Greetings everyone! Happy Feast of Corpus Christi!
What a full but beautiful week it has been! Last week Saturday, John and I went to a Sister professing her final vows, and it was beautiful and she said the vows and received her ring, becoming a beautiful bride of Christ! It made me reflect upon the absolutely beautiful love of Christ that is so real and so alive and truly worth giving our whole lives to!
Sunday I spent the day at Dulce Nombre Parish, where I spent time with Fr. Julio and much time with the Sisters, the Oblates of Divine Love, who live next to Dulce Nombre Parish, and one Sister in particular, Sister Pedrina I talked to a lot, and she is very fun and full of life, and loves to practice her English (or attempt to pronounce some English words, and usually just laughing at how it sounds)! I also got the chance to spend some time with a priest from El Salvador who was visiting and it was especially interesting talking with him about his priesthood and life in El Salvador, as he was in seminary during the time of the Civil War in El Salvador. I visited some of the Catechesis classes with him, as him and I were both "visitors" of Dulce Nombre Parish, and I very much enjoyed watching him in action, teaching the children with such a gentle spirit of love, but seemed to show such a deep sense of wisdom.
Monday, I headed out to Delisius where I spent time with Ivan, who is a catechist there, and his brother Mario and there families. I was surprised to discover that Delisius, unlike Zapote, has electricity, and most of the houses have TV's as well! This came in handy on Wednesday when we watched some of the USA vs. Panama soccer game, in the Semifinals for the Gold Cup in Houston, Texas. We also watched the first half of the Honduras vs. Mexico game!
I also had an interesting cultural experience of food this week in Delisius as well! I was eating a dish that they called Indian Chicken Soup...as I was eating I found a particularly round thing, that looked like meat. When asking what it was, my worst fears were confirmed as they informed me that it was the testicle of a rooster. Needless to say, I was very hesitant to try it, but they got a good laugh out of my fear of it. They got an even bigger laugh when I informed them that in the United States, when someone is scared of something, we say that they are "chicken" and so I was "chicken" of the chicken. After much laughing and me trying to persuade someone else to eat it for me, and convincing someone to take half of it, I ended up trying it...I will say it was quite the cultural experience...
Anyways, in Delisius I also visited a couple of their Ecclesial Base communities, to see some of their faith life. I also worked some in the field with Ivan and I picked some plantains in the Finca with Mario. I also taught Ivan and Mario's kids a little of my own culture by teaching them how to do Finger Fencing (for those of you who don't know what that is, it is a game where you hold hands and both try to touch the other person's body with your finger...it is quite a fun game, and they enjoyed it very much).
On Thursday I returned to the beautiful aldea of Zapote, and I worked in field with my good friend Jose (same Jose whom I have mentioned before in previous blogs), as well as with two new people, Nahum and Erli. We worked to clear the weeds out of a field with acerdones (basically, like garden hoes, but bigger and sharpened). This field was to be a beanfield for the Parish of Dulce Nombre...basically, their form of tithing...instead of necessarily donating a lot of money, since they do not have a lot of money, each aldea has a community field that they donate the food from to the parish. So we were truly doing work for the church!
Also, they wanted to hear a song in English as we were working, so I ended up singing a few of my favorite pop songs, namely "Hey Soul Sister" by Train, and "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz, as well as a little of Taio Cruz's "Dyanamite."
Thursday night I visited another Ecclesial Base Community, and as Jose and I walked back in the pouring rain, we found, in the middle of the path a CRAB! I couldn't believe it...I thought crabs only lived in places with large bodies of water, such as oceans or seas, or large lakes, but here we were in the middle of the Honduran mountains, and there is a crab walking along! I just thought it was amazing to see a crab in the wild, and thought that was a neat experience, but what Jose saw was lunch! He picked up the crab and when I asked him what he was going to to with it he said "I am going to eat it." He took it home to his family and a few days later they had a nice meal of cooked crabmeat!
All day Friday, and Satruday morning was a training session for the Catechists of the parish (led by John himself, the John who I have been living with here in Santa Rosa...so it was neat to see him in action). It was basically a training session teaching them how to Evangelize and invite other adults into the Catholic Church, and the process that goes along with becoming Catholic. It was very interesting and I learned a lot!
