So hello world! It's been quite some time since I've given an update. I'm doing absolutely wonderfully and am so grateful for all my experiences here. How blessed am I!!!! So here we go into all the excitement that's been my life. In the last week of February there were about 30 physical therapy students that came to Manos Abiertas. They're all in their final year, and it was a blessing to have them because we were able to go on two paseos, which is like a little trip. On Monday they went to the hot springs (I didn't go because there wasn't space for me) and on Tuesday we went to a Christian pool/camp area. Each p.t. student was assigned a Manos chiquillo, and so they all got so much attention and loving! I've never seen so many of them happy at the same time! It made me bubble with gratitude to see these people who've stolen my heart to get the love they deserve! Evelyn was happy too, but running all over the place. She was so busy!!! Not all the chiquillos got to go, mostly just those in the back (not in the clinica due to health risks and whatnot). On Wednesday we had a dance party at Manos, and they came all the way until Monday, but Wednesday night I got really sick and Friday I left for Panama to go on my second border run. So Panama was lovely! It would've been better if I wasn't sick, but I didn't have a choice and had to leave the country. Panama is so gorgeous though. I went to Bocas del Toro and loved it! Saturday night we stayed at a hostel that was actually built over the water, so there was a deck with holes in it to make a swimming pool. How ingenious! It was lovely and my heart broke to see the poverty once we got away from touristy parts. However, regardless of the poverty, I truly found Panama to be a beautiful place. It was weird crossing the border because I could instantly feel that I was in another country. Panama actually reminded me more of my Peru experience because for some reason it's lumped with the Andean countries, like Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru. Anyways, Panama was lovely. The second week of March, we had 33 students come on their spring break from Duke, UNC-chapel hill, and Catholic University of America. They stayed at the retreat center of the convento and made for an awesome week! I played ping pong for hours and hours and got to share my Manos world with 8 volunteers. It was refreshing for me to spend time with Americans who were unfamiliar with the Tico culture but wanted to learn and know about my experience here. It reminded me of how much I've learned and how I've grown. Not to mention the amount of validation I got. They had group discussion everyday to share about their days, so one day a girl I didn't really know approached me and said that everyone's been calling me a saint. I was flabbergasted. I was like "What? I've just been changing diapers and playing with the kiddos." But it was an incredible sensation to know I'm making a difference and maybe inspiring these students. I really enjoyed having them and the conversations I shared with many of them. It allowed me to take a step back and see what my year looks like from the outside. I connected strongly with many of them and was reminded of why this year is so special for me. Not to mention getting to go to the hot springs with all the students at the end of the week. We went to Tabacón, and oh my goodness was it lovely. Good food and good company and paradise scenery. What a special adventure!!!! Another adventure was going to San José with Erin and Cathía (Erin and Justin's boss at their worksite) to watch a play about Sr. Romero. He was a huge revolutionary for social justice in El Salvador and will actually be canonized soon to become a saint. Supposedly they'll be acting this play on his canonization day. Romero is one of Erin's biggest role models and inspirations, so it was awesome to see how alive and passionate she become when talking about him. Getting to know Cathía was also a blessing. She radiates intentionality and good will for all and is so passionate about her mission at Hogar. What a beautiful play and with such wonderful company too! So a random side story: on my way home one day, I met a 17 year old muchacho who wears hearing aids like I do. He is one of the ~5 people I have met who, like myself, have a profound hearing loss since birth, wear hearing aids, and speak perfectly. We are also integrated normally in society. Most people would join Deaf culture or have a greater difficulty with speaking. This guy actually is learning English, and it wasn't bad! I just get so excited meeting people like this because it reminds me I'm not alone in this life experience, even if I'm super rare. Another happening: we had a few friars (Fr. Carlo and Fr. Yorman) over to share coffee and they brought homemade bread. It was absolutely delicious. I keep getting to see the friars and I just love them so much. I get soooo excited every time I get to see them! They are hilarious and wise and young and enthusiastic. Not only am I getting in better touch with the friars, but I have been talking to several of last year's FrancisCorps group. They've shared some wonderful insight about their experiences and even though I've never met them in person, I feel this special connection with them. They lived where I'm living and walked the steps I'm walking. Pretty special, huh. So I've been in the Casa de Hombres (men's house) at Manos, and oh my gosh, I am in love. These men have won me over. And every morning when I enter through the front gate in front of the house, I see their eyes light up. Some even hurry over to greet me. I am very very welcome in the Casa de Hombres. They show me so much love and it's so