Be a Bridge

2009-05-08T11:51:00.000-07:00

The following poem THROUGH OUR EYES by Joseph R. Venerso expressed well what I have learned as I have walked with the people of El Salvador. I added a few pictures and words of my own in italic.

Through Our Eyes

Joseph R. Venerso

Shy at first and awkward we approach uncertain till your smile absolves us of our nervousness.

Neither impressed nor intimidated you span the culture chasm with a simple “Here, Try this.”
From the moment I entered their home, they welcomed me. We did a lot of charades and gestures to communicate. They offered me their favorite foods, inviting me to dance, sing and play. Their smiles dissolved any fear I might have had.

Too familiar faith takes on fresh fervor when we, once so sure we knew Christ and his Gospel, become small again.

The gospel came alive everyday as I entered into the journey with these people. Small miracles and sometimes big were a daily occurance.

Lucky for us we at first do not speak your language, or else we might have no excuse for our silence.
Not knowing the language or culture was VERY difficult, but in looking back silence was a wonderful gift that I was givien. Watching, taking everything in was my best teacher. I was told not to be quick to judge. At times I felt I knew a better way to do it, but when I stepped back or just joined in, I found that it always worked out. Maybe not as quick or as efficient as I was use to, but generally keeping in mind the respect and involvement of all.

In truth we stand in awe of you whose lives lack the luxuries we considered absolute necessities. Amid suffering and hardship you draw from an inner well and seem so solid and full.

And then the shock hits us, who know so much:
We have so very much to learn. From you.
“Keep your dissertations and dogma till later,” you say in your own words and way, something like: “Care for a crazy corn? Have a papusa. Eat some rice and beans!”

Relationships are the most important thing in their culture. When entering a room one always greets each person with a kiss or a hand shake.
They have a great sense of hospitality. When visiting their homes; which is never planned, we just show up and they will stop what they are doing and offer us what they have.

It’s not so much that we see Christ reflected in your eyes and in your face and in your hearts and in your lives
-which we do – but rather that we now also see you so clearly reflected in His.

2009-03-06T11:38:00.000-08:00

NEW YEAR! NEW MISSION!

New Year! New Mission!
I have been back to El Salvador for over a month now and have traveled more of the country then I had in the three years prior. What a blessing to have this time to get to know different parts of the country and hear the stories of the people.

My last three years had been with the Parish of Our Lady of Loudres where I did a variety of things (see past entries). I wanted to see and know another part of the country and so I have moved to Suchitoto, a small colonial town that suffered immensely during the war. I feel at home as many of the people are farmers. Every morning as I take my morning run I am greeted by a herd of cattle. I have only been here for a week, but have been very welcomed with beautiful smiles. The people are always so willing and ready to help me find my way.
I had heard wonderful things about how the people of Suchitoto have organized programs most especially to empower the people. There is still a great need for reconciliation and peace in the this country that suffered a horrible 12 year CIVIL war.

No More Violence!

IN THIS HOUSE WE WANT A LIFE FREE OF VIOLENCE!
Over 800 houses in Suchitoto have this painted on their doors.

I have moved in with Rosa and Eva, two school teachers, and am looking forward to living with two Salvadoran people. They have so much to teach me.

Eva, Rosa and I waiting to catch a bus to a vigil in Guadalupe to celebrate and remember the over 500 people who were killed in this massacre.
I am not sure what my work is quite yet. I hope to 'BE' more. I was very busy in the last year of my mission. Just in this past few weeks I have had more time to sit and listen to the peoples life stories.

Jose lost 9 family members in the El Mazote Massacre. In the background you will see a wall with some of the names of the people who were tortured and killed. They think there could have been as many as 1000 killed.

Beautiful faces of the future of El Mazote

I will also be taking pictures for a program called New Horizans. I am excited about this opportunity. It will allow me to see many parts of the country; meet new friends and hopefully help get resources for some of the poorest in the country. The other plus is that I will be near my former mission site and will able to visit with them from time to time.

Hopes for New Housing

The house above was one of the most secure houses because it had pieces of metal. The house below is made of cardboard like most of the others in this community.

Monseñor ROMERO

This month marks the 29th year of the death of Archbishop Oscar Romero.

Above is a picture of a mural of the Last Supper. Next to Jesus (the farmer in the middle) is Romero. Fr. John Spain and Kim Nagy, Maryknoll Missioners took a seat at table with Martin Luther King and other martyrs of El Salvador.

