Hey everyone!
I´ve had the most intense days! and have been so overwhelmed that i havent really had time nor the energy to write! I have been journaling though :-) in other past trips its been hard to write in my journal, but there is so much internal/feeling stuff that i want to share that it is necessary for me to write it down!
I guess that tugging feeling forces me to write....which is excellent hehe
I decided that i wanted to post some observations ive made while being here. Two days after i got here, plasterd all over the media was a picture of a 19 year old boy that was being stabbed by a fellow classmate outside of his university, ´reason´why he stabbed him (he was wearing a jersey from a neighbouring school, that is the rival soccer team of the school). As pathetic as that sounded to me, it was real, raw and true...so true that everyone was obsessed with the story and all media communications where writing about it or airing shows about it. This boy died in the end... and for what? i try not to get sucked into the media, but it was everywhere...every time i went somewhere someone was talking about it. And although killings happen here all the time, a country that is slowly recovering from a 30 year war that ended 19 years ago...its still not dehumanized or desensitized to the value of human life. It is something i find admirable... and something that rings true of the El Salvadorean spirit, a people that suffered, lost loved ones, had to leave their homes- have not lost the vitality and desire to live and live peacefully. The day before this boy was killed in broad day light, President Funes had made a Vito against the law of trying 15 year olds as adults when they commited a crime. After this boy was killed, many questioned the governments ideals and commitment to bettering El Salvador...in my humble opinion i believe it is necessary to look at El Salvadorean culture and analyze the isolated realities of each person... rehabilitation and education can mobalize and change a community...lets imagine what it could do for a nation that has been dragged by the culture of ciolence for so long?
Before coming here i was really afraid...so afraid that when i was at the airport there was a moment where i contemplated not getting on the airplane and coming. Im usually really anxious to leave everytime i travel, and dont flinch when the time comes. But this trip was something totally different for me and the fact that my family was afraid for my safety... worsened everything for me.
Through prayers and many conversationed i have seen God´s tremendous Love and covering..seriously í´ve been minutes away from danger in certain circumstances but God continues to assure me, that He will take care of everything. ahhh we are so lucky to have such a loving Father. :-)
Coming to El Salvador, was a surprise and gift to me...but also something that was needed but not wanted...let me explain... as much as i love El Salvador its beautiful culture and rich history..i never had any intentions of coming here this soon. This trip came so sudden, that as much as it was an affirmation of what i had been waiting for, it was also the reason why i was so afraid. I had been waiting and having some raw and rather vulnerable conversations with God where i would search for answers... to questions that in reality had been answered a really long time ago. What to do with my time? where did God want me? what was my purpose??
Months passed, and my heart always had Africa close to it...always thinking about when i would return...i had been ignoring my roots, they were slowyly creeping back into my spirit with a fire so strong that threw me back into a state of being soooo overwhelmed by grace, that i felt undeserving.
An awakening had happened and my heart still longed for Africa but God showed me that i could have the same passion and love for the rest of the world... i felt Latin America calling to me... and Bolivia would be where He would send me next, in May. To be honest i tossed and turned when i found out that i was going to Bolivia...i was excited but my heart was still not content... MY heart, not God´s...haha i had been trying to satisfy my desires and needs and had forgotten that God was the one that was in charge, its really refreshing to be pulled back into reality! And this February, El Salvador came into the picture... casted to the wind was all doubt as i was being prepared for the ´coming out´ :-). In my two weeks here i have met people, that i already knew...not in the physical sense but there hearts and spirits were already known to my heart. Never has it been so obvious to me that my life was made in the option for the poor. I yearn for the day, when Freedom will be known to all, it is the most amazing feeling to know, that when you recklessly abandon yourself to God´s plan, life is so much more exciting!