Saturday afternoon was all preparation for the big celebration of Corpus Christi, where the Church in Zapote was going to be receiving Christ in the Eucharist into their tabernacle. Thus, we pulled lots of pine needles off of pine branches which they used to cover the floor in the church (apparantly this is very common for big celebrations, for the look as well as for the smell...it beautifully reminded me of Christmas, as the whole Church smelled like one big Christmas tree!). We also made a pathway down the center aisle out of pine saw dust, in which they drew pictures of the chalice and host, as well as a big cross. (NOTE that as my computer currently is out of commission right now, so I have been using John's I have not been able to post any pictures, otherwise I would have posted picture...so hopefully I will get that fixed and be able to post pictures for you all)!
Then today we celebrated Mass! The church was packed as we had people from many different aldeas, in addition to all the people of Zapote! At the end of Mass there was a Eucharistic procession where we stopped to pray at four different altars they had built outside, each adorned and decorated with flowers! It was absolutely beautiful and moving and as we walked, and as we followed the priest and Christ in the Eucharist, I was reminded on how it must have been like when Jesus walked as a human upon the earth, and the crowds followed Him, with such wonder, seeking something, with such hope, some following out of mere curiosity, others because of faith in who He was, but regardless crowds of people seeking Him and following Him. And as some reached out to touch the monstrance as it passed I was reminded of the story of the diseased woman who had such faith that she thought if she merely touch the hem of His cloak, she would be healed, and as the crowds pressed in around Christ, she made her way through just to brush the hem of His cloak!
It was an absolutely beautiful day, and I have much reflecting and praying to do over all that has happened! I have been learning so much about faith, God, myself, life, society, God's call, justice, and much more. I have been growing so much, and God has certainly been teaching much to me through the faith of the people here!
Tomorrow John and I go to San Pedro Sula to PICK UP JARRETT!!!!! WOOOOOOOTTT!!!! I'm super excited to see Jarrett and to be able to share this experience with him. Please keep him in your prayers for safe travel, as well as for his heart to be opened to all that God has to teach him from this experience! Pray that he may be filled with the Holy Spirit to proclaim Christ's love with His very life, with the way he lives, in a way that transcends all language!
I'm praying for you Jarrett, and know I greatly look forward to you coming!
Peace and love of Christ be with you all! And remember to seek God's love in every moment in every way, and that this is a love worth living for, for His love is Life itself!
Kevin
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
Another week in Zapote
Waking up to the sound of roosters crowing, one rooster sounding particular sickly sounding, all complemented with the smell and sound of the crackling fire of the wood-burning stove as Julia starts preparing fried plantains to go with the pre-breakfast coffee.
I am greeted with the faint light of the new sunrise over the Honduran mountains...yep, just another beautigul day in Zapote in Honduras!
I spent Tuesday through Thursday again in Zapote. After breakfast each day, we went out to work, the first day to pick beans, which we pulled by hand and then tied them together in little bunches! Wednesday I learned how to plant beans by hand with a tranca and a pijoguante (I have no idea if that is spelled right). We planted an entire field (we being me and my good friends Jose and German (NOT the German I live with)). Then they took me fishing, and we fished using a fishing net that we through out into a little stream to catch a bunch of small fish for supper.
Thursday morning I went with German (the German I DO live with) to go cut up and pile together a whole lot of firewood...something we did for a good five hours or so (there was lots of wood)
It then rained all afternoon and evening, so I spent most of that afternoon relaxing and hanging out with the family I have been living with, which was very nice after a few hard days of work and intense SOCCER playing
For the afternoons of both days it wasn't raining we played lots of FUTBOL (soccer, which I have quickly learned that I love it a whole lot, and I am getting decent at it as well)!
Then for the evenings I go to different ecclesial base community meetings, which, as I believed I mentioned before) are basically different groups throughout the community that meet periodically to discuss a faith-related topic and Scripture! The love of Christ is very evident in the people who have all showed me so much kindness and have made me feel so welcome in Zapote. They are becoming very much like a family to me here! I look forward to returning to Zapote next week Wednesday or Thursday, where I will stay for the feast of Corpus Christi on Sunday, where the Church of Zapote will receive the Eucharist into their tabernacle (which is a big deal) and will be a HUGE Mass and Celebration!
O Monday and Tuesday next week I will be going to another aldea called Delisius where I will be following a catechist named Ivan who is my age, and I get to see Him in action as he teaches some of the kids about faith and God.
