August 14th, 2004

Delegates: Kneeling- Briana Connors, Mindy Ahler-Olmstead. Back Row(L-R)- Joel Papa, Ann Maczuga, Jenny Linane, Michael Branigan, Katharine Malaga, Ross Starkson.

This was our last full day in Tierra Nueva II and was spent with our host families. Some rested, others went to the market and then home to make (or attempt) tortillas for the "almuerzo" (lunch). Some played "futbol"(soccer). The Olympics were being shown and reported widely here and some of us followed along with the progress of the Guatemalans, particularly the young female cyclist Lola.

We returned to San Marcos Evangelista at 3 (or so) for our last Sister Parish meeting. All reported and compared the delicious food we had just been served by our families: fish, "arroz con pollo," beans, rice, fried or baked chayote, sweet breads, and coffee or tea. We then met to discuss the points we missed at the first meeting: candle sales, scholarships, the next delegation to SJA.

As night fell, we were treated to a "fogata" (bonfire) and presentations of Guatemalan music and dances. "Santa Juana de Arco" (SJA) was written out on the ground with rose petals surrounded by votive candles. Many of the youth have dressed in "traje" (indigenous clothing) and danced to marimba music. They even had all of us dance to a famous song "Las lunas de Quetzaltenango" in honor of a fifth wedding anniversary for one of the SJA couples. This was ended with "cohetes", the inevitable fireworks! The youth had prepared this "despedida" with great care and love, both for us and for their country, and it was, as always, heart rendering.

SJA also had an "intervencion" (presentation) to share with them. We sang "The God of all Nations" the song so well known to all SJA parishioners, as sung to us by Kathy Kelly when she spoke to us about her time in Iraq during the U.S. invasion. We also included "Last night I had the strangest dream..." Both were received enthusiastically and they asked us for the words and guitar chords so that they can play them there. Words of conflict and peace connected deeply, for no matter how celebratory the mood, war and its violent aftermath are always just below, if not on, the surface here.

But there is always humor and a good time. Two of our delegates who are very talented at mimicking animal sounds and movements, had everyone rolling in laughter as they had the Guatemalans call out the names of animals they portrayed: horse, duck, dog, and the funniest of all, chicken.

Next came the painful, tearful, and long good byes between those who would not see us again. (Fortunately, we knew we would see many again at Mass at 6:30 am the next day and it was only "hasta manana" until tomorrow.

Peace,
The Delegation from Sister Parish