"Those who surrender to the service of the poor through love of Christ, will live like the grains of wheat that dies. It only apparently dies. If it were not to die, it would remain a solitary grain. The harvest comes because of the grain that dies We know that every effort to improve society, above all when society is so full of injustice and sin, is an effort that God blesses; that God wants; that God demands of us".- Oscar Romero
This post was not really an update of things I´ve done (that will come soon), but a reflection of what kind of transformation my heart is under...
The harvest is coming :-)
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
Concert in honour of Arch Bishop Romero and 1 year anniversary of the FMLN presidential win!
On Saturday, Marh, 13th i went to this amazing concert that had been organized by President Funes, in honour of Oscar Romero´s 30th death anniversary. it was such an amazing site to see... the stadium illed with babies, children, youth, adults and seniors...generations upon generations of people that have a reaffirmed Hope everytime they are able to unite when honouring this amazing Man.
i will try to post vids and pictures when i get home. President Funes gave a few words, it was nice to see the government honouring someone that been a symbol of Rebellion for the El Salvadorean government so many years ago.
On Sunday March 14th, i went to a commemoration of the FMLN´s, presidential win...a see of red t-shirts and flags, and again generations gathered together, not just celebrate this anniversary but to remember and celebrate the lives of so many people that fought for freedom so many years ago. i was able to talk to some dignitaries and some veterans of the war. i´ll post pictures soon... such an amazing feeling..not beause of a political party, but because i got to see people united for the cause of Liberation. soo beautiful!
this week i have a few meeting lined up, one with a Mayor of FMLN, with a couple of veterans of the revolution and i will be attending some workshops at the UCA (university of El Salvador) workshops on Justice and Peace, Oscar Romero and the Revoltuion!
i´ll keep you all updated!please keep me in your prayers!!
Mucho Love!
Ivania
i will try to post vids and pictures when i get home. President Funes gave a few words, it was nice to see the government honouring someone that been a symbol of Rebellion for the El Salvadorean government so many years ago.
On Sunday March 14th, i went to a commemoration of the FMLN´s, presidential win...a see of red t-shirts and flags, and again generations gathered together, not just celebrate this anniversary but to remember and celebrate the lives of so many people that fought for freedom so many years ago. i was able to talk to some dignitaries and some veterans of the war. i´ll post pictures soon... such an amazing feeling..not beause of a political party, but because i got to see people united for the cause of Liberation. soo beautiful!
this week i have a few meeting lined up, one with a Mayor of FMLN, with a couple of veterans of the revolution and i will be attending some workshops at the UCA (university of El Salvador) workshops on Justice and Peace, Oscar Romero and the Revoltuion!
i´ll keep you all updated!please keep me in your prayers!!
Mucho Love!
Ivania
testimonies of a symbol of Rebellion
on Friday, March 12th i met up Monsenor Ricardo Ayala. (Oscar Romero´s secretary)
my meeting with Mons. Ayala was an interesting one, he is this kind older man, (picture a grandfather)... a man that had lived in Canada for 8 years and had consequently married my parents. We met up in this amazing little cafe in the Old City Hall of Santa Tecla (it is a museam now), and talked about his time in El Salvador, hiw work with Arch Bishop Romero and his dreams for this generation. His story is one that must be shared in a book..actually all the stories that people share with me... seem like they should be in a book (maybe God is trying to tell me its time to start writing that book :-) ) hehe, hmm we will see
He explained to me that the day that Oscar Romero was killed, he had been called by the National gaurd, and told that he was needed at the army base (this was code, for we have an order to kill you) He had been warned by many different people, that the national gaurd was after him, the president at the time (Duarte) had sent out an order to arrest him because he had been meeting up with peasants and trying to encourage them in their fight for freedom. He had been acussed about using his podium as a priest to contact Cuban and Nicaraguan revolutionaries.(which wasnt true)
Later that day (March 24th, 1980) he was hidden in a truck and taken to Guatemala, were he crossed the border to Mexico and later went to Canada where he served 8 yrs.
