Holy Week and Mom's visit

Well, it's been a while. Obviously I didn't finish out my Lentan goal of writing one post every day, but that's pretty typical for me to have a good run with the Lentan promise and it kind of fizzles out in the end. Preparing for Holy Week got pretty busy at the parish, so I'm using that as part excuse :) A few months ago I was elected the director of our theater group at the parish, so I've been in charge of all the shows since then, including our production of Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) for Good Friday. We had practices for 3 weeks leading up to the final day and I was still nervous because people didn't remember their lines or their cues, but in the end you have to just give it all up to God and hope that everything goes well. And honestly it did. Sure there were glitches like not having our voice recordings for the majority of the stations and having the priest disappear for 3 of the stations and having to improvise prayers, but I was proud of all the participants and especially the principle actors did a great job. Wed-Friday of Holy Week was a bit of a blur with all the preparations for Via Crucis in making sure the neighborhood was prepared to receive us at each station (the neighbors prepared a small altar marking each station), coordinating all the sound and tech support, picking up all the costumes and ironing (thanks mom! she spent almost 3 hours ironing for us), and making sure we had all the necessary props, etc. And after all the craziness, the final production I would say was a success. Unfortunately for me, looking back I realize I wasn't able to be present to the power of the moment in just accompanying and reflecting because I was so worried about all the details and keeping things running smoothly for all the other participants. I wonder if there is a way to do both? Or if the people in charge of organization and follow through can never fully participate in the activitiy itself? This is why it is important to find moments and activities that I'm not in charge of to participate in, so I too can take a step back to just be and enjoy or reflect.


The best part about Holy Week was that my mom came down to visit! She arrived late Monday night and we were back in Chimbote Tuesday evening in time to finish preparations for my birthday party. I would definitely have to say it was one of the best birthdays ever, considering the context and all the people who were there to celebrate with me Peruvian style. With the help of my boyfriend, roommates, and other Peruvian friends I threw a typical Peruvian party which mostly just includes food, drinks, and lots of music and dancing. I was so happy to see so many people from the parish come to celebrate with me and it was a great chance for me to offer them my thanks as well for welcoming me into their communities and taking time to all celebrate our friendships and life! And the fact that my mom, the amazing woman who gave birth to me and raised me, was here in Peru to celebrate my birthday and see in person where I am and what I'm doing made it an incredibly blessed birthday filled with overwhelming gratitude.










Singing Feliz Cumpleaños Mom and I with my English class


For our Easter celebration, the missionaries invited the CCVI Sisters over for a lunch with touches of typical U.S. Easter tradmarks. Thanks to my mom for bringing down Easter grass, chocolate eggs, jelly bean eggs, peeps, and chocolate bunnies that made up our centerpiece! I think for some of the Peruvian and Mexican sisters this was the first time they had some of the traditional Easter treats from the U.S. It was a beautiful meal shared together to celebrate new life and the life our our congregation here in Chimbote.


On Monday morning Mom and I headed back to Lima to spend a few days sight-seeing and relaxing after a busy week. It was a great mini-vacation for me filled with some good American comfort food, warm water, a comfy bed, a trip to the beach, and a traditional Peruvian dance show. I was reflecting a lot on this little vacation of fun and relaxation and the difference with daily life here in Chimbote. To be honest, I loved every minute of life with my mom in Lima for those 3 days. I thought I would feel uncomfortable, or guilty like I have a lot in the past when I transition from enviornments of poverty to wealth, but the truth is I was just so grateful for everything. And I think that might be the secret to happiness.... well ok, I don't know if it's the secret, but I do think there is a lot of wisdom in gratitude. How does one move from one enviornment to another, from poverty to wealth, joy to sorrow, ugliness to beauty, death to life, all of these components that encompass life at different moments, or in the same moment? And I think my answer right now is gratitude. Gratitude for having and not having, for knowing it all and being able to live it all. Something new to learn in each moment and environment, and the challenge to find gratitude in it all. Also, I think balance is important to really live it all - being comfortable and uncomfortable, mourning and celebrating.

So I end with gratitude for my Holy Week experience in Chimbote, a birthday celebration with friends and family, and a great vacation and quality time with my mom. May you all find gratitude wherever you are.

Paz y Amor