When María José asked me if I’d be interested in volunteering at a
week-long meeting for people involved with Catholic youth from Latin America about
two months ago, I was excited about the experience, but I had no idea what kind
of impact it would make on me. It’s amazing what one week can do and how much I
needed this. Just another example of how good things happen when you’re being
open to what God puts before you.
Our week began Friday/Saturday at midnight with a bus ride to
Asuncion. We arrived at the bus terminal around 6 a.m. and were at the Salesian retreat house ready to begin our
service around 7:00. The first two days were rough. Not all of the volunteers
showed up so we had to work hard to cover their shifts. On the first day we
worked until at 11 p.m. and I woke up the next day at 4:45 to work in reception
and welcome participants arriving early that morning. Sunday the work schedule
was about the same and the work was worse. I helped out in the kitchen, and the
attitude in that area was a little less than pleasant. The employees/boss of
the house definitely had their own schedule and way that they wanted things
done, which wasn’t always communicated to us in the best way. After drying
plates wrong I made sure to ask about everything, and after a bad experience making
juice (everyone in the kitchen was watching me make it, not saying anything to
me but then talking in Guarani and laughing) I was finally relieved of my
kitchen service after a few tears. Thank God I didn't actually cry in the kitchen, and since I wasn’t the only one who cried either,
I feel like it wasn’t just me being a baby haha.
In those first days there were
definitely times that I thought, “What did I get myself into?” and, “I’m
going to be here for a whole week?” However, when more volunteers came in and
we had time to talk with the participants (a mixture of priests, bishops,
sisters, brothers, lay volunteers and youth) the heaviness of the work went
away.
Each day began or ended with Mass or prayers. I loved going to the
daily mass in Albuquerque and it was nice to get back into that habit. I kind
of quit going here after lent except for Tuesdays since it’s so early (the
sisters leave at 6:10 a.m.), but
now that I’ve only got about a month left (can’t believe I’m saying that) and I can actually
understand the homilies maybe I can stop being lazy in the mornings and at
least make it a few times.
I was part of the general service team and we were in charge of
cleaning in the mornings. Not the prettiest work but definitely
needed. In the afternoons we helped the coordinators by setting up work spaces
and getting materials ready. I’m grateful I got put in this area of service, not
just because it got me out of the kitchen, because I was able to listen in on
some of the meetings and got to experience more of the conference. At night
there were cultural showcases of each region of Latin America. People brought
their flags, videos showing off their country and culture, traditional dances, and
food and drinks for people to try. It was so neat to be able to learn about so
many different cultures in one place and be able to talk to people from so many
different areas. I don’t know where else I would ever have an experience like
this, so I’m really grateful.
I was also excited that despite the various accents, for the most part I
was able to talk and understand everyone. People even told me that my Spanish
was good and they didn't know that I was from the U.S. right away. Language success!!!
There were several participants from the US that attended and many others that
spoke English. For the most part we spoke in Spanish, but it was nice to be
able to talk in my native language, too.
The best part of the experience was without a doubt the people I had
the opportunity to meet—a mixture of participants from more than 20 different
countries and Paraguayan youth that served as volunteers. I’ve only been gone
one day and I miss them already. It was AMAZING to be surrounded by people with
such passion for the Church and Catholicism. I’ve never really been involved in any type of youth
group minus the occasional trips with our small group from St. Mary’s back in
Junior High/High School so it was refreshing and inspiring to be around so many
people that are excited about and strong in their faith. Throughout my
experience as a volunteer in Paraguay I’ve felt that my faith and relationship
with God have fluctuated. I feel
much
better than I did before I started my journey with VOICA, but even though I feel close and
strong
in my relationship some days, others I feel like I’m not doing anything
to
improve. This week was definitely the motivation I needed, and I'm
excited to get involved in some type of Catholic group for young
adults when I get back to the U.S. I'm also excited to HOPEFULLY be able to participate in my first World Youth Day next year in Brazil (that is of course if I have the funds).
