September 1, 2017--Entender

Today we had morning classes, an evaluation of the program thus far, and then visited a church that serves the LGBTQ community

Curtis Gay

Great day – conjugating verbs, practicing pronunciation over and over.  Very helpful and makes sense.

Then discussion on a specific type of theology – thought provoking and required listening and thinking since it was mostly in Spanish.  Off to lunch and then to a non-profit that supports justice for people.  Following the Bishop Don Sergio Mendez who supported people’s rights and justice for all, they continue his work to help those suffering from injustice and persecution.  I had the meditation tonight – Karen Armstrong’s 12 Steps to a Compassionate Life.  As Gertrude Stein said, “Americanism was born in me, and I believe that one person is as good as another”, not All Men Are Created Equal.  All had tacos listening to the fiesta music – then a taxi home and it’s pouring like the devil. 

Pat Johnson

Mi desayuno (breakfast)!

Rev. Jim and Joanie Calhoun

Lluvia (the rain) is coming down--buenas noches--its nueve y media (9:30pm). All day blessings have been coming down--muchas gracias Jesuscristo. Roman is an excellent teacher--challenging but very competento. We've eat all day long (mucho obeseo).

Climaxing the day was a visit to the organization keeping alive the memory and ministry of Don Sergio Mendez Arceo. With consistent courage and deep commitment this great Christian visionary and activist challenged the status quo increasingly as he identified more and more with the poor, powerless, and disenfranchised common people. The accomplishments of Don Sergio have been continued until this day by those who have caught his magnificent understanding of realities expressed in practical politics and economics--certainly not capitalism, not even socialism or communism.

His vision was of the Kingdom of God among us--a new Eden on earth--where love, justice, compassion and equality prevail--a vision we all can share. What a day! Muchas gracias, Jesuscristo!

Cynthia, Jim, Joanie and Francisco listening to the 

Bishop

Rev. Melinda Baber

I have no words... for today. In the presence of the Christ, i can only weep. ... Gracias. Gracias.

Curtis Gay

Kind of a sad day for me.  First we had our last day with our teacher whom we liked very much.  Gave him a page with our thank you’s and little drawings of faces matching us.  He liked it very much and we will miss him.

We gave an evaluation to Francisco and Mario today about our experience this first week.  I’d say it was 95% positive – at least. We’ve become a little family.

This evening we went to a church centering around the support of the LGBT community.  Their bishop came down and told us stories about how things came about and the support they receive (or don’t).  We listened as 20-year olds (and one mother) told about how much this haven means to them.  How important the support of a family is to them; critical really.  I felt so sad because I remembered when I played the organ for the first gay church in Denver (at Bethany, even pre-MCC) how the stories were almost verbatim the same.  I just thought, my god, haven’t we gone anywhere – haven’t we accomplished anything?  I’m so happy for their little community – and still wonder – how safe is anyone – black, gay, straight, senior, jr. high student . . . anyone.  Jim gave a wonderful speech on how while the causes (race, women, religion, etc) are meant to help the disenfranchised, it can’t actually happen unless the opposite side grows and benefits as well.  Good speech Jim!!!   Good bye  Roman’ – we’ll miss you!

Robin Ridenour

Today I had devotions for the group and I have been thinking about my favorite passage, Micah 6 and I saw this translation:

The prophets spoke in defense of the vulnerable and the weak--the poor, widows, orphans, homeless, and the people who didn't have their own land. Again and again they called the people to live out these laws, including famously: "No, the Lord has told us what is good. What God requires of us is this: todo what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God."

We visited the Human Rights organization that was inspired by Bishop Don Sergio Mendez Arceo yesterday. I was convicted by their dedication to serve those who have been mistreated by the government and by these words of Don Sergio:

"I have conscience, I am responsible for the common good, I cannot excuse myself before the countless abuses in the administration of justice, abuses that become more noticeable when it comes to the weak and marginalized, economically, socially or politically. 

"The truth is that all events, instead of turning me back, encouraged me in my search for the Kingdom of God."

May we all continue to work for justice for all people and bring the Kingdom of God to earth.

Rev. Dr. Youngsook Kang

Each day my appreciation for this immersion experience gets deeper. I am understanding my
vision of God’s kin-dom in a much clearer way while here. I am understanding Bishop Karen’s vision of living into Beloved Community more clearly. This week I realize how my passion for
justice is deeply embedded in my soul.  I am being newly awakened to the pedagogy of the
oppressed.  

Youngsook and Bishop Karen

Our visit to Iglesia Catolica del Rio de la Plata this evening, who works with the LGBTQ community in Cuernavaca, was deeply moving. Their stories of struggle are not any different from the ones that we hear in the United States or other countries.

There is this teaching by Paul Freire that I keep coming back to: “I can’t change the world until I
change myself first.” Change starts with me.

Bishop Karen Oliveto

We sang songs tonight, in a house-turned church-turned truly sanctuary.

We visited Iglesia Catolica del Rio de la Plata, which serves the LGBTQ community. The bishop of the church spoke of people dying of AIDS with no one to care for them, so he moved in beds and cared for them as they were dying. Young people spoke of how this place has provided both a home and family when their families of origin kicked them out of the house and disowned them. One mother said she was very happy to have a church where she and her son could attend, where he could be who he is without shame. Now she is everyone's Mama, subbing for all those mothers and fathers who cannot or will not embrace their LGBTQ children.

We sang songs tonight, we who speak English singing a song, and then those who speak Spanish

singing a song. We might not know the words to one another's songs, but the spirituality expressed in the singing moved us deeply.

We sang songs tonight...finally finding a song we all knew: We are Marching in the Light of God. We sang it not in Spanish, not in English, but in Zulu, our voices finding common ground, which was always there before through our common faith in Jesus Christ, rising up to the rafter, joyous, passionate, filled with love and filled with faith.

Kim and Melinda

Rebecca and Jim

Los dos Obisp@s