More to come...

Please just give me time to get settled back into American life and I PROMISE I will write plenty of blog posts...

Marangita

So I have been wanting to share our other apostolate with you all for some time now but simply have not been able to fit it into a sponsor letter and since there are a few of those left I figured I would take advantage of my blog to share it with you.

Every Thursday we go to visit a place called Maranga which is more or less a juvenile detention center for boys under 21 years old. It is not a jail but each person has a certain amount of time they are required to be in Maranga for some crime that they committed (usually drug or theft related). There are programs that teach the boys skills that hopefully they will use once they leave instead of returning to the way of life they had before ending up in Maranga.

Whenever we go visit, we simply sit and talk with the guys we know. Maranga is divided into patios, some are a little more laid back than others, and there isn’t really any place to walk around or play soccer or “do” anything. We know people in various patios and try to visit at least 2 if not 3 every week. The conversations are about things that happened this past week in Maranga or in La Ensenada, their families, our families, our countries, what they want to do when they get out, what we will do when we get home, etc.

Jose* is a guy from Colombia that spent 4 years in Maranga and just left in May. He had a hard life before Maranga and since he is from Colombia, never received a family visit. In 4 years, Heart’s Home had become his family and some of the few people that genuinely cared about him and wanted the best for him. He would tell us stories about his time with his gang, his son that he hardly knew but wanted to see so bad, his small jobs here and there helping an electrician in Maranga, everything. There was a huge amount of trust in this relationship as he often told us things and asked that we not say anything about it to anyone. As he was getting ready to leave, we often asked him what his plans were. Was he going to go back to Colombia or stay in Peru? Did he want to go back to “work” with his gang or as an electrician? If he stayed in Peru where was he going to live? Things of that sort. Our hearts ached when it became obvious that even though he wanted to stay in Peru he was going to “work” as he did before (aka theft) for a little so that he could have money to go back to Colombia. We tried to subtly tell him that maybe working as an electrician would be the best way to get back to Colombia and see his son or that maybe he should just go straight to Colombia and look for a job there instead of staying here for a while. As his birthday got closer and closer (he got out when he turned 21) we began praying even harder that he would make the best decisions for him and for his son. We invited him to the house the day after he was supposed to get out for his birthday, gave him our number, our email addresses, everything within our power to how him that he was someone important for us and that we only want the best for him but we aren’t going to judge him for whatever decision he makes.

We never got a call or email from Jose when he left and have no news of him now. I simply hope that he is safe and that he can see his son some day.

Two of our other friends that we visit are Ricardo and Juan. They are pretty much a tag team and full of laughs. Juan is finishing high school and is involved with the theater group and is always sure to invite us to one of their little shows knowing that we love it and won’t stop talking about it for months (I’m still talking about the one back in November…). Ricardo used to be in the same patio as Jose but was moved to one with lower security on account of good behavior. He works in the office every now and then and hopes to study something similar to MIS once he gets out.

About a month and a half ago, we went to Patio Don Bosco looking for Ricardo and Juan but they were nowhere to be found. Some of our other friends told us that something had been stolen from the guard’s office and half of the patio was being punished and had been moved to other patios. Juan and Ricardo were included and had been moved to Patio San Martin de Porres. It was a no-brainer for us. We were going to go find them and talk to them, see how they were doing, and to find out what happened. When we showed up in San Martin de Porres both boys seemed a little shocked and surprised that we had looked for them and that we weren’t going to leave until we had seen them. They were definitely a little down about everything that had happened and both say they are innocent, and we believe them. This whole event is now a thing of the past and we are simply waiting to hear about the next theater performance or about when the boys will get to move back to Don Bosco.

There are many chicos that we visit in Maranga and I ask that you please pray that each one may make the best decisions for their life. Please pray especially for Juan as his dad was killed a few months ago and he didn’t know about it for a few weeks. He seems to be doing fine now but I’m sure there are days when it is difficult for him.

Until next time!