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The volunteers after our first meeting before the conference. |
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CAFASA where the retreat was held. |
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Giant ant hill. |
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Some of the volunteers: Nancy, Delma, me, Hugo, Alex and Emilio. |
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Cardinal Theodore McCarrick from the U.S. visited the retreat. |
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At one of the cultural nights. |
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At one of the morning Masses. |
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One of the priesst from Brazil after giving me my cross to celebrate WYD in Rio in 2013. |
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Each country set up a table to display information and share their culture. |
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On the cultural night for countries in the Caribbean. (Puerto Rico, Cuba and Curaçao) |
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One of the morning prayers. |
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On our way to begin our pilgrimage to Caacupe. |
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With Marilyn, one of my fellow US citizens. |
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With Leti, one of the coordinators for the Pastoral de Joventud of Encarnacion. |
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With Alex and Yari. |
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Jesus--this little guy joined us in the pilgrimage and Mass in Caacupe. |
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The group after the Mass in the Basilica in Caacupe. |
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Limbo! One of the priests from Honduras. |
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At one of the cultural nights. |
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Morning Mass |
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At one of our nightly meetings for volunteers. |
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Cultural night of Central America and Mexico. |
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With my new Godfather from Peru! |
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At the Mass ending the retreat. |
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The volunteers! |
The conference officially ended Friday, and we left early Saturday
morning (1:30 a.m.) for the Falls of Igauzu--this time, the Brazilian side. I
wasn’t planning on going, partly because I didn’t think I would be able to
enter Brazil without a visa, but I’m so glad that I did.
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Heading to Cuidad del Este and the falls! |
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Morning prayer at the seminary. |
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Breakfast at the seminary. |
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With Delma at the park for Igauzu on the Brazilian side! |
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With Angel from Puerto Rico. |
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Notice the tail coming out of the trash can. |
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Me with Nancy, one of the other volunteers from Encarnacion. |
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Crossing the bridge back to Paraguay. |
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Cuidad del Este |
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Getting onto the other bus after ours broke. |
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Delma & Francis (Nicaragua) |
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Itaipu, the hydro-electric dam on the border of Paraguay and Brazil. |
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Mass at the seminary before the lights went out because of the storm. |
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Waiting for our bus after dinner. |
To say that the border of Brazil and Paraguay near Cuidad del Este is relaxed would be an understatement. We walked over the bridge
that separates the two cities and were never asked to present our passports. Yay for me since I didn't have a visa! I also got to witness contraband at its finest as people threw bags
over the bridge and lowered them down to people that carried them off avoiding
the Brazilian customs.
Even though I'd already seen the falls from Argentina, first with Caitlin and later with Mom and Grandma, the experience was great. The park for the falls on the Brazilian side is smaller and has
different views than the Argentinean side, and it also gives you the opportunity to
really feel the falls. I was spared a little bit since
someone gave me their poncho after they were finished, but I definitely still got
wet.
After the falls, we crossed back over the border into Paraguay and said
goodbye to part of our group that had to return to Asuncion early to catch
their flights. Shortly after, as we were on our way to visit the hydroelectric
dam, Itaipu, one of our other two buses broke down. After the tour of the dam we
headed to a Salesian seminary for Mass. After Mass we headed to a churrascaria for dinner where we thought our new bus
would be waiting for us afterwards, but when we were supposed to leave there was no
bus in sight. First we were told the bus was waiting for us at the seminary.
Later we learned our bus wasn’t there and that we needed to wait one more hour. All
the Paraguayans (and me and Edwin from the Dominican Republic) got off at a gas
station and waited for our bus. People broke out
the guitar and time passed a lot faster than I expected, and two and a half
hours later our bus finally showed up. Oh Paraguayan time…
We arrived back at the retreat house a little before 5 a.m., slept for
a few hours and then prepared to head home. It was a long week but an amazing
one. Sleeping in my own bed after being gone for nine days was
great, but what was even better was being woken up by my niños of jardín
singing/yelling their morning songs. I missed them so much! Seeing their
smiling faces, getting hugs and hearing their yells of “hola profe!” made my
day. I also missed the sisters, my co-workers, Gladys, Sandra and Lidia, and my
friends. As much as I enjoyed my experience with the Pastoral de Juventud de
Latinoamericana, it sure feels great to be back home especially since my time left is limited...39 days. :(