Cañon de Colca y Atracciones

This entry has had a long time in coming so I may have lost some thoughts along the way, but here is the clearest view I can give you of the past week or so here in Arequipa. Colca Canyon is quite possibly the most peaceful place I have ever been, such majesty in such profound silence that permeates even the soul if you stop long enough to let it. Sure we had our hike, our guide Carlos who by the way is an incredible individual and has inspired me to become a guide in the future, our group, sightseeing, casualties - poor Emily who had to saw her cast off to be able to come...but none of it is satisfying. I am learning that what I love is truly the country and the people and not the tourism or the fact that I am away from home. I was away in Ames, but never felt such peace in my soul. While sitting on a roca of some size and contemplating life in general, analizing and breaking down my possibilities, I spotted a condor soaring far below me in the canyon and I felt a pang of jealousy at his ability to survive and thrive so easily with skills he has been given and is sure about. For us, it is all such a waiting and guessing game sometimes, frustrating.

Yet I have no doubt that God is with us throughout this journey. Though the Catholic Church down here is tainted by the haunting memories of colonial abuses, I have been able to find much comfort there. The Iglesia de los Capuchinos has a beautiful adoration chapel and mass every day at 6:30am, I could not ask for more. My life here is formed around things that are important to me. There is a group of kids that plays ¨vóley¨everyday, and with my height I am quite a force on the court as well. All these have helped me to draw closer to my own self-realization, and as it draws nearer I recognize more and more that my development will never cease, but as I become more comfortable in my own skin and with where my life is leading I can reach out to others so much more. And I understand now that this is what I truly love. I have helped so many down here through their struggles, and have even had a fruitful conversation with a former Catholic friend of mine. I thank God that we have it the way we do, with a small community of American students within which we can support and learn from one another, all the while experiencing a brand new culture which sits better with some more than others.

Sure I could tell you all about the things I have seen, the condors flying merely 2m above us, the beautiful city of Cabanaconde where there did not seem to be a care in the world beyond being able to provide enough to live, yet these would not well describe the more important development happening within all of us here. For that I say what I do. Poverty, it is relative. From my point of view there is more poverty in the US, maybe not so much materially, but rarely have I seen such a joyful community of people at home as I see everyday here in Alto Cayma where not so long ago, food and water were daily concerns. My friend Michelle made the comment that Maslow´s hierarchy of needs does not account for the fact that the people here, of whom many still seek the lowest needs of the hierarchy are happier than people in the US who have reached a point from which they should be reaching self-actualization. Yet who has actualized more? We are so fortunate where we live. But when we reach that highest point, we seem to create more problems, as if we need them. Yes, we are human and problems will arise no matter what, but where should we go from that highest point? This is the question that has plagued me for so long, and I am living it now daily. Learning how to answer it.

It is interesting however how all of this plays along with interpersonal relationships. How is it that we can look at things logically and understand that the situation could never work out, and yet we cling to it as to something to which we feel entitled. Almost alwas these attractions between us call on us to change our lives, make sacrifices, learn, and most definitely live out the true meaning of love. Yet why, when we can seem to have everything else figured out, do these situations hit us and leave us unsure of everything we have determined. Maybe I am too much of a romantic, all I know is that there are few feelings, few accomplishments in life that compare with the cultivation and living out of a solid and loving relationship between two persons who trust and share with one another. We are drawn to this, seemingly more powerfully than anything else that can compel our lives. Maybe this is why so many charge in blind and end up hurt and alone in the end. What a sacrifice to become a priest, and yet what peace.

New sights, new place, different values, new hopes and dreams, but we are called wherever we go. What will be my answer, I do not yet know. What will be yours?

