Some Catching up...November

Hello again! Except for a very brief entry in mid December, I have not managed to post much about my life here, which is not to say that things have been dull. On the contrary (as you may have noticed), as I get more involved in life here, I find it more difficult to sit down and write about it. This is a first 2-3 entries attempting to download some details about the last couple months.

Beginning with November...

CONFIRMATION RETREAT AND MASS
With the group of 35 high-school age youth (whose comments you may have read in previous entries) we held an overnight retreat Nov 8-9 and celebrated a confirmation mass on Sunday, November 23. I was more involved this year in organizing the retreat (transportation, materials, etc), though a team of two guys (Soto, Tino) from the parish who lead youth retreats for a living led the actual talks, dramas, music, etc. Memorable moments, after waiting two hours for the team to show up :), included a campfire songfest with Soto, Tino and my friend Roger. After a number of songs with actions, of prayer, etc that are common in youth settings, the girls and boys had an informal singing competition. With a few seconds to think, the group(girls, then guys) had to sing the chorus of a song in unison. Whichever gender did it better or louder, won that round. First, the theme was 'guys/girls are the cause of pain` type songs, followed by numerous rounds of love songs back and forth. This must have gone on for 30-45 minutes -- definitely a musical culture!

Second, the leaders had invited parents to come on Sunday morning as a surprise to youth, preparing the young people for a reunion with reflections on family life, how they treat their parents, and finally with letters that parents had written beforehand. The moment of reunion was moving for most involved, with tears on old and young faces alike. Many of the parents had been very reluctant to let their children (especially the girls) participate, they having never slept outside the house before, and Yuri (coordinator) and I had to make a few house visits to ease parental concerns in the days before the event. Another notable aspect of the whole experience was the relatively short time in which the retreat was organized, parents informed, etc. With less opportunities and activities to be involved in, youth did not have the conflicts that arise in US parishes -- some of the parents only found out a few days ahead of time when we visited their homes. The experience of accompanying this group of young people for a few months as they learned and grew closer to each other was an enriching aspect to my year here, in this aspect resembling the Confirmation process in the US. Though I will not be here for the next retreat or Mass, I plan to help with the new group when it begins in April until I leave in September.
(For more photos from the retreat, follow this linkhttp://toddsiwmphotos.shutterfly.com/2427)

The Confirmation Mass was, as in the US, a joyful occasion for all on the late Sunday afternoon of November 23. Girls wore nice pearl colored dresses and guys shirts and ties, several kids showed up after the Mass had begun, there was a party and dance in the hall afterward, and we leaders were in charge of keeping the eager family photographers from overwhelming the bishop at the altar during administration of the sacrament. Having also served in a similar crowd-control capacity during the morning First Communion mass, it wasn`t too stressful.


For more pictures of the Mass, follow this link http://toddsiwmphotos.shutterfly.com/2456.

TRIP TO ECUADOR
Soon after the busy schedule of wrapping up the several month Confirmation process, we four missionaries embarked for an all-night bus ride to Machala, Ecuador -- the motive being to get the girls` religious/residency visas to replace their temporary tourist visas. You might remember that Nicole, Emily and I made a similar trip in November of 2007, and I technically did not have to go again. But, we decided that my previous experience would be helpful and that the trip would be good community bonding. This year, however, we made a couple strategic errors: arriving on a Friday and not calling in advance. These errors were key because the Consul, who needed to sign our visas, was out of town until Tuesday morning and we were left with no option but to stay three extra nights in Machala, the self-proclaimed banana capital of the world. In this pleasant but not overly-interesting (in a tourist sense) city in far south Ecuador, we spent our time reading and watching cable TV movies and CNN when we weren`t on our outing to the mall (wonder of wonders), the beach, or cruising around the small downtown with its very attractive main plaza. The beach was a treat, involving a short bus ride and then a boat ride through mangrove swamp from the harbor to the beach.

The trip ended successfully with the girls getting their visas, though through a misunderstanding with the hotel staff we had agreed to a price more than double what we thought. Photos from our adventure in Ecuador (where it is hotter but they use ice in their blended drinks) can be found by following the photo link at right.

More later, as my internet time is about to expire...
God bless!

