Hello!
I've been trying to piece together an update, with spots of time here and there. So, here it goes:
Mindo Visit
I was able to make a visit to Mindo, which is only a few hours from Chontal. I have typically stayed at one inn close to nature, and there was space for me again. I was able to catch up with several people in Mindo that I have gotten to know over the years. There are some changes, but a lot is pretty much the same. Mindo is a local town that is also a budding tourist destination, including some of the best natural experiences probably in the world.
I stopped by a retreat property that I've gone to over the last 6 years every once in a while. Not just to stop by and pray, but also to check on coming availability for retreats. I've had thoughts of leading another retreat like I did 3 years or so ago. It looks like it could happen in February through April, when I'm planning on being back in Ecuador from Peru.
Some photos here of the retreat property, which has a larger dormitory plus hermitages and a chapel.
Church Painting
The new parish priest where Chontal is had the church painted. It looks like new. Here is a photo of it being painted, and one from a distance after it was done.
Making the Creche in the Church with Kids
Everything was late in happening this year in the church, and that includes the making of the creche scene. Whereas in the past when I had been more involved, a number of kids and youth would participate, it was really only a few adults this year, to get it done more quickly. Some kids came around the end, and we got some photos.
I have been trying to be less involved, aiming to be withdrawn from the parish activities by the end of my time here. I am aiming to be more focused on new activities that tangential to or outside the standard church activities.
Christmas Fundraiser
Part of my initial feeling things out when I arrive is seeing what is needed for the Christmas celebrations. This year, there were a few needs for Christmas candy bags and prizes for use in the Christmas programs. I invited others from back in the States to participate in supporting the need with a small fundraiser of $300. I deliberately keep these fundraisers small, because it's important to not develop a habit of dependence. Also, because these are snacks and prizes and not necessities, while there are some situations - often it takes time to identify them - that need some real practical help covering medical costs or putting actual food on the table.
In any case, the fundraiser provided some candies and prizes to kids and seniors in the Christmas program in both Chontal and Magdalena, the town next door.
The queen of a village has now typically led a Christmas program, and it was that program that we helped out. From Magdalena, the queen and president of the community had written me a request letter looking for 100 Christmas bags of candy. $100 of the money we raised went to that. She showed up at the door where I was staying in Chontal to pick up the money, as her grandmother lives across the street. Here are a photo of me handing her the money, and her driving away.
In Chontal, we gave $200 to cover Christmas candies and prizes given out to children and seniors in the program. Here is a picture of me giving the money to Kely, and then what was bought the next day in Quito.
After we reached the $300 fundraising goal, another $250 was donated by generous people who still wanted to give. Because I would be leaving Chontal on January 8, I decided to divide that money up and give it to seven families after Christmas and before New Year's. These are people or families who include people with sickness, disability, or otherwise poor situations. I'll include more about that later.
Chontal Christmas Program
I helped out in the Christmas program not just with the donations, but also with planning and organization and participation. The queen was organizing with the medical staff from the health clinic, and I helped both groups come up with all the games for both the kids and the seniors. It was an involved process of trying to bring things together in short time. I also donned the Santa outfit at the end of the program when it was time to give out the bags of candies with the queen. As you might be able to tell in the pictures and videos, everyone enjoyed the time and was content.
Santa also made snow from the artificial snow powder that I had brought. To do that, I needed some water prepared in a large bottle, and a large bucket with the powder that both have to be brought over to me at the right moment. To help with that, Katy and Karen were glad to help out. They are 14 year olds that I've known - along with their families and many others as well - since my first times coming here to Chontal. They were part of the youth group that we started back in 2016, and were present back in 2014 for the "first coming" of Santa. They wanted the new young kids to have the Santa experience and were excited to be a part of it. (I also got messages from other older kids asking for Santa to come to the school for the new, younger kids.)
In any case, I'm always happy to support people "paying forward" their own good experiences. I think that's an important part of authentic mission and purpose in life. The Great Commission of the Gospel of Matthew is essentially nothing more than that. And the disciples have had a great experience to pay forward… When I was younger, I paid forward in teaching and coaching younger people the path that I had myself walked. There is an authenticity, humility, and truth in that (one can only give what one has received), and so there is the divine in it. So, whenever we facilitate and support people paying forward to others their own good experiences, we are participating in growing authentic discipleship and mission of Jesus, even if it's not explicitly outwardly "religious".