Amigos

Today we ventured into the city within a city called El Convento de Santa Catalina. It didn´t take long to determine that St. Catalina is equivalent to St. Catherine of Siena, the convent covers approximately 2 hectares (1 hectar approx = 2.5 acres) right within the city of Arequipa. A beautiful place with all the streets named for Spanish cities, complete with a mirador (lookout) from which we could see the whole city, a comedor (cafeteria), and various celdas where the nuns used to spend their time. Today there is a community of approximately 25 nuns, whereas at its height 400 people lived within, leaving very infrequently. Over the past week, we began our work at Alto Cayma, shoveling cement for a techamiento or roofing of a medical clinic, Father Alex runs it with an incredible knowledge of so many different things. He is financier, engineer, spiritual father, director, as well as a priest. Inspiring... From Malta, where there is an incredible mix of cultures and hence a language all its own, a place I hope to visit someday. I have found a way to escape the endless lines of taxis who charge a significant amount of money to ride either alone or with people you know, to instead have the adventure of traveling in a makeshift bus, seemingly a family van put to the use of transporting as many people as will fit. It is a beautiful thing, I have met women of strong opinions against the US, schoolchildren of no more than 12 years, as well as young, aspiring musicians.

Last night, I met some older Peruanos who are also musicians. One of them reminds me of Nathan Fischer in that he has taken trips across Peru with just his guitar and the clothes on his back to share the music that flows straight from his soul. The people feed him and he sleeps wherever he finds a comfortable piece of ground. Yet again, another inspiration for living life to the fullest. What need have we singles of careers, as long as we pay the bills, we have the freedom to live our lives to the fullest. Life here is beautiful in that way. There was a beautiful contrast last night between the gringos and everyone else in the bar, I had to laugh!!! A quick note too, aparently my beard makes me look older as an older gentleman stopped me to introduce me to his friend. They seemed like a nice group of folks so I sat down and for the next few minutes had an audience, whose attention only faltered when I revealed my age!!! In no way did that end the conversation however, a great group of folks that I could definitely have spent more time with if I could have heard myself think.

Today we watch the mundial in the afternoon, Argentina plays Costa de Marfil (Ivory Coast) with my family here. Afterward with any luck we´ll go and get some more typical Peruvian clothes so I don´t stick out so much. Then a concert where I hope to be one of the only americans where my friends from last night will play. Music is so beautiful, and I must say I appreciate it so much more after having come here. The guitar guy whose name is Aldo has even offered to give me lessons as he plays almost any instrument I can think of. Including of course several traditional ones!!! I can´t wait to give you more updates. In the meantime, I miss you all, but know that I am having the time of my life. After this, I don´t know what I will do, but I can´t wait to find out!!! God bless you all!

Ok, so I have to ask the question, why do so many of us spend our lives seeking a person that will somehow fill all our needs, love us without fail, and will be perfect in every way that we can marry them and then spend the rest of our lives in endless bliss? That person does not exist, what each of us ultimately desires in the very depths of our souls is God. He is the only one that can fill that need within us, and yet even for those of us who are not involved in a relationship, we often speak of the future person we will find. It is necessary to move beyond this, and for those of you that have, I give you my unending praise. The road of life is difficult, and truly it is easier to endure with a husband or wife by our side, yet I think it is fruitless to actively seek this. The best relationship I have ever been involved in, and some of the best friendships I have, sprung from unexpected moments. There is only need for us to seek the Lord every day in whatever we do, and even though His work may be more easily recognized in some endeavors rather than others, we must persevere, not looking to gain anything for ourselves, but instead to bring further glory to our Creator. We should not squelch our dreams, or change our plans on another person´s account unless we see Christ without fail in what the person does everyday. We do fail, but I believe the most successful relationships spring from those who fight similar fights with sin, and thus can not only share in the moments of happiness, but also in those of difficulty. For truly, as my linear algebra teacher told me once, that which challenges us brings us ever more closely together. What would the world be like if everyone recognized the challenge as the seeking of Christ?

So much to say!!!