On Top of the World

My housemate Kim and I

It was a perfect place to be. We were on top of a mountain as the sun kept playing peak a boo with the clouds. Looking out we were able to see three Volcanos. I had mixed feelings as I stood in the place where 27 years prior youth were drug, raped, tortured and then killed in the massacre of El Mazote.

I hope that you all are doing well in this Lenten season. As you can see I have had some things to ponder. I ask that you please keep the people of El Salvador in your prayers as they all go to vote this Sunday, March 15th. For the past 20 years they have had the same party in power. My prayers are that there will be no violence and that they are just (fair) elections.

2009-02-07T13:29:00.000-08:00

PLAYING GAMES

They loved to play and so I put my skills of facilitating to work. It was VERY challenging the first few times. I did not know very much spanish, but found out very quickly that they loved to play. Above a group who met with children each week came for a training on how to lead parachute games. The woman in the far right with the skirt and white hair is 83 years old.

FACILITATOR TRAININGS

My facilitators! They met for eight classes to learn large and small group games and a two day training to learn how to facilitate Cooperative games. I could NOT have done it without them. Groups were always large 60-250 people.

Confirmation class and thier leaders. This is one of three groups that we facilitated games.

YOUTH RETREATS

TRAININGS AND RETREATS

The Elephant!

PARACHUTE FUN

2009-01-27T12:54:00.000-08:00

THE ESPERANZA PROJECT

When I first arrived in El Salvador I had no idea what I was going to be doing. Little did I think I would be teaching trumpet lessons or Aerobics. But, when a few trumpets were donated to our church and they found out I had played in high school, I was asked to teach. Being a former Editor of my high school and college yearbook, taught me to always be on the look-out for a good picture. I found out very quickly that the people loved to get their picture taken and they made beautiful subjects. What saddened me was to find out that many did not have pictures of any of their special occasions.

The Yanes Family

A grade school friend, Kristen said that she wanted to come and visit. I remembered that she was a photographer and so I asked if she would bring her camera and take pictures. She brought her lights and set up a studio and took beautiful family photos. I bought a photo printer to develop them and this was the beginning of the Photo Project.
Someone then gave me the idea to ask for used digital cameras. After receiving a few I began to teach a group of our youth in the church how to use them. It was wonderful to see them learn and watch their confidence grow as they began to take pictures at festivals, first communions, confirmations, birthday parties, etc. It was a service within a service. We sold the pictures at a low cost and used the money to buy food and medicines for the poorest in their community. The people were so happy to have pictures and memories of their special times.

Part of being a Franciscan Missioner is telling the stories of these people that I walk with daily for many will never have the opportunity to cross cultures (read Being a Bridge entry). Sharing stories and pictures is important, but so is sharing resources. There are so many needs here and not enough.
The ESPERANZA (Hope) Project is a way in which people can purchase notecards or make a donation in someone’s name which in turn will help provide basic needs like food, medicine, shelter for the people of El Salvador.
Perhaps you want to give someone a gift for a birthday, anniversary, Christmas, but they have all they need. Make a donation in their name to the Esperanza project. To order cards contact my sister Renee Riehle Jackson at 2breallyhopeful@gmail.com

Some of the pictures on the cards

Frijoles y torillas..................... Maria and her chicks

AMIGOS

SONRISA

Make a donation in someones name (words inside the card)

Nati

Corn Chica

Purchase blank cards in packets

JOY! ................................................Balance

All in a days work

2009-01-27T12:49:00.001-08:00

Building Houses

A donation had been made in which we could build houses. The greatest challenge was to decide who would receive a new house? There were three different types of houses that we could build. One of blocks, cement slats or of metal. We ruled out the first, which is the best, but was too costly. The metal house is good for the poorest and do not own the land and may need to move. They just knock out the nails and rebuild somewhere else. For those who did own the land the cement slats were the most economical.

We had just started to look at who in the parish community most needed a house when we heard about Nati, a seventy-five year old man who had lost his leg over 30 years a go in an accident. There was a horrible wind storm and his house fell on him, fracturing the other leg. He was living in a tentlike fixture that the neighbors had built him. There was some debate and question on whether we should build a house for a 75 year old man or use the money to build a more secure house for a family. The family had a house, not in great shape, but much better conditions then Nati and so the decision was to build our first house for Natividad.

