10, he ended the day with a choice. ¿Gratitude or Greed?
Evernight when we lie our heads down after a days work, we are faced with the same choice. Gratitude or Greed? Are we happy with what we have? Or once we get, what we want, do we want more?
It`s a choice. And I have witnessed that it does not matter how much you have. I have seen overwhelming gratitude from people living in cane houses that are half the size of my garage. And I have witnessed overwhelming greed from those living in mansions. Yes, it goes both ways as well! It comes down to not what you have in your house, but who you are in your house. Thats the choice.
I want to leave you my personal reflection from parable of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fish that I believe tells the miracle of Thanksgiving... There was a large crowd. Hungry. Tired. Then there were 5 loaves of bread and 3 fish- Apparently insufficient food for everyone. But then there was a revolutionary amongst the crowd. He instructed the crown to unite, sit down, and be together. First, he gave thanks for the little food there was. Next, he distributed all he had, displaying the miracle of sharing.
Now I don`t believe Jesus had a wand and transformed 5 loaves of bread and 3 fish into a giant feast. Matter cannot be created or destroyed. It can only be transformed. So had did so little transform into so much? By sharing. This parable is the miracle of sharing. Everyone at that gathering must have had something. No matter how little individually, if the whole group gave up everything and shared it with the community, there would be an abundant feast.
Is this not the world`s situation right today? When 40,000 chlidren die of starvation everyday, we are tempted to say we live in scarcity. But what if we could come together, unite, and share as equals? Bob Marley had an insight that I like... Unity must have to start now, because I mean, how long would we have to suffer, to learn these things, that we must be united?
Thanks giving is a choice. Every day we decide. We can be greedy and hoard, we can be grateful and share. Its a choice.
This Thanksgiving, lets celebrate abundance, sharing, and unity.
November 25, 2010
November 19, 2010
Cholera, Sledgehammers, and Hope?
Cholera- Yes, its thriving in Haiti. Yes, Hurricane Tomas made it worse. Yes, completely preventable. What if you do get it? Yes, completely treatable. So why are so many dying? Lack of clean water. So many still live in Haiti, and all around the world, without clean water. This is a human right. The cure to cholera is CLEAN water, salt and sugar.
Sledgehammering concrete and rebar. Hmmmm. Not what I planned I would be doing with my college degree. But after a quick reflection, there is nothing else I would rather be doing with my Jesuit education. We work along side Haitian volunteers. Yes, there is a language barrier. But there is something about teamwork that unites people that we would be tempted to say are from different worlds. So as Wizmey and I work together going shot for shot at this rebar with our sledgehammers, we are united. Together. In the same place. In the same earth. For this moment, I recognize that we are brothers. So after we finish, we haul out the 15ft piece of steel that used to support a roof. Together we re-establish a foundation under all the rubble. Together we make eye contact and fist pound. Together we realize our inter-connectedness. No words, just a smile and a handshake.
Hope. More than a word? An idea? A dream? One sweet lady who has been living in Haiti for 26 years told me that she has hope because she cannot bear the other side. So we have to hope things can only get better. We have to hope that these refugee camps with transform. Thats what we hope for, transformation. From sickness to health. From darkness to light. From loneliness to community. There is so much negative energy in Haiti. The trauma- we cannot begin to imagine. When we get into a car accident, observe a disaster, we experience trauma. Haitians live in a culture of trauma. The poorest country in the western hemispere collectively witnessed the traumatic effect of the earthquake. Death, in every aspect. Everyone who I spoke to in Haiti was affected. So amidst all the trauma and suffering, we ask for hope. Hope to transform all the negative energy to positivity. I am new to this country and admit to being a bit naive in my observations. However, I do belive that out of darkness must come light.
Lets hope the upcoming elections bring the Haitian people freedom to be people. Because living in those refugee camps, with no opportunity, dying of preventable diseases, and living at the mercy of international aid is not a life for our Haitian brothers and sisters. But this is not where the Haitian people have hope. In government. Hah! They do not understand anything other than corruption. So where do we dare to hope?
Where do we have the power to not just have blind, idealistic optimistic, and unrealistic hope? We have the power to control ourselves, we simply need to have hope in our own lives, and have this be the way we look at the world. Yes, the individual transformation is where realistic hope takes root. And just one person can transform their life, then spread that positivity and hope to their family, then to a community, then to all of society. A person 2000 years ago walked this earth. A bit crazy. Not too popular. But he lived in relationship with all of humanity preaching hope amidst suffering. Not against the corrupt polition, with him. Yes, the sinner can be transformed. Yes, the prostitute can be forgiven. He understood the suffering in the world. He did not flea from it. He suffered with the people. He did not destroy hatred, classism, pride, and greed. He transcended them by his perfect example. And he shared stories that invited us to transcend. We have the invitation to believe in hope. Waiting. Waiting. So what do we do with our invitation?
Who will be the next MLK, Ghandi, Desmund Tutu? Yes, there will be more. But we do not need to be heros. We need to be ourselves. Compassionate, forgiving, and free. Willing to suffer with in order to heal. We do not need to go to Haiti. Haha, that is the bigest illusion that we belive is true. That we need to go out and heal the world. NO. It starts within. We all suffer, feel lonely, and hurt. But that feeling goes away, right? How? A sign of love from another, who shows that you are not alone. That is the power of transformation. Its only nature. The day will transform into night. Right? So lets open the doors to suffering and joy. Lets have hope that suffering will transform into joy. Lets understand that we all feel these emotions. Lets share the experience called life. Lets understand the power of a kind word and the value of a smile. Right here, right now, with who ever you are with. And let that positive vibration radiate to all those we encounter. We have the power to be happy now. Smile. And share it! But share it today.
So when we have hope, we live in hope. Its not an ideal, its a way we live our lives. Upful and bright. So when we look at a world in all her suffering, lets be good to each other. There is hope in that. We are all invited :)
Sledgehammering concrete and rebar. Hmmmm. Not what I planned I would be doing with my college degree. But after a quick reflection, there is nothing else I would rather be doing with my Jesuit education. We work along side Haitian volunteers. Yes, there is a language barrier. But there is something about teamwork that unites people that we would be tempted to say are from different worlds. So as Wizmey and I work together going shot for shot at this rebar with our sledgehammers, we are united. Together. In the same place. In the same earth. For this moment, I recognize that we are brothers. So after we finish, we haul out the 15ft piece of steel that used to support a roof. Together we re-establish a foundation under all the rubble. Together we make eye contact and fist pound. Together we realize our inter-connectedness. No words, just a smile and a handshake.
Hope. More than a word? An idea? A dream? One sweet lady who has been living in Haiti for 26 years told me that she has hope because she cannot bear the other side. So we have to hope things can only get better. We have to hope that these refugee camps with transform. Thats what we hope for, transformation. From sickness to health. From darkness to light. From loneliness to community. There is so much negative energy in Haiti. The trauma- we cannot begin to imagine. When we get into a car accident, observe a disaster, we experience trauma. Haitians live in a culture of trauma. The poorest country in the western hemispere collectively witnessed the traumatic effect of the earthquake. Death, in every aspect. Everyone who I spoke to in Haiti was affected. So amidst all the trauma and suffering, we ask for hope. Hope to transform all the negative energy to positivity. I am new to this country and admit to being a bit naive in my observations. However, I do belive that out of darkness must come light.
