A room with a view... my nearest neighbour
The old with the new...
from the front...
Oblique view...progressing nicely...this week we hope to buy roofing materials and roof her. When she is roofed will let you know...
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
Christmas can be a wonderfully joyful time, but for many it can be difficult and even painful time. We pray that this Christmas may be more of the former for you, an abundance of peace and joy, and we ask you to remember those for whom this Christmas will be more of the latter, an impoverished and lonely moment. Whichever it is may the love of the Child reign in all of our hearts and bring us to an understanding of what really matters in life.
The road to nowhere...delivering a parcel of food to an impoverished family...We spent most of Christmas Day delivering food parcels to the most needful families. It is a Christmas Day with a difference but one that certainly helps you understand the true meaning of this often difficult time of year...
This lady is happy with her parcel of food...it will make a little difference.
This family are more than happy with their hamper, they moved here during the year and are still building their house...
On Christmas Day, we had an entire family baptized in the Parish of San Bernebé, Apostol. It was a very joyous occasion. The suits are usually bought by the Godparents who are generally chosen because they have the means to do so. Although the rains have started, we are as of Monday, not yet flooded, so no canoes. Watch this space...
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Does anyone remember the Dixie Chicks, the ones we bought two months ago, well here they are. Within days of Christmas, they're having nervous breakdowns all over the place. Just don't make chickens as they used to...
Jake, Jake, are you there. We were lifelong friends, we were through thick (maize) and thin (feed-stuff) together and he ups and leaves without even a goodbye.
A view of the work beginning just this week on the new chapel, centre in Hermano Gregorio. It has been a long struggle legalizing the property but finally it is ready to go. The foundation is in and the steel that you see is for the pillars.
A view of the chapel it will replace. It is falling down and yet a hive of activity with catequesis, various parish meetings and Mass on Saturday.
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Sunset in the mountains of Ecuador
God in there somewhere.
A view of the famous "Salt Lake", the world's largest.
An active volcano on the Argentine border.
With the "Green Lake" in the foreground.
A typical home of the indigenous communities
This is the home of Carmen Saeteros. She has just turned ninty (she thinks). Very often they have difficulty remembering their date of birth. Her very simple house is typical of the indigenous community and made from clay and stray blocks (bloques de adobe) with the luxurious models having tin roofs, (many with stray). These homes are bitterly cold for a man from Belmullet used to the bit hearth full of good black turf. But these are a tougher people. Carmen sleeps on the floor on a large bag filled with animal coat. Inside it is just one room with a table at one end and her bag (bed) at the other. She survives on milk and eggs (dairy products in large quantities being bad and all that jazz, she must have missed that health supplement) With no shoes and no socks, the earthen floor can be well... Recently we have decided to "renovate" her local run-down chapel at a cost or between $2000-2500. She said it was the best New Year present she could have received. She (as the elder stateswoman), and the rest of the community of Rumiurco are very proud of their Christian Catholic faith. Say one for her, she is quite ill at this moment.
Our New Church at Cimientos
Ciemientos is a community in the wilds of the mountains of Ecuador, untouched until recently by the "outside" world. It is a community constituted entirely of indigenous peoples. They speak Kichwa and are intensely uncomfortable speaking in Spanish (as am I, so at least we have that in common). Thanks to the support of the people of my native Erris, Co Mayo, this chapel is nearing completion. Unfortunately because of the incredible effects of the "La Nina" and associated weather patterns, the inauguration will take place in the summer, probably September. But it is a beautiful chapel, built on the foundation of an old Inca structure. (Ciemientos means foundation) They do not rue the loss of the Inca relic because they are decendents of the Canari people who were subjugated by the Inca Empire in the thirteenth century. One back as it were, if not a little too late.
Here we are above the clouds at over 2800metres
