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32nd Anniversary of Archbishop Romero’s Assassination

03.24.2012 by Nathan Melcher

Today is the 32nd anniversary of the assassinatio of Monsignor Romero. The common lectionary comes in cycles so I understand the following connection as an amazing coincidence, yet I can’t help but take some prayerful time to consider the lectionary’s gospel passage for this Sunday, March 25, 2012, contains John 12:24, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” This, I have learned, is the final piece of Scripture Monsignor Romero preached on March 24, 1980, in the sermon he gave right before he was shot dead through the heart.

Much fruit has been born of this man.

Viva Romero!

-nm

Click-thru to our El Salvador 2010 global trip blog posts.

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Coming Home and Finding Our Roots

02.06.2012 by utsglobaltrips

Good Afternoon dear reader.  I have had one more blog posting percolating since my last post.  Now that I have had some time to be home again and tomorrow I begin a new course load at UTS, I thought this would be a good time to send out a few more thoughts about this trip.

Since coming home again I have had many people ask me the question, “How was your trip?”  What then do I say? It was fun? It was awesome? It was challenging? It was a great learning experience? It was eye opening? Yes, yes, yes and yes.  All of the above and more.

I do know that the effect this trip has had on me is not finished.  I think for a very long time if not for the rest of my life, there will be teachings from this experience that will continue to come to me—perhaps in moments that I least expect it.

I also know that this will not be my only such experience, because I feel strongly that I will try to make other similarly focused trips in the future, perhaps even back to Chiapas.

This photo is of an artwork created Continue Reading »

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Doña Juliana

01.31.2012 by utsglobaltrips

I wrote earlier about meeting Doña Juliana.  I thought I’d post pics of the statue and the real deal along with some of the pottery at her home.  What a treat!  -Déadra

Monument to Doña Juliana

Monument to Doña Juliana

Doña Juliana

Doña Juliana

Continue Reading »

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ProMedios and Other Worlds

01.31.2012 by utsglobaltrips

Buenas Noches dear reader.  As you already know we are all back home safely.  I have to say that I am none to glad to be back in familiar surroundings with my dear family.  During our last few days in Chiapas I noticed how natural it had become to greet people in Spanish and respond with “Gracias” instead of “Thank you.” I wondered if I would continue out of habit for days after our return. Nope.  I am struck by how easily I have also slipped back into familiar patterns. The only hesitation I have noticed is when using the bathroom. Continue Reading »

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Privilege

01.30.2012 by utsglobaltrips

Chris Smith has talked a lot about privilege and the need to open our eyes to the cost of that privilege to the rest of the world.  Daily there are multiple opportunities to recognize my privilege.  When I shower, I do not have to remember to keep my mouth shut lest I ingest contaminated water.  When I brush my teeth, I can use water from the faucet.  I do not need to inquire at restaurants whether the water is purified or not.  Water in and of itself is great privilege that Mexico opened my eyes to.

Continue Reading »

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Talk by Mayan woman

01.30.2012 by utsglobaltrips

Xmial, a Mayan woman who shared the devastation the denial of her culture had on her personal life and the healing found in reclaiming her roots.

Continue Reading »

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Worship at Acteal

01.29.2012 by utsglobaltrips

Greetings, dear readers! You have already heard some about Acteal and Las Abejas. The service at Acteal really moved me, so I wanted to share some of the things I saw, heard and learned there. The people of Acteal have experienced such tremendous hardship, yet they speak, sing, and pray with tremendous hope and joy. Their courage and perseverance was truly inspiring.

The first banner I noticed was one that read as follows (I included my attempt at translation to Engligh — I may not be spot on, but hopefully I caught the gist of it!):

“Tlotik el Pueblo De Las ‘Abejas’ de Acteal Te Da La Bienvenidos Por Caminar En La Luz”
(The Village of the “Bees” of Acteal Welcome You to Walk in the Light)

R aul
A utonomia (Autonomy)
U nidad (Unity)
L ucha (Struggle)

V erdad (Truth)
E jemplo (Example)
R espeto (Respect)
A mor (Love)

L uz (Light)
O racion (Prayer)
P erdon (Forgiveness)
E vanjelio (Gospel)
pa Z (Peace)

The service was conducted both in the indigenous language shared by the people in the village and in Spanish. I tried hard to understand as much as I could, and I’ll share with you a short list of a few of the things that I understood as either spoken  by individuals or sung by the choir with great fortitude: Continue Reading »

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