Youth carrying Nati to get exrays Nati's old house

Nati watching them destroy and clean up his old house

The Youth were slipping and sliding as they moved the cement wall boards in the pouring down rain

Painting and moving Nati into his new home

Nati' s new house

Building a home for a family of Four

Meeting in the old house to talk about the new

Taking bags of cement to the house Carrying sand from the river

Putting up walls and painting

Their new home

The family and me in their new home

I AM NOT WORTHY

2009-01-27T11:48:00.000-08:00

I AM NOT WORTHY TO HAVE YOU ENTER INTO MY HOUSE

Below you will find a video I put together of some our home visits. The song I used is called No Soy Digno de que Entre tu en mi Casa. Matthew 8:5-11-The Roman Centurion.
The reason I liked it is because it spoke of how I felt with my visits to these peoples houses. I was not worthy to enter into their homes. Through these visits Jesus said the Word and I was healed. Healed and touched by the love and hospitality of these people.

Double click the arrow to view the video

Lyrics to the song
No soy digno de que entres Tú en mi casa
No soy digno de que entres Tú en mi casa
I am not worthy to have you enter into my house
Pero dime una palabra tuya y yo me sanaré
sólo dime una palabra tuya y yo me sanaré
But say the Word and I shall be healed
Sólo dame un aliento tuyo y yo tendré vida
sólo dame un aliento tuyo y yo daré vida
Just give me a breath of yours and I will have life
Sólo dame una mirada tuya y yo podré ver / x4
Just give me a glance and I will be able to see
Sólo dame una sonrisa tuya y yo podré reír (bis)
sólo dame una sonrisa tuya y yo haré reír (bis)
Just give a smile and I will laugh

Sólo dame una caricia tuya y yo acariciaré...
Just give me a touch, caress and I will caress
Pero dime una palabra tuya y eso bastará
But only tell me a word (The Word) of yours and it will be enough

2008-10-17T18:26:00.000-07:00

TEACH A PERSON TO FISH

For the past year I have been working with a group of youth - Pastoral Social Juvenil. We celebrated our one year anniversary in October. Their main goal is to serve the poorest in their community. It has been a full year of projects; visiting the sick, making hot meals for the elderly, running a reading program for children, and building homes.
Above is the logo of our t-shirt. They chose the color green because it means ESPERANZA- HOPE. The fish became the groups symbol after a retreat that my co-adviser, Jesùs, and I coordinated, encouraging them to look at their gifts and talents and how the group could best use them to serve the poorest in their community.

Fishes and Loaves

What really happened that day when thousands of people gathered to listen to Jesus and they were hungry? All were fed, but how? I have heard people say that perhaps the greater miracle was that people pulled out what they had with them, all ate and there were leftovers. Lesson learned....

Share what you have

and there will be enough

and then some!

There are so many needs and not enough resources. Some of the people we had helped continued to ask for food and help. We, Jesùs and I encouraged the youth to find ways to empower the people rather then give, give, give by using....

Give a person a fish, feed them for a day

Teach a person to fish, feed them for a lifetime.

The youth helping each other fish

The group with the banner they made during the retreat. Each person traced their hand and wrote the different gifts and talents they had to share. The basket in front holds the fish they caught. During the final prayer each offered their fish while sharing their committment and gifts they will bring to the group.

In the end we challenged the youth to think about the people that they were helping. They too have gifts and talents. What might the people have to share with us?

Visiting the Sick

Who helped whom? The people were so happy to have the youth visit them and we learned much from them through their incredible life stories.

The Pilgrimage

On November 15th we took the youth group on an excursion. First we visited the Cathedral with the tomb of Oscar Romero. Second we visited a park with a wall engraved with many of the people who were killed during the war. The next stop was to the place where Monsenor Romero lived and was shot during the mass. The final stop was at the University of Central America where we met up with thousands of others from through-out the country, North Americans and Europeans celebrating the 19th Anniversary of the death of 6 Jesuit priests and two women.

2008-01-03T15:30:00.000-08:00

October

I went home for a wonderful visit with family and friends. The Riehle Crew – all but Hunter.

November

The five deanery parishes met for a day getting to know each other. I trained a group of 25 youth to facilitate games. We heard 350 could show, fortunately only 250 came. In this activity, the young people need to work together to move the trolleys. It looks much easier then it is. Believe it or not the group on the left reached the goal first.

The Soy Project

I went out to the small community of Chiltupan for a train the trainer workshop on Soy. Some of you may recognize the flip chart on the left. Because of your donations we were able create it along with a manual that will help educate many communities not only about soy, but also how to eat a good diet.

Thanksgiving

Kim and I were responsible for the Turkey. We had the Maryknoll community over to our house for a scrumptuas meal.

