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

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

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.

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!

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/