It's 3:28 am and the Spokane airport is deserted. The first flight out isn't for 3 more hours, We aren't the first flight. The kids are all sleeping or trying to.
Yesterday was good. We slept in a bit and then Apryl and Amy made pancakes and eggs for breakfast. After breakfast we cleaned the bunkhouse thoroughly. A new group arrives today. The we helped Brothers Paul and Ray with a bit of yard work. And then we were off to Glacier National Park. We entered the park by St. Mary's The whole time were were in the park, we saw two other cars....most stuff is closed this time of year...and usually under snow. It was cloudy and there were flurries, but the mountains were still beautiful. Paul led the kids on several short hikes to see St. Mary's Falls and some other features of the park. We were glad we packed peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Needless to say we had the picnic spot all to ourselves not even a bear! We did see deer and elk however.
We went to East Glacier to have buffalo burgers and fries. So that was a hot meal...maybe for the day. The train was on time and most people slept the whole way from Browning to Spokane. A short taxi drive to the airport and now we wait. We decided the airport is a more comfortable place to wait than the train station.
We have lots of park pictures which we will post when we get free wireless. All of the photos can be found at www.flickr.com/photos/msafari. I don't have them all in a set yet, but I will.
See you all soon.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
A Day of Culture
Nine. Yes, you read right. Nine as in single digits, as in cold. The kids were all up early this morning. I don't know what shot them out of be in such a timely manner. The did go to bed early last night because they were tired. It was a long day, but a good day.
Our kids were very involved, well as involved as Sophomores get, with the De La Salle kids. The boys are really, really good at recess! Now we are in our last day and they are just getting more comfortable. I can't tell if they are homesick yet or not. I think they are ready to come home, but they again, they are already talking about coming back next year.
We had two speakers yesterday. One was a carry over from the day before, but missed his time slot. Both speakers were outstanding.
Harry Barnes spoke to us after lunch, a really bad time. He spoke to us on the economic conditions on the reservation. Harry is one of 18 children. He went to a number of schools, both on and off the reservation, as his family moved with the fluctuations in employment. Still, employment on the reservation is seasonal, much of it dependent on the tourist industry. Harry did spend some time in a boarding school, which he described as, "the government policy of assimilation to 'get the Indian out of you.'"
He talked about the abuses that travel with poverty, no matter where the poverty is: alcohol, drug, child and spouse. And all these are issues on the reservation. There are many references to drug and alcohol abuse around school, it is part of the morning prayer every day as well as signage in all of the hallways. The specter of abuse is near and hopefully, education of the dangers will help this generation at least escape some of it.
The economic woes of the reservation are not new, but have developed over the last century. Many of the issues stem from issues with self worth. That coupled with the challenges of starting a business on the reservation, no capital, no one to invest and no credit, only complicates the situation. There are some cultural influences also. Although the Blackfeethave been in the area for 17,000 years, there have been many changes in their lifestyle which has basically altered a group of self-sufficient people into "dependent wards" of the federal government.
The first cultural shift experienced by the Blackfeet came with the introduction of the horse which came up from the South via the Spanish. Guns came from the East when French traders came in contact with the Assiniboine. The Blackfeet, with horse and gun, drove competing tribes from this whole area. But they were self-sufficient.
The second cultural shift came with the white man and the pressure of land. Manifest Destiny, which drove Whites to own land, conflicted with the Indian sensibility of, "How can you own your Mother?" Indian take from the earth, but always with prayer. It became a conflict of two belief systems. Harry made the point, "In God's plan of love and salvation, if God can speak in a burning bush without it being consumed why can't he speak in the call of an eagle?" But with the pressure for land came the treaties that promised to take care of the Indians with food, clothing, medical and education. Both speakers mentioned with a chuckle that they have been dealing with Government health care for a century and its about time everyone else gets a chance to deal with it! With the trade goods came corrupt government agents and traders with alcohol; disease filled blankets and two years of severe winters wiped out half of the tribe. Harry said, "the people's hear and soul was ripped out and replaced by alcohol."
He spoke of the ways out of poverty: education and employment. He was very complimentary of the school and proud of its accomplishments. One of the graduates just received a full ride from Stanford. The alums are staying in school...12 out of 13 last year, opposed to the nearly 60% drop out rate in the public schools. He also talked about trying to change the attitude that "outside is better," again, tied to self-worth. He is trying to keep reservation money on the reservation and with Indian owned businesses.
It was a very interesting afternoon. Classes ended at 3:00 and Brother Ray took us on the scenic drive home. Brother Paul then took the kids to see the buffalo jump. They came home dirty. But it was great show and tell. Ann and I stayed home and cooked. Hamy potatoes, salad and apple and pumpkin pies.
Our speakers were delayed because of the eighth grade basketball game.
Joe Bremner (Big Crow) spoke to us about Indian spirituality. He brought his son Joseph (Mountain Horn Singer) 13 year forward post for the basketball team and Austin (Little Pine) his best friend. The boys are enrolled in the Blackfeet Language school, where all the classes are taught in Blackfeet. Joe owns the local Dollar General and came back to the reservation after a successful business career in Sothern California. But he said he was missing something. So he came back to the reservation looking for that which he was missing...and found it. Although raised Catholic, he now practices tractional religion and is trying to pass the traditions onto his son before all of the elders are dead. He said of the 200 songs that were once used in Blackfeet ceremonies, only 40 survive. We were honored to hear several of them, with the boys singing and drumming and Joe playing the flute.
He spoke of the holiness of the area in which we were staying. The name Two Medicine harkens to the time when the Crow were driven from the area and two medicine lodges were erected. And since that time the area has been special. He called it part of a spiritual trail. He also described the Okan, or son lodge, which is erected out of very special need. He has "sat holy" with a person, which required four days of fasting. After the four days he then again received the right to have food and water and to stand and to walk. The belief is that during the ceremony everything is given to the Sun, after the ceremony it has to be given back. That isn't explained very well, but the kids can fill you in.
We didn't have near enough time. Because he talked about the difficult relationship between the reservation and the state, because on the reservation state law doesn't exist. The federal government gave the Blackfeet their constitution in 1937, in the recent election over 80% of the Blackfeet voted for a new constitution that would separate the powers of the tribal council.
We have Mass today at school and then school ends early (3:00 instead of 5:00). We will go to the museum of the Plains Indians and then shop. Tonight is speaker free, so we have a movie planned. Tomorrow we will spend the morning cleaning and then go to Glacier National Park in the afternoon. We will go to eat Buffalo burgers before we get on the train.
It has been a good trip. I don't know if I will get a blog off before we get home, if not I will see you at the airport.
Our kids were very involved, well as involved as Sophomores get, with the De La Salle kids. The boys are really, really good at recess! Now we are in our last day and they are just getting more comfortable. I can't tell if they are homesick yet or not. I think they are ready to come home, but they again, they are already talking about coming back next year.
We had two speakers yesterday. One was a carry over from the day before, but missed his time slot. Both speakers were outstanding.
Harry Barnes spoke to us after lunch, a really bad time. He spoke to us on the economic conditions on the reservation. Harry is one of 18 children. He went to a number of schools, both on and off the reservation, as his family moved with the fluctuations in employment. Still, employment on the reservation is seasonal, much of it dependent on the tourist industry. Harry did spend some time in a boarding school, which he described as, "the government policy of assimilation to 'get the Indian out of you.'"
He talked about the abuses that travel with poverty, no matter where the poverty is: alcohol, drug, child and spouse. And all these are issues on the reservation. There are many references to drug and alcohol abuse around school, it is part of the morning prayer every day as well as signage in all of the hallways. The specter of abuse is near and hopefully, education of the dangers will help this generation at least escape some of it.
The economic woes of the reservation are not new, but have developed over the last century. Many of the issues stem from issues with self worth. That coupled with the challenges of starting a business on the reservation, no capital, no one to invest and no credit, only complicates the situation. There are some cultural influences also. Although the Blackfeethave been in the area for 17,000 years, there have been many changes in their lifestyle which has basically altered a group of self-sufficient people into "dependent wards" of the federal government.
The first cultural shift experienced by the Blackfeet came with the introduction of the horse which came up from the South via the Spanish. Guns came from the East when French traders came in contact with the Assiniboine. The Blackfeet, with horse and gun, drove competing tribes from this whole area. But they were self-sufficient.
The second cultural shift came with the white man and the pressure of land. Manifest Destiny, which drove Whites to own land, conflicted with the Indian sensibility of, "How can you own your Mother?" Indian take from the earth, but always with prayer. It became a conflict of two belief systems. Harry made the point, "In God's plan of love and salvation, if God can speak in a burning bush without it being consumed why can't he speak in the call of an eagle?" But with the pressure for land came the treaties that promised to take care of the Indians with food, clothing, medical and education. Both speakers mentioned with a chuckle that they have been dealing with Government health care for a century and its about time everyone else gets a chance to deal with it! With the trade goods came corrupt government agents and traders with alcohol; disease filled blankets and two years of severe winters wiped out half of the tribe. Harry said, "the people's hear and soul was ripped out and replaced by alcohol."
He spoke of the ways out of poverty: education and employment. He was very complimentary of the school and proud of its accomplishments. One of the graduates just received a full ride from Stanford. The alums are staying in school...12 out of 13 last year, opposed to the nearly 60% drop out rate in the public schools. He also talked about trying to change the attitude that "outside is better," again, tied to self-worth. He is trying to keep reservation money on the reservation and with Indian owned businesses.