Kari

*names were changed

Ps…please don’t be afraid to send snail mail my way :D 

Darilo

Darilo has quickly taken the place of Marcos and is currently one of the top loves of my life. Darilo arrived with his little sister at Villa Martha (an orphanage we go to every week that I talked about in one of my sponsor letters) in March and hardly talked. I was first touched by him because I could see the pain and loneliness he had inside of his little 4 year old heart. He didn't say a word other than "si" which means "yes" and was hardly ever found running around with the other children. This went on for two or three weeks and my heard ached and ached and I wondered if he would ever be able to say any other word or play with the other children.

One day I went to Villa Martha with Mayte, a Peruvian girl who is now on mission in the Phillipines, and we started to play a simple game with a group of children, which included Darilo. The game was whoever could say a word that started with whatever letter we said got to wear my sunglasses until the next round. All of the other kids were really good at this game and Darilo never said anything. The others quickly got bored with this game, gave me back my sunglasses, and went to go play on the playground equipment. Darilo stayed with Mayte and I and we tried to get him to say SOMETHING, ANYTHING just to prove he could. He finally repeated the word "zapato" or "shoe" and I can't tell you the joy I had in my heart. I wasn't sure if he realized what the word meant, but he at least repeated something! I left that day with a kid in a candy store look on my face and was super excited to tell everybody about my little friend who had made a big step that day.

Darilo playing the drum

Since this day, Darilo has advanced immensely in his talking abilities and now is able to have a small conversation. Just yesterday, he was asking me what things were called and was thirsting for more knowledge. We often think that the children of Villa Martha don't realize when we are gone or don't remember who we are, but Darilo also squashed that thought to the ground yesterday when he came running up to me with arms wide open to give me a huge hug letting me know that the time I spend with him means something to him. I hope he knows that he is loved not just by me but by Christ as well. I am so excited to see how he grows in the little time I have left here.

10 months...

Mis queridos,
I can't believe it has been 10 months since I left my dad's house with Beth for our epic roadtrip before coming to Peru. This reality hit me as I am getting ready to share this beautiful country with my dad, stepmom, and little brother later this week. I could write about all of the things I have missed back home in the last 10 months, but that would be a little pessimistic. I could also fill you all in on the things that I have learned in Peru in the last 10 months, but that post would be extremely long. Instead, I just want to ask you all for your prayers for my family, their flight, and their time here in Peru. I am super excited to see them. It has been 10 months since I hugged my little brother or played games with my family. Things that I didnt realize until I actually sat down and thought about the fact I will be able to hug my little brother in a matter of days, I will be able to actually hear my dad's voice without the internet connection cutting out, I will be able to cook a meal with my stepmom, all things I am looking forward too. This trip is definitely a blessing for me and is much needed at this point in my mission. I can´t wait for my family to meet Elvira or Sra. Victoria. I am excited to share this culture which I have slowly adapted as my own over the last 10 months, the colors, the dances, the food, the history. I hope I will have the opportunity to post shortly after their visit.

Cuidense mucho,
Kari

Holy Week

I know it´s a little late but we are at least still in the Easter season. Here´s my Holy Week in a nutshell.

Palm Sunday-Went to Mass in La Ensenada...even though it was the same liturgy...I really missed starting in the Newman lobby..

Tuesday-Chrism Mass. ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL. I seriously can´t describe how happy I was during this Mass. I was absolutely overwhelmed at the sight of many of our priestly and seminarian friends who were present. It was the first Chrism Mass I ever went to and it most definitely won't be the last.

Wednesday- I found out my grandpa passed away. I was a little surprised by it but clung to my faith as I went to Mass downtown. Thank you all for your prayers during this time.

Thursday- Mass of the Last Supper. Same liturgy but inside the church, there was a large table with fruits and bread...literally...a supper. Afterwards there was Adoration for a few hours. It was so beautiful to share this moment with all of our friends here. Also, we had to have the Blessed Sacrament removed from our house making the absence of Christ even more real for me during this Tridium.

