I may be a dreamer,
but I believe in faith
Only in the darkness can you see the stars ablaze
In my darkest hour I shall keep my strength and say
"Go and let your fire live"
- Trevor Hall 's song Many Roads
Well once again, the elusiveness of time has passed me by and its been two months since my last update. lo siento.
Whats happened in my life since then?
Well year one as a JV has come to an end. I am officially in my second year. (In Belize we end up serving for 22 or 23 months rather than 24) So according to the Calendar and by default... Pat and Emily my second year roommates moved out. So I am the only JV in PG as of now. This was a time I expected to be a rough transition. But reality frequently surpasses our expectations. Yes, it was sad to see Pat and Emily go. But I had a great surprise to help deal with the transition.
One of my closest friends came at exactly that time. In typical G style she bought her ticket last minute and it was wonderful to have her here. For me this year, there has been a bit of anxiety concerning friendships and relationships from before I left. People change and move in different directions so there is a worry that one's former relationship will grow stagnate or just fall off completely. G and I were so pleased to pick up where we left off 11 months ago. With all the loud, embarrassing outrageousness we are quite used to.
It was really great to share my life and work and Belizean friends with someone I am close with from home. That is something I have struggled with since being here, how does one relate this experience to everyone back home who doesn't have a clue what I am talking about. Well frankly you can't expect anyone to understand. Normally, the outlet for this frustration would be Community. But seeing as my community is not in the house with me at the moment it was really wonderful to share it with someone from home.
(A side note about our relationship: So G and I are quite close I met her and her man, Brian, at JCU. So her whole visit we called each other "cousin" to clear up any would-be issues. And in fact, this is the perfect way to describe our relationship. *Momma G and Dr. Larr- are you opposed to me calling you Aunt and Uncle? I'm going to take that for a test drive when I get home, just so you know.)
I had warned G before she came that hurricane season is underway and she might be sitting in my shabby shack of a home for the 2 weeks she was here. But luckily we had amazing weather! My work has slowed down (retreats follow the academic calendar) so I had plenty of time to show her my life. We hung out with my friends, drank the local beer. Visited I think a total of 5 waterfalls. Had a near death experience in a cave. Went kayaking through the peaceful mangrove swamps. We stayed with the wonderful Salam Family for a night to experience what Maya village life is like. G was taught how to make corn tortillas, a prerequisite to become a suitable wife in Maya culture. (Brian, sorry pal according to Maya customs you picked a sorry excuse for a mate haha). We went on an illegal border crossing adventure to Guatemala. And to top off her visit we went snorkeling out in the Barrier Reef off the coast. Spending the day on a sailboat enjoy the weather, the company of our international snorkeling friends, feeding nurse sharks, swimming with fish and a manatee (that I thought has going to eat me). It was really quite amazing.
But outside of sight seeing and hanging out it was a really great time for deeper discussion concerning the reality of Belizeans. The ideas of oppression, liberation, simple living, intentionality, poverty, charity vs. justice, the role of the Church, and solidarity with the poor were all subjects that carried a lot of weight in our time together. The reality of underprivileged Chicago primary school students that G teaches and the students I work with had quite a bit of comparisons. It was also interesting talking with one of my best friends who is about to start the next chapter of her life with the man that she loves about her joys and concerns. Especially someone in such a vastly different place than I. Different yet so similar. (Don't worry mom I'm not engaged to any lovely Belizean ladies.... yet :) G will be going into her second year as a Chicago Teacher Fellow working in one of the roughest areas in Chi-town. Both of us having a much better handle on the realities and uncertainties that are involved in our once scary service placements. Both craving deeper connections with the people we work with and for etc. Both trying to grapple with the realities of injustice abroad and more disturbing, domestically.
But that is the beauty of authentic friendship having a space to share and discuss. Also a space to be up all night scared in a Maya village with no electricity thinking the 30 rats near your bunk bed are going to attack! Or to giggle at the unfortunate British girl who was violently ill during the 7 hour snorkeling trip. (we felt bad but it was also comical, like watching someone trip in public)
After seeing G off my good friend and predecessor Bobby joined me on Caye Caulker for two more nights. Bobby had my job before I did with JVI. So it was great to catch up with him for a bit.
Now I am back to work in an odd limbo between years and communities. Jeremy, Allison and Kathleen (the new kids) arrive August 1st. I am really looking forward to the routine that comes with a full community again, and to meet, hang out and share with the new arrivals.
Next week I move to Barranco, a small village on the Sea, to facilitate a football (soccer) camp there. Which should end up being hilariously embarrassing for my lanky self. (My soccer career ended in the 4th grade at Holy Cross Elementary School.) But its all about the experience right?
Or so that's what I keep telling myself.
Happy July! Enjoy the lazy hazy lemonade sipping beauty of summer.
Matty
