Hello, greetings from snowy Boston.
I hope that the fall season is starting well. Things are well, and I just want to share a brief update.
María’s Cancer Treatment
María completed 4 weeks out of the 5 - 6 week treatment course before she couldn’t continue because of the pain and difficulty of the treatment. She is feeling much better as far as the symptoms and pain that she was experiencing from the complications from the cancer, but the treatment was too much for her to finish. From Monday through Friday, she needed to travel to the hospital either 2 hours each way by public transportation, or 1 hour each way by taxi, all accompanied by her mother. The pain got worse with the days, and weekends were somewhat of a recuperation. Her covid apparently had little to no effect on her treatment or experience of discomfort or pain.
She’s waiting now to see about next steps., and hopeful that the treatment that she’s had so far has had a significant effect. However, time will tell, along with the course that the hospital suggests, and what she chooses to do. I will continue updates as the journey goes along. Her form of cancer (cervical) is typically slow moving from what I understand, but we’ll see how it goes. She and her family - and I - are still very thankful for all the support for her while enduring the challenges of the treatment. Having to travel this path with little resources is a huge challenge.
Not Going to Ecuador Until Next Year
I found out a week ago that I have lost the 2-yr visa that I had because of spending too much time out of the country. Apparently there are no exceptions being made for the covid situation, but my situation really didn’t depend directly on that. I spent 9 months last year outside Ecuador, and the 2-year visa requires spending a minimum of 12 months inside the country, otherwise the visa is lost. (I didn’t know that requirement!) So, unbeknownst to me, I had little room to return to Boston and keep the visa - in fact, I probably couldn’t have done all that I’ve needed to do in the time that I could have had here and kept the visa.
It’s not a huge deal right now, as I was planning on returning in November under a rush of a lot of deadlines and coordination of paperwork. The extra 2 months in Boston will be beneficial for a number of reasons, including those I’ll describe below. On the downside, I will be away from Ecuador for Christmas for the first time since 2012. That had always been a special time for me to be there, and I’ll very much miss it.
Spanish Classes
I’ve continued to take some online Spanish classes these months, with Vida Verde in Quito. Twice a week for an hour, they’re helpful for untying the different knots that accumulate over time, and taking next steps in growth. I drew a parallel in the last update to a boat being in drydock for updates and improvements, and the Spanish classes are a part of that.
Tutoring the Kids
I’ve tutored several students in Chontal with Math and English several times. The kids are limited in their resources there to using a cellphone, often a lower quality version, so we communicate with text messages, photos of pages, and recorded voice messages. It’s very different from what kids experience in the States, tablets and laptops and high-quality internet access make for a better and more flowing interactive experience. But I arranged my technological tools to account for that difference, and so make the interaction as smooth as possible.
English Website
I’m planning to soon be doing more language with some folks in Ecuador, and I have developed a number of resources over the years. To help with centralizing and organizing those resources, as well as making them more accessible to folks there in Ecuador, I’ve created a website (a Google site) that has the resources conveniently accessible. You can see it here. I hope to be able to start using this soon, after I finish the next topic:
Food in the Desert
The online accompanying version of the workshop is almost done. It has taken much more time than I had thought or hoped, but I aim to be done in the next 2 weeks. Finishing this has been an important goal that has preceded my starting other projects, as I know from experience that if things are brought to completion before starting other major ventures, they can be left undone. So this is high priority these days, and the primary reason that the language exchange and the other workshops have been on the back burner for a few months.
The last workshop topic is about the theme of the Good Shepherd discourse in John’s Gospel connected with the washing of the feet at the Last Supper. If you haven’t seen this video series, you’re missing out on the core element of the spirituality and energy behind Barriers to Bridges! The videos show how to find the hidden keys for understanding the Gospels (that, frankly, very few people find), and to take fundamental new steps in your relationship with God. They are not for causal or curious viewing, but for people looking for something uplifting and freeing in life, who are in a place of willingness to take new steps. Not everyone feels that way, but if that resonates with you, come and check out the video series.
Online Retreats and Workshops
I still have plans for initiating online retreats and workshops, including the Tree of Life and others, once I’m finished with the Food in the Desert videos. There are tentative plans to work with some Latino friends on a form on online workshop having to do with sharing experiences of the pandemic. So, the extra 2 months here in Boston gives some time (hopefully!) to develop those while I have the good internet resources here!
Health
I have not had exposure to covid, at least not that I know of. However, I’ve had some minor issues that have slowed me down physically. My hip continues to bother me, despite a few months of physical therapy. I’ve had a hip problem since my high school days, but it’s become more pronounced over the past few years. I also had a skin rash that a few doctor’s visits couldn’t diagnose or cure, though it has calmed down. (I believe it’s fungus from Ecuador.) But I also had a part of my big toenail removed for ingrowing problems (also from fungus), and the recovery has taken over 6 weeks so far, meaning it’s been that long since I’ve done running or other strenuous foot activity. So hopefully the treatment in the longer dry dock will help all these issues move along to a better state, and the extra 2 months in Boston will help with that.
Business Activities
I renewed the business certificate for Barriers to Bridges in the City of Boston for another 4 years. That essentially just means that Barriers to Bridges is registered on file with the City of Boston as being associated with me, indicating that I am a sole proprietor doing business as Barriers to Bridges.
A friend also referred me to a much needed tax accountant who gave me some very valuable and generous counsel on accounting and tax issues for B2B. I’m very grateful! It’s helped me to update my accounting procedures and prepare and pay taxes more confidently. There are no changes to my operations, and apparently what I was already doing for accounting and taxes was in pretty good shape already, so there are not any drastic changes or anything outside of the law to report.
Working for St James Society
Since late August, I’ve been working part-time on some office administration and design work for the St. James Society here in Boston, though that is winding down. As I’ll now be in the house and office until after the New Year, I’ll also be helping in those capacities until I eventually leave for Ecuador.
So, that’s it for now. Feel free to reach out and contact me. I hope you have a peaceful All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days. In Latin America, folks celebrate the Day of the Dead, and visit loved ones’ tombs and graves, often bringing some form of food or drink. The custom dates to indigenous customs of preparing the deceased with food for the next life. I hope you always have the food you need nearby for wherever you may be in your journey in life with God.
God bless,
Jerome