It was a very interesting afternoon. Classes ended at 3:00 and Brother Ray took us on the scenic drive home. Brother Paul then took the kids to see the buffalo jump. They came home dirty. But it was great show and tell. Ann and I stayed home and cooked. Hamy potatoes, salad and apple and pumpkin pies.
Our speakers were delayed because of the eighth grade basketball game.
Joe Bremner (Big Crow) spoke to us about Indian spirituality. He brought his son Joseph (Mountain Horn Singer) 13 year forward post for the basketball team and Austin (Little Pine) his best friend. The boys are enrolled in the Blackfeet Language school, where all the classes are taught in Blackfeet. Joe owns the local Dollar General and came back to the reservation after a successful business career in Sothern California. But he said he was missing something. So he came back to the reservation looking for that which he was missing...and found it. Although raised Catholic, he now practices tractional religion and is trying to pass the traditions onto his son before all of the elders are dead. He said of the 200 songs that were once used in Blackfeet ceremonies, only 40 survive. We were honored to hear several of them, with the boys singing and drumming and Joe playing the flute.
He spoke of the holiness of the area in which we were staying. The name Two Medicine harkens to the time when the Crow were driven from the area and two medicine lodges were erected. And since that time the area has been special. He called it part of a spiritual trail. He also described the Okan, or son lodge, which is erected out of very special need. He has "sat holy" with a person, which required four days of fasting. After the four days he then again received the right to have food and water and to stand and to walk. The belief is that during the ceremony everything is given to the Sun, after the ceremony it has to be given back. That isn't explained very well, but the kids can fill you in.
We didn't have near enough time. Because he talked about the difficult relationship between the reservation and the state, because on the reservation state law doesn't exist. The federal government gave the Blackfeet their constitution in 1937, in the recent election over 80% of the Blackfeet voted for a new constitution that would separate the powers of the tribal council.
We have Mass today at school and then school ends early (3:00 instead of 5:00). We will go to the museum of the Plains Indians and then shop. Tonight is speaker free, so we have a movie planned. Tomorrow we will spend the morning cleaning and then go to Glacier National Park in the afternoon. We will go to eat Buffalo burgers before we get on the train.
It has been a good trip. I don't know if I will get a blog off before we get home, if not I will see you at the airport.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
A beautiful morning in Montana
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Browning. It was a brisk 17 degrees this morning, but clear. I am not sure the kids had their eyes open, but the ride to school was beautiful. The colors of the sunrise were reflecting off the snow on the mountains, turning them shades of gold and rose. It was a great way to start the day.
Yesterday went really well for everyone. Our kids felt more comfortable and the kids here really responded well and opened up a bit. I think all of the classes are making books of some sorts, so there was a lot to do. But it was a long day. We left the house at 7:15 in the morning and didn't get back until after 5:00 pm. That is a long time to go without a break since they even eat lunch with the kids.
Ann and I encouraged everyone to go for a walk when we got home. There wasn't much light left so they didn't stay out long, but it was long enough for us to get dinner organized. The bunkhouse is very nice, but with a very large table that makes movement somewhat compromised if everyone is there.
I made chili for dinner and Ann made corn bread. However, we stopped at the IGA on the way home, so the kids filled up on chips and cookies. Jeremy was in charge of prayer last night and he did a good job. We also prepped for tonight's dinner: hammy potatoes...comfort food at its best!
Today is a short day, so we will be home in time for the kids to walk in daylight and if the clouds stay away, I hope they can get some good photographs of the area. They can also get to bed earlier...since the girls were real sleepy-heads this morning.
I did manage to upload some photos yesterday although the connection was slow. I will try to caption them today.
Browning. It was a brisk 17 degrees this morning, but clear. I am not sure the kids had their eyes open, but the ride to school was beautiful. The colors of the sunrise were reflecting off the snow on the mountains, turning them shades of gold and rose. It was a great way to start the day.
Yesterday went really well for everyone. Our kids felt more comfortable and the kids here really responded well and opened up a bit. I think all of the classes are making books of some sorts, so there was a lot to do. But it was a long day. We left the house at 7:15 in the morning and didn't get back until after 5:00 pm. That is a long time to go without a break since they even eat lunch with the kids.
Ann and I encouraged everyone to go for a walk when we got home. There wasn't much light left so they didn't stay out long, but it was long enough for us to get dinner organized. The bunkhouse is very nice, but with a very large table that makes movement somewhat compromised if everyone is there.
I made chili for dinner and Ann made corn bread. However, we stopped at the IGA on the way home, so the kids filled up on chips and cookies. Jeremy was in charge of prayer last night and he did a good job. We also prepped for tonight's dinner: hammy potatoes...comfort food at its best!
Today is a short day, so we will be home in time for the kids to walk in daylight and if the clouds stay away, I hope they can get some good photographs of the area. They can also get to bed earlier...since the girls were real sleepy-heads this morning.
I did manage to upload some photos yesterday although the connection was slow. I will try to caption them today.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Tuesday in Browning
Tuesday, November 9th, 2010
We left school early yesterday...it was 3:30. We were supposed to stay until five, but it was club day and our presence wasn't that pressing. We were pretty exhausted (read ME). So when we got home, Ann and I took a nap and the kids took a walk down to Two Medicine River.
Brother Paul cooked us dinner last night, spaghetti, salad and garlic bread with nutritious organic brownies for dessert. It was a good thing there were chocolate chips in the brownies because I don't eat desserts for their nutritional value!
Our speaker last night was Marty Martain, Sr., his Indian name is Beware of Sleeping Wolf. His great grandfather was Sleeping Wolf. His grandmothers were: Strikes Down, Good Cuts, Kills Inside and Takes Guns...four women I assume didn't sit around quilting! He spoke on the history of the Blackfeet Reservation. At one time the Blackfeet roamed from Canada to New Mexico, the Rockies to the Dakotas.
He began by blessing us before we handled all of the wonderful artifacts he shared with us. He had received many of the objects as a thank you for another blessing he had given. I have a lot of pictures, which I am having a bit of a problem uploading, but will keep trying.
Night Prayer was pretty mellow. We shared scripture and spent some time journaling. I think everyone went to sleep pretty quickly...at least I did!
It snowed enough yesterday to blanket the plains, but stopped by 10 pm last night and the stars were visible. The sun is out today and the "Big Sky" is a clear view. It was cloudy over the mountains as we left for school at 7:15 this morning, but the mountains were peeking out. It is supposed to be 40 degrees today, so that will melt the snow.
This morning we were all up by 6:30 and had breakfast, packed our lunch and did a quick morning prayer. Brother Ray said we were one of the few groups that have been ready on time. But it helped that we had to scrap the windows before we could leave.
We left school early yesterday...it was 3:30. We were supposed to stay until five, but it was club day and our presence wasn't that pressing. We were pretty exhausted (read ME). So when we got home, Ann and I took a nap and the kids took a walk down to Two Medicine River.
Brother Paul cooked us dinner last night, spaghetti, salad and garlic bread with nutritious organic brownies for dessert. It was a good thing there were chocolate chips in the brownies because I don't eat desserts for their nutritional value!
Our speaker last night was Marty Martain, Sr., his Indian name is Beware of Sleeping Wolf. His great grandfather was Sleeping Wolf. His grandmothers were: Strikes Down, Good Cuts, Kills Inside and Takes Guns...four women I assume didn't sit around quilting! He spoke on the history of the Blackfeet Reservation. At one time the Blackfeet roamed from Canada to New Mexico, the Rockies to the Dakotas.
He began by blessing us before we handled all of the wonderful artifacts he shared with us. He had received many of the objects as a thank you for another blessing he had given. I have a lot of pictures, which I am having a bit of a problem uploading, but will keep trying.
Night Prayer was pretty mellow. We shared scripture and spent some time journaling. I think everyone went to sleep pretty quickly...at least I did!
It snowed enough yesterday to blanket the plains, but stopped by 10 pm last night and the stars were visible. The sun is out today and the "Big Sky" is a clear view. It was cloudy over the mountains as we left for school at 7:15 this morning, but the mountains were peeking out. It is supposed to be 40 degrees today, so that will melt the snow.
This morning we were all up by 6:30 and had breakfast, packed our lunch and did a quick morning prayer. Brother Ray said we were one of the few groups that have been ready on time. But it helped that we had to scrap the windows before we could leave.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Browning
Snow. It is a cold, dreary day in Browning. The mountains, usually visible from the school are well hidden. The kids are all in their respective classrooms, so that gives me a bit of time to try to blog.
The flight from Kansas City was uneventful. The plane to Denver was full and we were among the last to board, so we were all spread out. The layover in Denver was very short, but we landed a gate away from our departure area, so we didn't see much of the Denver airport.
The Spokane airport was pretty empty and closed down by the time we arrived. I can't tell you what time it was, three time zones and daylight savings time have messed me up. But we secured two taxis and headed to the train station, which was about a ten minute drive. We thought we might find an open restaurant downtown, but on a Sunday night, everything was closed. The good news is that there was a restaurant in the train station which opened from Midnight until two. So we waited for that to open. It wasn't fancy, but it filled everyone up.