Keep Jarrett Wendt in your prayers as he is preparing to come to Honduras in just a week from this coming Monday (then you will also get to hear some of his thoughts and reflections on Honduras as well, and don't just have to hear it from me the whole time)
Tomorrow John and I are going to Dulce Nombre to hear a Nun there take her final vows to officially become a fully professed sister of the order (I am greatly looking forward to that!). After we will be heading to Piedras Colorados, another aldea, for the day!
Thanks for all the prayers! Keep them up! Pray that I continue learning all that God has in store to teach me, and that I am present to every moment hear!
Thanks also for all the encouraging emails as well as the emails simply updating me on life back at home!
Peace and prayers!
In Christ's love,
Kevin Earleywine
I am greeted with the faint light of the new sunrise over the Honduran mountains...yep, just another beautigul day in Zapote in Honduras!
I spent Tuesday through Thursday again in Zapote. After breakfast each day, we went out to work, the first day to pick beans, which we pulled by hand and then tied them together in little bunches! Wednesday I learned how to plant beans by hand with a tranca and a pijoguante (I have no idea if that is spelled right). We planted an entire field (we being me and my good friends Jose and German (NOT the German I live with)). Then they took me fishing, and we fished using a fishing net that we through out into a little stream to catch a bunch of small fish for supper.
Thursday morning I went with German (the German I DO live with) to go cut up and pile together a whole lot of firewood...something we did for a good five hours or so (there was lots of wood)
It then rained all afternoon and evening, so I spent most of that afternoon relaxing and hanging out with the family I have been living with, which was very nice after a few hard days of work and intense SOCCER playing
For the afternoons of both days it wasn't raining we played lots of FUTBOL (soccer, which I have quickly learned that I love it a whole lot, and I am getting decent at it as well)!
Then for the evenings I go to different ecclesial base community meetings, which, as I believed I mentioned before) are basically different groups throughout the community that meet periodically to discuss a faith-related topic and Scripture! The love of Christ is very evident in the people who have all showed me so much kindness and have made me feel so welcome in Zapote. They are becoming very much like a family to me here! I look forward to returning to Zapote next week Wednesday or Thursday, where I will stay for the feast of Corpus Christi on Sunday, where the Church of Zapote will receive the Eucharist into their tabernacle (which is a big deal) and will be a HUGE Mass and Celebration!
O Monday and Tuesday next week I will be going to another aldea called Delisius where I will be following a catechist named Ivan who is my age, and I get to see Him in action as he teaches some of the kids about faith and God.
Keep Jarrett Wendt in your prayers as he is preparing to come to Honduras in just a week from this coming Monday (then you will also get to hear some of his thoughts and reflections on Honduras as well, and don't just have to hear it from me the whole time)
Tomorrow John and I are going to Dulce Nombre to hear a Nun there take her final vows to officially become a fully professed sister of the order (I am greatly looking forward to that!). After we will be heading to Piedras Colorados, another aldea, for the day!
Thanks for all the prayers! Keep them up! Pray that I continue learning all that God has in store to teach me, and that I am present to every moment hear!
Thanks also for all the encouraging emails as well as the emails simply updating me on life back at home!
Peace and prayers!
In Christ's love,
Kevin Earleywine
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Greetings everyone! Happy Pentecost to you all! May the fire of the Holy Spirit fill you hearts with His joy and Love, and the fire to more fully bring His Kingdom of love to this world!
Wow, what a week it has been! As I mentioned in my last post, I spent this past week in the aldea (small rural village) of Zapote! It was a fantastic experience, and it challenged me to constantly use my Spanish, as no one in the town spoke English!
As a lot happened I will try to briefly summarize each day in as brief and efficient way as I can (which as most of you know, I sometimes have a tendency not to be so brief, so this could end up being quite a long post)
Tuesday, Day 1 in Zapote: John dropped me off in Zapote late in the morning. The first thing I got to do was go with Jose out to the milpa (corn field) and plant corn with them, by hand. This basically consisted of taking a stick with a flat metal piece on the end, and using that to make a hole in the ground where we dropped the kernels of corn and covered back up again. Since they do it like this, they can plant cornfields on really steep hillsides.
That night I went to a meeting of an Ecclesial base community, which is a meeting where people of a certain area of the village gather together to sing, pray, and to read and discuss Scripture. It was quite beautiful, as their faith is quite vibrant and beautiful.