New Photos

Hello everyone! After a decent absence, a short entry for now to let you know that I`ve posted some photos from the past couple months on my photo site, link at right.

Life has been full here, as I prepare for my second Peruvian Christmas. Also since my last entry, we had our Confirmation and first communion masses, a trip to Ecuador with Jane/Julie/Courtney to get their residency visas, our youth council shopped for, made, and sold 300 panetones (1 kg sweet bread, super popular here for Christmas time), we`re preparing a Christmas music concert and Christmas play with our young people (including our English students singing some English carols). My internet time a this moment is running out, but soon I will write some more details and reflections. God bless.

Peruvian youth: What do you know about the US?

I asked Confirmation youth here in our parish (14-18 years old) to answer a few questions about themselves in order to begin an interchange with Confirmation youth from my former parish in Corvallis, Oregon. In this entry I have posted their responses to the question of what they know about the US, and in the previous entry I share what they like and dislike about Peru.

What do you know about the United States?
That it is a globalized country and is very developed as much in technology as in its people.

That is is a very big country, with a lot of people with charitable spirits.

Well, it is a country that is very developed in all aspects.

nothing

It is a country that is considered the greatest world power that has an excellent government that helps the country advance more and more each day.

I know that it was the first country to develop and libertate itself in all aspects in respect to the 13 colonies, and that this stimulated Latin America to be free. There is acid rain there and it is polluted; in truth I know a lot of other things also.

That it is very beautiful, very well organized, and has a good government.

Well, I just know that there a lot differences between the United States and Peru.

That it is very populated, developed, orderly, nice, and has big universities and casinos.

That it is a very developed country with the most opportunity of any country in the world.

Well, I only know that it is nice there. I have an uncle who lives there in the United States.

That it is a very developed country, technological, but like all countries has defect; but very beautiful.

That it`s a very nice country, the majority speak English but like latin features and customs, the same as we like their features and customs, and that it is a very developed country.

That it is a very modern country with a lot of technology, and with many nice people.

It is a very big country that has a lot of work and opportunities,, and there is a lot of technology.

Well, that it is a developed country and that the things there are good in comparison to the things in Peru.

It`s a country, considered the biggest world power, that has an excellent government that helps the country move forward each day

It is very beautiful and calm, there are many pretty things.

That it is a very developed country, it has a lot of riches, it is very beautiful, and it is very big.

That it is a very beautiful country, orderly and very clean. In addition it is very beautiful and that there are many beaches and casinos there.

That it was a world power and that currently it has been surpassed by Japan.

The United States is a country of many qualities (riches, poverty, good wellbeing); mostly I hear that it is a country that is very advanced, full of free people, work can be found, it has a good government, very civilized country and very developed. Although sometimes Peruvians there are a little discriminated against and treated poorly, but only in their work.

That it is one of the biggest countries in economic development, it’s another life. My dream is to be able to step on a soccer field there.

That it is big, beautiful, full of hard-working people, but they don`t have time for God.

That it is one of the most important countries in the world and that it has an economy that is very stable. That it supports many Latin American countries.

That it is a great world power, that it participated in World War II, that it had a rivalry with the Soviet Union, in the 90`s its economy was very good.

That it is a very nice country, they speak English, the people that live in the United States are kind and good.

I don`t know anything.

nothing

That it is an underdeveloped country, with a lot of technology and it offers jobs.

That it is a very developed country.

That it is a very developed country, very nice, big, and its language is English

I think it is an important country where there is work, and I think it is a country that is very far ahead.

Peruvian youth: What do you like/dislike about Peru?

As I mentioned in my previous entry, I asked Confirmation youth (14-18 years old) to answer a few questions about themselves in order to begin an interchange with Confirmation youth from my former parish in Corvallis, Oregon. Below I share their responses to a couple of the questions:

What do you like about your country?
I haven´t visited every part, but it´s a country very rich in natural resources, architecture, its people.

Well, almost nothing.

That we have many riches to share and our people.

The traditional food, the groups of people and dancing

It`s people, customs, cities like Mancora, Lima, etc.

I like the customs.

I like the archeological sites

I like all things we grow here and our cultures.

I like the tourist places.

