Gracias, Henri Nouwen!

I have been reading Henri Nouwen's Gracias: A Latin American Journal in my spare time this past week. I have been home all week with stomach and back pains...a result of a kidney infection and more parasites! But, I was able to watch the whole first season of House and get into Gracias, which is absolutely amazing!

Henri Nouwen was a Dutch priest, who felt the urge to learn Spanish and work with those of Latin America. He attended Maryknoll's Language Institute in Cochabamba, Bolivia and then worked in Lima, Peru as a missionary. According to Nouwen, our job as missionaries is "to search with the poor for treasure hidden in the ground on which they stand." This was an idea developed by Maryknoll--a "radically new perspective" to missionary and volunteer work. I completely believe I am working here in Bolivia to help the babies and girls of Ninos con Valor find treasure not only in their land and culture, but in themselves. Each child I have gotten to know here has a special gift, a special treasure inside. I see it everyday.

The Dutch priest beautifully describes the irony of "Latin America: impressive wealth and degrading poverty, splendid flowers and dusty broken roads, loving people and cruel torturers, smiling children and soldiers who kill. It is here that we have to hunt for God's treasure." Yes, it is here in Bolivia where I find faith and see the teachings of Jesus. It is not in a huge cathedral or at a prayer group, but in my daily experiences at the two homes, people I see on the street, and grassroots movements I hear about. Bolivia is a place where desperation and poverty and helplessness are constantly in your face, yet it is also a place of hope and incredible beauty!

I could quote many things from Fr. Nouwen's book. Every page contains an important lesson that not only pertains to live in Latin America, but about how we can help others and help ourselves!