Hello!
Greetings from Boston. Again, I've been able to put together the latest update, so here goes! …
COMMUNITY SUPPORT IN CHONTAL
I spoke just recently with María, and near the end of August she began a new set of chemotherapy treatments for her cancer tumor every 3 weeks. She also had an operation on her intestines. She’s in good spirits and has responded well enough so far with the chemo and operation, but the complications keep coming.
As I mentioned last time, I have my "ears" open to see if there might be an opportunity to help that fits in with communion-building. The family that I had often stayed with in Chontal was looking around privately for monies to help another family member and their children. I offered to collaborate and look for collaborators back in the States, if they were willing to make their effort a communal one instead of a private one. I put together a long list of the pro’s of the communal effort, and my experience collaborating in them, especially in Chontal. But they declined and wanted to keep it private. It is sad, because many people lose out. This is the same family that kept it private that everyone in the house was sick when they gladly invited me to stay back in February. Always at the front of the church, I’ve noticed that they have a habit of trying to take what is communal and making it privately theirs - pretty much the opposite of me! But they do that with the priest, with me, with the church as well. They are offended that I’m not “theirs”, but for the whole community.
I spoke the other day with another family who I’ve talked about here, along the same lines. The youngest of 4 daughters was born with some disabilities and needs her teeth extracted and open-heart surgery, but the family hasn’t advanced in part because of the pandemic. Another reason according to the mother is that the daughter can’t tolerate wearing a mask for very long periods, so a 3.5-hour trip to the hospital, plus the time in the hospital, and then the 3.5-hour return would be impossible. The girl is not vaccinated, and her health puts her at higher risk if infected by Covid. So, a trip to the hospital is really about a $70 cost to get someone to drive. The father also has a torn retina from a tree branch that shot back into his eye while working on the job with his machete, and his treatment is sporadic. So, financially, things are prohibitive, and there can be an inertia to just let life go its course. For a poorer family in the pueblo like them, there’s also an embarrassment in asking for support. But I suggested that she speak with her sister-in-law, the church president, who had a raffle in the community for her daughter about 6 years ago that we supported. She could help her set up and carry out the raffle, and they wouldn’t be alone in it. I told her that, if they did a raffle or any other fundraising effort open to the community, I could invite people myself back in the State to collaborate, shoulder to shoulder. I later reached out and left a message for her sister-in-law about it. Hopefully they take some steps, but you never know. We’ll see. By the way, this family lives next door to Maria and Jimmy and their family.
The difficulty in collaborating these days is managing something at a distance, since these charitable efforts need to be done in a form of communion-building to grow and strengthen the community fabric - and not instead tear it.
“For if the eagerness is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have; not that others should have relief while you are burdened, but that as a matter of equality your surplus at the present time should supply their needs, so that their surplus may also supply your needs, that there may be equality. As it is written:
“Whoever had much did not have more, and whoever had little did not have less.””
Happenings in Ecuador
The Covid situation in Ecuador has been steadily improving as vaccines have gradually rolled out. Since the end of May, there’s been a new president, who has been praised for his handling of the vaccines, but criticized in other areas. There were just recently some small protests by indigenous folks, as Ecuador’s economic situation is still perilous and puts it in a vulnerable position looking for assistance from the IMF, which typically ties its help to countries like Ecuador to some degree of austere conditions. Price subsidies on gasoline, for example, are being reconsidered, which is not popular with people. I’ve been a proponent of subsidies on global products such as petroleum, technology, etc., because matching prices globally without matching wages is a violence to countries and peoples with disadvantaged economies and lower wages.
Some Education & Qualification
As I mentioned before, my plans to stay in the States for a year or two are in part related to opportunities to add in some education and qualifications that will help to grow the buds of the "plants" of Barriers to Bridges. I had looked at applying to two programs that could be complimentary and are structured to accommodate a working person: one in psychoanalysis and another in spiritual direction. I’ve decided to postpone the psychoanalysis program, which is a one-year program, to next year, because of my financial situation. I did get into the spiritual direction program, however it was postponed a year because they didn’t receive enough applicants to justify a class this year. They may condense the program to one year so that it finished within the two-year timeframe, which is certainly preferable for me.
Additionally, I completed a TEFL certification, which is typically necessary to teach English as a foreign or other language in the States and the world. I completed a standard certification online, and then added another micro-course in teaching groups online, as much teaching is moving online. (They give you these badges, lol.) I’m just now in the process of reaching out to local institutions here in Boston for a part-time role teaching ESOL, and it will help me in Ecuador, whether I’m actually teaching, developing Language in Communion efforts, or collaborating as Barriers to Bridges with institutions like schools and non-profits in language and culture projects.
A Visit to Lawrence
In a week, I’ll be making a trip up to Lawrence, MA to meet with several of the Ecuadorian families there. I’m looking forward to it. It can often lead to next steps, so we’ll see. And that could be in:
Language in Communion
With the move and classes and job seeking, among other things, I’ve still been behind on Language in Communion, but with the TEFL courses done, I have some more resources and experience to lean on. At some point I will get to focus on it!
New Dialogue
I hope to be opening up some new dialogue with a lay missionary society soon, and will share if there is any news…
Online Workshops and Teaching Videos
The online workshops and teaching videos are still available - Come on by and check them out:
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 in this pandemic, and if you are experiencing 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'll leave with a picture I took recently at Walden Pond:
“But Jesus would withdraw to deserted places to pray.”
May you find times and places to be alone with God as Fall settles in. Feel free to comment or reach out anytime, and I'll post again when it's time.
-Jerome