LIFE

Hello to all our devoted blog readers...

All is good here in Durán; summer is in full swing and everyone is now accustomed to new schedules with a renewed energy and high spirits, much of which I think can be attributed to our awesome retreat two weeks ago. Thanks to Kevin, Chelsea and Marissa for planning that. Time is flying, just as everyone warned us, but everyday here is amazing and fun (well, almost everyday :)) . Valdivia is sweet; we've really had a 'coming together' and all the volunteers, Ecua and RdC alike, have joined forces to make the programs fun and interesting. We are teaching art, music, English, geography, history, and science. The kids are enjoying all the activities and we continue to get new kids almost everyday. All the niños (well, I might add again, most) are so precious. I feel so fortunate to get to know them and be a part of their learning and playing.

The group of girls that Emily and I are working with have officially chosen a name... Chicas adolescentes luchando para el futuro de la comunidad. There are 6 girls who come twice a week to talk about life issues and do service for the community. Last Thursday we made Vday cards for the patients at Annie's (fundación Padre Damien) and yesterday we took them there to hand them out and chat. We played dominoes with Victor and two of the older girls actually went around and talked to the men. It was so neat to see them interacting and the girls were super excited. They wanted to talk about their experience at Valdivia (which we will let them in the near future) and they asked when they could go back and also brainstormed ideas for other places they could go, like a children's hospital or orphanage. They are also thinking of ideas for service they can do in their own neighborhood, too. It really is amazing...

Everything else is pasando like normal. Lots of rain, lots of bugs, and lots of mice (or maybe just one really active one) ... There is never a day here without a good story, a good laugh, a good question, and/or a good moment of refelction. I hope to continue this year by truly living in each moment, and I wish the same for each of you.

Best of luck to all those looking for volunteer programs for next year. I say ditto to Emily's advice.

Peace,
erin

Decision Time?

Dear Friends,

This time last year I was discerning about coming down here, my how time flies and how things can change in a year. I have received quite a few emails from future RDCers and I know how hard the decision is. In true ignation fashion, the best advice I can offer is to imagine yourself here, pray on that, go through a whole day here, what do you see? what do you do? HOW DO YOU FEEL? Peace? Anxiety? Pain? Misery? Happiness? Joy? All of the above?

Having trouble imagining a place you´ve never been? Let me see if I can help...

Picture youself here among the people, the mud, the unpaved road, the malnourished, dirty, abused children...see yourself living in community, working out problems, laughing harder than you´ve ever laughed, crying together, giving up your independance...loving it, hating it...never wanting to go home, being homesick....reflecting on the face of Christ in yourself and others...being moved at mass, leading a retreat group, dealing with misunderstanding from home, being sicker than you´ve ever been, being joyful....think about everything, picture youself here, really do it, and then tell yourself how you feel...Pretend you´ve said yes, go through the hole day as if you´ve accepted, how do you feel? Pretend you´ve said no, go through the next day like you´re not coming down here, how do you feel?? Listen to your heart, that´s all we can do.

Life is precious, and life is short. Make decisions, stick with them, and no matter what, never give up the good fight. Whether you are applying to RDC or graduate school or the working world, we´re all fighting for the same thing: survival, whether it be our own or someone elses, this is the good fight. It´s an uphill battle some days, but it´s worth sticking with, if we don´t, then what the heck are we doing here and why?

Good luck,
Peace.

Emily