We are FINALLY
nearing the end of the rainy season here in Ecuador. While the rain has brought
destruction and uncertainty to Mount Sinai, it has also undoubtedly intensified
the beauty of the sector; an interesting duality.
April was
another eventful month here in Sinai. Ill try my best to recap some of the
highlights here.
We joined in the
unique Semana Santa (Holy Week) and Easter celebrations. On Palm Sunday we
walked from the nearby San Felipe Neri School to our main parish, Corpus
Cristi, with our palms and a donkey. My 6 year-old friend, Brittany, held my
hand the whole way, and at times it seemed like she was leading me through the
walk – how symbolic for what this year has been, journeying through a child´s
eyes.
On Good Friday
we did a live stations of the cross walking from our chapel Santa Teresa to the
San Felipe Neri School. The youth group kids played all the roles and did a
fabulous job. It was very moving experience.
We had two
wonderful retreat group stay with us this month, University of Detroit Jesuit
High School and Fairfield Prep. The next group to come in May will finally be
my turn to lead!
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| Visting with my office |
At work I spent
the beginning of the month visiting homes most affected by the rain and
flooding. We wrote reports and helped distribute resources that were donated to
Hogar de Cristo.
We had a few
special dinners this month. The Madres (nuns) at the San Felipe Neri school
where Greg and Heidi teach had us all over for dinner one night and cooked an
American classic…pizza! We also had dinner with one of our close neighbors who
may be moving soon. Knowing we cannot cook Ecuadorian food well enough to serve
it to actual Ecuadorians we turned to another American classic…breakfast for
dinner (pancakes, eggs, sausage, and potatoes).
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| View of the beach from the retreat house |
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| Mt Sinai Community |
We closed the
month of April and entered our 10th month here in Ecuador with a
volunteer retreat at the beach in Manta. We stayed at a Jesuit retreat center
right on the water. It was a restful and relaxing weekend. When asked at the
end for one word or sentence to describe what we reflected on during the
retreat or are taking from it I chose the word gratitude. While these past
three months have been heavy, I feel truly blessed every day to be here in
Mount Sinai. I will ground myself in this deep sense of gratitude and draw
strength from it in our concluding 3 months in Ecuador.
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