Essence of "Being" and being available

Some of the greatest times at the Guardaria are in the ¨being.¨ Jesus came down to earth, and entered into life to ¨be¨ with us.  God is continually telling us through scripture that, “I will be with you.”  What does that mean, and what does that look like in every day life?  One of my personal desires is to live that reality of “being with,” being available, accompanying, in daily life.  That is one of the things I strive for here, and I treasure the one on one time I get to spend one on one with others.      

             Last week, I noticed that one of our four year olds had been sleeping through music class. This had not been the first time, and he had been having a much harder time listening, staying in his seat, and seemed to be crying much more easily than normal.    So, after music, I pulled him in for a chat.  At first, he thought that he was in trouble and started crying, but I put him in my lap and we chatted for about ten minutes.  Why was he so tired?  Why was he having trouble “comporting bien” at school?  Was everyone okay at home?  No.  Was mom okay?  Yes.  Was dad okay?  Yes.  Hermanos?  Yes.  Friends?  No.  They were older and too big, and couldn't go to school with him.  As he talked, he stopped crying, and started rattling on about his friends.  We talked a little more about “comporting bien” and the fact that we missed his voice as we were learning our Christmas songs.   I gave him a hug and sent him off to play.  The next minute he was tearing around the playground with the others.  

The next day, I was standing outside of the classroom working on another project, and he yelled out to me, “Miss Kristi!”   I turned and looked.  He was the first person in line, and he looked proud.  He was actually just about quivering with proudness.   He yelled out, “Miss Kristi!  I’m comporting bien!”  His teacher had chosen him as the line leader (a great honor for a preschooler).  He wanted me to know.  It made my mouth smile and my heart laugh.

Part of me can get so task oriented at times, but I am so glad of the reminders.  The dignity and the wonder of a little man’s soul.  And the profound, beautiful gift of glimpsing that soul as one to which that soul takes into confidence.

Kirsten Kyle, Incarnate Word Missionary

Jelly's Random Thoughts

Forgive me but this week doesn't have a specific theme.  Nevertheless, these are some of my current thoughts...

This week has been quite eventful with Monday being Halloween, Tuesday, All Saints Day and Wednesday was Dia de los Muertos.   I wasn’t' expecting much on Halloween because when I asked the kids if they were going trick or treating they responded, "We don't do that.  We're Christian."  It was more of a rehearsed line because their mother is not a fan of All Hollow’s Eve.  However, when Halloween rolled around, they were begging to go out decked in costumes looking for candy.  So, I offered to take them and their mother obliged.  The kids were fully dressed in their costumes, hair done, make-up on and accessorized in less that 20 minutes.  An artist, Hannah Montana, a witch and I wondered the streets looking for the neighborhoods with the best candy.  When we started our adventure, there were only a few houses per block that were light up.  It seemed that the Halloween spirit I remembered as a child had faded.  However, as we trekked on, we came to a wealthy neighborhood that was hopping with people.  The kids were so excited through everything.  Even when we started out and things seemed rather glum, the children never lost hope that we would have a successful night.  They were so simple and easy to please and I enjoyed the lighthearted humor they brought.  Trick or treating with them made me feel like a kid again.  It made me lower my expectations and be happy with whatever I was given, good or bad.  Their attitudes are what made my night enjoyable.

 On Dia de los Muertos, two of the sisters I share community with and I were discussing the relationship we have with those who have died.  We talked about the Mexican culture and it's strong relationships with friends and family members despite death.  Something that struck me was that Sister Yolanda said, " When we die, we get sucked into God's love."  This gave me a great visual of the soul of a person leaving their mortal body to enter into God' ever loving presence. 

One day I only had John Paul (a 10 year old boy) in the car with me and I was driving him to be tutored in reading.  I looked in my rearview mirror and caught John Paul deep in thought. "What are you thinking about John Paul?" I asked. To which he responded, "a house".  I was left silent.  This boy desperately wants a home to call his own for himself and his family.  He has been in transitional housing for almost three years now.  I wondered what I thought about when I was a child his age.  Most likely it was what will my new Barbie be? I have never had to worry about one of my most basic needs being met, shelter.  What would it be like if I were in his shoes?

A house would mean a lot of things for John Paul.  To him, and to many of the families here, a home is more than a place for shelter.  It is a safe refuge, a place they share their love, their meals, and their family.  A home is something that belongs to only them, something no one can take away.  They have never felt that sense of security and long for it.  This made me acknowledge the abundance of opportunities I have been given, many of which I fail to realize.  I hope that one day, John Paul and his family can have the sense of security that a home would bring.  I also hope that their experience here at Visitation House is carefree and that he no longer worries about the uncertainties the future holds but instead enjoys the friends and wonderful times he has had thus far.

Angelique "Jelly" Snyder, Incarnate Word Missionary