Lets hope the upcoming elections bring the Haitian people freedom to be people. Because living in those refugee camps, with no opportunity, dying of preventable diseases, and living at the mercy of international aid is not a life for our Haitian brothers and sisters. But this is not where the Haitian people have hope. In government. Hah! They do not understand anything other than corruption. So where do we dare to hope?
Where do we have the power to not just have blind, idealistic optimistic, and unrealistic hope? We have the power to control ourselves, we simply need to have hope in our own lives, and have this be the way we look at the world. Yes, the individual transformation is where realistic hope takes root. And just one person can transform their life, then spread that positivity and hope to their family, then to a community, then to all of society. A person 2000 years ago walked this earth. A bit crazy. Not too popular. But he lived in relationship with all of humanity preaching hope amidst suffering. Not against the corrupt polition, with him. Yes, the sinner can be transformed. Yes, the prostitute can be forgiven. He understood the suffering in the world. He did not flea from it. He suffered with the people. He did not destroy hatred, classism, pride, and greed. He transcended them by his perfect example. And he shared stories that invited us to transcend. We have the invitation to believe in hope. Waiting. Waiting. So what do we do with our invitation?
Who will be the next MLK, Ghandi, Desmund Tutu? Yes, there will be more. But we do not need to be heros. We need to be ourselves. Compassionate, forgiving, and free. Willing to suffer with in order to heal. We do not need to go to Haiti. Haha, that is the bigest illusion that we belive is true. That we need to go out and heal the world. NO. It starts within. We all suffer, feel lonely, and hurt. But that feeling goes away, right? How? A sign of love from another, who shows that you are not alone. That is the power of transformation. Its only nature. The day will transform into night. Right? So lets open the doors to suffering and joy. Lets have hope that suffering will transform into joy. Lets understand that we all feel these emotions. Lets share the experience called life. Lets understand the power of a kind word and the value of a smile. Right here, right now, with who ever you are with. And let that positive vibration radiate to all those we encounter. We have the power to be happy now. Smile. And share it! But share it today.
So when we have hope, we live in hope. Its not an ideal, its a way we live our lives. Upful and bright. So when we look at a world in all her suffering, lets be good to each other. There is hope in that. We are all invited :)
November 10, 2010
the next step
So I know its been a while.
Couch surfing in DC, LA, Boston, and NH. Thank you all for the hospitality.
But as I am currently in this "transition" period, I decided to take a step back out of the country. I had my eyes set on a couple jobs, through the Cristo Rey High Schools, and the Boys and Girls Club of America. But everyone knows the situation we are in right now. No Jobs. They say where one door closes, three more open behind you. So instead of staring at that closed door, waiting and waiting, I moved my eyes to where there is work. Haiti.
I first thought about this possibility because a dear friend, Melissa, got involved in a public sanitation project, building toilettes. She said I should come and check it out. And when a good friend tells you to jump off a bridge, you take a leap of faith.
So I took my next step to Haiti. And its nice to know that it is just the next step. And I got involved with Ryan and Carissa as well. We flew into the Dominican Republic and bused our way over to Haiti. Crossing the border was oppressive. Guns, baggages, vans, buses, papers, smog and noise. We walked, 4 white kids, with our backpacks through the confusion. And 3 buses later, made it to Cange, Haiti.
There we met up with David, a friend working at the Partners in Health facility. He was in the highlands, so we could wait out Hurricane Tomas with a certain degree of safety. There we hiked, yoga'd, journaled, listened to reggae music and relaxed in front of the beautiful mountains of Haiti. Our comfort level was high and it was good to meet some hopeful people involved in the inspiring story that was popularized by Tracy Kidders book, Mountains Beyond Mountains.
Then we bused to through Port au Prince to see the other side of the country. The buses are loud and claustrophobic. The city is packed with endless rubble, water, congestion, heat, and tents. Tent camps are vast. Tents pack street dividers. It is tough to imagine. The whole ride, I shook my head in sadness. With all of the disasters; cholera, earthquake, hurricane, flooding, and cluster of NGO's claiming to solve the problems- I am asking myself, is this country a disaster?
We are currently working with "All Hands Volunteers." The NGO's base is filled with about 60 volunteers. Anyone can volunteer, you just need to show up and work. No age, no religion, no race, no country, no school, no profession. I have met some very interesting cats who all seem to be in this transition period. And everyone has a story to tell...
We are located in Leogane, the epicenter of the January earthquake, and victim of flooding from Hurricane Tomas. Right when we got off the bus, we stared shoveling mud out of neighboring houses. Areas of the town were flooded leaving 6 inches to a 1ft in some houses. The mud was a product of the flood, and with the recent cholera outbreak, it poses a huge sanitation threat. Just imagine. So we use words like, toxic and decontaminate a lot.
Aside from mud, is rubble. Yes, despite the fact that it was about a year ago, there is still rubble. Everywhere. Not just in the poor sections of town. Even their main government buildings are down. As we passed, Melissa commented, "a reflection of the government here."
The second day, we rubbled. Sledge hammering, shoveling, barreling, and pick axing rubble. Little by little.
And today, I spent the morning taking care of infants at a local orphanage. This might be the greatest need and challenge in Haiti. Caring for the youth.
So this organization is completely opposite of Rostro de Cristo. The latter boasts "being and not doing" while the former is "all hands." There needs to be a balance. And I enjoy working for what seems to be a polar opposite organization. Why not experiment with the other side? And since we work so much, its time to get back to it...
Couch surfing in DC, LA, Boston, and NH. Thank you all for the hospitality.
But as I am currently in this "transition" period, I decided to take a step back out of the country. I had my eyes set on a couple jobs, through the Cristo Rey High Schools, and the Boys and Girls Club of America. But everyone knows the situation we are in right now. No Jobs. They say where one door closes, three more open behind you. So instead of staring at that closed door, waiting and waiting, I moved my eyes to where there is work. Haiti.
I first thought about this possibility because a dear friend, Melissa, got involved in a public sanitation project, building toilettes. She said I should come and check it out. And when a good friend tells you to jump off a bridge, you take a leap of faith.
So I took my next step to Haiti. And its nice to know that it is just the next step. And I got involved with Ryan and Carissa as well. We flew into the Dominican Republic and bused our way over to Haiti. Crossing the border was oppressive. Guns, baggages, vans, buses, papers, smog and noise. We walked, 4 white kids, with our backpacks through the confusion. And 3 buses later, made it to Cange, Haiti.
There we met up with David, a friend working at the Partners in Health facility. He was in the highlands, so we could wait out Hurricane Tomas with a certain degree of safety. There we hiked, yoga'd, journaled, listened to reggae music and relaxed in front of the beautiful mountains of Haiti. Our comfort level was high and it was good to meet some hopeful people involved in the inspiring story that was popularized by Tracy Kidders book, Mountains Beyond Mountains.