I then returned to the house I was staying at. The whole week I lived with a couple named Julia and German (pronounced "Hair-mon" though I am not exactly sure how it is actually spelled, that is what we will go with for now), who have two little boys, Freilin who is 5 years old and Melchizedek who is a little less than two years old. They are a very loving and beautiful family.
Wednesday, Day 2 in Zapote: After breakfast, I went with a man named Marco Tulio and worked with him and a group of men to build a cinder block house for Marco Tulio's son. I learned lots of Spanish words from Marco Tulio. I then had lunch with his family, and after words I painted a cut out of a dove for them that they wanted painted white to use for the celebration of Pentecost. After that, two of Marco Tulio's sons started teaching me the Spanish words for a bunch of different animals, which then led to me drawing them pictures of lots of animals. After that we worked on the house a little bit more and then I returned to Julia and German's house for supper. After supper a bunch of people came over to pray the rosary in Spanish and then we all walked together to their Ecclesial Base community meeting.
Thursday. Day 3 in Zapote: Again, I went to help Marco Tulio work on constructing the house, and again stayed there for lunch. After lunch, Marco Tulio played some guitar and sang me some of their Spanish hymns that they use for Church and I, in turn, shared a couple in English. After some other good conversation, we returned to work on the house,
After that I met up with Jose again (who I went to the Milpa with on the first day) and he took me to go play futbol (soccer) with a large group of people. I have never really played much soccer in my life before, but this was quite fun, and I think I really love playing soccer (though I wouldn't call myself great at it yet). We played until dark, and then I returned to Julia's and German's for supper and then bed.
Friday, Day 4 in Zapote: This morning I went to a retreat that they held for the parents and god parents of the catechumens (those who are preparing to be baptized). The retreat consisted of three talks, one by Jose (same Jose as before), another by Marco Tulio (who I helped build a house with), and another by another man named German (though a different German than the one I stayed with). I found out all three of them are catechists which means they are trained lay ministers to help lead and teach the faith community, especially in the absence of a priest. It was neat to see them in action both in working with them in the fields and construction, as well as to see them in action on the faith side of things.
After the retreat was lunch and after that I went to a class of high school aged students who were studying English, and I ended up teaching them how to say the alphabet in English as well as the pronuciation of many different English words. After that I went with German (the German who I was staying with) to his Finca, which is a coffee field. After that we relaxed at their house, and shelled some red beans for supper (red beans which I helped Jose pick on Tuesday).
After supper we then walked with a group of people to a house to pray the rosary. We then returned and went to bed.
Saturday Day 5. After breakfast I left Zapote to head into Dulce Nombre with a group of young people. We piled probably around 20 people in the back of a pick up and traveled the gravel mountain roads to Dulce Nombre, to the central parish of all the little villages. There they had mass, and then followed by a day long festival which mostly consisted of a soccer tournament, where there was a team from each of the little villages (I got to play for Zapote's team...we won the first game, but lost the second game). There was also empenadas for sale, as well as juice, and cotton candy). After a long hot day of some intense soccer playing, we all went into the church to celebrate the Vigil of Pentecost (Which the first half was done by candlelight because the power went out as a storm came through just before mass started...but it came back on about halfway through). There were 24 or so children who were baptized, ranging from babies to 14 year olds. It was quite a beautiful but long (2 and half hours) liturgy. John and I then spend the night at Dulce Nombre parish, and we returned to Santa Rosa, to John's house in the morning.
I will probably be returning to Zapote on Tuesday of this week, and spend a few more days there, and I may be doing a few other various things as well. I will also spend the following week in Zapote as well.
Rumor has it, I will get to use a machete next time I am in Zapote to help them harvest sacarte (I don't know if that is spelled right) which is a type of grass they use to feed the cattle.
I have the rest of today and tomorrow off which I will probably use a good portion of that to do some reflecting, journaling, and praying, as well as doing my laundry (which takes a little longer when you do it by hand).
Peace, and God bless! Please keep the prayers up! It has been a very good but challenging couple of weeks, and the continued prayers are much appreciated and felt! Also feel free to email me and update me on all your lives. I do love hearing from all you people at home as it helps me feel a bit more connected to home. No guarantee when I will receive it or be able to respond, but I do love getting emails!
