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I am back in New Orleans, going to Jackson tomorrow. Ready to resume some sort of normality and still processing the past week.

Peace, Scott

fun at the orphanages

So yesterday and this evening we visited two orphanages, one for boys and one for girls. It didnt hit me as quickly as it did when i was in Guatemala, but it did yesterday evening. This kids live with each other, eat together, go to school together, grow up together, do everything together. They are each others friends but also family... They dont know what it is like to have a loving family, yet I am sure they desire one. But also, they do not know what it is like to simply be friends with the opposite sex...

It is so easy for us to take out families for granted, as well as our friends. In fact, it is easy to take everything for granted. What do you have that you should be thankful for? If it is a person, does that person know how you feel?

Who is the poor?

We recieved a presentation from two young priests today, both of the Diocese of Granada. One spoke of his parish where he is working, which a poor parish in town. He mentioned how his parish gives the poor food, but most importantly they work with the people, listening to them and helping them find work and a means to provide. The priest takes on their poverty, making it his own.

This is what solidarity and love is all about. You do not partake on a mission to simply be with or give. Rather, you do so to become one of them. Their worries become your worries, etc.

But then again, I must ask, just who is the poor? After all, I believe it was St Peter who said that the poor will always be with us.

Nicaragua... the beginning...

So when we get to Nicaragua, we go to the Cathedral in Managua and have Mass in the Eucahristic chapel. Three things hang on my mind during this time...

First= We waltz into a Cathedral in a foriegn diocese and have our own Mass in our own language while others are there to simply pray. Who were we to have this ability, this privelage. How many people would love to have their own Mass in a Cathedral? And what a beautiful Cathedral it was. Sure, you had to search for the beauty, but I found it when I walked in.

Second= The Cathedral was modern and had no paintings. It was stone and had few statues in it. But the statues that were in it were breathe taking! So many seminarians began bashing it, however, because it was not a modern church. Yes, there are reasons for certain forms of architecture. But for me at least the beauty is more in the fact that Christ is present in the Eucharist and many use this place as a way to God. It is the prayers that make it so beautiful.

Third= I have a friend in Managua now. What I would have given to spend even a minute with her. I worked with her this summer and she became an inspiration for me because she is giving up two years as a volunteer in Managua. God be with her.

Point of humor= I was walking through the streets, and of all songs to come on, Feliz Navidad does... I laughed...