The train was great. The seats recline, pretty comfortably. I think everyone got some sleep. Everyone was awake this morning by the time we reached Whitefish. We took advantage of the stop to move to the dining car for breakfast. It was a great breakfast and pretty reasonably priced. A pleasant surprise. Morning was just breaking and the scenery was beautiful. The light was soft because of the cloud cover and there were a few flurries. By the time we finished breakfast we were almost to West Glacier. The mountains had snow and even the trees close to us were being dusted. We saw a pair of Bald Eagles.
As we left the National Park, there was a herd of buffalo. That excited the kids. Brother Ray met us at the train, which was early, but so was Br. Ray. So we had a bit of an orientation on the bus. Once we arrived at school, the kids went right to work in the classrooms, where they are now. Today was hot dog day at lunch. Yeah! It is going to be a long, long day.
The flight from Kansas City was uneventful. The plane to Denver was full and we were among the last to board, so we were all spread out. The layover in Denver was very short, but we landed a gate away from our departure area, so we didn't see much of the Denver airport.
The Spokane airport was pretty empty and closed down by the time we arrived. I can't tell you what time it was, three time zones and daylight savings time have messed me up. But we secured two taxis and headed to the train station, which was about a ten minute drive. We thought we might find an open restaurant downtown, but on a Sunday night, everything was closed. The good news is that there was a restaurant in the train station which opened from Midnight until two. So we waited for that to open. It wasn't fancy, but it filled everyone up.
The train was great. The seats recline, pretty comfortably. I think everyone got some sleep. Everyone was awake this morning by the time we reached Whitefish. We took advantage of the stop to move to the dining car for breakfast. It was a great breakfast and pretty reasonably priced. A pleasant surprise. Morning was just breaking and the scenery was beautiful. The light was soft because of the cloud cover and there were a few flurries. By the time we finished breakfast we were almost to West Glacier. The mountains had snow and even the trees close to us were being dusted. We saw a pair of Bald Eagles.
As we left the National Park, there was a herd of buffalo. That excited the kids. Brother Ray met us at the train, which was early, but so was Br. Ray. So we had a bit of an orientation on the bus. Once we arrived at school, the kids went right to work in the classrooms, where they are now. Today was hot dog day at lunch. Yeah! It is going to be a long, long day.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Monday after Easter.
We were late arriving at the Hotel in Tucson.
We actually left Hermosillo between 8:30 and 9:00. The stop at Santa Ana for the Drug Check went smoothly. However, I counted over 200 semis in line and 25 buses. We were in the car lane, which went quickly. Bags x-rayed and back on the vans in no time.
All went too smoothly. We were in line at the border for over 2 hours. The were hundreds of trucks in the three lanes next to us. Cars were delegated a single lane because we went to the commercial crossing. Once we got to the border area, it wasn't too bad. Again passports checked, luggage x-rayed and van searched.
We were waved through the border patrol station, probably because the other van was in front of us and we all were dressed alike.
The boys are all at Burger King. Ah, friendly food. Pictures are all posted. I am off to the solitude of my bedroom for a little quiet...well deserved may I add!
We actually left Hermosillo between 8:30 and 9:00. The stop at Santa Ana for the Drug Check went smoothly. However, I counted over 200 semis in line and 25 buses. We were in the car lane, which went quickly. Bags x-rayed and back on the vans in no time.
All went too smoothly. We were in line at the border for over 2 hours. The were hundreds of trucks in the three lanes next to us. Cars were delegated a single lane because we went to the commercial crossing. Once we got to the border area, it wasn't too bad. Again passports checked, luggage x-rayed and van searched.
We were waved through the border patrol station, probably because the other van was in front of us and we all were dressed alike.
The boys are all at Burger King. Ah, friendly food. Pictures are all posted. I am off to the solitude of my bedroom for a little quiet...well deserved may I add!
Easter Sunday
Mass began at 8:00 am at La Antorcha. We arrived early enough to help set up. We had the same rickety table as Holy Thursday, a greater array of mis-matched chairs, and many of the friends we had made over the last several days.
Since the only church in La Antorcha are the people. The sky was our room and the dusty, beaten ground the floor. We had not one, but two images of Guadalupe…one made entirely out of threads strung between nails in a spiro-graph manner. It was amazing. In true fashion, there was no crucifix. Mary seems to be the more approachable and understandable image for these simple people. There were the usual mix of dogs wandering through; kids and adults on bicycles; the people we had come to recognize like the old man in the straw had, who tears up at every service. I am sure some of the kids had never attended Mass before. They walked up to the altar and just stared. Father distributed Holy Water after mass, bless babies and also blessed us and our crosses that we received as we started our retreat the day before. It was simple and Holy.
The people were so grateful for our presence, not only at Mass, but through out the week. It was the first time that anything had happened to them like that. They didn’t make a lot of eloquent speeches, but you could see it in the weather faces, the tears in their eyes, the smiles on the faces of the mothers.
We had a little time to play a couple of more games with the children before we were off to our next Mass. As the bus left the village, the children ran after it screaming and waving. The kid that hit Matt a day earlier now called him, mi amigo. Pretty awesome stuff.
Our next Mass was at the Chapel Divino Nino, Jesus. At ten in the morning the freshly painted white walls shown even more brilliantly, the stained glass added the same “holy light” that inspired Abbot Suger in Abby of St. Denis in the 1100’s. The Chapel was filled to over-flowing. The girls who had done mission in the area were there.
I couldn’t help reflecting on the differences in the two services. The difference between roof and walls and floors. There were talks giving thanks for what we had done. But they would have gotten to that point without us, not by Easter to be sure. But these people had property and money…the people of La Antorcha, not so much. Same readings, same basically everything. But the simplicity of the people of La Antorcha touched my heart in a special way.
We returned home after mass to start cleaning, finish our retreat and of course…go out on the town. The boys have never cleaned so well and so fast as when they know they have cute girls waiting for them! The place was spotless!
Since the only church in La Antorcha are the people. The sky was our room and the dusty, beaten ground the floor. We had not one, but two images of Guadalupe…one made entirely out of threads strung between nails in a spiro-graph manner. It was amazing. In true fashion, there was no crucifix. Mary seems to be the more approachable and understandable image for these simple people. There were the usual mix of dogs wandering through; kids and adults on bicycles; the people we had come to recognize like the old man in the straw had, who tears up at every service. I am sure some of the kids had never attended Mass before. They walked up to the altar and just stared. Father distributed Holy Water after mass, bless babies and also blessed us and our crosses that we received as we started our retreat the day before. It was simple and Holy.
The people were so grateful for our presence, not only at Mass, but through out the week. It was the first time that anything had happened to them like that. They didn’t make a lot of eloquent speeches, but you could see it in the weather faces, the tears in their eyes, the smiles on the faces of the mothers.
We had a little time to play a couple of more games with the children before we were off to our next Mass. As the bus left the village, the children ran after it screaming and waving. The kid that hit Matt a day earlier now called him, mi amigo. Pretty awesome stuff.
Our next Mass was at the Chapel Divino Nino, Jesus. At ten in the morning the freshly painted white walls shown even more brilliantly, the stained glass added the same “holy light” that inspired Abbot Suger in Abby of St. Denis in the 1100’s. The Chapel was filled to over-flowing. The girls who had done mission in the area were there.
I couldn’t help reflecting on the differences in the two services. The difference between roof and walls and floors. There were talks giving thanks for what we had done. But they would have gotten to that point without us, not by Easter to be sure. But these people had property and money…the people of La Antorcha, not so much. Same readings, same basically everything. But the simplicity of the people of La Antorcha touched my heart in a special way.
We returned home after mass to start cleaning, finish our retreat and of course…go out on the town. The boys have never cleaned so well and so fast as when they know they have cute girls waiting for them! The place was spotless!
Holy Saturday
Up early again. This is beginning to sound like a broken record, since we got up early every morning! Today was the mini-Olympics at La Antorcha...there were lots of kids.
Medina brought balloons and we provided the hot air. They were the hardest balloons to inflate. In a typical Murphy’s Law way: the air pumps arrived after we were done! But everyone had a great time.
We returned to Regis and began our retreat. We met initially from 2:00 to almost 6:00. It was great and I think the kids really enjoyed the process.
Saturday evening we went to the Easter Vigil. It began with the blessing of the new fire. It was a bit windy, so most of the candles lit by the new fire didn't stay lit for long. But it was a nice liturgical end to the day.
After liturgy, we were all invited to the Velez’s for dinner. The served shrimp and fish tacos…and they were great. It was good company and good food. We ate in the back yard, which featured an outdoor kitchen, like many of the homes we visited. Better yet…a palm tree, and how could that be bad?
After dinner, the boys were joined by the kids from Regis. Which kind of became a nightly ritual.
Medina brought balloons and we provided the hot air. They were the hardest balloons to inflate. In a typical Murphy’s Law way: the air pumps arrived after we were done! But everyone had a great time.
We returned to Regis and began our retreat. We met initially from 2:00 to almost 6:00. It was great and I think the kids really enjoyed the process.
Saturday evening we went to the Easter Vigil. It began with the blessing of the new fire. It was a bit windy, so most of the candles lit by the new fire didn't stay lit for long. But it was a nice liturgical end to the day.
After liturgy, we were all invited to the Velez’s for dinner. The served shrimp and fish tacos…and they were great. It was good company and good food. We ate in the back yard, which featured an outdoor kitchen, like many of the homes we visited. Better yet…a palm tree, and how could that be bad?