May you continue to have a Spirit-filled summer, and may God use this summer to help you grow in Him, and become more fully all that you were meant to be. Trust in His love, and be present to the beautiful people that are around you!
In His love,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Kevin Earleywine
Wow, what a week it has been! As I mentioned in my last post, I spent this past week in the aldea (small rural village) of Zapote! It was a fantastic experience, and it challenged me to constantly use my Spanish, as no one in the town spoke English!
As a lot happened I will try to briefly summarize each day in as brief and efficient way as I can (which as most of you know, I sometimes have a tendency not to be so brief, so this could end up being quite a long post)
Tuesday, Day 1 in Zapote: John dropped me off in Zapote late in the morning. The first thing I got to do was go with Jose out to the milpa (corn field) and plant corn with them, by hand. This basically consisted of taking a stick with a flat metal piece on the end, and using that to make a hole in the ground where we dropped the kernels of corn and covered back up again. Since they do it like this, they can plant cornfields on really steep hillsides.
That night I went to a meeting of an Ecclesial base community, which is a meeting where people of a certain area of the village gather together to sing, pray, and to read and discuss Scripture. It was quite beautiful, as their faith is quite vibrant and beautiful.
I then returned to the house I was staying at. The whole week I lived with a couple named Julia and German (pronounced "Hair-mon" though I am not exactly sure how it is actually spelled, that is what we will go with for now), who have two little boys, Freilin who is 5 years old and Melchizedek who is a little less than two years old. They are a very loving and beautiful family.
Wednesday, Day 2 in Zapote: After breakfast, I went with a man named Marco Tulio and worked with him and a group of men to build a cinder block house for Marco Tulio's son. I learned lots of Spanish words from Marco Tulio. I then had lunch with his family, and after words I painted a cut out of a dove for them that they wanted painted white to use for the celebration of Pentecost. After that, two of Marco Tulio's sons started teaching me the Spanish words for a bunch of different animals, which then led to me drawing them pictures of lots of animals. After that we worked on the house a little bit more and then I returned to Julia and German's house for supper. After supper a bunch of people came over to pray the rosary in Spanish and then we all walked together to their Ecclesial Base community meeting.
Thursday. Day 3 in Zapote: Again, I went to help Marco Tulio work on constructing the house, and again stayed there for lunch. After lunch, Marco Tulio played some guitar and sang me some of their Spanish hymns that they use for Church and I, in turn, shared a couple in English. After some other good conversation, we returned to work on the house,
After that I met up with Jose again (who I went to the Milpa with on the first day) and he took me to go play futbol (soccer) with a large group of people. I have never really played much soccer in my life before, but this was quite fun, and I think I really love playing soccer (though I wouldn't call myself great at it yet). We played until dark, and then I returned to Julia's and German's for supper and then bed.
Friday, Day 4 in Zapote: This morning I went to a retreat that they held for the parents and god parents of the catechumens (those who are preparing to be baptized). The retreat consisted of three talks, one by Jose (same Jose as before), another by Marco Tulio (who I helped build a house with), and another by another man named German (though a different German than the one I stayed with). I found out all three of them are catechists which means they are trained lay ministers to help lead and teach the faith community, especially in the absence of a priest. It was neat to see them in action both in working with them in the fields and construction, as well as to see them in action on the faith side of things.
After the retreat was lunch and after that I went to a class of high school aged students who were studying English, and I ended up teaching them how to say the alphabet in English as well as the pronuciation of many different English words. After that I went with German (the German who I was staying with) to his Finca, which is a coffee field. After that we relaxed at their house, and shelled some red beans for supper (red beans which I helped Jose pick on Tuesday).
After supper we then walked with a group of people to a house to pray the rosary. We then returned and went to bed.
Saturday Day 5. After breakfast I left Zapote to head into Dulce Nombre with a group of young people. We piled probably around 20 people in the back of a pick up and traveled the gravel mountain roads to Dulce Nombre, to the central parish of all the little villages. There they had mass, and then followed by a day long festival which mostly consisted of a soccer tournament, where there was a team from each of the little villages (I got to play for Zapote's team...we won the first game, but lost the second game). There was also empenadas for sale, as well as juice, and cotton candy). After a long hot day of some intense soccer playing, we all went into the church to celebrate the Vigil of Pentecost (Which the first half was done by candlelight because the power went out as a storm came through just before mass started...but it came back on about halfway through). There were 24 or so children who were baptized, ranging from babies to 14 year olds. It was quite a beautiful but long (2 and half hours) liturgy. John and I then spend the night at Dulce Nombre parish, and we returned to Santa Rosa, to John's house in the morning.