Then we bused to through Port au Prince to see the other side of the country. The buses are loud and claustrophobic. The city is packed with endless rubble, water, congestion, heat, and tents. Tent camps are vast. Tents pack street dividers. It is tough to imagine. The whole ride, I shook my head in sadness. With all of the disasters; cholera, earthquake, hurricane, flooding, and cluster of NGO's claiming to solve the problems- I am asking myself, is this country a disaster?
We are currently working with "All Hands Volunteers." The NGO's base is filled with about 60 volunteers. Anyone can volunteer, you just need to show up and work. No age, no religion, no race, no country, no school, no profession. I have met some very interesting cats who all seem to be in this transition period. And everyone has a story to tell...
We are located in Leogane, the epicenter of the January earthquake, and victim of flooding from Hurricane Tomas. Right when we got off the bus, we stared shoveling mud out of neighboring houses. Areas of the town were flooded leaving 6 inches to a 1ft in some houses. The mud was a product of the flood, and with the recent cholera outbreak, it poses a huge sanitation threat. Just imagine. So we use words like, toxic and decontaminate a lot.
Aside from mud, is rubble. Yes, despite the fact that it was about a year ago, there is still rubble. Everywhere. Not just in the poor sections of town. Even their main government buildings are down. As we passed, Melissa commented, "a reflection of the government here."
The second day, we rubbled. Sledge hammering, shoveling, barreling, and pick axing rubble. Little by little.
And today, I spent the morning taking care of infants at a local orphanage. This might be the greatest need and challenge in Haiti. Caring for the youth.
So this organization is completely opposite of Rostro de Cristo. The latter boasts "being and not doing" while the former is "all hands." There needs to be a balance. And I enjoy working for what seems to be a polar opposite organization. Why not experiment with the other side? And since we work so much, its time to get back to it...
July 1, 2010
so this is it...
Dear family and friends,
I have been really bad keeping up this blog lately. Its because I have been completely overwhelmed with the idea of going home, that I have been taking advantage of the short time I have left here in Ecuador.
So for now, Im taking a break from writing online. I hope to keep up my journal and, sometime when I am in New Hampshire, translating it back online, sharing more of my pictures, stories, lessons learned, and emotions felt.
I have really enjoyed sharing this emperience with all. Thank you for reading and staying interested throughout the year. Just by writing on this template, I have felt a healthy connection to home throughout my year in this strange, loving, and unique place.
Keep on dancing and Ill see you back home in August,
Dan
I have been really bad keeping up this blog lately. Its because I have been completely overwhelmed with the idea of going home, that I have been taking advantage of the short time I have left here in Ecuador.
So for now, Im taking a break from writing online. I hope to keep up my journal and, sometime when I am in New Hampshire, translating it back online, sharing more of my pictures, stories, lessons learned, and emotions felt.
I have really enjoyed sharing this emperience with all. Thank you for reading and staying interested throughout the year. Just by writing on this template, I have felt a healthy connection to home throughout my year in this strange, loving, and unique place.
Keep on dancing and Ill see you back home in August,
Dan
June 8, 2010
God Works Both Ways
This past week I had a chance to work at Guayaquil´s Children´s Hospital. A medical team, gathered from all over the US, came dont through a foundation named Project Perfect World. They came for a week to perform life-changings surgeries for children who cannot afford them.
I saw spinal X rays that looked like this ¿ and thats not an exageration.
While the doctors efficiently executed their operations, I had the opportunity to see it all. To translate for the children and their parents through the whole process. To answer questions about the suregery. To tell them ¨Its time to go in now.¨ To rub a crying mother´s back in the waiting room and make small talk. And then to see the surgery. See femurs being shortened and screws and rods straitening spines. And then to hold tiny legs as they wrapped a cast around the entire lower body. And then to wait with the children after they came off anathesia. To see them squeezing their eyes in pain. To see them shaking in the cold. To rub their forheads and tell them to rest. To grab a blamket. Then to see them smile. To give them stuffed animals and teach them to say ¨Excuse me, You are beautiful.¨ Then to call for their mothers in the waiting room and tell them that their daughter came out of the operation speaking english. Then hearing in that broken english a little girl say to her mother¨Excuzamay your bootiful.¨ Then we brought balloons and coloring books to all the children waiting in recovery. I was in scrubs and a lab coat, handing out X rays to parents, explaining that the surgery went well. Then I explained the list of 7 medications to the parents.
I saw tears of fathers letting their little girls go into surgery.
I saw tears of joy, and gratitude for the miracle operations.
It was a very emotional week. Seeing all the suffering that children live in. But I also felt immense Joy, in spending quality time with the children and families, seeing their smiles, and their parents gratitude. I couldnt count how many times I was blessed by strangers passing by in the hospital last week. I couldnt count how many times I felt like crying with joy.
The more and more I spend time down here, with every intention to serve, I am amazed of how the reverse is the reality. I have come to serve the children with illness, the struggling families waiting for the water trucks, the isolated men and women with leprosy- Now, I know it to be true that when you set your life on serving, the reverse happens too. Annie made to the motto of Damien House ¨The hand that gives, receives.¨ And its TRUE. Its the blind leap of faith that she takes everyday. Its the transformative power of God that is an everyday struggle to keep faith in. The people I have come to give myself to here, are all calling me to change my life. They are the ones healing my judgments of a divided and hopeless world. They are the ones calling me to BELIEVE.
This week, I came to serve. And again, I was the one who was blown away with amazement of how the children have transformed me. Amazed and inspired by this medical team. Inspired to do something great and to do it for someone or something greater than myself.
I saw spinal X rays that looked like this ¿ and thats not an exageration.
While the doctors efficiently executed their operations, I had the opportunity to see it all. To translate for the children and their parents through the whole process. To answer questions about the suregery. To tell them ¨Its time to go in now.¨ To rub a crying mother´s back in the waiting room and make small talk. And then to see the surgery. See femurs being shortened and screws and rods straitening spines. And then to hold tiny legs as they wrapped a cast around the entire lower body. And then to wait with the children after they came off anathesia. To see them squeezing their eyes in pain. To see them shaking in the cold. To rub their forheads and tell them to rest. To grab a blamket. Then to see them smile. To give them stuffed animals and teach them to say ¨Excuse me, You are beautiful.¨ Then to call for their mothers in the waiting room and tell them that their daughter came out of the operation speaking english. Then hearing in that broken english a little girl say to her mother¨Excuzamay your bootiful.¨ Then we brought balloons and coloring books to all the children waiting in recovery. I was in scrubs and a lab coat, handing out X rays to parents, explaining that the surgery went well. Then I explained the list of 7 medications to the parents.
I saw tears of fathers letting their little girls go into surgery.
I saw tears of joy, and gratitude for the miracle operations.
It was a very emotional week. Seeing all the suffering that children live in. But I also felt immense Joy, in spending quality time with the children and families, seeing their smiles, and their parents gratitude. I couldnt count how many times I was blessed by strangers passing by in the hospital last week. I couldnt count how many times I felt like crying with joy.
