In Waiting

My friends/Mis Amigos,

Well, I am packed, checked-in, and IN-WAITING at the Airport. I look forward to this learning experience- from an academic, personal, spiritual, and pastoral standpoint. However, going to another country is not just learning about a different culture, but rather to be immersed and consumed by the different traditions, and to encounter and enter into the ‘identity’ of the country. Being a part of another country is unique and beautiful because it provides both the experience to  encounter with people from another part of the world, who help shape the ‘identity’ of their country who in turn shape the minds and hearts of individuals seeking to become a part of their way of life- both for short-term and long-term. 

This is what we are going to my brothers and sisters, and I look for4ward to going on this magnificent journey with you that Christ has called us to. 

Next time you hear from me will be in Antigua, Guatemala!

Hasta Luego

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Just an ordinary day at School!

 Buenos Noches mis hermanos! Yo oro con tú! Today, was, well, and ordinary day- waking up, going to school, going to the Casa for meals and study, celebrating Mass and praying, and doing ALOT of walking! One of the things my maestra and discussed, yes- in Spanish- was how the education system worked here in Guatemala. Most if not the entire school calendar- Parochial or Public- is centered around religious holidays, not seasons. The schools, most of them any way, go on break from the 15 of October and return to school 15 of January (public may go back earlier). This means, that they are able to celebrate Todos Los Santos (All Saints Day), All Souls Day, La Solemnidad de Concepcion de Inmaculada (The Immacualte Conception), Navidade (Christmas), La Madre De Dios (Mary, Mother of God and 1st of the Year); Three Kings Day, the Epiphany, and the Baptism of our Lord. The rest of time (with respect to 2 more breaks- Holy Week, and Mothers Day) they are in school.  The day for a child is very
Read more

Day 1

 Well my friends, its official! I have begun the 6-week 5 hour a day Spanish Classes. So far- I am really enjoying it. The teacher has a lot to teach me, but the conversation, as well as the grammar, vocab, pronunciation, etc… she is giving me, is going to be of great benefit in the long run. I am super pumped for this experience. I see now, that, being immersed in a language is vital to learning it. Although you may learn it from a class  or a program, nothing compares to being immersed into a cultura and a language completely foreign to you. And you know what, the people know that you are learning, and it is their mission to help us to learn the language and culture as we enter into their own lives, in their own country, and on their own level. As Jesus was Baptized by John in the waters of the Jordan, he went into the muck of the Jordan river. A river that is not clean or sanitary by any means to show that, although he was God, he wanted to get on our level in order to experience wh
Read more

The Ancient and the Contemporary

As mentioned in my previous post, the Mayan culture and ceremonial actions were heavily influential in Guatemala’s cultural and religious practices. The Mayans established their culture and society around their religious practices and ceremonial sacrifices. Nothing the Mayans did was without a ceremonial purpose.  One of the beautiful things is that the Mayan culture, although no longer continues as it was in the past, still is active in a more contemporary way. Those who descended from the true Mayan culture continue to return to Tikal in order to offer sacrifice. In the past, their sacrifices were not just that of animals, but also human sacrifices as well in order to please the gods of the cosmos. Today, the Mayan people return for their ‘Holy Week’ to Tikal at the beginning of March. They spend one day sacrificing small animals (chickens, hamsters, birds, etc…) and spend about 5 days in prayer and contemplation. They have ceased doing human sacrifices today, but you can see all of
Read more