Domingo - Day 2

Today we went to Church at the Episcopal Cathedral of Santa Maria de los Angeles, a 15 minute drive from El Hogar.

We went in two vans – one for us volunteers and one for many children who accompanied us to Church, and then on to a nearby restaurant, the Pollo Campero – a very special treat for the children!

The Dean, the Very Rev. Gerardo Antonio Alonzo Martinez preached a long sermon on a Gospel lesson about Jesus’ new laws of love. Jesus quotes common practices “You have heard it said … but I say to you” and gives his new rule. This Gospel speaks against the eye for an eye mentality of retribution and tells us to turn the other cheek; if someone asks for your shirt, give them your coat as well. Garardo said that Christians are to be agents of change so that situations of injustice are changed into communities of wholeness and peace. Because of God’s great love, visible in the gift of his son, we, like Jesus, can transform situations through love.

What a wonderful sermon to prepare us for a tangible sign of this peace - the passing of the peace - which lasted for a long time as the Dean and the assistant priest passed the peace with everyone in the Cathedral. It was also the second week of their Stewardship program and so instead of passing the plate, we were invited to come to the altar to place our offering there.

This movement to offer our gifts parallels our journey from Canada to El Hogar as we offer our time and our love to this community. Already, in just over one day here, we have experienced how we are receiving so much more than we are giving through what we have already shared with the children. We come to be agents of transformation, but are becoming transformed ourselves.

We were able to give the layettes that Caroldean put together to send with us, to Father Garardo.  With him in the picture is his daughter who has come back from University in Vancouver. 









At the restaurant we sat amongst the children and were able to get to know them a little better. Some of us were able to sit with the children they sponsor. Alan and I sat with Alan’s sponsored child, Cesar and his friend, Rony. Both of them have other brothers at El Hogar and we were so touched when at the end of the meal they saved their dessert to bring back for their brothers. Givers receive, receivers give: if we thought that we came here to give, we are receiving the gifts that these children are giving us, a teaching about how to give!

The afternoon was a flurry of activity as boys and girls played every sport imaginable with or without a ball! Several of our group were engaged in soccer, volleyball, basketball, or catching up with one on one conversations with the children. Several of us were remarking how we hadn’t seen children so naturally just play together with whatever tools they had.  Notice the stones collected to use as markers for their bingo game.

In our reflection this evening, we spoke about the ripple effect. The actions which we can do will make a difference beyond what we can know, both in these children’s lives, but also in ours. When we return home, the changes in us will continue to make a difference in our families and the communities in which we live.

Posted by Stuart.