Friday-Statsion of the Cross in the neighborhood! We went from house to house for the first 11 stations and for the last ones, every part of the neighborhood met at the church and finished them there. It was so awesome to see crosses arrive from all parts of La Ensenada followed by all sorts of friends. Afterwards there was Veneration of the Cross and Good Friday Liturgy.

Saturday-Easter Vigil! We were in charge of the liturgy so we had to make sure we had enough people to read and organize everything. It was a beautfiul experience that taught me a lot more about the Easter Vigil than I ever knew. In Lima, there arent a lot of people that enter the Church during the Easter Vigil like in Tulsa so that means it only lasted an hour and a half and not the usual 3 hours. Afterwards, we headed home with some of our friends to eat all of the goodies we couldnt eat during Lent. This list includes: cake...but really awesome chocolate cake, beer bread, no bake cookies, candy, pisco sour, you name it!

Easter Sunday-We decided to head downtown to go to Mass in the cathedral and met up with the community of Barrios Altos (the other Hearts Home here in Lima). When we arrived, there was a procession going on. It was impressive. Processions in Lima are a huge think and this one was a procession of Mary and when she arrived at the door she "greeted" Christ Resurrected and He returned the greeting and afterwards both statues made their way in the church followed by a sea of people. Mass was celebrated by the Archbishop..who also happens to be a cardinal..NBD. The music was beautiful and I cant describe how thankful I was this day. After mass, we went out to lunch (a rare occasion) and headed home to spend the afternoon visiting our friends. That night, one of the priests from our parish returned the Blessed Sacrament to our house and we ended the day with an hour of Adoration. How awesome!?!?!!

I hope you all had a blessed Holy Week and continue having a blessed Easter season.

With all my love and prayers.

I'm on a roll...

Three new posts in less than a day?? I'm surprised I've found the time to make this all happen! Really, it's just that in the last week or so, there have been a lot of little "ahHA" moments I've wanted to share but have already written my sponsor letter for this month. So...I made sure to take some time to post this week.

The other day, I went with Patrick to visit Elvira. Elvira is one of our new friends and I had only been to her house once before and Patrick had never met her. She is rather sick and can't really walk. She often complains that nobody cares for her because her daughter works to help pay the medical expenses and her other children are living with their families. Her youngest daughter takes her to speech or physical therapy every weekday and makes sure she has food to eat. Whenever we visit her, she talks our ear off or simply asks what's new with our life. She remembers everyone's name and is anxiously waiting to meet Sophie.

This past Sunday with Patrick, we were simply talking and she asked if I could help her with her physical therapy exercises like Sr. Maria had done. Clearly I said yes since I plan on studying PT when I get back stateside. I started to move her arms and legs and couldn't help but recognize the confirming sign God was giving me in that moment that yes, I need to study PT when I get back, when the conversation slowed and we found ourselves in a moment of silence. She had once asked Sr. Maria to learn how to pray the Rosary and the last time I saw her, we gave her a Rosary. Patrick and I hadn't prayed the Rosary yet so I asked if she would like to pray with us while I continued to help with her exercises. She said yes with a beaming smile and a glimmer in her eyes that really warmed my heart. We began to pray the Rosary and she even led a decade by herself. In the midst of this moment, I found myself in awe of the fact that I was physically helping her with her exercises, we were emotionally helping her by simply taking the time to visit, and we were all being spiritually fed by the Rosary. Thinking of this really just blew me away. I can't really put into words what I thought or felt, but it was a moment that I wanted to take and share with you all.

Please pray for Elvira, her health, and her family. There are many days where we are unable to visit her and i know she is longing for a simple friendship.

Miss you all and praying for every single one of you.
Kari

PICTURES!!

Patrick and Pitty

Mr. Giraffe

Patrick...being Patrick...

Katy and I

Didn't know I could cut hair did ya??

When Sr. Maria came for her visit at the beginning of February, we had a retreat  where St. Rose of  Lima used to live, pray, and offer up penances...NBD.