The School of Creativity Camp-out

Each year courses are offered in dance, flute, guitar, creative writing, and drawing (last year I taught trumpet lessons) for 10 weeks to the children in the parish. At the end of the classes there is a camp-out. Each kid was given a bedroll to carry on their pilgrimage to the camp-ground. A part of the pilgrimage was to stop by to visit and pray at the chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe. We had a good ole time singing and marching on our journey. Once we got to the place they were staying we had a few hours of playing. They loved the parachute games.

Christmas with the Elderly
We had over 270 elderly show up at the Christmas party. They enjoyed a chicken dinner, dancing and were so excited to get their gift of a bottle of shampoo and conditioner.

Often the elderly are the caretakers for their grandchildren. We had at least 20 kids that came that day as well. They enjoyed a plate of spaghetti and a tortilla.

Feliz Cumpliaños

On December 5th I celebrated 40 years of life.
One of the traditions here is to have the person take a bite out of the cake. You will notice the hand moving close to my head. Fortunately I only got a little on my nose. You got to be quick or you will get your whole face pushed into the cake.

Visiting Homes

The week before Christmas we visited many folks in their homes. This is one of my favorite things to do here. We were able to give each household a bag of beans, corn, sugar, dried potatoes and soy flour. Each kid also received a sweater. They were so excited to pick out what color they liked best. A few of them have them on in the picture.

Santa came to visit!
The Photo Project

Thanks to all of those who donated a camera, memory card, or financial donation. I have trained a few young people to use the cameras. Our first fundraiser was to take pictures with Santa. It was a great hit. All the money made will help purchase things that are needed; food, medicines, shoes, etc.

The Posadas
Each community entered the church with the baby Jesus. The little drummer boy showed up as well. It was an exciting evening.

Los Extrañeros- The Foreigners

Following Christmas Eve Mass everyone went back to their home to celebrate and share a meal with their families. Those from other countries came together in the house of the Carmelites.

Pictured from left to right: Pedro(Argentina), Fr. Amilio (Mexico), Steve (Ohio), Me (Indiana), Rogerlio(Mexico), Nato (Mexico).

Two thumbs up for friendship and fellowship, thumbs down on the Turkey. It was not cooked well enough. Three people got sick from it.

A Year as Housemates!

My housemate Kim and I at Devils Door. A beautiful look-out point just outside of the city. A year ago this month she came to live in community with me. We are looking forward to another gracefilled year as missioners.

Happy New Year!

2007-07-19T19:19:00.001-07:00

Being a Bridge

Recently during a meeting of the Franciscan missioners, someone mentioned how we must BE A BRIDGE. I have been reflecting on what this means for me...

I have crossed many bridges in my time here in

El Salvador

, both literally and figuratively. Everyday on my walk to church I cross two bridges, one over a river where generally there are people below doing their laundry or bathing, the other a foot bridge, a pasarela, over a very busy highway. When I visit folks in their homes I generally have to cross swinging or log bridges. The swinging bridges are about 75 yards long and hang 40 some feet above a rushing river with large boulders below. The log bridges are generally short, but require balance to get across. Each of them provides a safe means to get to the other side.

Bridges are constructed in different shapes, sizes, and materials depending on the need. Because there are so many needs in the world, there are many different kinds of missioners to respond in their own way. Each one must find their way of connecting, of reaching out, of caring. There is no formula….bummer huh? I must BE ElizaBETH. I cannot be Francis, Clare or any other person. They, like my uncle Brother Ralph, a Glenmary Missioner, my parents and others have served as great role models and have had a big impact on my life. But they have had to find their own way, just as I have had to find mine.

When I first arrived in

El Salvador

I knew very little Spanish, but found out very quickly that Salvadorans enjoy playing, and that they too know the game “charades”. Despite my problems with the language, oftentimes through gestures we were able to bridge the gap of communication. Looking back my transition into their culture went smoother then I had anticipated. Perhaps it was their openness to allow me to enter into their lives and/or my willingness to be vulnerable and ask for help. There were definitely times of confusion as two cultures came together, moments where I simply did not understand, where I felt like a new born child, helpless and naked because I was stripped from my knowings and comforts. Little did I realize how profound my relationships would become by letting go and trusting. I now know that acknowledging a need for help and being gracious when others respond, helps to empower others, especially when they come from an impoverished background. EVERYONE needs to know that they have something to give. The Salvadorans had provided a bridge for me, a safe passage into their culture.

