July 16 - Maryuri has been waiting for this day a long time...the day she'll receive Jesus, and - we must be honest - the day she gets to wear the white dress and veil! Thanks to many of you who have sent dresses, she was able to pick out the one she liked.
The evening mass almost didn't happen, due to torrential rains... M. arrived soaked (as did everyone...all the kids walked, and some great distances... hence, not all dress were pure white! One girl couldn't get there... the river was too high).
What REALLY made me happy is that M. and her brother have continued to come to Sunday mass...actually, the whole class still crams into the first two pews each Sunday, even though they don't have to anymore! They are also asking to continue coming to class. We will start a "perseverancia" group with them.... I'm excited!
Palm Sunday; “Jesús” rides a burro into Jinotega
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Sangre de Cristo Church
Above is a 2007 photo of our parish church, Sangre de Cristo (Blood of Christ). The yellow is even dingier now, but it still looks “happy” against our green mountains!
The bus is called the Ruta, and comes by somewhat regularly, between 6.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. We are in the midst of the rainy season, however, and I suspect the Ruta will get to the point where it can’t get out to our area…the potholes are becoming lakes.
Walking is a muddy adventure. I wash my sandals and feet every night to get the mud and cow by-products off. Sr. Charlotte can write sometime about her “baptism by mud and manure!”
The cows don’t share the road with buses and cars… they rule! Big fines if you hit one.
The bus is called the Ruta, and comes by somewhat regularly, between 6.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. We are in the midst of the rainy season, however, and I suspect the Ruta will get to the point where it can’t get out to our area…the potholes are becoming lakes.
Walking is a muddy adventure. I wash my sandals and feet every night to get the mud and cow by-products off. Sr. Charlotte can write sometime about her “baptism by mud and manure!”
The cows don’t share the road with buses and cars… they rule! Big fines if you hit one.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
You can plant a watermelon on the top of my grave...
and let the juice s-s-s-slurp through (old Camp Ho Mita Koda song). Watermelon and S'mores and and cohetes (firecrackers) were our reminders of Independence Day here. The cohetes were actually to celebrate our parish patronal feast of Sangre de Cristo (kind of long story on why we celebrate it July 4...won't get into that). No one but the three of us sisters thought about the US celebration, which is O.K.
The feast of the Blood of Christ... Sangre de Cristo... was great...Yajaira and several musicians did a fab job of joyful singing, with guitars, guitarrones, and an accordian. Muy alegre! The bishop was happy so many people showed up...the parish coordinator, Jose Matilde, did a great job of getting reps from many of the mountain missions to come.
Sr. Roseanna had 7 kids make First Communion, and I was madrina...sponsor...to two young people in the confirmation class. Sr. Charlotte not only prepared for the mass (she is parish liturgy coordinator) but also sang in the choir.
Bishop Carlos Enrique was so pleased so many folks from the mission communities came, he spontaneously invited them to return every 3rd Sunday of the month for catechesis and liturgy. So we found out today, at this same-said mass, that we (the parish "team") will be planning these catechetical days! Well, that's how it goes here... something gets announced from the pulpit, and you find out that you are doing it / in charge of it at that moment! We're sort of getting used to this manner of collaborative ministry....
Anyhow...it's why we are here- for catechesis and evangelization. And the people want it...especially the young folks.
Speaking of which... I gave my first retreat talk (in spanish!) at a SINE retreat- Sistema Integral de la Nueva Evangelizacion. Last week we took 24 of our youth to a mission community for this 2-day retreat (along with 40+ particpants from the mission of La Esmeralda). The bishop and his driver carted the kids in the back of two pick-up trucks (no, we didn't drive one....we are still shopping for our used jeep, and will NOT be hauling kids nor adults in this manner!)
Following the retreat, the youth are ON FIRE... so pray.
I asked them, what do you want? What do you need?
Sister, we want to go out and evangelize, but first we need formation.
How cool is that, I ask?!!!
Saturday evening we started our pequena comunidades...small communities, which will continue the process of SINE. The youth have lots of questions, and this all new to me... I don't know what I am doing as I accompany them...but the Holy Spirit is in charge, so I will not worry! Still, pray with me!
The feast of the Blood of Christ... Sangre de Cristo... was great...Yajaira and several musicians did a fab job of joyful singing, with guitars, guitarrones, and an accordian. Muy alegre! The bishop was happy so many people showed up...the parish coordinator, Jose Matilde, did a great job of getting reps from many of the mountain missions to come.
Sr. Roseanna had 7 kids make First Communion, and I was madrina...sponsor...to two young people in the confirmation class. Sr. Charlotte not only prepared for the mass (she is parish liturgy coordinator) but also sang in the choir.
Bishop Carlos Enrique was so pleased so many folks from the mission communities came, he spontaneously invited them to return every 3rd Sunday of the month for catechesis and liturgy. So we found out today, at this same-said mass, that we (the parish "team") will be planning these catechetical days! Well, that's how it goes here... something gets announced from the pulpit, and you find out that you are doing it / in charge of it at that moment! We're sort of getting used to this manner of collaborative ministry....
Anyhow...it's why we are here- for catechesis and evangelization. And the people want it...especially the young folks.
Speaking of which... I gave my first retreat talk (in spanish!) at a SINE retreat- Sistema Integral de la Nueva Evangelizacion. Last week we took 24 of our youth to a mission community for this 2-day retreat (along with 40+ particpants from the mission of La Esmeralda). The bishop and his driver carted the kids in the back of two pick-up trucks (no, we didn't drive one....we are still shopping for our used jeep, and will NOT be hauling kids nor adults in this manner!)
Following the retreat, the youth are ON FIRE... so pray.
I asked them, what do you want? What do you need?
Sister, we want to go out and evangelize, but first we need formation.
How cool is that, I ask?!!!
Saturday evening we started our pequena comunidades...small communities, which will continue the process of SINE. The youth have lots of questions, and this all new to me... I don't know what I am doing as I accompany them...but the Holy Spirit is in charge, so I will not worry! Still, pray with me!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Grateful for...
Today I am grateful for…
billions of butterflies
the mother of all cockroaches (literally) laying her eggs while we watched....so we could appreciate the miracle, and then get rid of them- and her- before hatching and further laying!
Eucharistic Adoration every Thursday
simple youth who want to know the Lord and evangelize other youth
the maracuya (passion fruit) growing plentiful in Roseanna's garden
maracuya fresco (juice)
mosquito nets
guitars and guitarrones and biwuey (?? a smallish, ukele-like guitar) and accordions at Mass
brumas (foggy mist) over the mountains every morning
my sisters
MP, reminding me that "it is right to give God thanks and praise..."
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