I like its landscapes, its museums of the great cultures that it had, Cuzco (Machu Picchu).

I like it`s tourist and recreation sites.

I like its people, their way of treating others.

I like the landscapes, the food, and the people.

It has places for recreation, tourist sites, and good food.

What I like about my country is that Peru is the only country that has such a diversity of cultures, beautiful places, etc.

That it has a variety of tourist attractions.

I like its mysteries.

I like the people.

I like our food.

Well, about my country, I like the beaches (Mancora), its museums (like the Lord of Sipàn), the ruins of Machu Picchu (Cusco), and all that is related to the Incan culture.

I like Machu Picchu since it is a wonder that is in our country.

I like its people, its recreation centers, everything there is here.

Almost nothing

I like that Peruvians are hardworkers.

I like the tourist sites that exist.

Machu Picchu and Cuzco.

What I like about this country is Machu Picchu.

What I like are its tourist sites, beautiful places to visit, and the food.

I like the food and dancing.

I like the climate and Peruvian food.

The great riches that we have, like for example, Machu Picchu, and the food is delicious.


What changes would you like to see in Peru?

In truth, a lot more work, opportunities, and that poverty stops.

I would like that the governors change so that the people might be able to change.

That it would be cleaner and that we would take better care of our riches.

I would like there to be no corruption, violence, etc.

I wish that the politics were more clean, just, and not corrupt.

I would like to change the social and economic aspects, and the politics of the whole government

I would like it if there were no more crime and delinquency.

I wish that there were no gangs.

I would like there to be more order in Peru so that there could be more development and progress and also that there wouldn`t be so much gang activity.

I would like to see all the change that is possible.

I would like there to be no deliquency or crime, and that the people here would change.

I would change the pollution and the bad leaders of the state (presidents).

I don`t like the crime and delinquency, the pollution.

I would to see the following changes: no crime or delinquency, no gangs, no poverty, etc.

I would like it to be more united, respectful, and that people would say no to injustice and corruption.

I would like to see my country more united and that there wouldn`t be people who are indifferent to the needs of others.

I would like the politics to change

I wish it would be more calm and with a lot of peace.

I would like there to be more work opportunities that jobs would pay well.

I would like there to be no gangs, for it to be cleaner so that it could develop more.

What I would like to see changed is that foreigners aren`t taken advantage of and that they treat them in a friendly way.

I would make changes in the form of government, in that they would do a little more of what we as citizens do in order that Peru could grow more.

Perhaps if there were social changes or improvements in politics.

I would like that there would be nobody in gangs and that that everyone would know how to read.

I would like to see more opportunity for Peruvians and foreigners to visit the tourist sites

I would like there to be no poverty.

I would like to change the president.

The changes that should happen are that there should be more organizations that take care of the natural environment.

more work and help for the most needy

I would like to see changes in the conduct of our citizens, that they would have more love for their country an take care of and value it, not make it dirtier.

I would like to see less poverty and environmental pollution.

Un Halloween Peruano

Greetings! Some snapshots of events since my entry on October 30:

HALLOWEEN/DIA DE LA CANCIÒN CRIOLLA
Although the US customs of Halloween (costumes, mostly) have made small inroads here, the primary celebration on October 31 is Criolla (Peruvian Spanish) Music day, in which this style of music -- usually slow-tempo, with a lot of intricate guitar work and a cajòn drum (which is a box you sit on an hit with your hands) -- is celebrated. Also, the fact that the following day, November 1, is a national holiday due to being All Saints Day gives more reason to celebrate late into the night (Peruvians don`t need much push in that area). Our choir planned a social event, though in typical style the nature of our outing was in doubt until the day before, when we decided to have a party in the house of Alex (a friend of mine and a member of the choir) instead of braving the crowds at the karaoke places or discotecas. At the designated meeting time of 9:00, a couple people besides myself were present, but by 10:00 a few of the guys were there and they began an impromptu concert in the street outside the house where we rehearse while we were waiting for others. With two guitars and a cajòn they played and sang out on the sidewalk for nearly and hour, me enjoying the live and unique concert and appreciating their substantial guitar skills, wishing I could somehow record such a Peruvian moment. At around 11:00, we walked with instruments to Alex`s where the show continued -- mixed in with CD recordings -- until around 2:00 am. At this point I called it quits and walked home with my friend Roger, but Julie, Jane, and Courtney stayed dancing until nearly 5:00. In typical fashion for our choir (unlike the usual case of US parish choirs, ours is predominantly guys) we were about 10 guys and the only girls were my housemates. A memorable night all in all.