When someone asks me about my ministry in the church, I struggle with knowing what to say, because it cannot be easily named. One day as I was cleaning out an old closet space to use as an office, the parish priest stopped by to see how things were going. He said that a young man was making name plaques for each office that describe the type of work done there. When they got to my office they were stumped and did not know what to call it. They began to name aloud the things that I do: she takes pictures, teaches cooperative games, visits the homebound, helps with the soy program, teaches aerobics, sings in the choir, organizes donations, helps with the Friday meals for the elderly, makes popcorn, etc. In the end they decided to call it ‘Elizabeth’s Office.’ Perhaps I am being ElizaBETH.

I suppose my way of being a bridge right now is trying to be present while living in the chaos, seeking to understand the people with whom I come into contact, listening to them, holding them, laughing, crying and praying with them. Sometimes it is giving voice through affirmations, other times it is asking challenging questions both of them and of those who are oppressing them. My intent is to help them to realize that they have options and to empower them to make decisions that they believe will help their lives.

Many of the Salvadorans have crossed bridges much more difficult then I could ever imagine, taken serious risks, and at times were left hanging or worse. There are many bridges they will never have the opportunity or ability to cross because they are poor and Latino. Thinking about this, I realize that probably I will never know what I have actually accomplished, how I genuinely have affected the people. I hope that I am negating some of the (very common) ideas that we North Americans are so much smarter and usually know better ways of doing things. I definitely give them some things to question or laugh about. (One would only need to watch me do my laundry by hand, try to walk with a bowl of fruits or vegetables on my head, dance Latino, or make tortillas to realize how uncoordinated I can be. It’s not a pretty site!)

Maintaining one’s bridge is so important. Like many of the insecure, cross-on-a-prayer bridges here, my bridge has felt very shaky and off-balance at times. Strained and stressed from not knowing what my part is in walking with these people. Taking time for rest, prayer and reflection are needed. I am so grateful for the support, encouragement and insights of my family, friends and fellow missioners, but most especially the Salvadorans who through their endless faith and continuous trust in our Creator have taught me the importance of sustaining the most essential bridge – My connection to God.

My day generally ends with more questions then answers, but I hope that as I reflect on my mission I will notice those times in which my presence assisted others to cross to a better place—emotionally, intellectually, or spiritually—and their presence assisted me.
Pictured above is a games training for adults that work with children. They had a ball playing with them. Thanks to my brother Chris and friends Steve and Stacy for donating the parachutes.

Yes, I am the tall, pale skinned one in the top left hand corner.

The people love to have their pictures taken especially when they can see themselves right away. Most of them do not have cameras. Taking and developing pictures has become one of my favorite ministries.

Some of the cooperative games facilitators stop to pose before a games training. Thanks Sr. Norma for the donation of T-shirts. I am still promoting Marian College.

One of my aerobics classes.

When the people here found out that my family grows popcorn, I was asked to make it for every festival. Thankfully my brother Eric and sister-in -law Lisa sent this popcorn popper. The people love it; eating it and watching it pop. If you want to find out more about the best tasting popcorn in the world, go to http://www.selectpopcorn.com/

My travels in Nicaragua

2007-07-14T07:42:00.001-07:00

At the end of June two friends, Regina and Marie, and I took a little excursion to Nicaragua. We had plans to stay in Granada, but things fell through there and we found ourselves in the little town of Catarina.

Volcano that formed the lagoon

One evening Regina and I stopped by the fruit stand and purchased a couple avocados and mangos. Now all we needed were some tortillas and some sweet bread. A women directed us a place where we could purchase tortillas. We were not sure it was the right place because it was a house. A elderly man invited us to his back yard where a young women was making them over a fire. Now to find la panadería-bakery. At first we went to a few small stores to find they only had rolls or loaves of bread, but eventually we found the bakery. When we first entered we could not decide what we wanted and then the woman invited us to go back to the place where they bake the bread. This is where we met Rafael. He told us all about the process of making the bread and let us try a piece fresh from the oven and ended up giving us a bag to take and share with the people we were staying with.

Regina and Rafael

Regina with our PICO pan. This is my favorite. It is triangular with sugar, sugar and cinnamon or with cheese.

Both mornings we got up early to see the sunrise. Since it is the rainy season there was a lot of cloud cover and so we were not able to see it the first morning. The second morning we were bummed to find it was again very cloudy, but then she peaked through the clouds and shined in her glory.

These were the cute little taxi's in the town. When we first arrived we took one to our hostel. Marie I were a little concerned that we might do a wheely or tip backwards. All three of us and our things, including my biggo suitcase were in the back, but we arrived safely.