Today during our volunteer meeting we discussed how God accompanies people and what the importance of prayer is in this relationship. Recently, I have been struggling with the issue of God's role in people's lives. Here in Bolivia, extreme poverty and destitution, sadness and heartbreak, abuse and neglect are seen daily. However, Bolivians, and Latin Americans in general, possess so much faith. Where does this undying, strong sense of faith come from? We talked about how Bolivians who live in such poverty and sadness still have this faith in the Kingdom of God, and many will tell you that prayer is the answer to everything.
During religious celebrations, people will buy miniature items of things they wish for--money and plane tickets, houses and babies, a wedding and a car. This seems very materialistic, but majority of the people who partake in this tradition are extremely impoverished. They will never be able to afford a house or a car or a plane ticket to visit family in the U.S. or Spain. However, each year they return to the celebration with their miniature wants. Why do they continue to return? Do they truly believe that God will grant them these things? Or, is it just our of tradition, habit, and practice?
It is so interesting to me in a place like Bolivia, where people experience poverty and injustices on a daily basis, God is "present" to them. God's name is plastered on the buses and the trufis, many people make the Sign of the Cross whenever passing a church, many constantly pray. Religion is deeply rooted in the culture of Latin America, despite the violence and the poverty, the abuse and the neglect, and the day-to-day struggle majority of the people experience. Maybe God and religion are the only things people have left to bring some kind of hope and relief. But, I just cannot understand how such a deep sense of faith can be held on to, while people go hungry, while babies die, while mother's beg for a Boliviano or two, while you can hear domestic violence across the street, etc.
Dear Megs--The Cross is the gift God gives his friends... Love, Dad
ReplyDeleteMegan, your questions are very real and deep. Faith is what is most probably carrying these people through their trials, without it the sadness and pain would be so deep they would not be able to continue to live and love. It is this faith that you are witnessing firsthand that I hope you will be able to carry with you forever and pass onto your children. I am so often amazed by Grampy's deep sense of faith and yet know that it is real and what gives him his drive to continue to love and give to others. My faith has been challenged often this year and I pray that I can always find my way and reading your words about these incredible people I know that I must. Faith is our connection with God and others and it is vital for happiness. You are so right that prayer is important in keeping faith alive...I so love you and all that you are questioning and learning...A. Nance
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