Hello everyone! Just a note tonight to share that we three -- my housemates Emily, Nicole, and I -- arrived in Lima, Peru safe and sound last night at 10:30 pm. Incarnate Word Sisters Silvia and Aelia met us at the airport where we crammed us five and our bags into a cab (guitar on our laps), headed to the sisters' house of hospitality, and shared some bread and tea before falling into bed.
Today has been a great first day here. I accompanied Sr. Silvia to the market and enjoyed the bustling activity, sights and sounds. We also accompanied Sr. Aelia to a neighbor's celebration of the feast day of the patron of her small shop that sells priestly vestments and other religious articles (shop is the Mercederia, patron Mary of Merced). A communion service led by Pierre, a seminarian from Togo, was followed by a lunch of aji de gallina and rice and conversations with the other 10 friends and family present, which was followed by live guitar music/singing of traditional Peruvian music, to which we had to get up and dance to, of course. All this in a smallish, green-painted room that had been converted from Marian shrine to chapel to dining room for the occasion. The spontaneity, warmth, and joy of the gathering made us all feel welcome -- I even contributed a song of my own on the guitar (and then tried to translate the lyrics :)).
A walk to the ocean and back (about a mile total), a lively daily mass at the local church with a beautiful dome, and some more tea and bread with Sr. Aelia have finished out the day. Sr. Aelia is 82 years old, from the US. Sr. Silvia is about 30 and is from Peru.
It turns out that we will be heading to our home base, Chimbote, sooner than we thought -- tomorrow, in fact! We're excited and curious to see our new home.
A final thought, from the book Gracias by Henri Nouwen. In discussing liberation theology, he quotes Gustavo Guitierrez that real, practical theology shouldn't start in the head but instead in a lived experience of Christ -- "We don't think ourselves into a new way of living, but instead live ourselves into a new way of thinking." Seems simple, but how often do we avoid choices in our live that might force us to think, and maybe to change?
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2 comments:
I am so happy to hear that you are safe and have enjoyed your first day so far. It is so easy to see how easily they have made you feel warm and welcome. It's hard not to feel your excitement. I look forward to reading more about your life in Chimbote! I pray for the continued safety, warmth, and joy for you and your fellow missionaries!
Love,
Michi
Dad and I have loved your blog so far! How wonderful to have such contact with you from so far away! Your first day in Peru sounds really fun and very welcoming. Can't wait to hear about your trip to Chimbote and about your new "home." Happy settling in! Blessings on you and your new housemates! We love you, Mom/Mary Lou
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