After dinner, the boys were joined by the kids from Regis. Which kind of became a nightly ritual.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Good Friday
We were up a little before six today. A lot to do. We had chilaquiles for breakfast: tortillas, tomato sauce, crema, and cheese. A nice solid breakfast for a long day.
We left for La Antorche about 8:00. The bus, which had always been an hour early was 15 minutes late. We wanted to get visitas in before the 10:00 Via Crucis, the way of the cross. I made it to three homes, which I will describe in detail...or as much as I can, since my Spanish is limited and I missed some of the details.
Our first stop was at the home of Jose Alfredo. He is separated from his wife and although he has children who want him to move, he says he likes La Antorcha. He invites us to sit on this patio, which is also his dining room. His house, like many is made of what looks like might have been a beaver-board insulation for under corrugated roofing, held onto the wooden structures using bottle caps and nails. The roof of the porch is a little of everything, netting, wire, some insulation material. His table cloth is an old shower curtain. The chairs don't match nor do the glasses as he offers us water. You can see into his house, which might be 12 X 12 feet...probably less. The floor is dirt. The full size bed sits on cinder blocks. There is a stove on cinder blocks, which works because he made himself coffee. The stove is on the wall opposite the bed...with only about 2 feet to spare between the two. There is a small refrigerator also on cinder blocks, which is probably used for storage, since the town has no electricity. He like all the people here came with the hope of owning their own property. He has tools inside the door and says he does auto body work or painting. He has an old truck in the back he is working on.
Our next stop is Cleo. She lives alone with her six month old grandson, Roy. Her house is made of cardboard nailed to wooden shipping pallets. It might be 10X10. Sheets of tin are tied to the roof. She has a couple of chickens in the yard and two dogs. She has three daughters. The one daughter is in a mental hospital, Roy is her son. She doesn't know who the father is, so it seems there may have been some abuse in the hospital. Cleo has paid about $100 as a deposit for land. She is waiting for the permanent location with will cost about $1000 total. She has lived in La Antorcha for about three months. She would like to have Roy baptized. We did some asking around and hopefully that will happen on Easter Sunday since a priest is coming with us.
Patty was the last person we spoke to. She has three children. The roof of her house was black plastic sheeting. The walls were the insulation board that makes up many of the homes in La Antorcha. Her children have all been baptized. We invite her to the services. All these people have come to this area with one hope: to own land and make a better live for themselves and their children. They were warm, friendly and accepting of us. The boys will tell you about their visitas when they get home, but they will be the same. Stories of incredible poverty and incredible hospitality. It was a very emotional day.
The via cruces began pretty much on time. There were a good number a villagers there and the number grew as we wound our way through the streets. The exalumnos did a wonderful job with the stations. A couple of our boys had minor parts. The love to crucify us! Something about pale northerners on a cross! The kids did a great job and it was very moving. There are a ton of pictures on flickr.
After the via cruces we had Good Friday liturgy. Our church was a shaded path next to the arroyo. There was a really good turn-out. The veneration of the cross is always very powerful. I am not sure all of our kids had ever experienced it. But they were moved by the tears of the old Mexican women as they approached the cross. The mothers with children in arms, bringing their little ones to kiss the food of the cross.
We finished that part of the day by playing with the little kids.
We arrived back at school to pretty much do the same thing all over again. The village was much more powerful, but it was nice to be with the Fraternities and some of the family members.
We had spaghetti for dinner and quesadillas with nopales. Yum!
Now we are hosting a little retreat here with people from our Fraternities.
We left for La Antorche about 8:00. The bus, which had always been an hour early was 15 minutes late. We wanted to get visitas in before the 10:00 Via Crucis, the way of the cross. I made it to three homes, which I will describe in detail...or as much as I can, since my Spanish is limited and I missed some of the details.
Our first stop was at the home of Jose Alfredo. He is separated from his wife and although he has children who want him to move, he says he likes La Antorcha. He invites us to sit on this patio, which is also his dining room. His house, like many is made of what looks like might have been a beaver-board insulation for under corrugated roofing, held onto the wooden structures using bottle caps and nails. The roof of the porch is a little of everything, netting, wire, some insulation material. His table cloth is an old shower curtain. The chairs don't match nor do the glasses as he offers us water. You can see into his house, which might be 12 X 12 feet...probably less. The floor is dirt. The full size bed sits on cinder blocks. There is a stove on cinder blocks, which works because he made himself coffee. The stove is on the wall opposite the bed...with only about 2 feet to spare between the two. There is a small refrigerator also on cinder blocks, which is probably used for storage, since the town has no electricity. He like all the people here came with the hope of owning their own property. He has tools inside the door and says he does auto body work or painting. He has an old truck in the back he is working on.
Our next stop is Cleo. She lives alone with her six month old grandson, Roy. Her house is made of cardboard nailed to wooden shipping pallets. It might be 10X10. Sheets of tin are tied to the roof. She has a couple of chickens in the yard and two dogs. She has three daughters. The one daughter is in a mental hospital, Roy is her son. She doesn't know who the father is, so it seems there may have been some abuse in the hospital. Cleo has paid about $100 as a deposit for land. She is waiting for the permanent location with will cost about $1000 total. She has lived in La Antorcha for about three months. She would like to have Roy baptized. We did some asking around and hopefully that will happen on Easter Sunday since a priest is coming with us.
Patty was the last person we spoke to. She has three children. The roof of her house was black plastic sheeting. The walls were the insulation board that makes up many of the homes in La Antorcha. Her children have all been baptized. We invite her to the services. All these people have come to this area with one hope: to own land and make a better live for themselves and their children. They were warm, friendly and accepting of us. The boys will tell you about their visitas when they get home, but they will be the same. Stories of incredible poverty and incredible hospitality. It was a very emotional day.
The via cruces began pretty much on time. There were a good number a villagers there and the number grew as we wound our way through the streets. The exalumnos did a wonderful job with the stations. A couple of our boys had minor parts. The love to crucify us! Something about pale northerners on a cross! The kids did a great job and it was very moving. There are a ton of pictures on flickr.
After the via cruces we had Good Friday liturgy. Our church was a shaded path next to the arroyo. There was a really good turn-out. The veneration of the cross is always very powerful. I am not sure all of our kids had ever experienced it. But they were moved by the tears of the old Mexican women as they approached the cross. The mothers with children in arms, bringing their little ones to kiss the food of the cross.
We finished that part of the day by playing with the little kids.
We arrived back at school to pretty much do the same thing all over again. The village was much more powerful, but it was nice to be with the Fraternities and some of the family members.
We had spaghetti for dinner and quesadillas with nopales. Yum!
Now we are hosting a little retreat here with people from our Fraternities.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Holy Thursday
Today is long and busy. Up at 6:00, morning prayer, cleaning, breakfast.
The group split today. The returning missionaries and Javier went to Matzatan...a little town about an hour from here where Sophia's parents live. Sophia is currently an exchange student at Helias. The boys worked on a project for the parish, but did not finish. There was more to do than expected, with a lot more to do. So we are looking for a time to go there again.
The new missionaries went to La Antorcha. La Antorcha is a squatters village at the edge of town. They have no water or electricity, but ironically there are housing development all around, a cell phone tower and in the distance a big hotel. The people make bricks. I tried to explain to some of the boys the process, because it was all there. First, bricks are formed and air dried. Then they are piled carefully into a structure that is about 12 foot wide and 18 ft long and maybe 12 foot height. It is carefully planned to allow heat to be evenly distributed throughout the stack. Wood and I think there were actually tires placed in the chambers. The whole structure is then covered with clay and the fuel is lit. It heats in reduction for a week and then takes another week to cool. But all the steps of the process were visible.
This week were the first Masses celebrated here in at least 10 years. Many of the people do not have transportation, even though it is in the city limits. The first thing we did when we arrived were visitas...going door to door telling people that a priest was coming for Mass. Mass was outside in a woman's yard. The altar was a rather rickety table, smaller than a card table. The altar cloth just a scrap of frayed white linen. The managed to assemble six unmatched chairs for some of the older people, the rest leaned against the rusted truck parked in the yard or sat on a flower planter or on the ground. There was no crucifix, but someone had hung a picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the chain link fence. Our boys were the apostles and had their feet washed.
After Mass, the table and chairs and Eucharist were carried to an area in the shade near a dry creek bed. We had a hour of adoration. It was quite touching to see the people kneel in the dirt in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Then some of the students brought the children over to say a prayer and explain the presence of Jesus.
After adoration, we had some time to play with the children while the ladies received instruction. After play, the kids were separated by age group and colored pictures of churches.
After another quick visita to announce tomorrows schedule we returned to school.
We had another liturgy with washing of the feet with what is left of the students here and a few parents at 6:00. Adoration lasts until 10:00 and then we are doing another hour in our chapel.
The Brothers provided dinner tonight....tamales, beef and maybe nopale...not sure...just that they were good. Have to go pray...more later. New photos are posted.
The group split today. The returning missionaries and Javier went to Matzatan...a little town about an hour from here where Sophia's parents live. Sophia is currently an exchange student at Helias. The boys worked on a project for the parish, but did not finish. There was more to do than expected, with a lot more to do. So we are looking for a time to go there again.
