Confirmation Retreat Talk…life comes full circle

When I was in eighth grade I received the sacrament of confirmation.  My friend Grace and I were not what one would call ideal Sunday school students.  We spent most of our time passing fake notes between the school desks and talking with one another and our friend Katie.  We were not crazy rebels, but we were also not angels in any sense.  When we arrived on the confirmation retreat the confirmation director thought that if she placed us in small positions of leadership this would amend our attitudes.  We ended up getting an entire group of girls lost in the woods for an hour and then making fun remarks throughout the entire morality talk under our breaths. 

We made it to the night of our confirmation nonetheless, and I can still remember feeling that the mass was one I would not forget; it had a special feeling to it.  That night I took the name of Elizabeth Ann Seton as my confirmation saint, the patroness of Catholic Schools in America.  Since then I have attended catholic high school, the University of Notre Dame, and am currently mentoring teens attending catholic high schools in Honduras after a year of teaching at the finca’s own catholic elementary school.  I cannot explain it, but this sacrament has stuck around with me in a very special way.

This past weekend a local youth group leader asked Nils and I if we would talk on the diocese’s confirmation retreat about the themes of commitment to service and faith.  We both decided it sounded like a good idea, so we said yes.  I could only laugh as I saw several teens texting while I spoke, while others rolled their eyes.  Most listened well and seemed to really hear our message.  I personally am pulling the for distracted ones, if history repeats itself, they may have a future in service mission work with children and teens in the future.

Love Languages: Maria Goretti Style

When I informed my friends this past fall that I would be switching jobs for my second year at the farm, all were very supportive.  While some told me that this seemed like an obvious fit for me, others spoke more bluntly and asked me if I was totally crazy or if I was unaware of how hormonal teenage girls can be.  I informed them that I grew up in a house with only sisters, and that I was aware of what amazing love teenage girls can share in their own ways as well.

When I returned from vacation the girls would not confess to it, but Nils and Janet Satterlee informed me that they actually admitted to missing me a little bit while I was on vacation.  Don’t tell them I told you, they would be so embarrassed! 

They definitely proved true teenage girls, raging hormones and all, upon my return, but they also showed me and our entire Phase II community amazing love in their own unique ways.  Marina brought my clothes in off the line when the rain came one night; she then spent two hours on a Friday afternoon making delicious ham and cheese pastelitos (like Honduran hot pockets) so that the whole house could enjoy a yummy dinner.  Nelly and Nolvia swept and mopped after dinner without me even mentioning that it was a chore night.  All three smiled while they thought I was not watching as they saw the fresh coffee cake I made for them one day just for fun.  Marina invited me to see a special matinee showing of “Men in Black III” for her school with her friends.  Nolvia walked and talked with me in public while we walked around Ceiba with Lily and Tami this past weekend. Nelly cleaned up my dirty dishes from lunch just to be kind.  Quietly and subtly they all spoke in their own love languages to express their care for our small community here in La Ceiba.

Then last Tuesday during their week off from school, they decided that for Sara (next year’s careteaker) to be truly welcomed to Phase II, we needed to have a late night pajama party.  We laughed and watched chick flicks till one in the morning.  A house rule since November has been that the first one to fall asleep at a pajama party gets a mask of toothpaste on their face.  Despite the readied toothpaste on the table, they spared me as I fell asleep for part of the third movie.  If that’s not true love, I do not know what is.

Happy Half Birthday Nils!

Nils serves as the caretaker of the boys next door here in La Ceiba, he arrived at the same time I did to the farm in October of 2010.  He also happens to have the worst possible birthday in the finca, December 3.  For the past two years, his birthday has fallen on the day of and day after the farewell mass and dinner for volunteers finishing their two years of service.  Literally everyone has been depressed and anti social if not crying in their room for the entirety of his two birthdays while at the farm. 

Janet and I decided that after all he has done for our volunteer community, the kids, and our smaller community here in La Ceiba, he deserved a happy birthday celebration of some form.  Then we realized that his half birthday was the following Sunday.  So we secretly planned a brunch at Kibok café with the Satterlees, Nils, and I, and had a secret cake for after mass.  Most amazingly, I managed to keep this secret from both Nils and all five teens for an entire week and a half.

That morning Nils was very happily and honestly surprised when he realized what our brunch was actually for.  He thanked us for being so thoughtful and kind, and ate a yummy breakfast. 

After mass that night I walked over and sat next to him in the pew.  He told me that he was very tired and ready for bed.  As most of you know, I am a horrible liar.  I told him he had to stop by the girl’s apartment briefly first.  He asked why.  I then told him that the Satterlee family and a cake were waiting for him.  He smiled, laughed, and then walked with me across the street to the apartment.  Everyone was there waiting.  We ate cake till we were full, and then he went back with his boys to their side. 

The next day he told me thank you again in his ever humble and grateful style.  I told him it was our pleasure to finally joyously celebrate the life of our fellow community member and friend.  We all also agreed that any excuse for brunch and cake on a random Sunday in June sounds like a wonderful idea. 

