Sunday, June 14, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Domingo de la Trinidad
Today, we worshipped the Trinity...in Huancayo. That's right friends. No more language classes. Nor more Lima sightseeing. No more Larcomar. Yesterday, with the help of Cruz del Sur and a some great movies translated in Spanish, we arrived at our summer destination. And it's been wonderful so far! Today, was Trinity Sunday and goodness knows that in worship today, we invoked the Trinity's presence. Sunday school was, truly, as good as any exegesis paper I've ever read. I can already see that it will be an honor to sit and listen to the work that is happening here, with these people. The Holy Spirit is a wonder! We also experienced and learned more about the pain our Peruvian brothers and sisters endure as they struggle to grapple with poverty in their communities and in their countries. We had a special time of prayer this afternoon and were able to hold the hands of two beautiful women...lost in supplication before a God they've come to trust...grieving for the suffering that is all too real to them and thanking God for always being present in it. Language was a miniscule barrier between us today. AND...Margaret had an exciting breakthrough today...she prayed in our prayer circle, and did a wonderful job! We also visited some of the children we will be working with alongside the church in a mission organization called Azapampa. The community we visited is composed of mainly displaced Peruvians who had to leave their hometowns for fear of their lives during the terrible warface that took place in the 80s. Do pray for our friends here. Beautiful children, who within five minutes, gaves us hugs and kisses. I can already tell that grief will come with our departure at the end of the summer. No need to anticipate yet though. :)
Thank you for continuing to pray. We talked through our schedule with Karina and Cesar today and to say the least, it's packed. Next week we will be translating for a medical missions team. The next week to la selva in Santa Ana for a crash course on the New Testament. Two weeks later, another crash course in la selva San Ramon on Lucas and a couple of weeks later, a week in Santa Ana again for a course on the Sociology of the New Testament. All right. All systems go. By the way, I'm already intrigued by the scholarship taking place here...folks are thinking...deeply...and it's wonderful to share in that with them.
Just thought we'd shoot a few pictures your way, too...from Lima.
Blessings beyond blessings,
Maria (and Margaret)
Thank you for continuing to pray. We talked through our schedule with Karina and Cesar today and to say the least, it's packed. Next week we will be translating for a medical missions team. The next week to la selva in Santa Ana for a crash course on the New Testament. Two weeks later, another crash course in la selva San Ramon on Lucas and a couple of weeks later, a week in Santa Ana again for a course on the Sociology of the New Testament. All right. All systems go. By the way, I'm already intrigued by the scholarship taking place here...folks are thinking...deeply...and it's wonderful to share in that with them.
Just thought we'd shoot a few pictures your way, too...from Lima.
Blessings beyond blessings,
Maria (and Margaret)
Monday, June 1, 2009
Kene. Peruvian Synesthesia. And Other Exciting Discoveries.
Well friends,
It´s been a few days. Forgive both of us. We´ve been packing it in, to say the least. I´m absolutely thrilled by the texture of the city, the vibe, the pace, even its strange sun-less winter greys. It´s all a bit captivating. Old worlds, new worlds, buildings with 16th century-crown moulding now home to la Farmacia Larco or Roxy´s Chicken. Incan temples nestled between boutiques and rich Peruvian cuisine. (Do I sound like a brochure? All right, all right, I´ll stop.) Really though. It´s been rare for me to see this much life...these many lives...all bustling about...drenched in stories and pasts and questions and futures, hailing taxis and crossing avenidas...kissing in parks and sipping jugitas frescas in cafes. It´s a sight to behold...it´s a million sights to behold all at once. And there are no sunny skies to expose these days...they sit in a strange haze, a quieting, eerie haze. In summary, I like Lima. :)
Let´s recap then. Friday we went to El Museo de La Nacion in the afternoon and el Parque de Las Fuentes. Here, we came upon a park filled with these gorgeous fountains...parts were a bit theme-parkish, but at night, exquisite...and more than anything, just...fun. We waited for the Espectaculo with neon lights, spewing fountains, holograms of butterflies emerging from cacoons, pictures of Macchu Picchu, and at one point, I´m not kidding, a lovely, entrancing version of Backstreet Boys, "I Want it That Way." One of the fountains swirled above passers-by as they walked under it. We got a little wet, but it was worth it. Our hosts chuckled a bit at my excitement. :)
By the way, we´ve really grown to love them! Genma, the wife of this dynamic duo, told us yesterday that she can truly say these two "chicas" have come to this house to fill it with joy. And they have filled us with joy, that´s for sure. Heriberto, the husband, is...well...so brimming with pure goodness that I wouldn´t even know where to begin. We´ve already been fed with their stories...one of my favorite by far...Heriberto likes to hug trees. There is a particular one in a little town called Concepcion that he always hugs when he´s there. He´s the best kind of tree-hugger I know. :) We just feel loved here. And at home.