Our meeting was short, but it was a testimony of what revolution and the spirit of revolution is. Here was this 83 year old man, that refuses to retire, and lives out daily his faith- a man that organizes meetings and conference for youth to talk about what is happening in their country and what can been done to better it.
as i was leaving he said to me " I am old, and my flame is burning out, but your revolutionary spirit doubles the one i had when i was your age, never forget that- let that flame burn!!"
amazing soo amazing!
we have decided to meet up again...once im in Santa Ana with the rest of the Canadians..im excited about what that will be like!
my meeting with Mons. Ayala was an interesting one, he is this kind older man, (picture a grandfather)... a man that had lived in Canada for 8 years and had consequently married my parents. We met up in this amazing little cafe in the Old City Hall of Santa Tecla (it is a museam now), and talked about his time in El Salvador, hiw work with Arch Bishop Romero and his dreams for this generation. His story is one that must be shared in a book..actually all the stories that people share with me... seem like they should be in a book (maybe God is trying to tell me its time to start writing that book :-) ) hehe, hmm we will see
He explained to me that the day that Oscar Romero was killed, he had been called by the National gaurd, and told that he was needed at the army base (this was code, for we have an order to kill you) He had been warned by many different people, that the national gaurd was after him, the president at the time (Duarte) had sent out an order to arrest him because he had been meeting up with peasants and trying to encourage them in their fight for freedom. He had been acussed about using his podium as a priest to contact Cuban and Nicaraguan revolutionaries.(which wasnt true)
Later that day (March 24th, 1980) he was hidden in a truck and taken to Guatemala, were he crossed the border to Mexico and later went to Canada where he served 8 yrs.
Our meeting was short, but it was a testimony of what revolution and the spirit of revolution is. Here was this 83 year old man, that refuses to retire, and lives out daily his faith- a man that organizes meetings and conference for youth to talk about what is happening in their country and what can been done to better it.
as i was leaving he said to me " I am old, and my flame is burning out, but your revolutionary spirit doubles the one i had when i was your age, never forget that- let that flame burn!!"
amazing soo amazing!
we have decided to meet up again...once im in Santa Ana with the rest of the Canadians..im excited about what that will be like!
*From my journal- In El Salvador
a constant longing...
a constant longing for a place that was in my dreams, that was in the stories of my grandmother, a place that defined and gave birth to my roots..a longing for a place that i didnt actually know..but held in my heart.
walking out of the airport, a heat, a sun- a place that called out to me.
i longed for the mountains, for the smell of firewood burning and even for the favela/shanty towns that i saw... for the breeze, and the flowers, for the faces that looked familiar, and for the Hope that had transcended into this girl from Canada.
looking up at these big beautiful trees that had seen generations come and go (Nate you would love these trees :-) i hear music when i see them ;) )
mountains, clothed the interior, mountains that had Mothered the sons and daughters of El Salvador during the struggle and fight for freedom.
30+ years ago these mountains rocked and sustained, its children as they wrote, documents of culture, language, curroption, anguish, dissapearings and assasinations of fellow brothers- mountains that echoed Radio Venceremos (a radio that was banned in El Salvador during the 70-80´s because it was run by the revolutionaries and they aired ArchBishop Romero´s sermons.
I longed for this land that my heart knew, that i could finally put into words and actions what i had felt every time i spoke of El Salvador. Looking out the window..breathing in Truth, Hope was alive in this place and Love was what had cultivated it.
My constant longing was my reality, and a happy one at that.
I am Home
:-)
a constant longing for a place that was in my dreams, that was in the stories of my grandmother, a place that defined and gave birth to my roots..a longing for a place that i didnt actually know..but held in my heart.
walking out of the airport, a heat, a sun- a place that called out to me.
i longed for the mountains, for the smell of firewood burning and even for the favela/shanty towns that i saw... for the breeze, and the flowers, for the faces that looked familiar, and for the Hope that had transcended into this girl from Canada.
looking up at these big beautiful trees that had seen generations come and go (Nate you would love these trees :-) i hear music when i see them ;) )
mountains, clothed the interior, mountains that had Mothered the sons and daughters of El Salvador during the struggle and fight for freedom.
