Today we began to immerse ourselves in liberation theology. After our regular class, we had a lecture followed by a visit to a human rights organization in Cuernavaca. Rev. Brad Walston Irregular verbs; if you’ve ever taken a language – including English – you know that these words are the words that confuse most students. This was a major part of today’s Spanish class. These are the verbs that we learn growing up by simply using and hearing them over and over. As adults learning a second language, the challenge now is memorizing them; and then using them and hearing them over and over.  Today, I walked about a mile to school with my backpack, and a it’s all downhill. Coming home I took the bus -- by myself! It wasn’t nearly as scary as I thought it might be. I feel like it’ back-to–school for me as well as all the kiddos at home! This afternoon we took an excursion to the small traditional town of Tepoztlan (yes, every letter is pronounced). A beautiful old town, i...

Pao After morning language classes, the team went by public bus to Tepoztlan, a traditional town in Morelos State. We visited a former Dominican convent, the town's church, and watched young and old members of the town create murals from seeds for the big upcoming fiesta. Rev. Kim James Kim, Denise, and Brad strike a pose! Transportation is interesting here. I've always heard the stereotypes that we from the US are perceived as overly assertive and aggressive, and that Mexicans are more laid back.  But there's nothing laid back about the way they drive.  Pedestrians have to be aggressive also, so they can get through a crowd or cross a street.  If you are too gentle, you'll never get where you're going.  It's a wonder that pedestrians aren't killed more often, and drivers and passengers also.  It seems that the people here have to take huge risks just to go to school or work.  And, of course, they have no choice but face those risks because th...

Today the team began our first day of lessons and orientation to Mexico and Cuernavaca. Below are reflections from team: BISHOP KAREN OLIVETO This is my second time to come to Cuernavaca to attend this language school. People ask me why I am leading this trip for the Mountain Sky Area. There are several reasons. I believe that we as Christians are called to speak the language of the people God has asked us to serve. As the US population grows increasingly Hispanic, and when 60% of the school children in Denver speak Spanish as their second language, that is a sign for me that we have new things to learn in order to effectively communicate the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As many of you know, our theme for this quadrennium is "Living Into Beloved Community." We in the Mountain Sky Area will be working towards creating peace-filled, healthy, and just communities through the power of unconditional love. We are here in Cuernavaca to learn from practitioner...