I will probably be returning to Zapote on Tuesday of this week, and spend a few more days there, and I may be doing a few other various things as well. I will also spend the following week in Zapote as well.
Rumor has it, I will get to use a machete next time I am in Zapote to help them harvest sacarte (I don't know if that is spelled right) which is a type of grass they use to feed the cattle.
I have the rest of today and tomorrow off which I will probably use a good portion of that to do some reflecting, journaling, and praying, as well as doing my laundry (which takes a little longer when you do it by hand).
Peace, and God bless! Please keep the prayers up! It has been a very good but challenging couple of weeks, and the continued prayers are much appreciated and felt! Also feel free to email me and update me on all your lives. I do love hearing from all you people at home as it helps me feel a bit more connected to home. No guarantee when I will receive it or be able to respond, but I do love getting emails!
May you continue to have a Spirit-filled summer, and may God use this summer to help you grow in Him, and become more fully all that you were meant to be. Trust in His love, and be present to the beautiful people that are around you!
In His love,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Kevin Earleywine
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Greetings everyone!
First of all, I wanted to point out, that baliadas is actually spelled baleadas (I think I am right this time...thanks also to my good friend Cody for helping point that out to me!)
It has been an exciting past couple of days!
First of all, on Friday night, after I posted my last blog John and I went out to best pizza place in Central America (so John claims, though it was pretty tasty...I do not have enough Central American pizza experience to contend John's claim, so I will defer to his authority) and we happened to run into Bishop Santos, the Bishop of Santa Rosa, and Padre Efrain, the Pastor of Dulce Nombre Parish. They sat with us and it was really great getting to know them and I am looking forward to working with them more throughout the summer.
Yesterday, John and I went out to one of the rural villages for a sector meeting (the parish is divided up into sectors, and these sectors each contain a group of villages) which happens about once a month. The meeting started with singing and then reading and discussing or Scipture. Then the meeting followed. A wide variety of topics were discussed (John helped me understand what was going on, because it was hard to follow because of there rapid speech and many people talking at once). It was great to start really meeting the people of the parish. They were very warm and welcoming.
On the way back from the meeting, we had quite the adventure. The four wheel drive on our truck went out so we had to attempt to travel mountainous gravel roads (with lots of steep inclines) with only front wheel drive... we struggled over many hills, had to back up and get a running start at a few, and some I was not sure if the truck was going to make it up...but after some stuggle and multiple attempts at some hills, perseverance triumphed and we made it all the way back to Santa Rosa with only front wheel drive (a minor miracle if you ask me, so it's encouraging to know that God is with us :) haha
Today we celebrated Mass out at the village of Banaderas (I'm not sure how to spell that) so I got to experience my first Honduran Mass. That was quite the experience and truly something beautiful! It was amazing to experience the Christ-filled life and love of the people. They were especially warm and welcoming to me and seem happy I am here, despite my slow Spanish. I am beginning to look forward to spending more time with the people in the villages.
Tuesday, I will be going out and staying in a rural viallage (the village of el Zapote) where I will stay until Saturday. Saturday, there will be a big encuentro de deportivos (basically a gathering of many youth from the parish to play sports and games...most likely futbol, or in the United States more commonly known as soccer), and following that will be the big Vigil for Pentecost, which seems is going to be a pretty big celebration! I'm looking forward to that, and I'm hoping my Spanish will greatly improve by the end of the week as I will not have John around so I will have to think and speak in Spanish constantly!
I will not be posting anything until at least next Sunday, as I will be out in the village for most of the week! I do want to thank you all for all your prayers and support already, they have been a great blessing as I can already see God at work! Know I am doing my best to pray for you as well, and I hope this summer is a time for you to pray and reflect and grow, and to experience God more fully in a deeper way!
Keep up the prayers, and I will keep you in mine!
In the Peace and Love of Christ,
Kevin
First of all, I wanted to point out, that baliadas is actually spelled baleadas (I think I am right this time...thanks also to my good friend Cody for helping point that out to me!)
It has been an exciting past couple of days!
