Hello everyone,
Welcome. Come and read my first update from Ecuador.
Fundraiser
I just launched a fundraiser, Support A New Hope, for several situations here in Ecuador. Come and check out the details here.
NOTE: GoFundMe defaults to adding a 15% tip during donation payment. This is optional, and on top of the 2.9%+30cents of your donation that they already charge. You don’t have to tip anything.
If you have PayPal (jeromeekiley@gmail.com) or Venmo (@Jerome-Kiley-1) in the US, these methods are free transfers. You can send me a personal gift, and I will add your anonymous gift to the GoFundMe’s fundraiser list of donations. However, you won’t receive the updates I post on GoFundMe.
I’ll be posting updates about Zoe and everyone else, as well as the fundraiser, as they come along.
MORE ABOUT LIFE AND MISSION IN ECUADOR
The vision continues, and my time in the last month has been an opportunity to grow in clarifying it. I’m glad to have developed more of the language and cultural sharing plan, along the lines of the Gospel. This is a novel approach and so takes time to develop, but once explained, seems obvious. Things are starting small…
“For the vision is a witness for the appointed time, a testimony to the end; it will not disappoint. If it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late.”
I’m still also workout out how to bring forward more the spiritual reflections and workshops and retreats, as well as teaching and groups, that come forth from accompaniment.
CURRENT EVENTS IN ECUADOR
As you may have seen in the news, there is a rise in violence here in Ecuador, and recently several political leaders have been assassinated by organized crime channels. A well-known presidential candidate was recently assassinated in Quito, and more recently a leader of a political party. This follows the killing of the mayor of Manta, a large coastal vacation and shipping city where until around 2010 there was a US military base.
I’m providing links here if you’re interested in some good explanations of context, from news outlets.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/26/americas/ecuador-drug-violence-crisis-explainer-intl/index.html
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/27/americas/ecuador-prison-violence-bodily-remains-intl/index.html
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/why-has-ecuador-become-so-violent-2023-08-10/
This violence doesn’t directly affect where I’m located, but indirectly everyone is affected here. The elections for president and congress are Sunday August 20, so confidence - and lack thereof - sows the seeds for election contention and the eventual breakdown of political structures.
In Quito
While passing through Quito, I was able to visit with Toñita, who was active in the seniors’ group with the Franciscan Sisters while they had their presence in Rancho Bajo there. We had a good catch up, as it had been years, though once in a very long while we catch up on Facebook. It was good to remember the past.
I also found out that my cell phone chip still works, so my Ecuadorian phone number hasn’t changed.
I hope to look more into getting a cedula (national ID card and number) while here, though it hasn’t been necessary yet for me.
in Chontal
I’ve not yet arrived in Chontal because I’ve been so busy in Mindo. I had planned on visiting last week, but got very sick. I hope to visit the last week of August.
I’ve been in touch with folks, and not much is new according to what I hear. However, as you’ll see in the fundraiser, there were two opportunities to join with the community in support a new hope.
The young adults have organized a team for the younger kids, 12+. I received a request to help buying uniforms for the 15 team members, and sent over $220, leaving $4 for each player. Their season starts after the elections, in the last weekend of August. The organizers are keen to pass along the opportunities they received, and give the kids much-need organized activities in Chontal, where really none exist. Increasing youth activities has been a desire of mine for many years, so I’m glad to work together for that.
I also received news that, in the neighboring small village San Roque, a young mother and her 4 children had lost their home and belongings in a fire. I spoke with the president of Chontal, who confirmed that the community and other neighboring communities had sent over supplies. And I do remember relatives of theirs in the school in Chontal in years past. So, I thought I would add that as an opportunity to support in our fundraiser.
IN Mindo
I started out in a retreat in Mindo, and since things became very busy early, I started to spread the retreat out over many days. St Ignatius has a provision in his spiritual exercises for those who can’t take a fixed retreat time aside, and instead spend an hour or so a day in spiritual exercises. I did something along those lines. I go each morning down to the retreat center for a holy hour, and take time in private reflection, writing, and organizing. In addition to reviewing and updating my understanding of my spiritual journey, I’ve finished putting together a vision for Language in Communion - a big step - and am ready to start to present it with others and distinguish it from typical language teaching. But, since I got sick and was knocked out for almost a week, I still haven’t finished the retreat, but will very soon. At the end, I’ll go down to a private location spot that I know of, and dip into the river.