Saturday night, a tour of the city at night...so beautiful. La Catedral en el centro was really something. We´ll post pictures as soon as we get all our cords and memory cards sorted out. Geez. :) We also visited Barranco, an older, somewhat bohemian part of the city with artesanias and el puente de suspiros. We decided to sit down for a "snack," the four of us, and it turned out to be the most I´ve eaten since we´ve been here. Papaya juice, anticuchos (kabobs), papas, maiz, two desserts, and the list goes on. What a night. Our hosts got a kick out of watching our stuffed faces waddle back home.
Yesterday we attended La Iglesia Metodista de la Florida, where our Lima hosts attend. It was a blessing to spend time in worship, clap, sing, and practice Spanish, of course! Folks were excited to hear about our journey to Huancayo and offered their prayers for us as we work there.
Language classes began today, and I can already see the difference. Margaret has been concerned about language and though today was a bit stressful on the outset, she is fervently working on her "tarea" while I blog and strain to remember when I ever learned imperfecto subjunctivo...I have NO doubts that you have taught me this already, Mami. Sorry I´ve forgotten! It´s pretty exciting to see the juices flowing...as she remembers what she´s learned in the past and as she learns new vocabulario, etc. She´s a smart one, that´s for sure...muy brillante! Tonight she has on green pajamas and we decided that she´s like the Incredible Hulk bursting into her Spanish-spirit. Watch out, Peru! Continue to pray for both of us as we find all sorts of ways to communicate with the friends God already has and will continue to provide here.
Ok, about my blog title. Friday at El Museo, I was completely overtaken by the one of the exhibits describing the science and artistry of the Shipibo people of the Upper Amazon. I´m forwarding a link for you to check out if you´re interested. I almost couldn´t leave the room. http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewarticle.asp?AuthorID=56980&id=31032 The Shipibo believe that¨"kene" is an energy that drives all patterns, sounds, and designs in the universe. The patterns that they could transcribe from who-knows-where...their minds...their spirits...their guts...wow. Talk about a labyrinth. I was breathless at one point. They would draw these patterns (which mind you, they are able to also hear in music (thus, the synesthesia), onto anthropomorphic figures. And it just hit me...like a ton of bricks. THEY GET IT. They get that the human body IS symmetry...IS pattern...IS exquisite design, with form, and shape, and its own MUSIC. I wanted to sit at some Shipibo woman´s feet that day and ask her what she sees...what she feels and touches and hears when these patterns just emerge. (Another tidbit...only the women are the artisans. That EXCITES me.)
Well, goodness. Longwinded again. That´s enough for now. Thanks for pushing through if you´ve made it to the end. I can´t promise that they´ll be much shorter. Don´t be mad!