much at times because there's one of me and 17 of them, so you can imagine how it can get a little crowded. There's a kiddo named Jorge who has endless energy and gets into all kinds of mischief. Once he ripped a page out of a book and I caught him trying to stuff it in his diaper so that no one would know what he did. Avelino is an adorable 40-something year old man who thinks he's younger than 2 years old and loves singing and dancing even though he's not eloquent in any manner. I could go on forever about each kiddo. The youngest in the Casa de Hombres is actually like 14, and most of them are over 20. So, I actually changed my schedule. I go in an hour earlier and leave an hour earlier. This gives me more time after work, and the days fly by so much faster. Things are so slow after lunch and there is more need in the morning, so the change is definitely good! I get to see them sleeping in the morning too. They are so cute to wake up and I seeing the rowdy ones look so peaceful when sleeping. They are so precious. I think maybe this is kind of what it's like to be a mom. To somehow have a heart that constantly grows bigger. Taking care of kiddos can be repetitive and so much work, but when they come to you and show you how much they love you makes it all worth it. Despite the amount of messes you have to clean, if they spill their food or don't get their pee into the toilet, if they like to get into trouble or mess with things they aren't supposed to, and if they don't listen to you even when you know they understand you. It drives me absolutely bonkers but I just love these kiddos and I know they love me too. Accompanying the hecticness of Manos Abiertas chiquillos each day is a book I'm currently reading. It's called "Compassion - Living in the Spirit of St. Francis" and it is wonderfully written and states so many truths about my experiences and what's been happening internally to me. It also gives me encouragement to have more patience and to have the strength to keep going and loving and giving all my heart. I really like that in compassion, we connect in our humanness. Thus, in my service, it's not about what I can give to these "lesser folks" but rather about me sharing my heart and being weak with the weak and vulnerable with the vulnerable. These men don't know how to be anything other than themselves, and they are so beautiful because they live and find joy in being alive. So I'd say if anyone has been giving, it's been these wonderful chiquillos, who suffer but find joy in life. So many of them have suffered abuse and abandonment, which makes their pasts sad and maddening. However, we know that their endings are happy and glorious because they are in the hands of love in a place that promises to care for them until death. So we had our Lenten retreat the weekend of Palm Sunday. It was about prayer and we focused on the spirituality of St. Clare, who essentially established the female aspect of Franciscan life. She's awesome because she focuses on contemplation and then imitating that contemplation. Contemplation is what I've been experiencing. I've become still and encountered God's presence. I've been overwhelmed by His love. I had shared with Fr. Rick (my director) about my experience and he informed me it was contemplation and also stipulated that I'm not understanding everything. He assured me that in due time I will be able to process and understand it but to just be open to the experience now. That was amazing how he almost exactly knew what I was feeling and experiencing. So I've been less frustrated and just allowing myself to encounter love and to experience life here for what is: one big blessing! In being able to enjoy the mundaneness of life, I have indeed become much more of a homebody, but that's alright. I still love seeing the world, but I'm content (instead of restless) to stay home. So last week was actually Holy week. Erin and I began it Wednesday night going to a Spanish version of Jesus Christ Superstar, which is a Broadway play. Thank goodness it was free because they lip sang. I had sat in the front in an attempt to follow the play better, and lucky me, I got blessed by "Jesus. " (He touched my head). After the play was over, Erin and I were able to get in a good laugh. We truly enjoyed the play, but probably for the wrong reasons. We appreciated their effort though. Haha. So, continuing Holy Week. JuFra was here and slept here in the retreat center connected to where we live, so I got to see them and hang out with them on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and some of Sunday (here almost everyone has Thursday and Friday free from work since it's a super Catholic country). I just think they're great. I got to see the friars a lot too, so we can all imagine how happy I was. As depressing as it can seem, I really love Good Friday. It's so humbling and special, not to mention the prayers at the service line up with the yearnings of my heart. The Easter Vigil is truly a beautiful celebration, and I just really like Easter. So, I got to be with JuFra and the friars as well as celebrate an amazing holiday! Not to mention we played soccer and volleyball on Saturday. What a wonderful experience!!!! Last note: Erin and Justin's families are visiting. It is super neat to meet them, and I feel there are so many things that make sense now that I know the parents. Haha. They're wonderful. My goodness, what a long post! A lot to catch up on! So in summary, I can't iterate enough how blessed I am and how much I love the people here!!!! I am falling in love deeper than I ever thought I could and am being rewarded hundredfold!!! May peace and all good be in your coming week!!! Paz y bien