CONFIRMATION GROUP
We are nearing the close of this year`s confirmation program, with the ceremony coming up on November 23. Their initial offerings in the Corvallis-Chimbote interchange have been translated and sent, and in my next entry I plan to share a few of their responses that might interest you. Our one-night retreat took place last weekend, November 8-9, and though was organized a bit last-minute for my taste, the two-man team who led the retreat (a part-time job for them) did a solid job -- they have a gift for being crazy, goofy, funny, prayerful, and powerful at the appropriate moments. On Saturday night we had a bonfire at the retreat center just on the edge of town, with lots of music and singing. For at least a half-hour the girls and guys traded turns singing songs to each other: first `guy hate girl and girl hate guy` songs and then love songs. Then, just general singing to religious and popular music. Par for the course, I didn`t get much sleep. On Sunday morning, youth were presented with letters their parents had written ahead of time and at the closing their parents entered the room for a pre-planned but surprise (for the youth) visit, which for many was a powerful moment of reconciliation.

GENERAL REFLECTIONS
I`ve been missing home a little more recently, the season of fall seems to be when I notice the lack of beloved seasonal rites the most: birthdays, football, fall colors, Thanksgiving, etc. Summer is not here yet, so -- knowing this year the heat that will inevitably come -- I am doing my best to appreciate and savor the still-cool mornings and refreshing breezes. It strikes me that despite the distinctly slower pace of life here compared with the US, it is still quite easy to become involved in the day-to-day of the local community and personal relationships to leave undone efforts to build wider networks or projects for societal change. The gospel today is about the kingdom being among us, and this is a good reminder -- God is already working here. My role isn`t to start from scratch but to notice where the spirit is moving and to nurture/encourage/build on this. Not every moment or every day in any place, ministry, etc. will be gratifying or fulfilling, but if I look attentively I will find small moments to savor. Some of these moments come from the slow but steady progress in the area of guitar playing as I continue my twice weekly lessons with Roger, who is also becoming a good friend. We have changed the time and day so that now Courtney can join Roberto and I in the group. When we are all three practicing different strums, etc, at the same time the sound is a bit discordant, but a joyful one. Yesterday was Julie`s 22nd birthday, and I helped the celebration by preparing a US-style cake from scratch and, with Roberto`s help, a homemade ceviche lunch. Saturday evening the youth council has planned a Festival de la Risa (Festival of Laughter), with several parish groups preparing and rehearsing short comedic skits or routines to share. Also this weekend, Fr. Carlos has arranged for a seminar on parenting, obliging confirmation parents to attend two mornings and one afternoon. It would never work to add an obligatory gathering like that with two weeks notice in a US parish.

Anyway, I`ll sign off. Have a blessed day -- may you savor the small joys.

13 meses...

Greetings from Chimbote,
(Author`s note: After writing this entry, I realize that I have rambled in a haphazard, stream of consciousness type manner. I hope you will forgive the disorganization as I share with you a dumping out of some of my recent thoughts.)