The new missionaries went to La Antorcha. La Antorcha is a squatters village at the edge of town. They have no water or electricity, but ironically there are housing development all around, a cell phone tower and in the distance a big hotel. The people make bricks. I tried to explain to some of the boys the process, because it was all there. First, bricks are formed and air dried. Then they are piled carefully into a structure that is about 12 foot wide and 18 ft long and maybe 12 foot height. It is carefully planned to allow heat to be evenly distributed throughout the stack. Wood and I think there were actually tires placed in the chambers. The whole structure is then covered with clay and the fuel is lit. It heats in reduction for a week and then takes another week to cool. But all the steps of the process were visible.
This week were the first Masses celebrated here in at least 10 years. Many of the people do not have transportation, even though it is in the city limits. The first thing we did when we arrived were visitas...going door to door telling people that a priest was coming for Mass. Mass was outside in a woman's yard. The altar was a rather rickety table, smaller than a card table. The altar cloth just a scrap of frayed white linen. The managed to assemble six unmatched chairs for some of the older people, the rest leaned against the rusted truck parked in the yard or sat on a flower planter or on the ground. There was no crucifix, but someone had hung a picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the chain link fence. Our boys were the apostles and had their feet washed.
After Mass, the table and chairs and Eucharist were carried to an area in the shade near a dry creek bed. We had a hour of adoration. It was quite touching to see the people kneel in the dirt in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Then some of the students brought the children over to say a prayer and explain the presence of Jesus.
After adoration, we had some time to play with the children while the ladies received instruction. After play, the kids were separated by age group and colored pictures of churches.
After another quick visita to announce tomorrows schedule we returned to school.
We had another liturgy with washing of the feet with what is left of the students here and a few parents at 6:00. Adoration lasts until 10:00 and then we are doing another hour in our chapel.
The Brothers provided dinner tonight....tamales, beef and maybe nopale...not sure...just that they were good. Have to go pray...more later. New photos are posted.
Wednesday Blog on Thursday
Sorry. I just didn't stop and blog.
Yesterday was Fraternity day. The big news is that we finished the Church. We did our usual get up at 6:00 in the morning thing followed by morning prayer and a little house cleaning. And yesterday it was very little, today will have to be better.
The Fraternities had mass here at school at noon. There was a noticeable decline in kids...all headed for vacation with their parents. They boys went out to lunch with whoever was left. Yesterday was their only real shopping day, so they did. My idea of a souvenir and theirs in very different.
Today will be long. Service, visitas, cathechisis, Mass (maybe twice) and adoration. We are also invited to the Brothers for dinner tonight. I don't know how that is all going to work. But I know it is going to be a dance to get it all in! I will let you know how it all goes!
Yesterday was Fraternity day. The big news is that we finished the Church. We did our usual get up at 6:00 in the morning thing followed by morning prayer and a little house cleaning. And yesterday it was very little, today will have to be better.
The Fraternities had mass here at school at noon. There was a noticeable decline in kids...all headed for vacation with their parents. They boys went out to lunch with whoever was left. Yesterday was their only real shopping day, so they did. My idea of a souvenir and theirs in very different.
Today will be long. Service, visitas, cathechisis, Mass (maybe twice) and adoration. We are also invited to the Brothers for dinner tonight. I don't know how that is all going to work. But I know it is going to be a dance to get it all in! I will let you know how it all goes!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Tuesday
I thought I would have a moment of silence. But not happening. All of the kids went to the pool, but by the time I got on the computer...they're back. So this probably won't be to coherent.
And I am not in a bad mood...just because someone used my towel as a bathmat. May you all have 25 teen-age boys live with you for a week just once in your lives...it will keep you out of purgatory. They really are being great...just boys. We get their rooms cleaned, but it lasts only until they go in there the next time. And replace a roll of toliet paper...unheard of!
The work at the church went really well yesterday. They boys jumped in with both feet and worked really hard...so much so they out-paced the supplies. So they finished about one in the afternoon. It was getting too hot to work by that time anyway. They went to the pool after that. So they were all happy.
Yesterday afternoon the Fraternities had a game day...basketball and volleyball type of stuff. They had a great time and really mingled with everyone. We found most of them when Sofia's parents (who is in Jefferson City) invited us to their favorite taco stand...the boys were down the street at one of the city's most popular hot dog stands. The hot dogs here are all about condiments...fried pork, chorizo, bacon, beans, guacamole, three or four kinds of salsa, raw onions, cooked onions. One looked really good: a banana pepper stuffed with cheese and a hot dog and then wrapped in bacon.
Today we went back to work at the chapel after Mass and a fine breakfast of scrambled eggs with salchichas (hotdogs), re-fried beans and tortillas. The neighborhood is called Los Angeles and is just being developed. It is mainly low-income govenment housing. The chapel is Divino Niño Jesus: Divine Child, Jesus. The mother parish is Nuestra Señora del Rosario: our Lady of the Rosary. Eventually, a church will be built on the property.
Today the boys finished stretching the fence, used the irrigation trench they dug yesterday, washed, white-washed and began to paint the interior walls, sloped the front of the church where the steps will be build and cleared what I thought was just vacant property...which was really a side-walk that had been buried under debris. We should finish there tomorrow. Mr. Aur and I are meeting with some people this afternoon to look for some other experiences. I will let you know how that goes in tomorrow's blog.
While we were there some guy stopped to ask who we were and what we were doing. He left and showed up a bit later with his overtly reluctent son to help us, left again and came back later with tools and two of his son's friends. By the time we left we were also joined by another family who lived in the area. So that was really cool. Good will is contagious. Hopefully the boys will remember that.
Last night the boys were dropped off by even a greater number of girls, imagine that. We invited them to come and have night prayer with us, which they did. It was really nice. I think that will be a tradition.
Today for lunch, Ricardo's parents invited us to lunch. So our big yellow school bus pulled into a small quiet sub-division and hot smelly boys piled out. I think that was a get out of purgatory free card also! They had beef tacos and beans. The real treat was ice-cream cones for desert. They are leaving for mission tomorrow. I can't believe they took the time to feed us. When we left they were going to go set up a tent to sleep in.
Thursday night the Brothers have invited all of us over to their house for dinner. I hope they know what they are in for. Brother Rodrigo continues to spoil us. He will not take any money for the bus. Half-way through the morning one of the school workers shows up with soda and a cooler of ice for us, again Rodrigo. When we got back to the house, there were 10 cases of bottled water stacked in the kitchen. The many kindnesses just don't stop.
I am posting photos now. So check flickr.
And I am not in a bad mood...just because someone used my towel as a bathmat. May you all have 25 teen-age boys live with you for a week just once in your lives...it will keep you out of purgatory. They really are being great...just boys. We get their rooms cleaned, but it lasts only until they go in there the next time. And replace a roll of toliet paper...unheard of!
The work at the church went really well yesterday. They boys jumped in with both feet and worked really hard...so much so they out-paced the supplies. So they finished about one in the afternoon. It was getting too hot to work by that time anyway. They went to the pool after that. So they were all happy.
Yesterday afternoon the Fraternities had a game day...basketball and volleyball type of stuff. They had a great time and really mingled with everyone. We found most of them when Sofia's parents (who is in Jefferson City) invited us to their favorite taco stand...the boys were down the street at one of the city's most popular hot dog stands. The hot dogs here are all about condiments...fried pork, chorizo, bacon, beans, guacamole, three or four kinds of salsa, raw onions, cooked onions. One looked really good: a banana pepper stuffed with cheese and a hot dog and then wrapped in bacon.
Today we went back to work at the chapel after Mass and a fine breakfast of scrambled eggs with salchichas (hotdogs), re-fried beans and tortillas. The neighborhood is called Los Angeles and is just being developed. It is mainly low-income govenment housing. The chapel is Divino Niño Jesus: Divine Child, Jesus. The mother parish is Nuestra Señora del Rosario: our Lady of the Rosary. Eventually, a church will be built on the property.
Today the boys finished stretching the fence, used the irrigation trench they dug yesterday, washed, white-washed and began to paint the interior walls, sloped the front of the church where the steps will be build and cleared what I thought was just vacant property...which was really a side-walk that had been buried under debris. We should finish there tomorrow. Mr. Aur and I are meeting with some people this afternoon to look for some other experiences. I will let you know how that goes in tomorrow's blog.
While we were there some guy stopped to ask who we were and what we were doing. He left and showed up a bit later with his overtly reluctent son to help us, left again and came back later with tools and two of his son's friends. By the time we left we were also joined by another family who lived in the area. So that was really cool. Good will is contagious. Hopefully the boys will remember that.
Last night the boys were dropped off by even a greater number of girls, imagine that. We invited them to come and have night prayer with us, which they did. It was really nice. I think that will be a tradition.
Today for lunch, Ricardo's parents invited us to lunch. So our big yellow school bus pulled into a small quiet sub-division and hot smelly boys piled out. I think that was a get out of purgatory free card also! They had beef tacos and beans. The real treat was ice-cream cones for desert. They are leaving for mission tomorrow. I can't believe they took the time to feed us. When we left they were going to go set up a tent to sleep in.
Thursday night the Brothers have invited all of us over to their house for dinner. I hope they know what they are in for. Brother Rodrigo continues to spoil us. He will not take any money for the bus. Half-way through the morning one of the school workers shows up with soda and a cooler of ice for us, again Rodrigo. When we got back to the house, there were 10 cases of bottled water stacked in the kitchen. The many kindnesses just don't stop.