The more and more I spend time down here, with every intention to serve, I am amazed of how the reverse is the reality. I have come to serve the children with illness, the struggling families waiting for the water trucks, the isolated men and women with leprosy- Now, I know it to be true that when you set your life on serving, the reverse happens too. Annie made to the motto of Damien House ¨The hand that gives, receives.¨ And its TRUE. Its the blind leap of faith that she takes everyday. Its the transformative power of God that is an everyday struggle to keep faith in. The people I have come to give myself to here, are all calling me to change my life. They are the ones healing my judgments of a divided and hopeless world. They are the ones calling me to BELIEVE.
This week, I came to serve. And again, I was the one who was blown away with amazement of how the children have transformed me. Amazed and inspired by this medical team. Inspired to do something great and to do it for someone or something greater than myself.
May 21, 2010
Snow Day?
Today we cancelled our program in the afternoon. My first day off. While we dont have snow days here, we did however cancel because of the the weather. Volcanic ash is raining down today in Guayaquil. Please don´t worry, there is no threat. No one has been hurt near the volcano, for from the ash. The volcano is errupting in the Andes, and the ash is coming through trade winds and raining on all of us in the coast. A spare T shirt to cover your mouth, and its all good.
The wind that is bringing the volcanic ash here to the coast, is the same wind that has been cooling us down during the season change. For the last several mornings, the rainy season has seemed to transition out, and we have experienced some cool weather. I am so happy that rainy season is over, and for the next 2 months, we can all live a bit more comfortably.
I read something the other that caught my eye. It was from a book on Toaism and the author was writing about sharing your life experience, and sharing the truth. He wrote not to focus so much on finding the truth, but about making it real in your life. Making it real in our lifes, that takes commitment and dedication.
Join me in a moment of silence at the computer. Though this may seem rediculous, I want to share this excersize that has been helpful to me (even just now as a write this in an internet cafe with slow service and little kids looking over my shoulder asking me what I am writing)
Close your eyes. Breathe in. Breathe out. And focus on your breath as you try a Thich Nhat Hanh meditation that brings us present to the moment. We cannot be truly happy living in the memories, no matter how pleasant, of the past. Nor can we appreciate life now, if our focus is in the future, no matter how bright the future will be. Hapiness is in the here and now (say each verse as you focus on breathing).
Breathing in I calm my body
Breathing out I smile
Breating in the present moment
Breathing out, I know this is a wonderful moment
Connecting our body and mind with mindful breathing, we let go of everything and enter fully into the present moment. Enjoy the present moment, wherever you are, and whoever you are with. Only when we appreciate each day as a Gift , can we find true hapiness.
The wind that is bringing the volcanic ash here to the coast, is the same wind that has been cooling us down during the season change. For the last several mornings, the rainy season has seemed to transition out, and we have experienced some cool weather. I am so happy that rainy season is over, and for the next 2 months, we can all live a bit more comfortably.
- Coming up this week we have a medical team coming into the hospital so I look forward helping them out for a week at Guayaquil´s Childrens Hospital.
I read something the other that caught my eye. It was from a book on Toaism and the author was writing about sharing your life experience, and sharing the truth. He wrote not to focus so much on finding the truth, but about making it real in your life. Making it real in our lifes, that takes commitment and dedication.
- Do good, and good will follow you.
- Lose your self, through serving others, and your will find your self.
- Change is the only constant.
Join me in a moment of silence at the computer. Though this may seem rediculous, I want to share this excersize that has been helpful to me (even just now as a write this in an internet cafe with slow service and little kids looking over my shoulder asking me what I am writing)
Close your eyes. Breathe in. Breathe out. And focus on your breath as you try a Thich Nhat Hanh meditation that brings us present to the moment. We cannot be truly happy living in the memories, no matter how pleasant, of the past. Nor can we appreciate life now, if our focus is in the future, no matter how bright the future will be. Hapiness is in the here and now (say each verse as you focus on breathing).
Breathing in I calm my body
Breathing out I smile
Breating in the present moment
Breathing out, I know this is a wonderful moment
Connecting our body and mind with mindful breathing, we let go of everything and enter fully into the present moment. Enjoy the present moment, wherever you are, and whoever you are with. Only when we appreciate each day as a Gift , can we find true hapiness.
May 17, 2010
New Glasses
The other day I was walking home from work. Some of my neighbors were shovelling in some fill- rocks and dirt- into their house. I decided to stop and help out, and get back into my days of at Obriens Landscaping.
We were shovelling the rocks into 5 gallon buckets and then running the buckets behind their house. As I passed by the house, I ducked to avoid splitting my forehead open by the low and rusty tin roof. As I passed to the back of the house, I saw the reason for the rocks. The rainy season has caused this family to live with a pond right outside their cane house, inside their wooden fence. And thats why we were shovelling, to fill in the pond so the water could drain into the street.
As they descibed how bad the bugs were and how smelly the stagnent water was, I was disallusioned by my previous blog entries. All that writing of the water, romantically describing how the streets are alive with fish, frogs, and noise. How different do my neighbors view the water! The reality for them is much different than the illusion of a one year volunteer. A sore back. Heat. Water. Constant building. Constant fear of flooding. So as I spent the evening shovelling and running buckets of rock, I realized Ghandi´s statement ¨ I cannot imagine anything nobler or more national than that for, say, one hour in the day we should all do the labor the poor must do, and thus identify ourselves with them and through them, with all mankind.¨
Day by day, I am learning to take off my glasses. The glasses of perceptions and judgments I view the world with. The glasses of division of race, class, country, sex, and education need to come off.
And this is a daily practice that proves to be very challenging. The other morning, on the crowded bus, I caught myself passing judgments. I caught myself with my judgmental glasses on. As I judged the street vendor aggressively selling candy. Or the women who I judged based on their appearence. Or the highschoolers I judged based on their uniforms and friends. It is so easy to fall into the trap of categorizing people from far away. It is so easy to falsely perceive people, especially strangers, when you are wearing your glasses of judgement.
What a sad busride that was! How disconnected I was from everyone who got on my bus. But what I came come to learn, as the Truth, is that we need to practice finding the best out of strangers. Not hating the street vendor who shoves candy in your face everyday, but to Love. Respect, and be compassionate towards him. So after being ashamed about how judgmental I was in the beginning of the bus ride, I received Grace, and looked to every stranger as a member of my family. This is the Grace of God, that brings unity to everyone. It is inclusive, as God is in us all. Every stranger was binded to me. The stranger next to me transformed into my aunt. Still a stranger, but now, part of my family. The next three girls that passed by were my sisters carrying my nephew. My uncle looked at me, ready to go to work. What a hardworking uncle I have! The street vendor turned into my brother. He had some unfortunate circumstances, but Im glad to see him working every day on this bus. To concretize this practice, I gave everyone a name. Everyone has a name, and we easily forget this simple truth! It sounds crazy, but that busride was transformative. I felt connected- more so than I ever have been to a group of stangers. With my new insight, I saw the best of everyone- I recieved Grace, to view stangers as brethren, and to see that we are in the same human family.