On July 20, I went with Karina and Zoe in a cab of a family friend to a neighboring town, Los Bancos. I picked up a table to use as a desk for my work, and they went to a medical clinic. It was there that Zoe entered into her medical problems full force. We spent about 4 hours there, until she and her parents were finally taken to a hospital in Santo Domingo. And that began a large shift of my attention and energies, although I can’t give them all of my availability, as I’m here for the whole community and not just one family. But it has drained a lot of my time and energies.
From the cardboard box of the table I bought, I started making things for folks in the house, including adjustable cell phone stands, a doll house for 10-year-old Camila, and binoculars for 3-yr-old Liam. It was to keep the kids involved and occupied, and show what can be done with reusing things like cardboard boxes. It also gave me something to manually create while settling in here.
I had brought some extra bottles of ibuprofen with me, and I went to the health clinic to see if they could use one. Turns out they were down to their last nine ibuprofen tablets, with a new shipment a week away. So, they were happy to take the 100-ct unopened bottle I had for them. It worked out perfectly.
I make my way around the pueblo getting to know people when I can. I have some old friendships, and making new ones. I’ve known some of the artisans for a while, and spend time talking with them. We get into language usually, but also spiritual things, too. Something is certainly happening. I’ve gotten to know more of the Venezuelans and Colombians who are here, too. I brought a few baseball gloves and a ball donated by a friend, and donated them to a Venezuelan barber Samuel who I talked baseball with last year. We got out playing catch, and hope to play some more. It’s opened doors to more in the Venezuelan community here, too. I catch up with a Venezuelan man who goes to church, and often visit another Venezuelan artisan, Jorge, who is taking English classes, and who is very interested in the Language activities I’m bringing about. I catch up often with old Peruvian artisan friend Pamela and her sons a lot, and we practice language, too. I also visit a lot with an indigenous friend from Otavalo, Luis, who with his wife owns an artisan shop on the main street. We practice English and Kichwa together. His wife is going to bring me a booklet of Church songs in Kichwa from Otavalo, and hopefully some contacts about a basic intro Kichwa course. (This has been a goal of mine for a while, not only for myself, but for Ecuadorians to learn the basics of one of their root languages before English.) Luis plays the kena flute, used to play as part of group that had been in New York, and had even been to Boston in the 80’s or 90’s.
The local priest is a bit narrow-minded and focused just on getting people to participate in the ceremonies and doctrines. He has an over-simplified view of the scripture and spiritual life, so he’s be quite jealous of my take on things and pastoral abilities and approach. So, I don’t get invited to do anything.
But I’m planning on starting my own offerings for short courses and even groups. Jorge invited me to an English conversation group, and it looks like the woman who started it is leaving soon, so I may step into a guiding role in that. She is also part of a small Bible study group, so I may try visiting that. Either way, I’ll be putting together more ideas the more I experience everything that is going on around here, and I’m discovering more. I do the migration workshop, and with so many people living here from other parts, it could be a very viable offering to people here. (In contrast, in Chontal, everyone is from there, and themes need to be different.)
On the day I arrived, a new English school opened up. Missionaries from the States are supposed to come and teach English. This is all the standard model, almost like colonizing model, that is not the way I look to grow things, so it forced me to define more clearly in a presentable way the vision and ideas that I have. Doing that gave me even more confidence in my approach, though it’s a lot of work that I now have to do when there is now a fully-funded, cool-sounding, formal English “academy” in town. I’ll be meeting soon with the woman who founded it, to get to know each other a little bit. She lived in the UK for many years teaching, and decided quickly to open a center in Mindo, promising a bilingual Mindo in 2 years. I don’t believe in the primacy of teacher-classroom approach as she would, but it can certainly have its place as a complement to what I envision. At the big kickoff she sponsored with the local government, the talk was centered on the economic value of learning English. Again, a different vision from mine.
But the clarity I’ve had to develop is also useful for Boston, as it’s something I aim to pursue there as well. It puts standard adult language classes in a different place, and it’s a concept I’ll bring into my advising in the school I’m working at in Boston. It’s just a loooot of work to put it all together, as I seem to be the only one who sees it this way. And yet, when I explain it to Jorge, he fully agrees with it, and would very much like to see it come about. I think once the case is laid out, a lot of obvious things that are overlooked are placed on the table, and others would want it, too.
