"God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called."

by Tara Hurford, current IWM serving in Mexico City, Mexico

This past Saturday, Emma and I reached the two month mark of our new lives here in Santa Fe, Mexico City.  As Emma mentioned in our last blog, the majority of our time is spent at a local Guardería, or daycare, which was opened for low-income families.  I have spent my time with the classes for two and three year olds.  If I received a peso for every time I heard, ¨Tengo mocos¨ (I have mucous), I would have no worries about being on a ´missionaries´ salary here for the next two years.  And if I received another peso every time my little darlings wanted to ´re-gift´ their kleenex to me, I´d be filthy (and) rich!  Very fortunately, I took a vow of poverty for the next two years!  But if handing out kleenex and wiping dirty noses is the worst part of my job, then I count myself very, very blessed, indeed.  The two classes of fifteen to twenty children that I help out with have brought me joy incalculable and their affection helps to cure any homesickness for the life I left behind in Nova Scotia -- in a heartbeat.  

If someone would have told me that I would be subbing for a class of two-year-olds three months ago, I would have looked at them like they had two heads.  But here I am, ready (or not so very much) every day to possibly be ¨maestra¨ for the little munchkins.  At first, I was totally overwhelmed by trying to balance tending to the unending bathroom parade and keeping the children from jumping off their chairs, screaming, crying and hitting each other.  I felt totally unprepared, and as a result of this and other things going on in my life a well-known feeling of insufficiency returned.  ¨My Spanish is not good enough;¨ ¨What good am I doing here?¨ ¨What difference am I making?¨ ¨I´m simply not enough . . .¨ These are the familiar tapes of negativity that often return to me when I´m having a rough time.  But the truth is, I will never be enough, save for the grace of God, if I allow Him to work through me.  As they say, ¨God doesn’t call the qualified; he qualifies the called."  This time forced me to re-evaluate what my goals were here both personally, spiritually, as well as practically and how I am spending my time. It also forced me to  re-commit to daily prayer.  It is so easy to get caught up in the busyness of daily life here and forget to ¨be present´ to the one who is forever present to me - to all of us. 

This too then helps me to be more present to the children and to my environment.  I soon discovered a box of giant legos that (thanks be to God) keeps them occupied for a good half hour, while I make sure no one pees their pants, take attendance, translate some kids action songs from English, and figure out what the heck I´m going to do for the rest of the day.  Personally, I discovered that I need to let go of the feeling of the need to accomplish and let things develop as God wants, not how I will them.  This brought some fresh new ideas to mind about other projects I would like to start here, ones that fit my skills and talents more.  God willing. 

Apart from our totally exhausting, yet fun and love-filled days at the Guarderia, Emma and I recently started ´work´ with the Jesuit youth here,  who do everything from weekend retreats to working with the indigenous and immigrants, to name only some activities.  We were able to attend an ¨Encuentro¨ two weekends ago of the Jesuit youth representatives from all over the country.  The enthusiasm and excitement was contagious, and we hope to bring some youth from Santa Fe to their next camp, near the ancient pyramids of Teotihuacan.  One thing that Father Salvador (the priest of our sponsoring parish) would really like us to kickstart is a youth group.  After our initial meeting with two Jesuits, neither of us could contain our excitement.  For me, the combination of spirituality, social analysis and action that the Jesuit Youth bring to the Church is inexpressibly exciting, and oh so needed.  We will see what the future brings!

Being Present

by Nicole Tardio, IWM serving in Mongu, Zambia

After a month into my time here in Zambia I have sensed a recurring theme that surfaces in multiple aspects of my life. Even going back to the time I was preparing to come to Zambia in orientation in San Antonio, I was given all sorts of valuable advice from some very wise people. All in all our conversations focused on being present to people - not getting too busy doing things that you forget the real reason for being where you are: to be with people, to learn from them, and to give and receive God’s love. I was reminded to take my time, be patient, and enjoy each moment no matter how simple it may be. Celebrate each day, each new person met, and each new word learned. So as I make the transition into Zambian life, I have been reminded several times about my main focus.

One evening in church the reading was the story of Mary and Martha and Jesus’ visit to them. This reading spoke to me in a special way because I can relate to both Mary and Martha. As I settle in here I am busy getting things accomplished: I have lists of who I need to contact, who I need to make an appointment with, and which sites are on the list of places to visit for the day. All these are very necessary tasks but I am reminded and inspired by Mary to make each visit, each phone call, and each encounter a true connection with the person I am meeting or talking with. It is easy to go through the day without truly seeing and hearing the people we encounter. I believe I am called to listen like Mary did, to make each person feel like they are special because Jesus is present in everyone I meet.

I am currently reading a book that talks about seeing God in all, even in the tough situations we encounter. One chapter focused on seeing things from God’s perspective and not focusing on our own perspective. How often our main concern is doing “stuff” for others and for God. How we often get caught up in our own performance. On the contrary, God’s will is for us to focus on just being; He is more interested in the person that we are becoming than the specific things we are doing. This is very comforting as I struggle to find my place here in Mongu in different organizations and programs that are already established. Like any new place we move to, it is a challenge to integrate into a community. I am slowly integrating myself, and what I have found so far is that people aren’t necessarily interested that I am nurse or that I came and that I will be working in various sites. They are more interested in meeting me and each day I make more connections with people by just being here. How ironic! :)

This is a daily challenge - a very welcome challenge - to be present in the places where I am working, to be present at home with my community, during prayer and at mass. One day last week at the end of the day I sat down to eat dinner and watch an hour of TV before bed. Well right in the middle of the show the power went out, and at first I was a little frustrated as I sat in the dark, but Sr. Cristi came to the rescue with a lantern. So Sr. Clara, Sr. Cristi, (my community

members) and I sat there staring at each other at first. Then someone had the idea to put a fan together that we had bought that day. The assembly began and though it started out a little rocky it started coming together quickly. With all three of us working at it in no time it was standing upright with the cage and blade intact. With no power to test it our laughs continued at the table with a candle-lit dinner. My annoyance with the situation of no power quickly dissipated and all of a sudden I was thankful for this community time.

I realized sometimes I am in the presence of people without being present to them. It took God’s little nudge of eliminating distractions to appreciate the people around me in that moment, and for that I was extremely thankful.

So presence to me is “being,” actively being: body, mind, and heart all involved. Presence is listening and participating with others. It is a call to know and comfort others. It is not passive but active. It is a smile, a compliment, encouragement, and free from all judgement.

I believe Jesus is our best role model for most everything but especially for being present! :)

Stirrings of a grateful heart

by Kelli Nelson, IWM serving in Chimbote, Peru                                       

A deepest desire of my heart is to be as the sunflower who with her face and entire being testifies her fidelity to the sun living a life that expresses and invites the way of love born of deep trust in the Divine alive in all of creation. I pray as I make the journey toward a spirituality of radical freedom in community with those around me, that we might rewrite the master narrative by making transparent the realities of all people, and with grace transform the world of oppressive social structures. May each action and word be a prayer, a dance, a song to continue the work beyond sweet sleep. In celebration and gratitude…