I am posting photos now. So check flickr.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Monday of Holy Week
We finished late again last night, we burned the past and cleansed ourselves for the future. The student leaders (who are the returning missionaries) now think all is right with the world.
Some of them were starving after prayer. Thank goodness my favorite taco stand in the city is just a few blocks away and open until 2:00 in the morning. McDonald's is open until 3:00. A different culture to be sure.
We woke up at 6:00 and began our chores at 6:15...cleaning bathrooms, cooking, sweeping...everything we would do in the villages. We had Zucaritas for breakfast (read Kellogg's corn flakes) at 6:45. We began morning prayer at 7:15 (usually it will be at 6:15, but today the prayer leaders asked for a longer time. We walked to the parish for 8:00 Mass. The boys were blessed again and Father told the congregation what we were doing here and that mission was cancelled so we are working on one of the churches in a poor neighborhood. So everyone applauded and Father sprinkled us with holy water. After Mass, he asked if some of the people could drive us to the other church...we had more volunteers than kids. So Chris is with them. Didier is looking work gloves. I hope they all put on sun-screen. The sun is just as intense in town as it is in the villages, maybe more so since with are further South. I can not tell you how many people have said: any thing you need just call. Unlike when you here that most of the time, these people actually give you their phone number!
Tonight we are going to try to get them to bed by 10:30, if they aren't asleep before that. People here don't even start thinking dinner until after 8:00. But I think the boys will be ready for both food and sleep!
Ana Maria's Daughter Rachel took Di and I to Sam's Club to lay-in more supplies. Yesterday we hit Costco, but feeding 25 growing boys takes food and lots of it.
Some of them were starving after prayer. Thank goodness my favorite taco stand in the city is just a few blocks away and open until 2:00 in the morning. McDonald's is open until 3:00. A different culture to be sure.
We woke up at 6:00 and began our chores at 6:15...cleaning bathrooms, cooking, sweeping...everything we would do in the villages. We had Zucaritas for breakfast (read Kellogg's corn flakes) at 6:45. We began morning prayer at 7:15 (usually it will be at 6:15, but today the prayer leaders asked for a longer time. We walked to the parish for 8:00 Mass. The boys were blessed again and Father told the congregation what we were doing here and that mission was cancelled so we are working on one of the churches in a poor neighborhood. So everyone applauded and Father sprinkled us with holy water. After Mass, he asked if some of the people could drive us to the other church...we had more volunteers than kids. So Chris is with them. Didier is looking work gloves. I hope they all put on sun-screen. The sun is just as intense in town as it is in the villages, maybe more so since with are further South. I can not tell you how many people have said: any thing you need just call. Unlike when you here that most of the time, these people actually give you their phone number!
Tonight we are going to try to get them to bed by 10:30, if they aren't asleep before that. People here don't even start thinking dinner until after 8:00. But I think the boys will be ready for both food and sleep!
Ana Maria's Daughter Rachel took Di and I to Sam's Club to lay-in more supplies. Yesterday we hit Costco, but feeding 25 growing boys takes food and lots of it.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Palm Sunday
I don't even know where to start with this. So I will just start writing and see where it goes. But as you read, just keep in mind that there are many sides to everything and the reality slides between all of them. Last night a group of boys came to the leaders and said they didn't like the way things were going and wanted to leave. The main concerns were after a day and a half, that this wasn't the trip that they signed up for, since we could no longer go to the villages; there was too much free time; there weren't enough spiritual activities and there were things going on with which they weren't comfortable. I think all of the concerns were at least partially valid.
Next: First, we met with all of the boys and talked to any one who wanted talk individually. I spoke with all of the boys from O'Hara. Then each school met as a group. The consensus was that we need to stay and work this out. This decision reflected not only our personal growth, but concern for the students at Regis, who have been so hospitable and worked so long on mission. The other side of the proverbial coin: service is an individual activity, person to person, and can be small but still meaningful (like distributing the left over hamburgers to the homeless, which happened); that the free time was valuable because it gave people time to discover the Mexican culture honors family, hospitality and friendships; there has been time for personal prayer and reflection and since it was open ended, could have been as much as anyone wanted; some people did not get into a situation with which they were uncomfortable (especially the people who were visiting the cathedral and had no idea what all the fuss was about). Anyway about 4:00 this morning we decided to make this work. So thanks for your prayers!
We reworked today, moving back Mass time until noon and time with our hosts until 3:00. We brought donuts in and the returning missionaries worked on some ideas. At 8:00 tonight we will begin the master plan. We opened the afternoon because some of the kids already had committed to go visit a group foster home as a Fraternity service project. As I said, there were two side to the story. For some people a lot of very positive things have happened.
After Mass this morning, Ana Lopez had the mission cross for Cerro Blanco blessed, along with the Bible and misc. church articles including a plaque of Saint James (the name of the parish). Father also blessed the boys...and wow, it worked. He also invited us to all the parish services including daily morning Mass. Ana Maria and both Ricardo's parents were also at Mass. So I filled them in on the happenings of last night. A phone call later and Ricardo's mother received permission from her mission group for us to accompany them all week. They are working in one of the neighborhoods not far from here painting houses and fixing things in homes in one of the poorer areas of town. Ana Lopez and Ana Maria have volunteered to shuttle us to the other school to meet the other group. So that takes care of service every day from 9:00 to 5:00. We still will meet our fraternities every day. Monday for an Olympiad, similar to what we would do in the villages on Wednesdays. On Tuesday we will do the fiesta popular which usually occurs on Holy Saturday. Wednesday, our normal day of retreat is replaced by Fraternity Day, which with be a prayer day and dinner out with the fraternity (usually Easter Sunday). Thursday will be the washing of the feet and adoration until 11:00 pm. Good Friday, each Fraternity will have responsibility for a station beginning in the late afternoon. Saturday is the blessing of the fire, in the morning we are hoping to invite some of the remaining Fraternity members for discussion and recreation. And Easter Sunday, after Mass, the Fraternities had already scheduled a day of service at a nursing home. Maybe God was just waiting for a re-commitment. We would leave for Tucson on Monday as scheduled. Brother Rodrigo also has another lead for service at a children's group home. If that comes through we will try to send some people there.
This morning I met with the returning missionaries and we have established prayer groups to lead prayer and work groups to keep the house clean. We will cook more meals here and will have to pack lunches. Tonight we are going to meet with both groups together and talk about both the positive and negative things that have happened. We will then ritualize the putting of the bad behind us and celebrate the commitment we will make together to move forward. The leadership group is putting that all together.
By the way, in case you were wondering...the hamburgers weren't so bad. They had fresh bakery buns!
Next: First, we met with all of the boys and talked to any one who wanted talk individually. I spoke with all of the boys from O'Hara. Then each school met as a group. The consensus was that we need to stay and work this out. This decision reflected not only our personal growth, but concern for the students at Regis, who have been so hospitable and worked so long on mission. The other side of the proverbial coin: service is an individual activity, person to person, and can be small but still meaningful (like distributing the left over hamburgers to the homeless, which happened); that the free time was valuable because it gave people time to discover the Mexican culture honors family, hospitality and friendships; there has been time for personal prayer and reflection and since it was open ended, could have been as much as anyone wanted; some people did not get into a situation with which they were uncomfortable (especially the people who were visiting the cathedral and had no idea what all the fuss was about). Anyway about 4:00 this morning we decided to make this work. So thanks for your prayers!
We reworked today, moving back Mass time until noon and time with our hosts until 3:00. We brought donuts in and the returning missionaries worked on some ideas. At 8:00 tonight we will begin the master plan. We opened the afternoon because some of the kids already had committed to go visit a group foster home as a Fraternity service project. As I said, there were two side to the story. For some people a lot of very positive things have happened.
After Mass this morning, Ana Lopez had the mission cross for Cerro Blanco blessed, along with the Bible and misc. church articles including a plaque of Saint James (the name of the parish). Father also blessed the boys...and wow, it worked. He also invited us to all the parish services including daily morning Mass. Ana Maria and both Ricardo's parents were also at Mass. So I filled them in on the happenings of last night. A phone call later and Ricardo's mother received permission from her mission group for us to accompany them all week. They are working in one of the neighborhoods not far from here painting houses and fixing things in homes in one of the poorer areas of town. Ana Lopez and Ana Maria have volunteered to shuttle us to the other school to meet the other group. So that takes care of service every day from 9:00 to 5:00. We still will meet our fraternities every day. Monday for an Olympiad, similar to what we would do in the villages on Wednesdays. On Tuesday we will do the fiesta popular which usually occurs on Holy Saturday. Wednesday, our normal day of retreat is replaced by Fraternity Day, which with be a prayer day and dinner out with the fraternity (usually Easter Sunday). Thursday will be the washing of the feet and adoration until 11:00 pm. Good Friday, each Fraternity will have responsibility for a station beginning in the late afternoon. Saturday is the blessing of the fire, in the morning we are hoping to invite some of the remaining Fraternity members for discussion and recreation. And Easter Sunday, after Mass, the Fraternities had already scheduled a day of service at a nursing home. Maybe God was just waiting for a re-commitment. We would leave for Tucson on Monday as scheduled. Brother Rodrigo also has another lead for service at a children's group home. If that comes through we will try to send some people there.
This morning I met with the returning missionaries and we have established prayer groups to lead prayer and work groups to keep the house clean. We will cook more meals here and will have to pack lunches. Tonight we are going to meet with both groups together and talk about both the positive and negative things that have happened. We will then ritualize the putting of the bad behind us and celebrate the commitment we will make together to move forward. The leadership group is putting that all together.