We were shovelling the rocks into 5 gallon buckets and then running the buckets behind their house. As I passed by the house, I ducked to avoid splitting my forehead open by the low and rusty tin roof. As I passed to the back of the house, I saw the reason for the rocks. The rainy season has caused this family to live with a pond right outside their cane house, inside their wooden fence. And thats why we were shovelling, to fill in the pond so the water could drain into the street.
As they descibed how bad the bugs were and how smelly the stagnent water was, I was disallusioned by my previous blog entries. All that writing of the water, romantically describing how the streets are alive with fish, frogs, and noise. How different do my neighbors view the water! The reality for them is much different than the illusion of a one year volunteer. A sore back. Heat. Water. Constant building. Constant fear of flooding. So as I spent the evening shovelling and running buckets of rock, I realized Ghandi´s statement ¨ I cannot imagine anything nobler or more national than that for, say, one hour in the day we should all do the labor the poor must do, and thus identify ourselves with them and through them, with all mankind.¨
Day by day, I am learning to take off my glasses. The glasses of perceptions and judgments I view the world with. The glasses of division of race, class, country, sex, and education need to come off.
And this is a daily practice that proves to be very challenging. The other morning, on the crowded bus, I caught myself passing judgments. I caught myself with my judgmental glasses on. As I judged the street vendor aggressively selling candy. Or the women who I judged based on their appearence. Or the highschoolers I judged based on their uniforms and friends. It is so easy to fall into the trap of categorizing people from far away. It is so easy to falsely perceive people, especially strangers, when you are wearing your glasses of judgement.
What a sad busride that was! How disconnected I was from everyone who got on my bus. But what I came come to learn, as the Truth, is that we need to practice finding the best out of strangers. Not hating the street vendor who shoves candy in your face everyday, but to Love. Respect, and be compassionate towards him. So after being ashamed about how judgmental I was in the beginning of the bus ride, I received Grace, and looked to every stranger as a member of my family. This is the Grace of God, that brings unity to everyone. It is inclusive, as God is in us all. Every stranger was binded to me. The stranger next to me transformed into my aunt. Still a stranger, but now, part of my family. The next three girls that passed by were my sisters carrying my nephew. My uncle looked at me, ready to go to work. What a hardworking uncle I have! The street vendor turned into my brother. He had some unfortunate circumstances, but Im glad to see him working every day on this bus. To concretize this practice, I gave everyone a name. Everyone has a name, and we easily forget this simple truth! It sounds crazy, but that busride was transformative. I felt connected- more so than I ever have been to a group of stangers. With my new insight, I saw the best of everyone- I recieved Grace, to view stangers as brethren, and to see that we are in the same human family.
April 29, 2010
Keep on Moving
So May is just around the corner. Time is flying by and we’ve all been starting to realize that this experience is coming to an end. As of right now, I have no plans coming back home. Just
Fortunado is 90 years old and 9 months. Laura and I visited him today, in his dark room at Damien House. He has had the shades drawn in to rest, as he hasn’t been feeling well for the last couple weeks. He leans over and turns down the salsa music to great us. At this moment he is filled with joy to have visitors and as he leans up on one elbow to talk. He is a man filled with life and optimism. He is a poet, not by any standards, but he spends the days writing prose about his “Linda Ecuador.” Laura and I read his poetry and listen to his 90 year history filled with wisdom over a cup of coffee.
He tells us that “trabajo es un regalo de Dious”, y “que preciosa es esta visita, estoy muy feliz porque no tengo mucho tiempo mas, y un ancieno como yo tiene que aprovechar la tiempo. Cada dia es un bendicion. Ahorrita ustedes tienen todo su vida, tan joven, aprovechar la tiempo precioso.” And then he talks about how he had his time and how his life is coming to an end. He says now “I’m old, and ugly.” Laura jumps in and says “No- what do you say that?!” He smiles, and laughs his old man’s laugh and says “Because everyday I look at myself in the mirror!”
Well my time might be coming up in
I have been experimenting with Truth in
April 27, 2010
April 11, 2010
One More Saturday Night
We have weathered the rainy season in Duran. Afternoons make you fear the sun. The sky may be blue, but I do not have the courage to look up. Evenings bring the rain and chill the air to about 80 degrees.
Instead of going out to the bars for my birthday weekend, me, Tom, and Wilfredo go out to the dark roads, to eat chicken and to watch a soccer game in our neighborhood. The Barcelona (Guayaquil's team) game is only on cable tonight, so theres one restaurant that has the game. On a 20 inch TV, there are about 70 men, all wearing the yellow jerseys watching the game. As I am eating a giant plate of rice, patacones, beans, and oven roasten chicken ($1.50 for everything with a coke), I am looking on the wall trying to follow the game. Then GOALLLLLLLLLLLL the place errupts, our team wins 1-0.
Then we walk back home on the dark streets. The dirt roads come alive in the darkness. Noise comes from everywhere, insects and birds, you cant see. Dogs stare territorially. Cats stalk rodents with patience. The puddles are birght as they are illuminated by the street lights. The frogs watch from beneath as you walk by. Crabs tippy toe from pond to puddle. In the rainy season, the roads are full of life.
I hear ¨Daniel!¨from the darkness and walk towards Winky and Negro (more formally, are rarely, called Javier and Andres) who are riding a bike together. Walking, we find about 5 more to their crew. Some siblings, some cousins, its all still confusing to me. There are no parents. No supervision. They are the kids who fight, throw rocks, sware, are wreak havoc at my afterschool program. They are the neglected, the ones in need of friendship and love. Tonight, they roam the streets taking turns riding their communal bicycle looking for something to do. They show me a store with the best choco-bananas. For a second, they are in guiding me. This is their home, their life.
The stars are out tonight, its rare this season and with this pollution. We sit on a some rocks, on the side of the dirt road, about 10 of us by now. When we sit, I look up to some of them, making me forget they are all under 10 years old and Im the adult. This is their home, this is their life. So another Saturday Night, my birthday weekend, looking up at the stars and looking into the puddles in my new home.
Instead of going out to the bars for my birthday weekend, me, Tom, and Wilfredo go out to the dark roads, to eat chicken and to watch a soccer game in our neighborhood. The Barcelona (Guayaquil's team) game is only on cable tonight, so theres one restaurant that has the game. On a 20 inch TV, there are about 70 men, all wearing the yellow jerseys watching the game. As I am eating a giant plate of rice, patacones, beans, and oven roasten chicken ($1.50 for everything with a coke), I am looking on the wall trying to follow the game. Then GOALLLLLLLLLLLL the place errupts, our team wins 1-0.
Then we walk back home on the dark streets. The dirt roads come alive in the darkness. Noise comes from everywhere, insects and birds, you cant see. Dogs stare territorially. Cats stalk rodents with patience. The puddles are birght as they are illuminated by the street lights. The frogs watch from beneath as you walk by. Crabs tippy toe from pond to puddle. In the rainy season, the roads are full of life.
I hear ¨Daniel!¨from the darkness and walk towards Winky and Negro (more formally, are rarely, called Javier and Andres) who are riding a bike together. Walking, we find about 5 more to their crew. Some siblings, some cousins, its all still confusing to me. There are no parents. No supervision. They are the kids who fight, throw rocks, sware, are wreak havoc at my afterschool program. They are the neglected, the ones in need of friendship and love. Tonight, they roam the streets taking turns riding their communal bicycle looking for something to do. They show me a store with the best choco-bananas. For a second, they are in guiding me. This is their home, their life.
