¡Felices Fiestas Patrias!

Just a quick blog to let you all know that Peru celebrated it's Independence Day yesterday (and today). They give two days off here for fiestas patrias, the 28th and 29th. There really wasn't much in the line of celebrations though. In Lima there is a big military parade/march and the President gives his yearly address to Peru. I listened to most of the President's speech on the radio and he made it seem like Peru is doing great and barely affected by the world economic crisis. And maybe Peru really isn't doing as bad as some other countries, but from the daily reality I see and hear there is still a lot of unemployment, crime, and lack of basic services like health and education. So while the slogan of the current government posted all over is "Peru avanza" (Peru advances), there are still a lot being left behind in that advance.

It was interesting to see a lot of my Peruvian friend's reactions to fiestas patrias or the President's speech. I was pretty much the only one who dressed up in red and white and who listened to the President's speech. No one else was really interested in listening and when I summarized some of the points of the speech all of the comments where pretty sarcastic or negative. When mentioning that the percentage of people living in poverty has dropped more than 10% friends said that's because those people are now living in extreme poverty. Or when telling of a poll that counted how many people wanted to immigrate and leave Peru 6 years ago versus today the number had dropped almost 30%. Their response was, yeah, all those people already left. I know any data amount can be construed so it looks good without understanding all the components and that Peru still has a lot of problems, but at the same time there is a lot to celebrate and be proud of here in Peru. And almost all of the Peruvians I know are very proud to be Peruvian, they just know that their government is corrupt and so are uninterested in listening to a speech that to them is false.

I feel incredibly blessed to have had the opportunity to live in Peru and get to know more about this beautiful and challenging country. So, Felices Fiestas Patrias Peru y sigue la lucha para la paz y justicia! (Happy Independence Day Peru and continue the struggle for peace and justice)!

A change ahead...

It occurred to me that I have yet to write a blog explaining that I will be ending my missionary experience in August... so for all of those who might not know I have decided to end my time as a missionary with IWM after a year of service. My contract officially ends July 31st, less than a month away, and my plane ticket back to the U.S. is August 16th. It's really hard to think about leaving Peru and all of the friends and family I have made here, but I believe that this is the best decision for me and what God is calling me to do.

Back in our retreat in March I spent a lot of time in prayer and reflection in how to understand and respond to the Spirit moving within me. What I feel very centered and confident in is that God is calling me to another vocation other than missionary. While all Christians are called to be a "missionary" people in their lived witness to the life and love of God and the teachings of Christ, the call to be a foreign missionary with the Incarnate Word Sisters is no longer for me. In the words of St. Francis, I hope to continue to "preach the gospel always, when necessary use words," just in a different setting with a different vocation.

One of the many important lessons I have learned is that where you are is the most important place to be, the person in front of you deserves all of your love and attention, and everything matters. If one is always thinking about somewhere else, or someone else, or looking to find the most desperate, the most deserving, she misses the gift and beauty of the moment and the presence of God in front of her. I have struggled with this a lot in recent years, always feeling like it's not enough, or it doesn't matter, or in trying to find someone from the future that I deem more in need or more deserving I ignore the person who is here and now. You don't have to be in a certain place to find God or to live a life of divine witness, but a lot of times a change in scenery helps introduce you to new faces of God, new mysteries and wisdoms, and develops new ways within yourself to participate in the divine life. And it's a beautiful but challenging experience to bring all of that back to your base communities of friends and family. As I am sad to leave Peru I am also excited to see friends and family and return to my community in St. Louis. We've all changed and had unique experiences and it is a gift as well as a challenge to constantly live and communicate who one is to those one loves and continue growing in understanding together. While having lived on a very tight budget with little in my bank account to rely on when I get back, I leave Peru a woman rich in experiences, friends, a bit of wisdom, a multitude of gratitude, and a heavy but open heart ready for what each new footstep of the journey might bring.

paz y amor siempre