Finally, I want to say that everything in the language theme of things, has a direct parallel in the spiritual and pastoral side of life. My language/culture approach is developed right out of my spiritual and pastoral vision. In fact, the differences with the standard teacher/classroom approach, are the same differences I have with clergy and pastors over their standard clergy/pastor vs. others approach. There is an integrity in my vision from spiritual/pastoral to language/culture. And this is hugely important to me.
ECUADOR - BOSTON
Language in Communion
As I mentioned in previous posts, I had started doing some online language with Ecuadorians, starting with people in Chontal. It’s a short course that I’ve developed on English pronunciation. I’m behind, but have plans to continue that course for younger folks in Chontal, and to also use it in Mindo (it will be a part of the overall language vision). Finally, I’m considering taking another $137 course to be trained further in teaching English using the vowel technique that I found before. It will certainly help my teaching and any learners, and will give a small credential as well.
There are opportunities to participate if you are interested:
participate and/or assist in language sharing or teaching
financially contribute to join with the community effort to come together, and support the members most in need while receiving more
If either or both of these interest you, please post a comment below or feel free to contact me: jerome@barriers2bridges.org
Into the Waters: An International Immersion Visit & Retreat
Although this has been on the back burner, I’m still very interested in this opportunity for interested people from the States. I’m still in the process of working out the details, which you can check out by expanding the section below. If you are interested in an 9-day, guided visit to Ecuador in a small group of 4 or less, to join with me in dipping into the culture with local people, feel free to contact me: jerome@barriers2bridges.org.
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• Arrival / Urban life and roots: 3 days in the capital Quito and in Otavalo
○ Up at 9400 feet, we’ll start in Quito and immerse in the culture, including a visit to the equator and the historical center. Next, we’ll visit Otavalo, a global indigenous center.
• Rural life and roots: 2 days in Chontal, a remote rural village in the medio-Andes.
○ At about 2100 ft, in a subtropical cloud forest climate, we’ll experience the rhythm of a simpler, poor rural life, integrated into the life of the local people, including the agricultural roots of Ecuador.
• Retreat & relaxation: 3 days in Mindo, an ecotourist center for relaxation, retreat, and reflection.
○ A global bird-watching attraction, we’ll relax in lodgings very close to nature. Waterfalls, chocolate factories, butterfly farms, artisan shops and a retreat center will provide context for a time of guided reflection and discussion.
• Return: 1 day in Quito to prepare for a return
We will be traveling among the local people, by public transportation and taxis, along routes that I’ve known for years. You must make a signed commitment to stay with me at all times and follow any guidelines I present. We’ll have a period of private time each day for prayer, reflection, or relaxation.
Other notes:
• Travel: There will be some bus travel times from 2 to 6 hours in some cases, where we will see the mountain- and country-sides.
• Safety: We won’t be in the high-risk zones related to narco-trafficking and high crime.
• Health: Certain vaccinations may be suggested. Traveler’s health insurance is at one’s own discretion.
PREACHING/TEACHING & WORKSHOPS
ALM: SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS
Website/Blog
On the homepage of this site, you can find the latest spiritual reflections that I post to A Living Monstrance. Or, you can visit the site directly here. These reflections come from my spirituality and lifestyle, and are guideposts along the journey.
Books
I’ve also collected the reflections into a series of books, each one containing 150 reflections, in sequential order. The latest book is up to the year 2017, and I have made some progress publishing two more in the series. They’ll make it to publication some day in the next year, hopefully!
You can order any of the books by going here to Lulu.
REFLECTION TEACHING VIDEOS
I have a few series of videos, for your prayer and social life, that go further and deeper than the reflections of ALM. You may find them uplifting if you’re wondering how to pray and understand the Scriptures to find something life-changing in them; and if you’re wondering about how to sort through what is often a confusing social landscape.
Food in the Desert
This video series introduces a way to find food in the Gospels, by reading and living them in the same dynamic in which they were original created. You don’t need to be a scholar, just willing to accept and follow the same Spirit of the authors. (Spanish versions are included later in the playlist.)