The stars are out tonight, its rare this season and with this pollution. We sit on a some rocks, on the side of the dirt road, about 10 of us by now. When we sit, I look up to some of them, making me forget they are all under 10 years old and Im the adult. This is their home, this is their life. So another Saturday Night, my birthday weekend, looking up at the stars and looking into the puddles in my new home.
March 20, 2010
i love that dirty water
swimming in that river, as everyone told me it would, backfired on me.
that nasty brown river called my name again during another rainy season downpour. a couple of us, jumped in, amidst the lighting into the muddy, trash-filled river. what a wonderful place. in a sky of grey, a muck of brown, i could barely see 5 ft in the chaos. I felt like Forrest Gump ¨when there was rain that flew in sideways...and sometimes rain even seemed to come straight up.¨
lets go back to an important fact of the story. that day, my parents sent me in some new shoes, Crocs. almost like sandals, but as Jon told me during Bonarroo, they were perfect for mud and concerts. so with this storm, with the lightning, in the muddy river, i went out in my new shoes.
they were as Jon described. I was outrunning my friends outside the river in the mud, my feet were invincible. to quote the best movie of all time again ¨i could run like the wind blows.¨ with the storm, the water was rising fast, we played a game of tag with a couple kids who were already at the river. as i was dodging being tagged, the river conjured up the its strength and bit my shoe right off of my foot.
i plunged under to find it in the mud, but the water was moving too fast, and the lightning picked up. it was getting dark and we had to leave. i walked away from the river with one, brand new, shoe.
for three straight days, as standard searches go, we went back to the river to look, unsuccessfully. digging up mud stained my fingernails for a day for two. in the mud, we found about 30 bottles of coke, tree limbs, a couple dead fish, and about 20 other shoes. but not mine.
it was a lost cause, and i accepted the fact that i just contributed to another peice of trash in our polluted river.
....
this all happend last month. and last week, one of my friends invited me over to tell mea story. he told me, as Joseph and I were walking past the river, i through a ball of mud at him, then he threw me off a 2 meter cliff, and i landed on that expensive shoe of yours. IT WAS FOUND
after a chicken dinner for everyone in the search party, it would seem like i learned my lesson, right? i know swimming in the river is dumb and i forgot to mention the rash i got on my back too (possibly how i wound up with those amoeba's and worms in my system as well) but then i thought....
the river is where my neighbors go if they want to go swimming. they dont get in their car and drive to Fradette´s or Provencher´s pool. they dont get in the car and do to Hampton Beach, much less do they go to their parents´ lake house. they go in that nasty, dirty, polluted river behind our houses. So Ive got my mind made up, and this year, I will too.
futbol
latin.
community. life.
heat, caged windows, salsa music, futbol
lonely nights, long conversations, looking at the calendar
how many chapters will be in my roller coaster day?
once again, i find myself a stranger in a strange land. but at this point in the year, im pretty well known in my community. im best known for being the ¨gringo en la cancha.¨ that translates to the white dude who plays soccer. futbol. 7 days a week. every day. i play, futbol. but lets start from the beginning...
i first was introduced to futbol in my after school program. every else was doing it. and from anyone who knows me, i fold like oregami under peer pressure. so like a lot of other things in my life, i just took what Keirkegard would call a ¨leap of faith¨and i jumped in head first. and after playing futol a couple days a week, i became addicted.
5 days wasnt enough. I needed to find more games. so i started playing sundays too. on the streets. there is always something on the line. food, drinks, money, and pride. and today, i started a league on saturdays to get my fix in 7 days a week.
and so thats where i spend my free time. and thats how i became to feel like a part of my community. and futbol has opened new doors for me. to friendships. to casas. and to a new vocabulary of trash talking that is centered around ¨tu madre¨.
so futbol is a huge part of my life down here now. and it is how i have gotten to meet my community. and it is why i am periodically turning my head as i am writing this to some of my new names ( dan-yell, dan-i, dan-yell-ito, gringo, jefe, pana, amigo, ñaño) as my new friends pass by and see me through the steel bars of the internet cafe. some stop in. a couple of the younger kids have eagerly watched my type everyword.
i miss home. i miss home a lot. but today i am happy being a stranger in this strange world.
community. life.
heat, caged windows, salsa music, futbol
lonely nights, long conversations, looking at the calendar
how many chapters will be in my roller coaster day?
once again, i find myself a stranger in a strange land. but at this point in the year, im pretty well known in my community. im best known for being the ¨gringo en la cancha.¨ that translates to the white dude who plays soccer. futbol. 7 days a week. every day. i play, futbol. but lets start from the beginning...
i first was introduced to futbol in my after school program. every else was doing it. and from anyone who knows me, i fold like oregami under peer pressure. so like a lot of other things in my life, i just took what Keirkegard would call a ¨leap of faith¨and i jumped in head first. and after playing futol a couple days a week, i became addicted.
5 days wasnt enough. I needed to find more games. so i started playing sundays too. on the streets. there is always something on the line. food, drinks, money, and pride. and today, i started a league on saturdays to get my fix in 7 days a week.
and so thats where i spend my free time. and thats how i became to feel like a part of my community. and futbol has opened new doors for me. to friendships. to casas. and to a new vocabulary of trash talking that is centered around ¨tu madre¨.
so futbol is a huge part of my life down here now. and it is how i have gotten to meet my community. and it is why i am periodically turning my head as i am writing this to some of my new names ( dan-yell, dan-i, dan-yell-ito, gringo, jefe, pana, amigo, ñaño) as my new friends pass by and see me through the steel bars of the internet cafe. some stop in. a couple of the younger kids have eagerly watched my type everyword.
i miss home. i miss home a lot. but today i am happy being a stranger in this strange world.
March 5, 2010
Babylon Burn Down
Updates
But you guys dont want to hear about how busy my life is here... Arent we all busy?
Lets talk about ¨Babylon Burn Down.¨ What does that even mean? It stands for hope, from the Judeo-Christian tradition, Rastafarian especially. It means that amist all the suffering in the world, there is hope. Babylon, will burn down. Martin Luther King Jr. said it the best in accepting his Nobel Peace Prize... ¨I believe that what self-centered men have torn down, Other-centered men can build up.¨ I am inspired that Garrett, David, Melissa, and Nora are heading down to Haiti in May. Jon is practicing microfinance (small loans to those oppressed by lack of resources and opportunity) in Kenya. God calls us all to bring down Babylon. There is so much work to be done in the US! First in our hearts (no bad mind, no hatred, no envy, no grudge) and then in our action. Out faith must have praxis, or it is a dead, and selfish spirituality. I have faith that if we all act in love and make a preferrential option for the poor, Babylon will burn down.