First of all, on Friday night, after I posted my last blog John and I went out to best pizza place in Central America (so John claims, though it was pretty tasty...I do not have enough Central American pizza experience to contend John's claim, so I will defer to his authority) and we happened to run into Bishop Santos, the Bishop of Santa Rosa, and Padre Efrain, the Pastor of Dulce Nombre Parish. They sat with us and it was really great getting to know them and I am looking forward to working with them more throughout the summer.
Yesterday, John and I went out to one of the rural villages for a sector meeting (the parish is divided up into sectors, and these sectors each contain a group of villages) which happens about once a month. The meeting started with singing and then reading and discussing or Scipture. Then the meeting followed. A wide variety of topics were discussed (John helped me understand what was going on, because it was hard to follow because of there rapid speech and many people talking at once). It was great to start really meeting the people of the parish. They were very warm and welcoming.
On the way back from the meeting, we had quite the adventure. The four wheel drive on our truck went out so we had to attempt to travel mountainous gravel roads (with lots of steep inclines) with only front wheel drive... we struggled over many hills, had to back up and get a running start at a few, and some I was not sure if the truck was going to make it up...but after some stuggle and multiple attempts at some hills, perseverance triumphed and we made it all the way back to Santa Rosa with only front wheel drive (a minor miracle if you ask me, so it's encouraging to know that God is with us :) haha
Today we celebrated Mass out at the village of Banaderas (I'm not sure how to spell that) so I got to experience my first Honduran Mass. That was quite the experience and truly something beautiful! It was amazing to experience the Christ-filled life and love of the people. They were especially warm and welcoming to me and seem happy I am here, despite my slow Spanish. I am beginning to look forward to spending more time with the people in the villages.
Tuesday, I will be going out and staying in a rural viallage (the village of el Zapote) where I will stay until Saturday. Saturday, there will be a big encuentro de deportivos (basically a gathering of many youth from the parish to play sports and games...most likely futbol, or in the United States more commonly known as soccer), and following that will be the big Vigil for Pentecost, which seems is going to be a pretty big celebration! I'm looking forward to that, and I'm hoping my Spanish will greatly improve by the end of the week as I will not have John around so I will have to think and speak in Spanish constantly!
I will not be posting anything until at least next Sunday, as I will be out in the village for most of the week! I do want to thank you all for all your prayers and support already, they have been a great blessing as I can already see God at work! Know I am doing my best to pray for you as well, and I hope this summer is a time for you to pray and reflect and grow, and to experience God more fully in a deeper way!
Keep up the prayers, and I will keep you in mine!
In the Peace and Love of Christ,
Kevin
Friday, June 3, 2011
Arrival in Honduras
Greetings everyone,
I wanted to let you all know first of all that I have arrived safely in Honduras. Already it has been quite the experience. Already I have learned a lot about Honduras, its history and culture. Yesterday, John picked me up and we drove three hours from San Pedro Sula (where I flew into) to Santa Rosa de Copan, to his house, where I am now staying.
This morning was a lot of getting introduced to the city and the people. I was shown how to get to the supermarket a couple cafes, the farmers market, and to Caritas. Today I met many people who work at Caritas (Caritas is like the parish center where a lot of work for the parish is done). I met Padre Efrain who I will be working with. They were all very welcoming of me and seem glad to have me here. However, the people here speak Spanish very rapidly and I have a very hard time understanding...this is going to be a major challenge for me, learning to understand the Spanish. There are also a lot of slang words that I have to learn.
We also visited a comedor today which provides lunch to young children. We helped serve them arroz con leche (rice in milk) and baldias (I think that is how it is spelled...it is basically refried beans, cheese, cream, and sometimes meat in a tortilla...they're quite popular around here).
The next few days and next week will be quite packed and intense and busy. Tomorrow we are going out to one of the sectors for a meeting which is about an hour drive away. Sunday there is a big mass with lots people. there are other things scheduled as well, but I don't remember off the top of my head.
Next week, though, John is planning on taking me out to one of the rural villages (aldeas, I think they're called) and leave me there for a few days; This will be quite an intense experience as I will be very challenged to use and improve my Spanish as I will not have anyone there with me who speaks English. I am excited for this experience but a little nervous as I know it will challenge me to grow and to step outside my comfort zone.