Time seems to go by quickly here, just passed the 13-months-in-Chimbote mark this week, and my time remaining here seems short now rather than long. I am celebrating events and seasons for the second time around now, from a perspective that can only come as a result of the intervening months. A year ago I was still in a sling from my dislocated, looking for where I might be useful, Emily and Nicole were doing my laundry, and I was going on four weeks without a shower, getting ready to start English classes the first week of November, and not really knowing enough people to to have a birthday party. Now, Emily and Nicole are back in the US, I have three great new missionary companions, we have grown in numbers and organization in our English courses, my arm is good and strong, and we just had about 70 people over, with a live band, to celebrate my birthday at 9:00 on a Sunday night. It was actually visits from the two choirs last year for Emily and I`s birthday that began a process of meeting more people in the parish. I have ideas for more projects than there are time for, I have adapted more to the flexible rhythm of life, and have gotten a lot better at subjunctive verb forms. I still miss fall and its rites -- football, leaves, crisp air, etc -- but not as poignantly as last year. I have found a few good friends that I know I will miss, even as I also know I will be excited to return to the US to see and be with family. I missed being with Suzanne, Ryan, Michelle, Mom and Dad as they gathered in Redding during this week when my dad had a major surgery, but the marvels of modern communication have also helped keep us in better touch that we imagined before I came. I am enjoying the guitar lessons from Roger, finally getting a little grasp of the theory behind it all, and still pick up the quena and zampoña now and then. Our JUMIFRA youth council has big plans for advent and Christmas -- posadas, Christmas play, Christmas music concert, Christmas party and gifts for parish children, our own website through a free program offered by the archdiocese -- I`ll be sure to share stories and photos from all this as it comes along. On Sundays, instead of running out into the fields as I do most mornings, I continue my custom of walking past downtown to the ocean (about 30 minutes each way) -- past the honking cars, the combi assistants drumming up business, the elderly ladies selling all shapes and sizes of fresh-baked bread from huge baskets on the street, the greasy feel and smell of the sidewalk along Galvez Street near the market, people stopping for fresh-squeezed orange juice at street stands where the reuse the glasses after a perfunctory rinse, the smell of meat frying and fresh fish all mixing together. There were Sundays last year at this time when, upon arriving at the (very polluted, I now realize) bay, I wondered to myself what the heck I was doing here. Why had I come? I still might not know exactly the end purpose of my stay here in this desert port city, but thoughts of regret stopped coming to me a long while back. I know I have -- and will be -- changed when my time comes to return to the US, even though I struggle when asked to define the exact nature of this change. In a discussion with my housemates this week about our spirituality as missionaries, we agreed that in some ways we are not challenged as much here in our faith: sermons are only occasionally engaging or inspiring (aside from the language issue) and faith of people as a generalization tends to be less intellectual and individual than we are accustomed to in the US, instead the focus being on community, ritual and feast day celebration, and music. The parish here, we are discovering in our survey conversations with youth, has a huge potencial to be a place of gathering for youth: to learn (faith based and otherwise), develop skills (art, music, carpentry, baking, etc), socialize (a safe place to interact with others in a neighborhood and city that holds so many potencial dangers and detours for young people), and work toward societal change (environmental pollution and conservation, less corruption and better use of resources, etc). We have thus far taken a few small steps toward addressing these potencial roles, but so much more could be done (I am finding that even writing this reflection is newly inspiring me to keep striving onward). Though I am sometimes not challenged or inspired intellectually as I might be in a US parish, we agreed that just living here daily challenges us to solidarity, to simplicity (those cold showers will never be easy), to self-reflection on priorities, to a weighing of this new culture -- its positives and negatives -- that I am immersed in. I pray each day that I might be open to what God might want to teach me, that I might have eyes to see and take in even the small details of this gift of an experience, and that somehow I might be able to plant seeds that will someday grow into a harvest of a better, saner, healthier and more just life here in Chimbote, Peru.

Fiesta de San Francisco

Greetings! Before beginning, an editor`s note: Courtney is not from St. Paul, as I mistakenly indicated in my last entry, but from Minneapolos. Apparently there is a rivalry between the two cities, and she wanted to make sure I knew the true site of her origin. I hope that by writing a bit more often, I can avoid the extra-long entries such as last week`s and give a few more details along the way. Within the next few days, I`ll post photos of some of the events described below, but for now a summary...