By the way, in case you were wondering...the hamburgers weren't so bad. They had fresh bakery buns!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Saturday Noon
I am fighting off my first nap of the day...or at least trying to hold off until the official siesta time! Many of the boys went out to dinner with either their whole fraternity or several larger groups last night. Some went to restaurants and others went to homes. A couple of them experienced the famous "burro", which is a burrito as large as your forearm. We are not going hungry!!!!!!!!
Last night all of the boys were back to school by 11:00. One of them said that the people that they were with were going to a party after they dropped him off...and I said that is exactly the reason that they were dropped off. Didier, Chris and I were at Andres' parents last night for dinner with the other Brothers, Ana Marie and Rolando's parents. Andres and Rolando are exchange students who are in Jefferson City. Well, their kids were just leaving for parties at 10:00 at night. It is a whole different culture. More European in that late night thing. More on that later.
At 11:00 we had night prayer. I had ask the kids at morning prayer to think about the accountability held by the first world countries for many of the problems which exist in developing countries. I told them one of the results is that we are in Hermosillo rather than the villages. The drug war in some respects is because of America's drug habit. We aren't pulling the triggers, but...we are the market that is being fought for. And what is the real cost of having roses in February for Valentine's day. Or a diamond in that engagement ring...or $2.50 gasoline in our tanks. These things are subsidized by the poor in many countries. So I asked them to reflect on their lifestyles throughout the day. Then last night we prayed our day and then they went off with their Bibles and journals to write down their reflections. Just to let you know, they prayed for you, knowing you are worrying about them. I am very proud of the way they are really trying to make the best of all the change in plans. As one of you wrote: God knew about the mission being cancelled even before we came, yet we came, so this is part of a greater plan. So, I am trying to get the boys to figure out what the plan is for them. Yesterday morning while I was blogging the boys knew we were supposed to have prayer...so they went into the chapel by themselves and one of them lead the prayer...with out us. So stuff is happening. It is what they do when we aren't looking that really is indicative of what kind of kids they are. And they are making you all proud so far!
We had morning prayer this morning at 8:00 and then off to taqueria El Chino, yes that does translate into the Chinaman's taco stand. The boys are getting very adventurous in their menu choices. Some had beans for breakfast others have taken a liking to tongue. Today they branched out from barbacoa and cabeza to chicharones. I didn't have the heart to tell them what that was...but it is boiled pork rind in either red or green sauce. Pretty fatty. Pork rind, like all food should be fried to be properly enjoyed!
Didier and I met with about 11 families for 2 hours this morning. They are all interested in sending their children to either O'Hara or Helias. We talked about the schools and the cultural differences. I told them that I didn't know of a family who didn't have an 11 or 12 pm curfew for their kids...not just sending them out then. The parents like that. We had a really good conversation. Some of the parents had been exchange students themselves, so naturally want that experience for their children. Being bi-lingual has so many advantages, especially here in Mexico for both higher education and career choices. We tried to explain our difficulty is really finding host families. So start spreading the word. We are working on a meeting time so these students can meet our boys. Not all of them are on mission, most are. But I thought a more focused time would be good. They can introduce each other and hear about the schools for a student perspective. O'Hara has a student down here this year, so I as sure they have heard stories from him. But a variety of perspectives is always better.
We are probably headed for our worst meal yet...hamburgers at 1:30. Ick. We should have the final schedule for the week today. Some of the kids saw it last night. We will decide then what to do. I already know the kids want to stay. It seems that over half the kids will be here next week...so there will be at least 150 kids around.
The parents I was with last night lamented the cancellation of the mission, they pretty much said what we have been hearing from everyone, that the area we are in and were going to weren't the problems, but they said some parts of Mexico have gotten dangerous, so they too, said it is better to error on the side of caution.
The people have been wonderful hosts. Even the parents at the meeting this morning said if we need more hosts for the kids, just to call them. So we are being well cared for. I'll try to get more photos posted today.
Last night all of the boys were back to school by 11:00. One of them said that the people that they were with were going to a party after they dropped him off...and I said that is exactly the reason that they were dropped off. Didier, Chris and I were at Andres' parents last night for dinner with the other Brothers, Ana Marie and Rolando's parents. Andres and Rolando are exchange students who are in Jefferson City. Well, their kids were just leaving for parties at 10:00 at night. It is a whole different culture. More European in that late night thing. More on that later.
At 11:00 we had night prayer. I had ask the kids at morning prayer to think about the accountability held by the first world countries for many of the problems which exist in developing countries. I told them one of the results is that we are in Hermosillo rather than the villages. The drug war in some respects is because of America's drug habit. We aren't pulling the triggers, but...we are the market that is being fought for. And what is the real cost of having roses in February for Valentine's day. Or a diamond in that engagement ring...or $2.50 gasoline in our tanks. These things are subsidized by the poor in many countries. So I asked them to reflect on their lifestyles throughout the day. Then last night we prayed our day and then they went off with their Bibles and journals to write down their reflections. Just to let you know, they prayed for you, knowing you are worrying about them. I am very proud of the way they are really trying to make the best of all the change in plans. As one of you wrote: God knew about the mission being cancelled even before we came, yet we came, so this is part of a greater plan. So, I am trying to get the boys to figure out what the plan is for them. Yesterday morning while I was blogging the boys knew we were supposed to have prayer...so they went into the chapel by themselves and one of them lead the prayer...with out us. So stuff is happening. It is what they do when we aren't looking that really is indicative of what kind of kids they are. And they are making you all proud so far!
We had morning prayer this morning at 8:00 and then off to taqueria El Chino, yes that does translate into the Chinaman's taco stand. The boys are getting very adventurous in their menu choices. Some had beans for breakfast others have taken a liking to tongue. Today they branched out from barbacoa and cabeza to chicharones. I didn't have the heart to tell them what that was...but it is boiled pork rind in either red or green sauce. Pretty fatty. Pork rind, like all food should be fried to be properly enjoyed!
Didier and I met with about 11 families for 2 hours this morning. They are all interested in sending their children to either O'Hara or Helias. We talked about the schools and the cultural differences. I told them that I didn't know of a family who didn't have an 11 or 12 pm curfew for their kids...not just sending them out then. The parents like that. We had a really good conversation. Some of the parents had been exchange students themselves, so naturally want that experience for their children. Being bi-lingual has so many advantages, especially here in Mexico for both higher education and career choices. We tried to explain our difficulty is really finding host families. So start spreading the word. We are working on a meeting time so these students can meet our boys. Not all of them are on mission, most are. But I thought a more focused time would be good. They can introduce each other and hear about the schools for a student perspective. O'Hara has a student down here this year, so I as sure they have heard stories from him. But a variety of perspectives is always better.
We are probably headed for our worst meal yet...hamburgers at 1:30. Ick. We should have the final schedule for the week today. Some of the kids saw it last night. We will decide then what to do. I already know the kids want to stay. It seems that over half the kids will be here next week...so there will be at least 150 kids around.
The parents I was with last night lamented the cancellation of the mission, they pretty much said what we have been hearing from everyone, that the area we are in and were going to weren't the problems, but they said some parts of Mexico have gotten dangerous, so they too, said it is better to error on the side of caution.
The people have been wonderful hosts. Even the parents at the meeting this morning said if we need more hosts for the kids, just to call them. So we are being well cared for. I'll try to get more photos posted today.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Friday Afternoon
All of the boys arrived back to school around 4:30 with great enthusiasm. Most of them ate at the homes of their host families...either fish or shrimp tacos. All of them said they were great.
According to my i-touch, it was about 90 today. The sun was pretty intense, but there was a breeze. It cools off quickly as the sun sets. A couple of the guys said they were cold last night. I thought is was wonderful, although I did wake up this morning with a blanket around me.
They are with their fraternities now, by the village there were supposed to be at. They are preparing for next week. They have hung the banners they had prepared for the fiesta popular, which would have been a week from tomorrow. So the school looks like it is dressed for a parade. They are getting their mission tee-shirts this afternoon. So they are trying to make this as real as they can. The boys seem to be mixing well and are trying to be girl magnets. But again, there are a lot more girls than boys.
The high school students (grades 7,8 and 9 they moved the parenthesis and the spell check is in Spanish. Anyway, they had their mission cancelled as well, so they are camping in the school tonight as part of a overnight retreat.
Just a little background here. Usually, while the kids go on mission, the parents go on vacation. So they weren't planning to be home next week. Now with the change, some of the parents are taking their kids with them. About half of the kids will still be here however, so it seems that they are planning events throughout next week.
I have also contacted Jerry Meyer, who taught at O'Hara and is now in Tucson. He is working on service and rooms for next week, just in case we might need them. So we do have a back-up plan in the works.
Mr. Aur and Anna Lopez are trying to get concrete to CerroBlanco, probably this week-end, so the men can work on it during their Easter vacation. As suspected, the violence that cancelled the mission, really isn't in the area we normally go. So life will go on there, just without us.
I am posting a few photos on flickr. The address is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/msafari
According to my i-touch, it was about 90 today. The sun was pretty intense, but there was a breeze. It cools off quickly as the sun sets. A couple of the guys said they were cold last night. I thought is was wonderful, although I did wake up this morning with a blanket around me.