I have been reflecting on this idea, that I need to put myself out there and look foolish sometimes, and go through the struggles, because it is through these struggles that I am going to grow. It is very easy for me to just smile and nod and to let John do the talking. I was reflecting on Christ's love, and His absolute self-giving. He gave Himself completely for us, risking total rejection, risking facing ridicule, but yet He entered fully into humanity, gave Himself, in absolute love, absolute self-giving...He did not bottle Himself up inside. I am realizing that I have to trust in this love and put myself out there as well, to give myself, by attempting to speak Spanish more even if I screw up and look foolish. We must not be afraid to put ourselves out there. Pray for me, that I may be filled with humble courage, to embrace the struggles, to step outside my comfort zone, to not let fear of uncomfortable situations hold me back, but that I may trust fully in the Love of Christ, to let Him work through me, even in uncomfortable situations. Also, I have realized that if all are in His image then to encounter Him more fully, I must struggle to encounter Him in all people, even people who speak a foreign language from me
Let us not put the Light of Christ under a bushel basket but let it shine through us in all situations. And let us search for His light in all people, and help them to discover His light as well, and to let His love be revealed to them more fully. I have a lot of learning and growing to do, and it will be challenging, but I will trust in Him, in the God who is the God of ALL nations, of ALL languages, of ALL people, and who made ALL people in His image.
May God's light, love, and peace be with you all!
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Kevin Earleywine
I wanted to let you all know first of all that I have arrived safely in Honduras. Already it has been quite the experience. Already I have learned a lot about Honduras, its history and culture. Yesterday, John picked me up and we drove three hours from San Pedro Sula (where I flew into) to Santa Rosa de Copan, to his house, where I am now staying.
This morning was a lot of getting introduced to the city and the people. I was shown how to get to the supermarket a couple cafes, the farmers market, and to Caritas. Today I met many people who work at Caritas (Caritas is like the parish center where a lot of work for the parish is done). I met Padre Efrain who I will be working with. They were all very welcoming of me and seem glad to have me here. However, the people here speak Spanish very rapidly and I have a very hard time understanding...this is going to be a major challenge for me, learning to understand the Spanish. There are also a lot of slang words that I have to learn.
We also visited a comedor today which provides lunch to young children. We helped serve them arroz con leche (rice in milk) and baldias (I think that is how it is spelled...it is basically refried beans, cheese, cream, and sometimes meat in a tortilla...they're quite popular around here).
The next few days and next week will be quite packed and intense and busy. Tomorrow we are going out to one of the sectors for a meeting which is about an hour drive away. Sunday there is a big mass with lots people. there are other things scheduled as well, but I don't remember off the top of my head.
Next week, though, John is planning on taking me out to one of the rural villages (aldeas, I think they're called) and leave me there for a few days; This will be quite an intense experience as I will be very challenged to use and improve my Spanish as I will not have anyone there with me who speaks English. I am excited for this experience but a little nervous as I know it will challenge me to grow and to step outside my comfort zone.
I have been reflecting on this idea, that I need to put myself out there and look foolish sometimes, and go through the struggles, because it is through these struggles that I am going to grow. It is very easy for me to just smile and nod and to let John do the talking. I was reflecting on Christ's love, and His absolute self-giving. He gave Himself completely for us, risking total rejection, risking facing ridicule, but yet He entered fully into humanity, gave Himself, in absolute love, absolute self-giving...He did not bottle Himself up inside. I am realizing that I have to trust in this love and put myself out there as well, to give myself, by attempting to speak Spanish more even if I screw up and look foolish. We must not be afraid to put ourselves out there. Pray for me, that I may be filled with humble courage, to embrace the struggles, to step outside my comfort zone, to not let fear of uncomfortable situations hold me back, but that I may trust fully in the Love of Christ, to let Him work through me, even in uncomfortable situations. Also, I have realized that if all are in His image then to encounter Him more fully, I must struggle to encounter Him in all people, even people who speak a foreign language from me
Let us not put the Light of Christ under a bushel basket but let it shine through us in all situations. And let us search for His light in all people, and help them to discover His light as well, and to let His love be revealed to them more fully. I have a lot of learning and growing to do, and it will be challenging, but I will trust in Him, in the God who is the God of ALL nations, of ALL languages, of ALL people, and who made ALL people in His image.
May God's light, love, and peace be with you all!
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Kevin Earleywine
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