What is Babylon then? In Duran... Babylon reigns when I meet a child, living in a cane house with 13 other people, mainly chldren. She is 13, and we practice multiplacation in a park. She has a one year old on her lap and there is a 2 year old to her side. We try to focus. She wants to learn, she has been out of school for several years now. 13 years old and illiterate, so we practice math. We practice multiplying numbers by 2, and then by 10, the easiest. Then the neighbors come and interupt. They want attention. Then her mother calls, she has to go by food for dinner. This child has more responsiblilty than I do! Born into a life of struggle and poverty, will she ever has a second to be a child?
Or what about my friend who has played the game well. She is smart, beautiful, and ambitious. She grew up in Duran and was lucky enough to have the opportunity to go to school. She excelled. She was given another opportunity and got a scholorship to go to college. She excelled there. A bachelors degree! Coming from a child in Duran?! Finally, against all the odds, she made it, the promised land of having a college education. Today, she is unemployed. She has no connections and there are no jobs available. Imagine the heartbreak. You played the game right, worked your hardest, took advantage of every opportunity that came your way, and still no opportunity. The system just doesnt work.
Thats Babylon. And thats why we need to change.
Do we give up faith in a more just world and just focus on getting ours? Thats the temptation of our life. Thats Babylon Burn Down- God, give me the courage to dedicate a life for a more just world.
- I just led another retreat group from St. John´s Prep (Danver´s Mass). This was a great for us, and I feel that the highschoolers all left inspired to continue a life of faith and service
- Tutoring now in math, english, and FRENCH (I hoped it would come in handy down the line)
- Soccer everyday, on the weekdays we play on a concrete court at Semillas, the weekends we play on the street
- I used to eat lunch at home, making eggs or eating left overs. Now, Ive been eating at Damien House with the women, and often, Ill get pulled into a neighbors house for a second lunch, the standard is a bowl of soup and plate of chicken and rice.
- 100 degrees everyday
- Reading Liberation Theology (faith in making a prefferential option for the poor)
- Listening to Bob Marley (the same idea as above)
- Re-growing the beard
But you guys dont want to hear about how busy my life is here... Arent we all busy?
Lets talk about ¨Babylon Burn Down.¨ What does that even mean? It stands for hope, from the Judeo-Christian tradition, Rastafarian especially. It means that amist all the suffering in the world, there is hope. Babylon, will burn down. Martin Luther King Jr. said it the best in accepting his Nobel Peace Prize... ¨I believe that what self-centered men have torn down, Other-centered men can build up.¨ I am inspired that Garrett, David, Melissa, and Nora are heading down to Haiti in May. Jon is practicing microfinance (small loans to those oppressed by lack of resources and opportunity) in Kenya. God calls us all to bring down Babylon. There is so much work to be done in the US! First in our hearts (no bad mind, no hatred, no envy, no grudge) and then in our action. Out faith must have praxis, or it is a dead, and selfish spirituality. I have faith that if we all act in love and make a preferrential option for the poor, Babylon will burn down.
What is Babylon then? In Duran... Babylon reigns when I meet a child, living in a cane house with 13 other people, mainly chldren. She is 13, and we practice multiplacation in a park. She has a one year old on her lap and there is a 2 year old to her side. We try to focus. She wants to learn, she has been out of school for several years now. 13 years old and illiterate, so we practice math. We practice multiplying numbers by 2, and then by 10, the easiest. Then the neighbors come and interupt. They want attention. Then her mother calls, she has to go by food for dinner. This child has more responsiblilty than I do! Born into a life of struggle and poverty, will she ever has a second to be a child?
Or what about my friend who has played the game well. She is smart, beautiful, and ambitious. She grew up in Duran and was lucky enough to have the opportunity to go to school. She excelled. She was given another opportunity and got a scholorship to go to college. She excelled there. A bachelors degree! Coming from a child in Duran?! Finally, against all the odds, she made it, the promised land of having a college education. Today, she is unemployed. She has no connections and there are no jobs available. Imagine the heartbreak. You played the game right, worked your hardest, took advantage of every opportunity that came your way, and still no opportunity. The system just doesnt work.
Thats Babylon. And thats why we need to change.
Do we give up faith in a more just world and just focus on getting ours? Thats the temptation of our life. Thats Babylon Burn Down- God, give me the courage to dedicate a life for a more just world.
February 20, 2010
Culural Submersion
I swam in the river.
It was Carnival this week. 4 straight days of paint, mud, and waterballoons. Red, Green, Purple, Brown, Yellow. Everyone on the streets was covered in paint. We were ambushed with waterballoons if we were lucky. More commonly we were splashed with buckets of green and brown puddle water. And finally, we wrestled in the mud.
And thats how I ended up jumping into that polluted river.
Ive always enjoyed swimming in prestine waters from NH to Colorado, Australia and Hawaii too. But this river experience was special. There was something spiritual about jumping into that brown river with muck to my knees. I was with my new friends- all teenage dudes from the community. We were in it all together- The trash, the mosquitos, and the pollution are the reality here. But that doesnt stop anyone from enjoying God´s creation, no matter how abused by man.
It was Carnival this week. 4 straight days of paint, mud, and waterballoons. Red, Green, Purple, Brown, Yellow. Everyone on the streets was covered in paint. We were ambushed with waterballoons if we were lucky. More commonly we were splashed with buckets of green and brown puddle water. And finally, we wrestled in the mud.
And thats how I ended up jumping into that polluted river.
Ive always enjoyed swimming in prestine waters from NH to Colorado, Australia and Hawaii too. But this river experience was special. There was something spiritual about jumping into that brown river with muck to my knees. I was with my new friends- all teenage dudes from the community. We were in it all together- The trash, the mosquitos, and the pollution are the reality here. But that doesnt stop anyone from enjoying God´s creation, no matter how abused by man.
February 6, 2010
Half Baked
We are in the rainy season now. Crabs from the nearby river crawl around our unpaved roads. Tap-poles scurry around the puddles that are now permenantly on our street. Green grass is replacing grey rubble. Mud has replaced dust. Mosquitos are thriving, most noticably in our house. Children are on school vacation, and chaos ensues on the streets, at all times of the day. The heat is an average 39 degrees, Celsius. On my way out of the house, the heat and humidity make me look like Im coming back from the gym.
6 months down. 6 months to go.
During Tiffanys visit here, she asked me a good question. Why stay? Why not go home, to family and friends? To normal life. To real life? That question froze me for a minute. As I missed being home, I thought of my reasons for staying.
I am learning a lot of Spanish. I enjoy experiencing a new culture. I am growing a lot in my community life. I am reading, journaling, sharing meals, and sharing this experience with my friends down here. But all of these reasons for staying are for ME. And I didnt come down to Ecuador for me. I was ashamed that I would stay 6 more months to do some more ¨self-cultivation¨
So with a bit of time to reflect, I have been starting to see the spirit of my year in Ecuador. I am here to find myself, yes. But at the heart of finding myself, I am here to lose myself in my new community. In my new community that has been oppressed economically, socially, medically, and politcally. Life isnt easy, especially for the children. Just this week, a block away from my afterschool program, a 20 year old was shot 15 times after being robbed. 15 times. 15
In the midst of all this hate, corruption and oppression caused by governments, cultures, and our perceptions, I have been inspired that there still is hope. I find hope talking with Fortunato as he remenists his 90 years, 4 wives, and countless jobs as he smiles and makes a hammack at the hospital. I find hope sharing stories with Wilson, who has overcome both cancer and leprosy and still trucks on giving thanks to God. Or more simply, I am inspired by the enthusiasm over a meal with the women at the hosptal. I am bombarded with hugs, kisses, and playfulness that we recieve in return for making the after school program a safe place for kids to come and feel validated. I find joy by playing soccer with Ricardo, Daniel, Tyrone and the children in the neighborhood. Or simply shaking hands and taking a minute to talk with a wino on the corner of the street. And thats the paradox, by being completely available for others, I find myself.