They are with their fraternities now, by the village there were supposed to be at. They are preparing for next week. They have hung the banners they had prepared for the fiesta popular, which would have been a week from tomorrow. So the school looks like it is dressed for a parade. They are getting their mission tee-shirts this afternoon. So they are trying to make this as real as they can. The boys seem to be mixing well and are trying to be girl magnets. But again, there are a lot more girls than boys.
The high school students (grades 7,8 and 9 they moved the parenthesis and the spell check is in Spanish. Anyway, they had their mission cancelled as well, so they are camping in the school tonight as part of a overnight retreat.
Just a little background here. Usually, while the kids go on mission, the parents go on vacation. So they weren't planning to be home next week. Now with the change, some of the parents are taking their kids with them. About half of the kids will still be here however, so it seems that they are planning events throughout next week.
I have also contacted Jerry Meyer, who taught at O'Hara and is now in Tucson. He is working on service and rooms for next week, just in case we might need them. So we do have a back-up plan in the works.
Mr. Aur and Anna Lopez are trying to get concrete to CerroBlanco, probably this week-end, so the men can work on it during their Easter vacation. As suspected, the violence that cancelled the mission, really isn't in the area we normally go. So life will go on there, just without us.
I am posting a few photos on flickr. The address is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/msafari
Friday Morning
Good Morning.
The boys were up way, way too early this morning. School starts here at 7:00. But long before that the sky was a beautiful blue, which I haven´t seen in months in K.C. The morning doves were doing their thing...and in general all was in bliss. Then the kids started to come to school...all 2000 of them.
Around 8:00 hunger struck! With the help of Javier, who goes to school in Jeff City, we walked to the local taqueria. Where ever you see a word associated with meat, just think fish. Anyway, I digress. Hermosillo is a beautiful city. The streets in this neighborhood are lined with palm trees and the centers of the boulevards are planted with orange trees. The morning is cool, but getting warmer by the minute. The taqueria was awesome, it is on the corner and open-air...and busy. Always a good sign. They had barbacoa, lengua, cabeza and a couple other choices. So for the picky eaters, who wouldn't try the beans last night, had tongue tacos for breakfast...a liked them! They thought we were just kidding, then slowly they realized that we weren't. Barbacoa is the meat scraped off the cows skull...very tasty and tender. But it is a common persons breakfast.
We went to a bank and exchanged money...so they all have some pesos in their pockets. Next to the back was a little strip of businesses: Dominoes, Blockbuster, Subway and Baskin Robbins. Globalization in action.
We are back at school. The boys are watching a soccer game at school. It is 10:40 here and the school kids just finished break, so they were here socializing.
Last night, the Correl´s (Javier´s parents) provided dinner. It was here at school by the swimming pool. The boys loved it...again, tacos and beans. But what tacos. Just remove all the awful things that are called tacos by franchises started in Wichita. These leave juices running down your arm. Wow!
The point of the last paragraph was to let you know the evolving plan, but I got hung up on food as usual. We are having the boys spend every night we are here at the school with a curfew of 11:00. I told them if they are late, they will be grounded the next day. They will eat lunch and dinner with their host families and shower, etc. there. But every night they come back here. We will arrange breakfasts, etc. as needed.
You probably know this, but teenage boys stink. We are in the newly remodeled pastoral center, which is the old Brother´s house. They have turned the old bedrooms into dormitories, so the boys are all in two rooms. And when they took off their shoes, my God, it was rank. They finally put their shoes in the hall. But by this morning, thanks to cross-ventilation and lots of deodorant being applied, at least my eyes didn't water when I walked in.
Today at 12:30 the boys will go with their hosts to lunch. At 4:30 they will be back here in their fraternities to do some prep for next week and then at least some of the fraternities are having dinner together.
As bad as my day was yesterday, poor Richy, who is in charge of missions, it was was worse. He was devastated. They have prepared a year for this. Tee-shirts were printed. Food purchased, medicine kits stocked. Well, the kids found out yesterday at 7:00 am when they arrived at school. All the girls were crying, literally. They all called their parents, dang cell-phones. And then their parents all called the school. It was pretty crazy evidently! The Legionnaires of Mary were calling this their Mega-Mission years. They had posters printed, the works. I feel sorry for the kids in all the villages who will not have the missionaries this year.
All of the parents of the exchange students...both K.C. and Jeff have come by schools and told us...anything they can do, just ask. So we know we will be taken care of.
I am having a hard time accessing email. But will keep trying different things. This is proving so much easier. So check often, I will update as much as possible and the plans keep evolving. Keep breathing and praying, but we are all good.
The boys were up way, way too early this morning. School starts here at 7:00. But long before that the sky was a beautiful blue, which I haven´t seen in months in K.C. The morning doves were doing their thing...and in general all was in bliss. Then the kids started to come to school...all 2000 of them.
Around 8:00 hunger struck! With the help of Javier, who goes to school in Jeff City, we walked to the local taqueria. Where ever you see a word associated with meat, just think fish. Anyway, I digress. Hermosillo is a beautiful city. The streets in this neighborhood are lined with palm trees and the centers of the boulevards are planted with orange trees. The morning is cool, but getting warmer by the minute. The taqueria was awesome, it is on the corner and open-air...and busy. Always a good sign. They had barbacoa, lengua, cabeza and a couple other choices. So for the picky eaters, who wouldn't try the beans last night, had tongue tacos for breakfast...a liked them! They thought we were just kidding, then slowly they realized that we weren't. Barbacoa is the meat scraped off the cows skull...very tasty and tender. But it is a common persons breakfast.
We went to a bank and exchanged money...so they all have some pesos in their pockets. Next to the back was a little strip of businesses: Dominoes, Blockbuster, Subway and Baskin Robbins. Globalization in action.
We are back at school. The boys are watching a soccer game at school. It is 10:40 here and the school kids just finished break, so they were here socializing.
Last night, the Correl´s (Javier´s parents) provided dinner. It was here at school by the swimming pool. The boys loved it...again, tacos and beans. But what tacos. Just remove all the awful things that are called tacos by franchises started in Wichita. These leave juices running down your arm. Wow!
The point of the last paragraph was to let you know the evolving plan, but I got hung up on food as usual. We are having the boys spend every night we are here at the school with a curfew of 11:00. I told them if they are late, they will be grounded the next day. They will eat lunch and dinner with their host families and shower, etc. there. But every night they come back here. We will arrange breakfasts, etc. as needed.
You probably know this, but teenage boys stink. We are in the newly remodeled pastoral center, which is the old Brother´s house. They have turned the old bedrooms into dormitories, so the boys are all in two rooms. And when they took off their shoes, my God, it was rank. They finally put their shoes in the hall. But by this morning, thanks to cross-ventilation and lots of deodorant being applied, at least my eyes didn't water when I walked in.
Today at 12:30 the boys will go with their hosts to lunch. At 4:30 they will be back here in their fraternities to do some prep for next week and then at least some of the fraternities are having dinner together.
As bad as my day was yesterday, poor Richy, who is in charge of missions, it was was worse. He was devastated. They have prepared a year for this. Tee-shirts were printed. Food purchased, medicine kits stocked. Well, the kids found out yesterday at 7:00 am when they arrived at school. All the girls were crying, literally. They all called their parents, dang cell-phones. And then their parents all called the school. It was pretty crazy evidently! The Legionnaires of Mary were calling this their Mega-Mission years. They had posters printed, the works. I feel sorry for the kids in all the villages who will not have the missionaries this year.
All of the parents of the exchange students...both K.C. and Jeff have come by schools and told us...anything they can do, just ask. So we know we will be taken care of.
I am having a hard time accessing email. But will keep trying different things. This is proving so much easier. So check often, I will update as much as possible and the plans keep evolving. Keep breathing and praying, but we are all good.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Found a keyboard
I am now on a real computer and can type. It was hard to type on my i-touch. The accessors just met. We will resume discussions tomorrow. This is really sketchy now, but we will have activities at the school until at least next Tuesday. That will give us some breathing room with the airline reservations.
But the trip was fine. We really didn't stop for immigration, just customs. One group had their bags opened the other got through! It is hard to describe the landscape of the Sonoran desert. It is miles and miles with cactii and low lying shrubs. Some wild flowers were blooming, but no trees. The way is punctuated with shrines, which range from the size of a dog house to a much more grand scale model cathedral.
We are off to feed the kids, so will write more tomorrow, when we know more. We are bunting, but all are safe and the kids are already having a great time. Their kids are making the best of it, but the families had made vacation plans for this week, so those too are changing. Tomorrow will tell! But hopefully, you can all breathe a little easier.
But the trip was fine. We really didn't stop for immigration, just customs. One group had their bags opened the other got through! It is hard to describe the landscape of the Sonoran desert. It is miles and miles with cactii and low lying shrubs. Some wild flowers were blooming, but no trees. The way is punctuated with shrines, which range from the size of a dog house to a much more grand scale model cathedral.
We are off to feed the kids, so will write more tomorrow, when we know more. We are bunting, but all are safe and the kids are already having a great time. Their kids are making the best of it, but the families had made vacation plans for this week, so those too are changing. Tomorrow will tell! But hopefully, you can all breathe a little easier.
Arrived
We crossed the border easily at 2:30 and arrived in hermosillo at5:30. Kids were introduced to their groups and it is just like old times. Will have all activities at school. We are being hosted for dinner by exchange students parents.
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