Hello again everyone,
Hello again everyone, here's the latest update, this time from Boston. I hope you enjoy it.
Current Events in Ecuador
There isn’t too much new happening in Ecuador that I haven’t mentioned before. The poorer economic situation since the pandemic started has inflated the strength of the illegal drug industry, and increased crime in certain locations around those corridors and in prisons. In parallel, the economic situation has also continued to generate a widespread general desire to migrate. In B2B, I meet people where they are, and on the one hand aim to develop community and confidence in Ecuador, while at the same time creating cultural bridges, including language exchange. It’s now more important probably than in all of the last 12 years that I’ve been in Ecuador.
More about Mission in Ecuador
The overall vision hasn't changed, and is focused on collaborating with grace in growing new ministries and projects out of accompaniment in situations "outside the ballpark", or at the bottom of "valley". They are "new shoots from the roots" of the faith and social institutions that already exist. There's an inherent call to conversion and reconciliation into communion out of real life experiences, a return to origins for encounter and rebirth, and that takes listening first of all.
The 2+ months I spent in Mindo were a beginning of listening. I got to know people, and also the general demographics (it’s varied) and the lay of the land (I spent the last 3 weeks exploring the entire area on foot.) There are beginnings of intercultural activities, and still possibilities for spiritual workshops as well. Because of my health, I wasn’t able to complete the English course I wanted to, to start, but it looked hopeful. Things are ready for a return and a direct start of some pilot activities, in language and also in the spiritual life. I hope to have these ideas preliminarily prepared before returning.
Visa
I did finally get the Professional Visa in Ecuador. It’s a temporary residential visa valid for 2 years, with which I can leave and re-enter the country for as long as I want and as many times as I want. It can also be renewed indefinitely. Unlike the religious volunteer visa, I don’t have to stay in one particular Catholic diocese, and I could also potentially work, once I get a cedula (Ecuadorian ID).
As you may know from previous posts, the last steps in getting the visa were two long, stressful days in Quito that wiped me out. The eve of the second day was the beginning of my chest pain problem.
Happenings in Chontal
There isn’t anything new to share about happenings in Chontal. Guillermo continues to be sick with the effects of his cancer, and now has been limited to morphine each day. Please keep him and his family in your prayers with me.
As I mentioned a while back, María Herrera died from complications from her cancer near the beginning of December. The whole comunity came out for the wake at her parents’ house, which is over a footbridge on the other side of the river that passes alongside Chontal. You then climb up a very steep dirt path up a hill for about 10 minutes. It’s only manageable for able-bodied people. And yet so many people managed to come up for the wake. Bringing the casket down the next morning to cross over the bridge and go to the was an amazing feat, and very symbolic.
I accompanied especially the family during this time. I offered to accompany them in praying the novena of rosaries for the nights after her funeral. They seemed happy for that, and it helped the family come together. I could only stay for 3 or 4 nights, but we spent some close time together in grace in Maria’s parents’ house.
The family wanted some pictures for the memory, and I’ll share a few here, too:
In the picture are Maria’s mother and one of her brothers, plus Jimmi and Sebastian, the son that Jimmi and Maria share. Jimmi and Maria were not that close at the time that she became sick, and Jimmi stayed the course with her, supporting her despite the difficulties in their relationship.
I’m going to share something now about Maria that I myself hadn’t known until a few months ago. Her two other wonderful sons, Abimael and Steven - who we took her to see receive his First Communion when she first got sick - were from her being raped as a teen by the much older father in the family next door on the hill. He was a charismatic religious leader, supposedly having visions of God, and regularly gathering the community together in the church for these visions and words from God. He was probably the most respected person in the community. Maria was found pregnant with Abimael when she was about 13 I think, and no one suspected the guy. It happened again when she was older, and I don’t know how, but people figured it out. The man was told he had to leave the village (which doesn’t bode well for wherever he ends up.)
You can imagine the type of cover-up culture that can exist in such rural areas, where a young woman has no recourse to bring such a thing to light - to not even be able to explain who the father of her child is. And more so, the pain that Maria kept with her all these years. She loved all her sons, but I always saw the pain in her eyes. In her last year of sickness, I could also see some healing. She led a very difficult, short life.
In my going back and forth between Guillermo and Maria, a connection was made. Maria used to light up and talk about how she prayed for Guillermo, and likewise. They had a sense of connection to each other. Jimmi isn’t one to go visiting sick people, but the very day after María’s funeral, he decided to go and visit Guillermo up the mountain in Chontal Medio. When he told me about it, I felt God’s grace in it all.
Please continue to keep all the families here in your prayers.
*********
The small school continues along up in the mountain in Magdalena Alto, and I hope to stay in contact. From what I heard, there wasn’t much fervor about Christmas activities in Chontal this year.