Paz de Cristo,
Maria
It´s been a few days. Forgive both of us. We´ve been packing it in, to say the least. I´m absolutely thrilled by the texture of the city, the vibe, the pace, even its strange sun-less winter greys. It´s all a bit captivating. Old worlds, new worlds, buildings with 16th century-crown moulding now home to la Farmacia Larco or Roxy´s Chicken. Incan temples nestled between boutiques and rich Peruvian cuisine. (Do I sound like a brochure? All right, all right, I´ll stop.) Really though. It´s been rare for me to see this much life...these many lives...all bustling about...drenched in stories and pasts and questions and futures, hailing taxis and crossing avenidas...kissing in parks and sipping jugitas frescas in cafes. It´s a sight to behold...it´s a million sights to behold all at once. And there are no sunny skies to expose these days...they sit in a strange haze, a quieting, eerie haze. In summary, I like Lima. :)
Let´s recap then. Friday we went to El Museo de La Nacion in the afternoon and el Parque de Las Fuentes. Here, we came upon a park filled with these gorgeous fountains...parts were a bit theme-parkish, but at night, exquisite...and more than anything, just...fun. We waited for the Espectaculo with neon lights, spewing fountains, holograms of butterflies emerging from cacoons, pictures of Macchu Picchu, and at one point, I´m not kidding, a lovely, entrancing version of Backstreet Boys, "I Want it That Way." One of the fountains swirled above passers-by as they walked under it. We got a little wet, but it was worth it. Our hosts chuckled a bit at my excitement. :)
By the way, we´ve really grown to love them! Genma, the wife of this dynamic duo, told us yesterday that she can truly say these two "chicas" have come to this house to fill it with joy. And they have filled us with joy, that´s for sure. Heriberto, the husband, is...well...so brimming with pure goodness that I wouldn´t even know where to begin. We´ve already been fed with their stories...one of my favorite by far...Heriberto likes to hug trees. There is a particular one in a little town called Concepcion that he always hugs when he´s there. He´s the best kind of tree-hugger I know. :) We just feel loved here. And at home.
Saturday night, a tour of the city at night...so beautiful. La Catedral en el centro was really something. We´ll post pictures as soon as we get all our cords and memory cards sorted out. Geez. :) We also visited Barranco, an older, somewhat bohemian part of the city with artesanias and el puente de suspiros. We decided to sit down for a "snack," the four of us, and it turned out to be the most I´ve eaten since we´ve been here. Papaya juice, anticuchos (kabobs), papas, maiz, two desserts, and the list goes on. What a night. Our hosts got a kick out of watching our stuffed faces waddle back home.
Yesterday we attended La Iglesia Metodista de la Florida, where our Lima hosts attend. It was a blessing to spend time in worship, clap, sing, and practice Spanish, of course! Folks were excited to hear about our journey to Huancayo and offered their prayers for us as we work there.
Language classes began today, and I can already see the difference. Margaret has been concerned about language and though today was a bit stressful on the outset, she is fervently working on her "tarea" while I blog and strain to remember when I ever learned imperfecto subjunctivo...I have NO doubts that you have taught me this already, Mami. Sorry I´ve forgotten! It´s pretty exciting to see the juices flowing...as she remembers what she´s learned in the past and as she learns new vocabulario, etc. She´s a smart one, that´s for sure...muy brillante! Tonight she has on green pajamas and we decided that she´s like the Incredible Hulk bursting into her Spanish-spirit. Watch out, Peru! Continue to pray for both of us as we find all sorts of ways to communicate with the friends God already has and will continue to provide here.
Ok, about my blog title. Friday at El Museo, I was completely overtaken by the one of the exhibits describing the science and artistry of the Shipibo people of the Upper Amazon. I´m forwarding a link for you to check out if you´re interested. I almost couldn´t leave the room. http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewarticle.asp?AuthorID=56980&id=31032 The Shipibo believe that¨"kene" is an energy that drives all patterns, sounds, and designs in the universe. The patterns that they could transcribe from who-knows-where...their minds...their spirits...their guts...wow. Talk about a labyrinth. I was breathless at one point. They would draw these patterns (which mind you, they are able to also hear in music (thus, the synesthesia), onto anthropomorphic figures. And it just hit me...like a ton of bricks. THEY GET IT. They get that the human body IS symmetry...IS pattern...IS exquisite design, with form, and shape, and its own MUSIC. I wanted to sit at some Shipibo woman´s feet that day and ask her what she sees...what she feels and touches and hears when these patterns just emerge. (Another tidbit...only the women are the artisans. That EXCITES me.)
Well, goodness. Longwinded again. That´s enough for now. Thanks for pushing through if you´ve made it to the end. I can´t promise that they´ll be much shorter. Don´t be mad!
Paz de Cristo,
Maria
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