Inauguration of Works
The same day of the Christmas program was a program to officially inaugurate some of the public works that had been accomplished by local leadership. The paving of the main road and the further development of the public courtyard with seating were accomplished apparently after a prolonged effort by local and broader government leaders. I got an invite to be with the special people in the program. I wondered why, because I had nothing to do with any of it. I was told it was a courtesy, and so I went. We walked through the street and arrived at the court where the leaders shared their words. Later we all had a big lunch together. The works are beneficial to the community, though I'm never comfortable being present in a prominent way with anything I haven't actually participated in. I like to stay out of any official role, or appearance of one, or even lending public support in a situation of which I have no idea of the dynamic. So I kept off to the side with the general public, and out of the special seating or closeness to the movers and shakers. I did eat the lunch, though, thinking it would go a little too far to reject that, too … It would be common to invite church leaders to things like that, to stand in a supportive position even though you had nothing to do with the project, because, well, there is a dishonesty in the leadership here. These are the roots of corruption, taking the nice, elevating treatment in exchange for putting support (moral or otherwise) behind a situation you have no actual connection with.
Christmas Novena
We started the Christmas Novena on Dec 16. The priest decided the day before that I would lead it, but I mentioned to him that I decided that the people themselves do it and I support them. So, this year, I moved even more to the back seat of the organizing. Two years ago, I led up the organizing, inviting more people to participate and spreading out responsibilities more evenly. I was in an accompanying position, but taking initiative in organizing. So, we planned a lot of stuff and lots participated. Last year, it was similar, but I backed off of the initiatives, staying more in just accompaniment and support. This year, I pretty much stopped the initiative-taking, and acted as a supporter. That meant that it was up to the people to take the lead, and I supported as needed. As there are nine nights, and so nine different themes and preachings to share, it was up to the guide for the evening as to what they wanted to do for the preaching part, for example. They could do it, I could do it, or we could share something. That way, I hoped to be less and less involved.
There is a beauty in beginning an evening service together in the church with a representation of the Christmas story, and a family leading us to their house with the infant Jesus in their arms. And especially so in doing nine nights in a row with different families and houses involved. There is a closeness that the family and the local church have to the mystery of the Incarnation, to the incarnation of Jesus and the visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth; to the visit of the shepherds and the wise men; to the visit of the angel to Joseph. Those various themes are covered over the course of the nights, and it gave opportunity for some really profound insights and reflections for me. That incarnational activity can be a source of great grace for people involved, if they know how to take notice of the graces and if the preaching is in line with the whole experience. That's what I try to assist with: facilitating the experience and the ability to notice graces along the way, to make room on the inside of one's interior as food for their life. Because God speaks uniquely to each person in the heart over the course of the nights.
Practically speaking, the novena worked out well in that I did minimal and the novena was organized more by the local leaders. However, they are also formed regularly in a different way by the local church leadership, so they slowly revert back to that model, which essentially promotes dependencies. The goal whenever I come somewhere is that the people eventually don't need an outsider to lead them. Whenever I teach or tutor or coach or guide, the goal is to always work myself out of a job. Authentic shepherding, whether it be parenting or pastoring or teaching or coaching, is to have those you are guiding grow into their own and not need you. Shifting a person's - and community's - spirituality from dependence on leaders to dependence on God Himself, that is the work of "making disciples". And the shepherd is a growing student in the whole process as well, so the shepherd too should no longer "need" the sheep, who are his/her teachers …
Christmas School Program
On Monday December 23, the school had its annual Christmas program. Here are some pictures and videos, up until I had to disappear. I was invited to stop by and chat with the principal and some fo the teachers. It ended up that I would show up as Santa at the end. There was a Mass at the very beginning in the morning, so everyone processed together down from the school to the church. After the Mass, everyone processed back up to the school for the program. I had to have the snow and water ready, and Katy and Karen were going to help me again. I got a few photos and videos of the program, and at the end I came out as Santa and turned the water into snow. The kids loved it of course. In fact they stormed Santa looking to get some snow - it wasn't controlled well by the teachers. I had to dump a lot of the snow out so that no one got trampled!
That was in the morning, from 7:30 to mid-day. To get a sense of the whole day, I'll share the rest of that day with you.