I had been planning to start to do some language for a week in Chontal, before my health episode canceled everything. The goal was to do a short in-person course on English pronunciation, that could serve as gauge for launching a type of longer course and inter-language group. Now that I’m back in Boston, I’m thinking about doing that pronunciation course online. Once things get settled here with work, I’ll likely start that.
Mindo
As I mentioned above, I’ve done some preliminary exploration for activities in Mindo. If I had arrived to stay in Mindo about a month and a half earlier than I did, and if I hadn’t had the health episode, I think I would have finished a few pilot activities. But I would still like to follow through on what was begun, the next time I return. I’m still in contact with the people I’ve known there.
After speaking with the pastor there, it doesn’t look like there will be any significant cooperation with the church there, for similar clericalism reasons. There just isn’t much understanding of the balance and relationship between church and secular, clergy and laity, sacrament activities and the actual living of life. The fundamental Christian relation to be worked out is the relationship between Christ and oneself and the community, the relationship between Christ’s human life and mine and ours, the relationship between the events of the Gospel and those of my own life. In fact, the Christian mission is always simply to cooperate in the regeneration - the coming to birth - of Jesus’ life in my life. Unfortunately, this is largely lost on practicing Christians and Catholics, and this is the continual difficulty in collaborating with people active in their churches. But I think it’s the same difficulty that Christ encountered, and so was focused on the people who were not active in the churches, who are not already fixed in their ways.
The Fundraiser
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the fundraiser! We passed the original $1,100 goal to reach $1,200. Thank you!
It has been a huge help for me, especially with the unexpected medical charges in December. I don’t have any retirement or investment accounts or any other appreciable assets in my name, or expected in any inheritance or gift. I only have about $1500 of cash and value left. Paying rent and food until my work picks up will be a struggle. That’s why I’m leaving the fundraiser open and have raised the goal to $1,400. Please consider sharing it with others you think might be interested.
The $1,200 covered:
$225 for youth in a very poor family who suffered injuries in an auto accident
$200 for the Chontal church fiestas, to go toward resources for child education
$150 for resources the local child care center. We missed the Christmas deadline, but the money will be used for much-needed resources
$75 for Christmas supplies for the small school in Magdalena Alto
$550* to help make me present in Ecuador to freely offer myself to the local people in a variety of ministries and projects, by covering my unexpected visa and airfare expenses due to changes in the visa process
The balance amounts to about 55% directly to others in need, and 45% to cover my expenses and allow me to be present and active.
* With the complications in the visa situation, I spent over $1000 more than planned on the visa process and airfare. And the additional medical costs were about $500 on top of that.
Website Support
Thank you to the several donors who gave a total of $250 to help to cover this year's website costs of $275. (I also want to thank those who give monthly - every bit counts and is appreciated!) As I noted, I put in a whole lot of time maintaining the site, and most especially in writing these posts, all for free. I’m grateful for your contributions!
VOlunteer in Spiritual Care
I’m planning on seeing if I can start volunteering at the nearby hospital in the spiritual care department, visiting patients. My family and I have received a lot from the Faulkner Hospital over the years, and it’s only a 20-minute walk from my apartment. I had been a Eucharistic Minister and pastoral visitor for a number of years in a few hospitals and senior care facilities, and in many ways I feel the call in Christ to reach out there. So I’m looking forward to a conversation soon with the chaplains there.
In Boston: online Language with Ecuadorians
Once things get settled on the work front, I’m aiming to start an online short course in English pronunciation for people I know in Ecuador. I’ll probably limit the size of the first run as a pilot, and then see if it can be repeated, and also if it leads to a language group.
Latino Immigrants in Boston
I might extend this short course to some Latino immigrants here in the Boston area as well. I’ve also met with a few people after Mass, and considering the possibility of another spiritual workshop to bring people together.
Just as the servants at the wedding at Cana filled large jars with water that later became the new wine, my experience in both Boston and Ecuador has been that working in language leads to the spiritual life.
Work in Adult Education of immigrants in East Boston
I’m returning to work at East Boston Harborside School, in adult education of immigrants. I’ll be doing some advising and teaching tech classes, as well as substituting for English classes from time to time. I’m grateful and glad to be able to return, and both they and I are looking forward to it. I’ll start up on January 31.
Live Online Presentation
I’m considering putting together an online presentation over Zoom, about the last six months and the mission. It would be open to you and everyone else who would like an opportunity to enter more into the experience of mission, and particularly, the way I live it. It will include photos and videos and stories from time in Ecuador. And who knows, maybe some guests, too!
Online Workshops and Teaching Videos
The online workshops and teaching videos are still available - come on by and check them out by clicking on an image below. I’ve just completed a new Food in the Desert video about Jesus being lifted up in the Gospel of John. Come and check out the English or Spanish versions here:
English
Español
I am still continuing to develop these workshops and teaching videos. As the foundation is accompaniment in life, there are a few that you might find beneficial as the pandemic is winding down, or if you are experiencing any type of a life transition. I'm continuing to offer the Pandemic ReBirth Workshop, as well as the Tree of Life. Feel free to contact me directly if you're interested. And you can share the link freely as well.