FIESTA PATRONAL
Last week and weekend was occupied with activities surrounding the parish celebration of its patron saint (St. Francis), and with the parish run by Franciscan priests, the feast holds even more weight. As they do each year, we first had a procession through some of the parish neighborhoods carrying the large platform with the image of St. Francis, accompanied by a band and various parish groups (Confirmation, choirs, prayer groups) and a number of students from the public high school (Santa Marìa Reyna) across the street, many carrying signs. As happened last year, I was drafted to take shifts helping to carry the image, and my memory of the moments of marching through the evening streets, alegre music, watching out for dips in the dirt, the people watching from the houses, is one that will stay with me and return, I hope, each year at this time. In addition to the normal parish festivities, this year a young man named Elmer, who grew up in the parish, was ordained at a Mass on Saturday the 4th, the actual feast day, with a lunch and entertainment following. Youth of the parish were in charge of decorations and of organizing the entertainment for the 500 people who were to attend. Each night during the week about 10 of us gathered to cut out stirofoam letters, paint, etc, and then arrived 6:00 am Saturday to sweep, blow up balloons, make a balloon arch, etc. Our English class performed a song (Here I am, Lord) in English and several of the members helped serve food. They were nervous, but did pretty well -- Jane, Courtney and Julie joined the singing and Jane also performed later with the parish folkloric dance group. Several other individual youth and my choir also sang. We finished the day tired but satisfied. The Saturday ended with a birthday party of one of the girls in my choir, which I departed from `early` at 1:30 a.m. very sleepily.

ONE YEAR REFLECTIONS
On Sunday we rested a bit before going with the confirmation group to a multi-parish youth rally in downtown Chimbote, 3-9 in the afternoon/evening. A few short talks and testimonies, lots of music (with associated actions and dancing) and finally a festive mass to close made for a fun event which was also valuable for me in a reflective sense as I evaluate my goals for the coming year. A few main general goals/plans as to what my next year here might look like...
1)Neighborhood intra-parish youth communities and home visit initiative -- I envision working with current leaders and group members to make personal contact with more youth in the various sectors that the parish serves. Having made personal contact these next three months, I picture inviting them to a retreat during the summer (Jan-March) for the dual purpose of spiritual growth and motivating the formation of small fellowship communities that will continue meeting afterward in their neighborhoods. These small groups would then be a base for continued growth personally for the youth, but also for initiatives concerning the environment, local social change, parish events, etc. As a start, I went out the weekend before this last one with Lenin and Nelly and we had some good conversations with about 12 young people over the course of a couple hours, using a form of our earlier survey which I have modified to provoke a bit of faith-based conversation and discussion.
2)Inter-parish networks for change -- The experience of meeting with youth leaders from various parishes in advance of this weekend`s rally, and seeing the success of the effort (400-500 youth for the first time event), inspired the idea in me to work toward building relationships between these leaders/groups and those of our own parish, especially around issues of common concern (again, pollution comes to mind) as a step to more coordinated church-based effort to effect actual social change. In addition, I believe that if youth see that their church in truth takes real-life problems seriously and is working to improve the world, they may be more likely to see it as worth investing their time in becoming involved. A start would be to go with members of our youth council to visit leaders from other parishes, and then meet together with those who are interested to come up with a common vision. I know the diocese here has monthly meetings for youth workers, but I don`t see much real connection or coordinated efforts.
3)Continue to offer English classes, which can empower and create more opportunities for those who apply themselves to it but has the side benefit of being another way to connect with the parish.
4)Continue to take advantage of opportunities to learn and grow in musical endeavors: guitar, flute, etc. I am learning a lot from Roger and am excited about the opportunitiy to develop this part of me. Julie commented to me in her first couple weeks here about how musical a person I am, which struck me because I have never seen myself in that way. Here, though, I feel more freedom to explore and do what I can, even if I will never sing amazingly.
5)Accompany the confirmation groups, and attempt to initiate a program of follow-up for those who are confirmed, a plan for helping them continue to meet and build on both the fellowship, personal growth, and parish involvement that have definitely grown during their experience of preparation. As in the US as well, it is such a shame to lose that by forgetting about the confirmed youth as soon as the ceremony is over. I hope to take some time to brainstorm and formulate a strategy.
6)Corvallis-Chimbote confirmation interchange. I have had our kids here in the confirmation group fill out forms about who they are, what they like, their impression of their country and of the US, etc, and have had our advanced English students help me translate them. In these next few days I will be sending them via email, with electronic photo, to the confirmation youth in Corvallis -- who are working on a parallel intro-form in English. After translating to Spanish, we will have the first step of a cultural exchange and hopefully continued contact between some of them, to encourage the realization of the larger body of Christ and how people in another part of the world live.

Well, I realize now that though this entry does have more details, it is no shorter than the last one -- sorry! As always, thanks for reading and God bless.