um, sorry for not posting sooner?

Buenas a todo from the new group of volunteers. Yes, we have in fact been here for almost two months now. What slackers we all are for not having blogged sooner (sorry Jackie)! I don´t really know what to write here, as others, Meredith and Jenny mostly, are probably a lot better at blogging than I. At any rate, I think we are doing well here, "well" being a relative term for trying to take in the crazyness and chaos of confusing Duran.
I am reticent to speak for the whole group here, but to me, it has become obvious that I have little clue what I am doing. My spanish has not yet reached the point of complete sentences with correct verb tenses, although sometimes I begin to feel I am getting my point across and, more importantly, able to listen. The only thing that is clear to me is that we need a lot of help, which the neighbors have abundantly offered to provide. Katie and I were sitting at Pastora´s house the other day, and she was feeding us, like always, and when we tried to say thanks in our shoddy Spanish her husband waves away our remarks, saying something like "its our duty to feed the hungry and invite in strangers". Clearly, he meant us. We are current objects of charity here and not the other way around, having problems with simple things like feeding ourselves. We have a lot to learn, even if just by way of trying to recriprocate the hospitality we have so far recieved.
Some news from Arbolito: apparently the mayor Marianita is paving the main streets in Arbolito, which, Pat tells me, is soooo good. Drain pipes and everything. The boys, Mike and Adam, are putting in long hours on a project of Padre Damien, assisting a group of doctors on bone surgery for kids. Adam has found his natural habitat and is excited that he gets to scrub in sometimes in the surgeries. I think he likes it when people mistakenly call him doctor. Katie and I are trying to go to this Reggaeton dance class in Duran centro on Saturdays with Juanita, a friend from the Guaderia. Before I came here, I thought I was a graceful dancer, but then I found out how far some people can actually extend their hips. Merdedith is like a rolling fire of energy all day long, and I give her credit for trying to reinvigorate the lectura program in the mornings. Sam, I think, is grooving at Santiago- he is the best of all of us at focusing on Spanish.
So I think we are all adjusting, but I don't want to give the impression that it isn´t incredibly hard in a way that I´ve never felt before. And I have to say, we are definently struggling, each in our own way. I hope that this year we will learn how to struggle with the people here, together and not alone. Thanks for all the prayers and support from everyone, and hopefully postings will be a more frequent event in the future. -Johanna

So here it is, my last blog...I guess this is the beginning of many lasts as I had my last spirit night this week too...it seems to early for "lasts" but as time picks up faster and faster each day I suppose it is time to come to grips, I also suppose the only certain thing we knew when we came here was that we would one day leave...I just never knew how hard that would be...

It will be hard to say goodbye to all, but what will be harder is the responsibility each of us now holds in our hearts...The famous Pat line is that we now can´t say we didn´t know what poverty was like, now that we´ve held it in our hands, kissed it, watched it cry, now we must carry that burden of information. Some say ignorance is bliss, and there are days that I come close to believing that, how much easier would our lives appear to be if we had never come here? But, I believe, we were all called here to bear witness to the world around us and to never stop speaking about the things we have seen. We now hold this place and these people in our hearts, and it is us up to us to testify to that.

Lately I have been struggling with how we do that. What are our gifts and how do we best use them to serve? Erin gives me grief because I think we should all go for the senate :) , but the reality is, as she reminded me just yesterday, and poco a poco is life. I still want change now...and I recognize that maybe that is because I am young enough to be idealistic...but I dream about change over night where people no longer stand on the street and scream for the water truck...

I guess I´m not aiming for the senate, but I am struggling about how I will chose to live my life to serve the worlds poor. Education? Ministry? Politics? Who knows...solo Dios...

So signing off from Duran, I hope these words find you all hopeful and well.

Peace.
Emily
(don´t foget to see what you can do for Ecuador)

The downhill

i'm still smiling from reading what jackie and emily wrote. i couldn't say it better myself. through all the fun and laughs, through all the challenges and awkward moments, and through all the times I counted how many more days I had until I could go home (only once or twice :)) , we have become more than friends. we have become family. what an amazing experience. life is better with more ñaños.

i can also echo the sentiment that our time here is coming to an end. in mid-may it really set in. now we are full swing again with our retreat groups and will be that way until the end. i am beginning to realize what all the hype is about two year volunteer programs. it would be amazing to be able to spend another year here now that everything is clicking. así es la vida.

all is good here. valdivia is back in full swing as the kids have returned to school. I've fully realized why emily never stops talking about the kids. they energy and love is contagious. it's hard to imagine having to leave them, although i know they will be in good hands. yesterday we had a game day with the retreat group john carroll university and we had over 60 kids show up. they loved playing with the water balloons and getting piggy back rides from all the willing retreatants.

as the end is quickly appraoaching, i try to live even more in each moment, to relish the good people and amazing experiences i have already and continue to encounter. i ask that you all keep the people of durán and the whole rostro de cristo community in your prayers.

peace,
erin