I also hope to be able to move forward in publishing the fourth book in the spiritual reflection series. (And there soon will be enough reflections for a fifth book!)
Health
I’ve had some important medical checkups since coming back to Boston. They’ve been all good news so far.
My primary care physician found both my EKG results from Ecuador and from a test in his office to be normal. My episode was likely stress-related, although we are addressing the acid reflux problem I began to have at the end of November. As with the suggestion of the cardiologist in Quito, we are working on getting a handle on what my blood pressure is. I am dieting and trying to lose weight as well, so we will see where things are at at the end of March. Nothing about my condition right now is urgent, and I continue to live normally and continue exercising.
Yesterday, I saw an orthopedic surgeon in the Mass General B&W system about my left hip arthritis. From x-rays, I have a slight deformity called a cam growth in the ball of my femur that mates at the hip joint. It’s the likely cause of my osteoarthritis, and something I’ve had since my bones finished growing in my teens. This makes sense to me, as I remember having this burning sensation in my hip from lots of basketball when I was in high school. (But that pain just went away!) So, that’s why I have arthritis at such a young age. He said I will need a hip replacement. It’s not necessary for any medical reason in the near future, but whenever I feel like the lifestyle and pain is too much, it’s time to do it. It was encouraging to hear how quickly current patients are expected to recover, even showering and walking the next day. These are important things to me, because cost (which I’ve not explored yet) and the required short-term living supports are the two obstacles in my mind for my going forward with it. In the meantime, I keep up the exercises that stretch and strengthen the hip, which have been helpful.
I also saw a dermatologist, and have no skin problems so far, even from the Ecuadorian sun!
Financials
There are no significant changes in the B2B financial situation. Below are the links to the financials.
As I've been doing since July, I am also including a list of my monthly expenses here. As noted in the July update, these are now *personal* expenses that don't show up on the B2B ledger. So I'm including these here if you're interested in seeing how much I'm spending.
Jul 19-31 306.29
Aug 654.15
Sep 803.75
Oct 1369.81
Nov 784.56
Dec 1507.37
Jan 1-11 196.44
TOTAL $5,622.37
Costs in December include $637 for visa-related expenses and $480 for medical expenses. (December rent of $200 is reflected in November.)
Here are the 2022 financials for Barriers to Bridges (I’m still working on updating the balance sheet). Again, a big thank you to those who regularly make gifts, no matter who small. It's much appreciated.
Other Stuff
Come and check out the amazing beauty in Mindo:
Mindo scenery: https://photos.app.goo.gl/dufFkKEP92mDw1kv9
More scenery: https://photos.app.goo.gl/YEkDrnLPfqvLGUUB6
I forgot to post these from the past update. Here are pics of the family who manages the hotel where I was staying in Mindo. These are our Christmas Eve and New Years meals together. Plus, here’s a photo of Srs. Nuala and Rosemary, from the Franciscan Missionary of St. Joseph, who so generously and kindly came to visit me and take me out for an afternoon! I’m very grateful to everyone for their friendships and hospitality!
I’ll miss playing with their son Liam:
And here’s a picture of my friend Antonio, who was a great friend and support since he arrived in early December. I’m also including the tarantula that I found by my foot while we were seated and talking in his house! (It’s just a baby…) :)
And here are some live links from my time in Chontal:
Chontal Scenes https://photos.app.goo.gl/TMg2wMN5A786cocK6
Chontal Kids https://photos.app.goo.gl/aVUJ57osV5sai1uh7
Reflection & Vision
Although I’m taking into account my recent health episode, the vision continues to be the same as it always has been: “From the USA to Ecuador, reconciling barriers into bridges as brothers and sisters in God's family.” The sacrificial reconciling mission of love and mercy of Christ.
Going between Mindo and Chontal seemed like a good balance, and I would like to continue that whenever I return to Ecuador. I plan on being in Boston until at least July of this year.
“For still the vision awaits its time;
it hastens to the end—it will not lie.
If it seem slow, wait for it;
it will surely come, it will not delay.”
**************
Some years ago, I used to visit a house of hospitality run be a few nuns, to take a day away for reflection and prayer. They were nice and engaging people, and the space worked out well for me. After hearing more about my background and what I've been doing, they mentioned that they saw a lot of people these days who could use a gathering with like-minded people. "So you won't be alone," said one of the sisters. That's a great idea. Finding or growing a community of people of like-minded people has always been a search for me. It's just that, not many people from the States are living this lifestyle, and traveling to Ecuador. And I keep going back to God and checking, you still want me going this way even though there doesn't seem to be companions? And what keeps me going is this:
I may appear to be alone. But I'm not Alone.