30+ years ago these mountains rocked and sustained, its children as they wrote, documents of culture, language, curroption, anguish, dissapearings and assasinations of fellow brothers- mountains that echoed Radio Venceremos (a radio that was banned in El Salvador during the 70-80´s because it was run by the revolutionaries and they aired ArchBishop Romero´s sermons.
I longed for this land that my heart knew, that i could finally put into words and actions what i had felt every time i spoke of El Salvador. Looking out the window..breathing in Truth, Hope was alive in this place and Love was what had cultivated it.
My constant longing was my reality, and a happy one at that.
I am Home
:-)
Greetings from El Salvador!!!
hey everyone!!!
im sorry i´ve been neglecting the blog, but i have had no time...so today will be my update day!! ive been writing a lot in my journal..so i´ll post some exerpts from my journal!!
Peace and Blessings!!
Ivania
im sorry i´ve been neglecting the blog, but i have had no time...so today will be my update day!! ive been writing a lot in my journal..so i´ll post some exerpts from my journal!!
Peace and Blessings!!
Ivania
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Joyfully walking to the Sun!!
Hey everyone!
Welcome!! i wanted to invite you into a space where i will be sharing my heart. I have recently been so overhwlemed by God's grace, i have this crazy smile that i cant wipe off my face..sometimes i catch myself looking into space,(ps i did not mean to rhyme haha) day dreaming...and then realizing that this is not just a dream- but such a beautiful gift! God has blessed me with an amazing life, one of joyfullness, lots of love, and Freedom, I often forget to thank Him for that. Thankyou for joining me on this journey, im excited to share it with all of you.
now i must confess i will not have a fancy layout or amazing pictures, or fancy words- just my heart.
This trip is going to be quiet exciting!! i did not expect it, on February 8th i realized that this is what God wanted me to do... and in saying yes i didnt realize i would be taken on such an amazing, crazy, ridulous, hands raised to the heavens, heart wide open type of journey.
im excited! ready to go! Life is so beautiful.
El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras! here i come to offer my heart! :)
love to you all!
ps athletes usually have a song that gets them pumped... my inspirational, encouraging, pump me up song is ' Life is beautiful'- by Vega 4 check it out, it will take you to another place, one of sunshine and beautiful big trees hehe
Life is beautiful, but it's complicated,
we barely make it.
We don't need to understand,
There are miracles, miracles.
It's amazing where I'm standing,
There's a lot that we can give.
This is ours just for a moment.
There's a lot that we can give.
Welcome!! i wanted to invite you into a space where i will be sharing my heart. I have recently been so overhwlemed by God's grace, i have this crazy smile that i cant wipe off my face..sometimes i catch myself looking into space,(ps i did not mean to rhyme haha) day dreaming...and then realizing that this is not just a dream- but such a beautiful gift! God has blessed me with an amazing life, one of joyfullness, lots of love, and Freedom, I often forget to thank Him for that. Thankyou for joining me on this journey, im excited to share it with all of you.
now i must confess i will not have a fancy layout or amazing pictures, or fancy words- just my heart.
This trip is going to be quiet exciting!! i did not expect it, on February 8th i realized that this is what God wanted me to do... and in saying yes i didnt realize i would be taken on such an amazing, crazy, ridulous, hands raised to the heavens, heart wide open type of journey.
im excited! ready to go! Life is so beautiful.
El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras! here i come to offer my heart! :)
love to you all!
ps athletes usually have a song that gets them pumped... my inspirational, encouraging, pump me up song is ' Life is beautiful'- by Vega 4 check it out, it will take you to another place, one of sunshine and beautiful big trees hehe
Life is beautiful, but it's complicated,
we barely make it.
We don't need to understand,
There are miracles, miracles.
It's amazing where I'm standing,
There's a lot that we can give.
This is ours just for a moment.
There's a lot that we can give.
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