2 Weeks...

So much can happen in 2 weeks!

First --- These past two weeks, we had 2 different university groups down from the US for spring break missions. It was so strange to be surrounded by so many “gringos”! The first week consisted of groups from Virginia and Florida. We went to a village about an hour from Comayauga, and it was a beautiful week. We visited all the houses in the village, listening to people’s stories and prayed with them; we prayed with an 87 year old man who had been bed ridden for years but insisted that he wanted to come with us on our next mission; we led programs for kids, youth, and families; I learned that I love translating, but that it brings my brain to the verge of exploding; we got to make tortillas from scratch (mix the corn and water, grind it up, make them in to little circles, and cook them! I got laughed at because my “circle” looked more like the shape of the US…). The people were so generous and beautiful. The kids followed us around the whole week, and even got to leave school in order to see us off when we left. On the last day, two teenage girls asked one of the missionaries if he could accompany them to a woman’s house because they wanted to ask her forgiveness for things they had said to her. So, beautiful things happened; small maybe, but beautiful.

The first group from the US left, and about 4 hours later, the second group arrived! It was emotionally draining! We made some great friendships in a short week, and then they were gone, and a whole new group of 30 young people was there! But it was another awesome group, this time from Texas A&M as well as FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) from all over the country. We headed out on another mission, this time about 4 hours away. My village had no electricity and was very primitive. We had another incredible week, building relationships with the people and helping each other walk together towards our common Home.  We ended this mission with a “party” where 3 villages all came together. Fr. Gabriel of the CFR’s was with us, and he celebrated Mass and a time of adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. The villages we were in only receive the Mass twice a year, and some of the people had never experienced adoration before. There were 80 year old women who had walked half an hour through the mountains to get to the church, and came hobbling forward to pray before Jesus in the Eucharist. I think someone was cutting onions in the back of the church……or were those tears? ;)

I realized something during my time in this village without electricity: the life in the mountains no longer scares me or freaks me out. On my first few missions to the mountains, the life of the people really shocked me, because it is SO different from anything we’re used to. But now, I can see it more clearly for what it is: a simple life, centered on family, friends, and God, without any distractions. Actually, I think my normal life back in the States now “scares” me more than this life in the mountains. After being away from it for so long, all of the distractions that I fill my life with seem so foreign and strange. The fact that my “normal” life now seems abnormal freaks me out! But I think the life here can teach us something profound…

The second big thing in the past 2 weeks: Habemus Papam! We have a Pope! Woo hooooooo! And incredibly, the fact that I was in a remote village without electricity didn’t stop us from finding out the news! So, here’s how it went down: I was in the process of giving a talk to a completely full church in our village – a talk on how it’s important to live our faith and not just have it as a tradition or habit. So I was saying: “Ya, these are really exciting times, because all the cardinals in the world are united in Rome now to choose a new Pope…” and a woman in the back of the church stood up and yelled, “they already did!!” I almost fell over! She went on to tell us that he was from Argentina, and chose the name of Francis. I can’t explain the feeling in that moment…discovering the election of our new Holy Father in the middle of a dark church, lit by one candle, surrounded by the faithful people in this village. It was incredible; a moment a will never forget! Thank God for our new Papa! Let’s keep him in our prayers.

And finally, the third thing that happened during these 2 weeks, not so exciting as the first two, is that my grandma had a stroke. It happened while I was in the mountains, so I didn’t find out until coming back. After praying and reflecting about it, I realized something: when tragic things like this happen, we always have two choices- we can become sad and depressed and bitter, angry at God; or we can accept it as a time when we can grow in love, service, sacrifice, patience, and remember what is really important in life- to show love to those around us while they are here. Today, not tomorrow.

After speaking recently with my parents, they said my grandma was trying to talk again, but her words were all jumbled, when, in a moment of clarity, she said the words, “Hallowed be Thy name.” How beautiful. She’s trying to show us that she’s still fighting, still has hope, still praying, and that she wants us to pray for and with her. Couldn’t really ask for anything more than that. God is good.

One final thought. When we were in one of the villages, a girl on the mission team gave a talk about Lent to young people. They were attentive enough, but maybe not suuuper interested. But at one point, she took down from the wall one of the Stations of the Cross, a picture of Jesus being tortured. And she said: “This is Jesus. But imagine if this were your mother. Or your brother, or best friend, or child; being unjustly hated and beat up and killed. How would you feel?” This got their attention for sure! But it’s true. We would do anything possible to stop this injustice if it were one of our loved ones. But with Jesus, we’re often indifferent. We hear about His death so much, that we become desensitized. Is He one of our “loved ones”? I challenge all of us this Holy Week, to reflect on this. Put the person you love most in the world in the shoes of Jesus, and reflect on what He suffered for us, out of love.

Peace and grace be with you this Holy Week and Easter!

Eric