A Spirituality of Equality
This video series, produced during the Great Pause of the pandemic, invites you into the village of Chontal to walk along a path of reflection about human equality from a Gospel spirituality and lifestyle. (Spanish subtitles are available on all videos.)
SPIRITUAL REFLECTION WORKSHOPS
I’m still offering a variety of workshops, for both English and Spanish speakers. They focus on life transitions by understanding, sharing and memorializing your unique personal life stories, through a small group encounter with the Christian Paschal mystery of life, death, and resurrection. If you are interested in any of them, please contact me directly: jerome@barriers2bridges.org
Re-Birth from the Pandemic
Are you experiencing confusion or anxiousness as the pandemic experience moves to the rearview mirror? The scripture is full of “40” stories: stories about rebirth. Encountering these stories together with our own can help you get back in touch with your personal journey and see a way ahead with hope.
Your Tree of Life
This is a foundational vocation discernment workshop that helps us discover more who we truly are and what we are called to do, from the root of our being. It focuses practically on ministry and/or career discernment, but the experience enters into all of life.
In the beginning creation story of Adam and Eve, the Hebrew people are invited to remember the story of origin that recalls who God made them to truly be, as well as their human weakness that can separate them from following through on this authenticity. The mystery of Christ brings us back into the original garden and gives us access to the Tree of Life. The expression of this mystery in this workshop - through basic applied principles of discernment from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola - allows us to remember our own personal True You stories that make up the core of our own tree of life, as well as those life stories that show us how the protective bark of that tree breaks down.
If you are looking for something to give you a new step in clarity, freedom, energy, and peace - to help you remember again who you really are - this workshop could be for you.
Taller Mi Pascua de Inmigración
This is a foundational workshop retreat for immigrants (now for Spanish-speakers), in which each person has the space to remember, unpack, tell, and honor their story of migration, following the testimony by the People of God of their leaving Egypt and crossing the Red Sea to begin a new stage of life with God. If you know any Spanish-speaking immigrants who you think might be interested, please feel free to send them the information flyer at the More Information button below.
Health
I’ve been eating fairly well here and keeping my weight down. I buy oatmeal for 70 cents a pound, and eat it with fruit and eggs, fresh juice and coffee every morning. Lunch is a good soup from a local restaurant ($1.50, I pay by $20 tab increments.) In the eve I have more fruit, peanut butter, plus multi-grained/seed bread that is homemade locally at the retreat center, and includes a whole array seeds and grains. I have one of the herbal teas that can be found here in Ecuador.
My hip, however, has been a different story. Excellent for 7 months, it took a painful turn for the worse a few weeks before I left Boston. It has been almost debilitating since. A level 5 pain all day and night, every day. It’s passed through to my knee, and even my foot. I’m concerned about it to the point of considering returning home early to start treatment. However, I was recently sick in bed for a few days, and it has taken me over a week to recover, as I’ve taken it easy. My hip and knee have responded very well to that. I’m going to see how the next few weeks go, as I enter more back into a regular routine of walking and exercise.
Financials
There are no significant changes in the B2B financial situation. Here are my expenses so far:
July 11-31 $722.54
August 1-19 $182.85
I’m averaging about $700/month so far. That includes a bunch of initial costs from a hotel stay and getting setup in my room.
Here are the 2023 financials for Barriers to Bridges (I’m still working on updating the balance sheet). Again, a big thank you to those who regularly make gifts, no matter who small. It's much appreciated.
Other Stuff
Some of the soups here, plus fresh hierba luisa tea from a homegrown plant:
Hangout dog: This dog comes and sits next to me when I watch some youth playing basketball (I have a ball now, and will get out there to shoot around.)
Some views of the local scenery. including a view inside the chapel in the retreat center:
Things I made from cardboard boxes. (Plus, a cellphone stand I made from a wooden board I bought for a dollar. I use it for a tablet stand on my desk.)
These things sting. A Tarantula Hawk, running across the ground. A 3-layered nest of Warrior Wasps, up high in the tree. These two species have the most painful wasp stings in the world, apparently.
Luis’s store. You can watch and hear Luis play the kena here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/PCmFUzB2ZE4h4NDs7
Reflection & Vision
I’ll have more to share about the vision and another reflection after the retreat is all wrapped up.
“Come, follow me.”
Closing
Feel free to comment or reach out anytime.
I'll post again when it's time.
God bless you,
Jerome