When I was in Puerto Quito last month, I got to spend some time with the community in the project for people with disabilities. One of the locations is a good distance from the town center, about a twenty minute drive out into the country, on a farm residence. I was spending the afternoon there…
I saw a facebook post the other day from a friend. It basically said, “I just realized that only a few days into Lent, I’ve broken more than two of the sacrifices I had planned on. I’m remembering again that the journey is about always getting back up.” That’s the post of someone becoming humble.…
Last August, I was looking to go back to Boston, I needed a place to stay. I had spent some time here in Ecuador helping to raise some money so that people here who had lost their homes in landslides could start over an have a home to live in. The next step was to…
When I first came to this area of Ecuador about 4 or 5 years ago, I came at the time of the fiestas. I would get taken around by the people I was with to the different activities, the sports, the election of the queen, a bunch of things. One of those activities was the…
One of the great parts about being here in Ecuador in the rural areas is the availability of rivers to swim in. There are a lot of rivers here that are right from the mountains, with crystal clear waters. It doesn’t take long to be able to find a place to get into the river…
Friends, please remember Fr Jim Czerwinski, OFM in your prayers, a friar who passed yesterday unexpectedly in Boston. He was found in his bed in the morning at St Anthony Shrine in Boston. It was a surprise to all. He was a good friend to many and he really gave himself to those who are…
The other day here just before Christmas, I was invited to a Christmas party for the 5 and 6 year olds in the school. The mothers all brought food and people brought some gifts for the kids. As the kids were arriving, the parents were preparing the food snacks to put on a big table…
Merry Christmas! Friends, if you find yourself complaining that Christmas has lost Christ and become too commercialized and materialistic, don’t worry. Go to your own closets, your attic, your basement, your bank accounts, your homes. Look at all you’ve got yourself, and give away everything that’s more than you need to those who don’t have.…
A few months ago, I was walking with a friend and she was telling me about her problems in math. She is studying to get an advanced degree and has to take a dreaded calculus class. “I really need help.” “Well, I was a math tutor for years, if you want I can give you…
When my friends started getting married some time ago, it was like popcorn popping. First a few couples popped, then a whole wave of marriages came along, and then a few here and there came about. Now, going to a wedding is a great experience, you get to see a real, live, heartfelt profession of…
A month or so ago, I was meandering through facebook, and I saw a post by an old friend (OK, I think at my age, it might be better to start using “friend of old” here) about Pope Francis. Now, I have facebook friends from very different perspectives. I have facebook friends from my youth…
Originally posted on Barriers to Bridges:
Volaré – no it’s not the car from the 70’s (I guess it was a small car???) It means, I’m flying this Thursday to return to Ecuador, to visit Chontal, Puerto Quito, Quito, Mindo, hopefully Santo Domingo and Quevedo, and also hoping to make a visit to the lay…
