Friday in Bogota: We came as strangers, we leave as friends

From Maria Fenn

Today was our last day in the neighborhood of San Rafael.  I am going to try and reflect on why I feel that this community is an extension of the community at Grace. 

As you have already heard the food they prepared for us was delicious, but the smiles it was served with were worth more. The caring attention that was paid to try to learn what each of us liked or disliked was heartwarming. Padre Noah likes “mucho café”, Molly is a vegetarian, Ruth Ann, Brenda, and Emily like smaller portions, Maria is a diabetic.

Each day we were greeted off the van at the door with rounds of hugs and handshakes and wonderful greetings of “Buenos Dias”. More than the words were the smiles of genuine happiness that we had arrived for another day.

We attended three services at Divine Savior. Most of the service was in Spanish and I understood very little of it. But, I understood when it was time to share the peace.  Everyone walked around and shared signs of the peace. More than the greetings  were the huge smiles that they were given with.

At the end of very day we were again given a snack before we departed for the day. Talk around the tables was about what was accomplished and what still needed to be done. But always there was thanks for what had been completed that day. More than the grateful words were the smiles worn on the faces of those offering their thanks.

Our last day in San Rafael.  The morning rush was over, and we were winding down the projects.  The afternoon had begun and the strain of having to say good bye was showing on a lot of those smiling faces.  Chairs were arranged in the large salon and food was brought in. One by one we gathered in this space where we had gathered to meet just six short days ago. Padre Jose began the gathering with a game of pass the stuffed animal (a game all could understand) and it kind of broke the tension that had been gathering.  

Then came the time for both sides to express their thanks for this experience.  Jose, Noah and Eva all spoke very eloquently as the first of the tears started to flow. Individual people were then invited to share their experience of the week.  Gifts were exchanged and then we danced and ate and had a visit with the Bishop. As the evening wound down people started to say good bye to each other.  Contact information was shared and photos were taken.  Hugs and handshakes abounded along with plenty of tears. But through the tears were the smiles. Smiles of deep gratitude for having been given the chance to get to know one another  in this shared mission of love and kindness.

Bogota Mission Trip Blog – Friday/Viernes, Feb 21, 2014

Offered with thanksgiving by Kathryn Benjamin

Today we completed our assorted projects at the Parroquia El Divino Salvador – Church of the Divine Savior.  The physical and tangible ones included installing a washing machine (carried down many, many uneven tile stairs), and a stove top; repairing, replacing and upgrading wiring and lighting throughout the building; fixing and replacing parts of the water filtration system in the kitchen; painting dressers; and plenty of window washing, dusting, and sweeping, along with playing with the children every afternoon.  The intangible ones included coming together as a worship community, building friendships, and communicating across language barriers (our hosts were very patient with our varying degrees of Spanish skills). 

Sharing the commonality of our order of worship reminded me of attending church with my grandmother when I was a young adult: I had “taken a break” from regular worship in my 20s, and yet every time I visited my grandmother and went to church with her, I immediately felt “at home” – it is a gift of our Book of Common Prayer, and one which we all – Grace Church missioners and the congregation at Divine Savior – experienced and appreciated this week.  And, much as we say at the end of our Sunday worship service, “The worship is ended, the service begins!” so, too, the work of this mission trip has only just begun.

I invite you, the readers, to continue to engage us in conversation about our experience, what it means to be “on mission” – which is a unique and evolving experience for each of us.

I will end with a poem/reflection on an image that made a strong impression on me:

Why is there razor wire

on the wall of the church yard?

It coils there,

in stark contrast

to the silent and magnificent beauty

of the mountains, not so far away,

and the welcoming church family

within.

Is there razor wire

around my heart?

Or is it only barbed wire?

Or a thorn bush,

disguised with roses?

How tender is my heart,

Mi Corazon,

that it needs such a deadly defense?

When will the razor wire come down?