After lunch, I spent time doing English with one of neighboring young men. Afterwards, I went out to visit a family, and on my way came across a dog eating a dead hen. (A picture is here.) Apparently, the hen was already dead and the dog was taking advantage of that. Anyway, later in the afternoon, I decided to gather some of the kids together for some games. I took some time and found a good short movie on Youtube to download (even with the slow internet here, I could get that done in about a half an hour.) Karen came to help out, and she set up a game of "pin the eyes on the face". After that game, we played something that I started last year, which is finding the lost sheep. The church's creche scene has a whole ton of small plastic sheep. I gather up about 15, and then the kids can't watch while I hide the sheep in different places around the church property. I also place a candy inside each of the sheep. So, the kids go out looking for the sheep and they get a candy prize in each one. It's a lot of fun for the kids, and of course I learn what to do and what not to do. Everyone eventually gets a candy. You can see pics and a video of both games here.
Well, that game wrapped up around 6pm, and I had to be in the church ready by 6:30, so I had to get back to my room and shower (I hadn't showered all day and was covered in sweat from everything from Santa time to walking around and running the rest of the day.) I hopped into the shower and turned the knob and there was nothing. No water. The village was without water as they were cleaning the town water tanks.
So, I threw on some clean clothes and went out to the church, we had the novena until about 8pm or so, and afterwards I ate dinner around 8:30. At about 9:30pm I took my first shower of the day, and then called it a night!
Nochebuena and Pase del Niño
On December 24, people here celebrate the Nochebuena, the Good Night. It's the last night of the novena, there's a Christmas procession with people dressing up and some drama, and then the Mass. At the beginning, I was helping out with some last minute church decorations, and then we began the novena at 5:30pm. I was asked to share a reflection, and I think it ended up a really good theme. Afterwards, we began the Pase del Niño, heading out through the streets to pass by different houses where different parts of the Christmas story were enacted. We end up at the entrance to the church, which is where the stable scene is, and the shepherds and wise man play their part in approaching. Afterwards, the doors of the church are opened, and everyone files in to get ready for the Mass. At the end of the Mass, hot chocolate and bread is served to everyone - a Christmas tradition here in Ecuador. There are pictures and videos here of the evening.
Later, I had dinner with the family that has been housing me (I do recompense them fairly for the food and lodging). A few photos here.
I was going to stop by another family's gathering later, but it was 10pm by the time we were done eating and I was tired!
Christmas with Juanito
I don't know Juan's last name. But Juanito is a senior who has lived in Chontal for the past several years. He is also completely deaf and his speech is difficult to understand. He originally came doing labor for one of the villagers, but had an accident while working, and ended up in a nursing home. But he wanted out, and the village took him in, and built him a little concrete house to live in. December 25th here in Ecuador is not really celebrated as a special day - the big celebration is the night of the 24th. But I decided I would visit and spend time on that day with Juanito.
Alongside of his house, he also has a little plot of land, where he plants yucca, papaya, corn, and other plants. He took me also to another plot of land he takes care and grows food on. I took some photos of Juanito, and also some videos of him digging up yucca and carrying it away from his plot of land. You'll like the photos and videos!
I wanted to take Juanito to lunch, but he preferred to not eat out. We decided to eat together some other time.
Extra Fundraiser Money
As I mentioned above, we put together an extra $250 over the fundraiser goal to support the Christmas candies and prizes for the children and seniors. I came up with an idea for that extra money. But before I talk about that, I have a reflection on the candies and prizes that we supported this time around.
Things are changing here in Chontal and nearby villages, and in fact, both Chontal and Magdalena are more "well off" you might say than the other villages in the local area. It's of course great that a child in these 2 villages receives a few toys and a few bags of candies for Christmas. That's nowhere near what most kids would receive in the States. But, in the other poorer villages is where there is more scarcity. Whereas in Chontal the kids might receive things in several programs from the school, the queen, the church, etc, in the other villages there are plenty of situations that receive a fraction of that. If I do another fundraiser next year, I'm going to focus on the more remote areas and how to get something there.