So with 6 months left, Im asking God for the grace to be present to every moment here. To enjoy the ride. To play with the children on the street who are catching tad-poles and crabs. To eat lunch at our neighbors house. To try that new fruit. To try sardine soup, cow intestines, or anything else that comes my way. To listen to reggaetone all day and salsa all night. To play soccer on the street. To embrace the crazy place I live in and see, smell, feel, touch, and taste its beauty. To give thanks for today and have hope for tomorrow. To keep following the positive vibrations.
6 months down. 6 months to go.
During Tiffanys visit here, she asked me a good question. Why stay? Why not go home, to family and friends? To normal life. To real life? That question froze me for a minute. As I missed being home, I thought of my reasons for staying.
I am learning a lot of Spanish. I enjoy experiencing a new culture. I am growing a lot in my community life. I am reading, journaling, sharing meals, and sharing this experience with my friends down here. But all of these reasons for staying are for ME. And I didnt come down to Ecuador for me. I was ashamed that I would stay 6 more months to do some more ¨self-cultivation¨
So with a bit of time to reflect, I have been starting to see the spirit of my year in Ecuador. I am here to find myself, yes. But at the heart of finding myself, I am here to lose myself in my new community. In my new community that has been oppressed economically, socially, medically, and politcally. Life isnt easy, especially for the children. Just this week, a block away from my afterschool program, a 20 year old was shot 15 times after being robbed. 15 times. 15
In the midst of all this hate, corruption and oppression caused by governments, cultures, and our perceptions, I have been inspired that there still is hope. I find hope talking with Fortunato as he remenists his 90 years, 4 wives, and countless jobs as he smiles and makes a hammack at the hospital. I find hope sharing stories with Wilson, who has overcome both cancer and leprosy and still trucks on giving thanks to God. Or more simply, I am inspired by the enthusiasm over a meal with the women at the hosptal. I am bombarded with hugs, kisses, and playfulness that we recieve in return for making the after school program a safe place for kids to come and feel validated. I find joy by playing soccer with Ricardo, Daniel, Tyrone and the children in the neighborhood. Or simply shaking hands and taking a minute to talk with a wino on the corner of the street. And thats the paradox, by being completely available for others, I find myself.
So with 6 months left, Im asking God for the grace to be present to every moment here. To enjoy the ride. To play with the children on the street who are catching tad-poles and crabs. To eat lunch at our neighbors house. To try that new fruit. To try sardine soup, cow intestines, or anything else that comes my way. To listen to reggaetone all day and salsa all night. To play soccer on the street. To embrace the crazy place I live in and see, smell, feel, touch, and taste its beauty. To give thanks for today and have hope for tomorrow. To keep following the positive vibrations.
February 1, 2010
January 26, 2010
Winter Vacations
After School Program Update-
The rainy season has come to Arbolito, bringing in the mud, grillos (giant crickets that fly), and heat. The change in climate has coincided with the start of school vacations (until April). At Semillas, our attendance which has been a consistent 40 children has now risen to about 80-100 everyday. With the kids out of school, we have a new sense of purpose for the program. We are becoming more academic. Instead of helping with homework, we can now make the lesson plans to help the children with reading comprehension and math. We still want to have fun with the kids, but we want them to improve their basic skills. An example is that we have written an article about Guayaquil´s soccer team, or Che Guevera and challenge our kids to read it and respond to questions. Literacy is not taken for granted here.
On a lighter note, we have really begun to fall in love with the children at Semillas. There is about a pool of 200 kids that come, and we are now very familiar with names, faces, and especially, personalities. Every Friday we have been having games and competitions that have been fun for the kids where we give out prizes. Obstacle courses, soccer competitions, relay races, and capture the flag with the kids 4-7years old is always amusing to watch. We have also had field trips, taking the kids to Downtown Guayaquil, Local parks, an Iguana Park, and Cathedral. Next Friday, we are plannign to take them to a local pool.
The rainy season has come to Arbolito, bringing in the mud, grillos (giant crickets that fly), and heat. The change in climate has coincided with the start of school vacations (until April). At Semillas, our attendance which has been a consistent 40 children has now risen to about 80-100 everyday. With the kids out of school, we have a new sense of purpose for the program. We are becoming more academic. Instead of helping with homework, we can now make the lesson plans to help the children with reading comprehension and math. We still want to have fun with the kids, but we want them to improve their basic skills. An example is that we have written an article about Guayaquil´s soccer team, or Che Guevera and challenge our kids to read it and respond to questions. Literacy is not taken for granted here.
On a lighter note, we have really begun to fall in love with the children at Semillas. There is about a pool of 200 kids that come, and we are now very familiar with names, faces, and especially, personalities. Every Friday we have been having games and competitions that have been fun for the kids where we give out prizes. Obstacle courses, soccer competitions, relay races, and capture the flag with the kids 4-7years old is always amusing to watch. We have also had field trips, taking the kids to Downtown Guayaquil, Local parks, an Iguana Park, and Cathedral. Next Friday, we are plannign to take them to a local pool.
January 3, 2010
holidays
so the holidays are over in duran
for christmas, there were no presents under the tree
for news years eve, there was no alcohol
but that does not mean there was no holiday spirit.
for christmas, we celebrated at mass twice. during the night mass, i played joseph in the nativity play. the next morning, we exchanged secret santas that we spent under a dollar for. then we spent some time greeting our neighbors and ended up at damien house to wish all of our friends over there a happy holiday. it was a simple christmas here. i was glad to get a phonecall from my family. hearing their voices reminded me that christmas is coming together and celebrating with loved ones. celebrating the life of Christ and the community we have.
new years eve was spent outside. the day before we made our äño viejo¨which is a paper machet doll that is to be blown up at midnite. after it was painted and ready to go, we stuffed it with firecrackers and soaked it in gasoline. there was no countdown, which made it a little bit easier to be away from tiffany. but at midnite, we lit the fire and you could see the whole neighborhood light up with fires outside of every house, and fireworks in the air. then our neighbors came around saying feliz año and we spent the night dancing. remember that full moon?
the celebrations were a bit different, and i surely missed you all. but i was still able to be in the present moment, in duran, with my new friends, in my new culture, with my new community, with my new family.
and next week, tiffany is coming in to visit. life is pretty good here.
Xmas eve
Laura at Damien House on Christmas with our friend, Fortunatu. She woke up at 6:30am that morning to do wound care for all the patients
Getting ready for 2010
Happy New Year!
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