I am at an impasse to whether to describe to you what has happened inside of me these past couple of weeks, since I have not had the time to give you an earnest insight into that, or to describe the physical happenings that have been incredible. I suppose the solution is to give a little of both!!! So today I saw a plane flying over Arequipa, and it occurred to me that I have not seen too many of those, and thus that people do not travel all that much from here as compared to the number of planes we view departing from Chicago, Des Moines, and Atlanta where I was lucky enough to spend some time and of which there is one photo posted on my Yahoo account. It is quite poor here, with about 20% of the people having the wealth, and the rest living in near poverty. Thus our service, which starts tomorrow. Most of us will work in Alto Cayma, a place that began as a ¨tent community¨if I can use that terminology. Essentially a whole group of poorer people got together to pool what little money they had to form a self subsisting community consisting of agriculture, clothes production, and the construction of shelters. A Catholic priest by the name of Fr. Alex has since then taken the community under his wing and raising money in the US has successfully provided jobs for many of the people who live there through building a community Church complete with guest rooms for international volunteers, one of which is from Oregon, while others have come from North Carolina. I will likely work in construction of one of the various buildings in progress. One of these is a medical center, another a kitchen that provides for nearly 400 people daily. Two meals a day!!! It all somewhat intimidates me, but on another level this is what I have lived for. To help build community, and I cannot describe to you the satisfaction at having accomplished something as tangible as a tile floor, and I expect as a complete building!!! I know some of you are laughing, but it is true!

What transpired over the weekend. Well for one Alán García won the national elections over the nationalist Ollanta Humala. It was a sad day for Perú though as both candidates have multiple character and political flaws, every single Peruvian I spoke with described how they had to choose between two bad candidates. Everyone has to return to their city of origin to vote, and voting is obligatory. If you do not, you cannot cash checks or complete various other transactions, so everyone goes to receive the purple stain on their middle finger from the required fingerprinting that takes place. With so many travelers, we decided to hang around Arequipa, observing all the action surrounding the elections, and taking a tour on Saturday morning through the campiña or countryside surrounding the city. I tried to put up my pics, however not all of them would fit. I´ll find a way and update you later. A broad overview: horseriding was by far the most fun which we did at a Peruvian vacation spot called Molino de Sabandía, then we moved on to view the andenes or steppes of the farming Incan and pre-Incan tribes. Beautiful countryside, all of which we later viewed from the Mirador de Yanahuara, a tower very similar to the one situated over the Illinois and Iowa countryside at Elizabeth, IL. Our guide by the name of Ildora was wonderful, and for only $20USD a person, we had quite possibly the best tour of the trip thus far!!! In the future we hope to travel to Puno which lies on the banks of Lake Titicaca, the highest lake in the world as well as in the top three for both depth and surface area!!! Also, we hope to get to Arica, Chile just across the border from Tacna, Chile, photos of all of which will be soon to come!! Take care you all wherever you would be, let me know what you´re all up to!!!

All my best from Latinoamérica,
Tim

Too Many Journals

So I just realized that I am trying to keep up with three different journals, slightly challenging I know and thus info is getting put down, but some lost along the way as I cannot remember what I put where. I´m working on getting adjusted though, and I believe that in about two weeks I will be as adjusted as I am going to be. My stomach is taking the longest, and since health affects everything else it has taken some time to get accustomed to everything. But it will come in time and in no way has it stopped any one of us from making the most of our experience. Tomorrow we explore the Arequipan countryside as the elections take place here in Perú. It should be an interesting day. Over the past week we have gotten used to our classes, one on the culture and history of Peru and the other on local archaeology. On that point, Juanita was found right here near the city in one of the volcanoes. She was a sacrifice meant to appease the gods of the hills and mountains which were called Apus. She is one of the oldest, most well-preserved humans ever to be found in such good condition. We will probably see her in one of the museums this week. After the elections tomorrow. We will practice one of the greatest traditions here in Peru, la descansa or rest. I must say too, the Cathedrals and churches here are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen, and make me jealous that I could not have been a peer minister in one of them!!! More to come soon! I hope all is well with yall, I´ll continue praying for you and hope that you are enjoying Latin America as much as I through what I say!!!

God bless and keep!
Tim