I DID go to Guatemala, making it as far as the Ruins in Copan, Honduras. I was surprised at how much I loved traveling alone. Being alone gave me so much flexibility and I took full advantage of that. I was usually on a bus before sunrise and was in bed before 9pm!
Guatemala is beautiful. I had been there with Rita Steinhagen in 1992 and had enjoyed it so much. I returned to Chichicastenango, a city with beautiful tapestry and handiworks. Rita and I had both loved it before and I felt like she was with me this time too. I think I even stayed in the same hotel that we had stayed in together!
I returned to Minnesota in September. I was looking for something similar to what I was doing in Mexico but didn’t have much hope for that. Imagine my surprise when, within two days, three people suggested I check out Casa Guadalupana, a house of hospitality for immigrants in West St Paul. Casa Guadalupana is a ministry serving Hispanic women and families who are homeless, in crisis, or temporarily unable to meet their most basic human needs. The house has recently been relocated to the former rectory of St Matthew’s parish on St. Paul’s west side. Casa’s residential hospitality is operating in a more limited way than normal because of some remodeling and refurbishing needs of the 100+ year old rectory. So, at this time I am able to be a handi(wo)man; painting, hammering and cleaning, and involving others in these projects. It feels like I’m doing a hobby full time!
CASA GUADALUPANA, my new home.
ON MY KNEES IN THE NITTY GRITTY!
This ministry has everything I was looking for; a chance to live and work with Hispanic immigrants, do outreach into the community, and use my health care skills. I think I will be challenged this year to speak a little more about immigration issues. I am pushing myself to do so, remembering Olga Sanchez’ (Founder and Director of the Albergue Jesus el Buen Pastor) comment that she doesn’t like speaking to reporters but if that’s what it takes to bring attention to the needs of people in migration and to change what is happening, she will do so. Olga was an inspiration to me in Mexico and continues to challenge and motivate me here in Minnesota.
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE FEAST DAY
With Guests of the House coming home from Christmas eve midnight mass.
For a visual demonstration of the climate contrast, here we are freezing in Minnesota, then scroll back up to see us on the beach in Mexico!
I want to leave you all with a post Christmas Poem by Howard Thurman.
When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with theirflock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost, To heal the broken,To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner, To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among others, To make music in the heart.
May we all continue to live Christmas throughout the year.
Blessings in 2009
Lillian