Back to the extra money. I decided to divide the money between 7 families with people who are disabled or sick or in a poor situation:
$100 to Bosmediano family. The husband Arsenio has a laborer's wage, and there are 4 daughters along with his wife Janeth. The daughters are 17, 15, 13, and 2. The 17-year-old now has a daughter of her own, and the last daughter, Rafaela, was born with disabilities so that Janeth can't work. For the past month or so, the family has been working through medical plans to have Rafaela's teeth removed, a necessary precaution because they have become infected, and she needs to be infection free in order to carry out a much needed open-heart surgey afterwards. The trips to Quito have been draining, both emotionally and financially. You might remember the family from the landslide disaster of 2014. They lost their house and many possessions in that disaster, and a part of the money we fundraised went to rebuilding their new house in the new location. Here is a picture from 2014.
$30 to Juanito. I mentioned Juanito above.
$30 to Segundo Chiluisa. Segundo's house burned down around the time of the landslides in 2014. We gave him some money in support of his situation then. But, he's an older man with 3 daughters and a son, who are now in their teens. He oldest daughter has a son of her own. It's impossible for someone his age to get sustainable work, so the kids have to find ways to get income during school vacation times. This is a picture of Segundo.
$25 to Marta Ayala. Marta lives alone in a small, dilapidated house. She has had a large, benign goiter for years, and receives little medical attentions for it. My understanding is that there are likely complications waiting down the line. She has a son living in Quito with limited resources.
$25 to Pedro Andrade. Pedro has been living in the pueblo a short time, but is a brother of one of the women who, along with her daughters, has been a regular active participant in the church for many years. I first met Pedro about 4 years ago. He's always happy and expressive!
$20 to Agustin and Lola Reascos Mediavilla. Lola is a senior of about 80 years old. Agustin is her deaf son. Agustin has a sister in Quito who has a nice hotel, if my memory serves well. They received some of the support from the fundraiser for the landslides of 2014, as their bathroom was wiped out. Agustin likes to get parties going with the musical instruments he plays. He was glad to receive the $20 donation, as you can see in the picture.
$20 to Jimmy and Maria Bastides. This couple has 3 children, and this year Maria was diagnosed with cancer. Jimmy leaves the village weekdays to work, returning on weekend. The treatment has been a long struggle for them emotionally, physically, and financially.
Each of the amounts is a small piece of support, but appreciated. I mentioned to each recipient that this is money from generous donors - friends and family - back in the States, who have given generously.
Thank you! At some point, you might want to come and visit!
Dinner of Gratitude
The day before New Year's eve I got an invite to a lunch dinner. Some of the seniors made a lunch dinner for the people responsible for the Christmas program, including the community president, the medical staff, and me. It was a nice expression!
My Health
This time I haven't experienced the 2-week sickness that typically hits me. Fortunately, outside of having all my vaccinations, I also have in tow some one-shot antibiotics in case that sickness were to hit me hard (as it did some 6 years ago.)
I experienced also an ear infection. I went to the clinic when I was in Mindo, and they cleaned the earwax out of my ears, which was a long time coming. But as my ear was still sore, I went to the clinic local in Chontal. They didn't have the equipment to look into my ear, so I went to Magdalena. The doctor there found some infection, and so I took an antibiotic and some ear drops to clear everything out. What I didn't notice until several days into the antibiotic was that it was Amoxycillen, which is in the Penecillen family. I have always listed myself as allergic to Penecillen. But apparently, that's not the case, because I had no side effects at all from the antibiotic, which I finished a few weeks ago. Apparently, many people are listed as allergic to Penecillen at a young age without a thorough investiation, to be on the safe side. So, as it stands, I'll talk to my doctor when I get back about whether I really am allergic to Penecillen,
Finally, the bad news. My left foot starting hurting a few days ago. It's the same problem I had last February: metatarsaliga, which is pain in the inner ball of my foot. I had no problems at all while in Boston, walking double the distances that I've been walking here. I think it's the type of shoe I've been using, possibly coupled with the different terrain I've been walking on (raw earth vs. urban). Last year, it took a month to recover, so I'm a little down, but aiming to rest and use ibuprofen and try to facilitate the recovery as much as I can. I'm also going to go to Quito to see if I can find different hiking shoes that are orthopedic. I had visited my doctor back home when I was in Boston, and he mentioned getting sole supports, which I did. But I have similar shoes to what I had last year with the new insoles, and I think an orthopedic hiking shoe is worth a shot.
Armenia
Finally, in this area of Ecuador I have come across two towns called Armenia. My mother's side is from Armenia, and so I leave you with this picture. Until next time, have a great and blessed New Year!