Buen Camino...Feliz Pentecost

Three years ago I spent a semester studying abroad in Toledo, Spain.  I finished my time abroad by taking a week long hike along the “Camino de Santiago” (Way of Saint James).  This ancient pilgrimage is a truly special route which now attracts a full range of people, from FC Barcelona season ticket holders, to old Italian Grandpas, both of which I met during my week long excursion.  This path is truly inspiring in an indescribable way. 

I arrived at the cathedral in Santiago by coincidence the day before Pentecost.  Every day at midday there is a special mass for the recently arrived pilgrims.  When I arrived at mass I almost had chills, I realized that I had basically lived Pentecost in the week leading up to this mass.  I walked together with people with whom I shared no common language, simply a heart which felt like walking.  Yet the magic of the path bonded us in a very special way.  Then as we all began to arrive at the cathedral we celebrated the mass of Pentecost, a day to celebrate the great beauty of the Holy Spirit and its ability to bond us all despite our many differences. 

The beauty of the camino is that it never truly ends, once you begin, you continue walking along the path wherever life takes you.  This past May 27, I celebrated my third anniversary of arriving at the Cathedral.  It comforted my heart to see that while much had happened in the past three years, many underlying good things remained the same. 

I arrived back from vacation May 21.  The girls even smiled and gave me a hug when I got back, this was big.  During the week I caught up with Nils and Sor Keidy about what had happened during my two weeks off.  I received several notes from community members at the finca who had passed through while I was away simply saying hello and wishing me all the best.  On Friday I read the second reading at the first English mass in the cathedral (we have a new Bishop from Ireland).  Then that weekend we spent Saturday night at the Satterlees (who live in a neighborhood outside downtown) to avoid the major crowds and incredibly loud noise that lasted all night due to the big celebration of the Carnaval of San Isidro.  We then returned to the apartments on Sunday morning, and attended a beautiful Pentecost mass that night.

This may seem like a typical week in Ceiba, but it was specially beautiful in its own way.  I continued walking along my life’s path with people from completely different backgrounds than my own, yet bonded in the great love that founded the finca 16 years ago.  I received notes from friends who walked alongside me presently and in the past during my life’s camino.  I read at the first mass in English in a Spanish speaking cathedral, two languages, one spirit.  We then spent the night before the big holiday in the upper room of an apartment apart from most of the town similar to the disciples before Pentecost.  I still live the camino, it never ends, yet I currently am walking a new section of my path with new people.

That Monday night for community night with the teens I had a special Camino/ Pentecost themed night complete with memory cards and a scene from “Up!” To close the night, each person had to share how they saw the fruits of the Holy Spirit (kindness, peace, generosity, etc) living in each person living here in Phase II.  I was overjoyed when each teen shared truthfully and positively about every member of our small community.  Afterward instead of blasting music or complaining about homework, they all simply remained calm, did their chores, and then went to bed with pensive faces, they were thinking, they were getting it, they were beginning to recognize their own camino, what a truly beautiful thing to see.

Vacation in May…a true gift

This past May 5-21 I had the true pleasure of taking a long awaited vacation back to my home state of Virginia.  I was able to spend mother’s day with my mom, celebrate my dad and sister’s birthday with them in person, visit my other sister’s school where she works, eat dinner with all of my cousins, spend quality time with and/ or talk to so many wonderful friends, go to ballet class at my old studio, run alone with my ipod (a true treat), sleep in, go to mass in English, helped by many amzing people raise money to fund a scholarship for one of my girls, Marina, watch Grey’s Anatomy with my sister, …I even got to got to the zoo and see the prarie dogs and panda.  It was truly a wonderful gift to be able to spend quality time with so many loved ones.

I therefore simply say thank you to all at the finca who helped cover my work to make this trip possible and to all who made my trip so amazingly special and wonderful stateside.  I am ever grateful for you all. 

Rachel...Quality Quierida Companera

Within our volunteer community here at the finca we have a special friend program or "quierida companera" system.  Every two weeks you are paired up with a fellow vol and you take a special intentional time together.  I have done everything from reading quietly in the same space, to taking a run, to eating cookies. 

May 2, Rachel, a fellow volunteer from my class was visiting for a doctor's appointment.  She and her husband Jacob, another volunteer, are expecting their fourth child.  She invited me to go to the doctor with her to hear the heartbeat.  I met her at the hospital that morning.  Soon after we got to hear the most beautiful little heartbeat ever, truly a beautiful sound. 

The next day, Rachel called me from the farm, we did not realize it, but we were quieridas companeras, and she not only called me in the city, but visited me and shared the harmonic sound of her unborn child's heartbeat with me.  Talk about special special friend time.  Definitely at the top of my list for all my special friend times in the past two years.

Sanity and Silence in Pico Bonito

On Tuesday, May 1st, Honduras celebrated labor day.  So the Satterlee Family, Nils, the teens and I headed up the mountain to Pico Bonito.  We spent the day relaxing by the river, resting in hammocks, and in general taking a break from the endless white noise and distractions of the city.  Everyone simply needed a break and space with some fresh mountain air.  We all returned in much calmer and relaxed states, ready for real life to start again the next day.  Nature's healing power never fails.