Learning the Ten Commandments

Today I must have repeated each of the commadments 1-7 about 20 times each, or more. With four classes all learning the ten commandments, I literally sound like a broken record. I have them repeat after me "primer mandamiento" ... "primer mandamiento"... "Amaras a Dios sobre todas las cosas" ... "Amaras a Dios sobre todas las cosas" and do this about 5 times for each commandment. Normal voice, whisper, loud voice, high voice etc... You'd think the kids would get bored, but they actually don't. I have noticed that they are SO much more easily entertained than US children. Probably this is because they really don't have very many toys and don't know very many games.

At the end of five repetitions, a lot of kids can say the commandment to you, but more than a few can't. This used to annoy me a GREAT deal...(why can't you just get it?!?! After five times of saying it out loud??) but really I've gotten over it. These kids really aren't accustomed to paying attention, to disciplining the mind. Many of their parents would be incapable of helping them to study, or not at home enough to have time. I guess I've received the grace of greater patience here :-) Hopefully these kids also get to receive a grace - the light of the Truth enlightening the darkness in their lives.

Words of Wisdom

Hay cosas que se ven... y cosas que no se ven, pero se puede ver. Hay que ver lo que el mundo no ve, no con los ojos pero con el corazon. Para llegar al cielo, hay que pasar trabajo. El cielo - que glorioso - no se ve...pero se ve el dolor, el sufrimiento, el trabajo. La vida en la tierra es solo un ratico, un ratico viendo la felicidad eterna. Siempre vea lo que no se ve.

Some of our bishops counsels at one of the two Confirmation Masses I went to. For me were quite moving. Sorry for not translating, but its just better in Spanish.

A snapshot of life in Banica...

Yesterday I was proposed to twice (wonderful natural romanticism of Dominicans :) In the evening Tom and I prepared dinner for the bishop (enchiladas and a birthday cake). This afternoon I had a close-call/scare driving to one of my classes in the campos and had to be pulled out by a truck, then arrived to meet my class. I asked them who Jesus was and they said "a boy." Then I asked them how he was different from them who are also boys and girls. They said "he was white." So we started from scratch. Now I am off to teach the violinists about how to read music. Please pray for me!

What does Sam actually do in Banica?

Some of my students and the teachers in Sabana Cruz after I gave "final exams." Ten kids from this community will receive Confirmation. Thanks be to God!

Reviewing the mysteries of the rosary with the Teresitas.

Happy Epiphany!

It's been a while since I've posted because I've been busy! My parents came to visit Banica and see what it's all about here...and then we took a short vacation at the beach. If I can get them soon, I will post some pictures of me working with the choir, with teresitas (the girls group I lead) and with some of my students who will be confirmed in a week or two. I realize that I don't have a lot of "at work" pictures mostly because when I am working I can't take pictures!!

Here is one of me with a family I visit quite frequently (with some of the neighbor's kids too). Almost all the kids go to daily Mass and they are absolutely delightful.