Some months after meeting them, I found out they were selling their house. They eventually sold it for almost a million dollars. They had bought it maybe 15 years earlier for one single dollar, from another religious congregation. Whatever happened to, "Freely have you received, freely give."? They appear to be a community. But, I wondered:
Maybe they're … Alone.
And I'm not so alone as they think.
When Jesus is carrying the cross by himself along the way to Calvary, the crying women appear. They are a ministry of the Temple, who cry for people who are alone and have no one to cry for them. But though Jesus appears to be alone, he is not Alone. But … they are. That's what he tells them when he says, "Do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children." (Lk 23:28)
He's not Alone. They are.
I don’t have the stability of a house or a community yet. I hardly have any money. Not a career or family or savings or a waiting retirement fund or an inheritance. But I'm not Alone.
When I quickly had to leave the last place I lived and dive into the impossible Boston renting market, a stranger handed me a CD entitled, "Help Is on the Way." Then, a great affordable spot opened up in my old apartment house and a friend showed up to help me move. I found a great fit part-time job. When my cell-phone broke, the perfect replacement showed up on a big sale, that had the all-important 2nd SIM card slot that's so critical for being in Ecuador (yes, it can be that important). When I needed $60 for new shoes, an envelope with three twenties from a friend showed up in the mail.
In Ecuador, when I really needed something to show I wasn't just preaching from my own ideas, the power in the whole village returned in the exact moment I was preaching to the community about discerning the light inside of us.
When the possibility of getting a volunteer visa sank before my eyes, along with my heart, the visa agent sitting across from me suggested she could help me for free to instead get another visa type. It was the very type I had thought about someday getting, but I couldn't afford because I'd need a very expensive agent to help. I had even brought the prepared documents for it, just in case. Now they were necessary. And one day when I was about to give up on the whole process, overwhelmed with all the stress and effort and cost, a friend of the agent happened to show up for the first time in a year, at the very moment I arrived for an appointment. She was a helper of the agent, who had before taken me on one of the crazy cross-city trips to get a visa back in 2019. And there she offered to help again, accompanying a guy at wits end again through trips around the city for a half a day to print out bank statements and get them notarized in the Ecuadorian notary system. I absolutely couldn't have done it without her. And I haven't seen her since.
When I had chest pains from all the activity and needed to take a 3 hour bus and taxi trip from the town where I didn't have many connections, to a hospital in Quito, I was in touch with a friend who had just arrived in the town only a week earlier after almost 3 years away. He said, "I have plenty of time and I have resources. I'm glad to accompany you and help." He accompanied me through two visits to Quito, including a stop at his doctor cousin's house for another opinion. I don't know what would have happened without him.
On one of those trips to Quito, I wanted to send Christmas gifts for a school in the mountains near Chontal, because I couldn't make the visit I had planned. I brought the wrapped box on the bus with me to Quito, and when I arrived there at the station, I jumped off to catch the bus leaving for Chontal, but it had already left that very moment. I asked a favor from the dispatcher, and she whistled one of the assistants to come over. He picked up the box and took off running. The school had a manger, Christmas lights, and Santa hats for their Christmas celebration the following day.
I had lost donated Christmas money for the Childcare Center near Chontal in an online bank transfer, and everyone around me said the money was lost. But I was going to do everything I could and then leave it in God's hands. I contacted the transfer service and went through the process and waited. A week or two later, I got an email that amazingly the money had been returned. But I had no way to get it to Chontal, until a friend from Chontal came and visited me, bringing with her cash the church there had gathered as support for me with my medical issues. I could put some money I already had together with that cash to send the Christmas money for the Childcare Center back with her.
Getting ready to return to Boston after the New Year, and very low on resources, a good job showed up for me. I found out that my doctor's appointment later in the month had to be changed, and the only date available was, so conveniently, the day after I arrived. I’m getting the care I need, even without much resources.
So… as I said, I don’t have the stability of a house or a community yet. I hardly have any money. Not a career or family or savings or a waiting retirement fund or an inheritance.
But I'm not Alone.
In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul describes the wonderful ministry of Christians as held in earthen vessels. Sometimes it's translated 'clay', and that's the original word. But the word for ‘Adam’, ‘man’, and ‘human’ in Hebrew comes from being made from 'clay'. Paul is saying that we hold the treasure in 'human' vessels. In our humanity. Not in anything outside of ourselves. And that leaves you without much else.
It's a bit humiliating being a human vessel.
It's humbling being at the bottom of humanity.
But, you're never Alone.
“But we hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”
Closing
Thanks for reading. Again, I hope it all helps you enter into the experience. Feel free to comment or reach out anytime.
I'll post again when it's time.
-Jerome