A tribute to Monseñor

A few days ago we watched the movie Romero for Core 350. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, check out this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%93scar_Romero. (Wikipedia does a good job of telling the basic story, but I'll give you a little info here as well).

Monseñor Oscar Romero was the archbishop of San Salvador during the violence of the 1980's. He was appointed as a fairly conservative bishop who was not concerned with politics. However, after seeing the death of a fellow priest and viewing all the human rights abuses taking place in his country, he chose to embrace liberation theology and speak out against the poverty and violence that were rampant in his country. (He even wrote a personal letter to President Carter asking him to stop sending arms to El Salvador, as they were only being used to kill the Salvadoran people). For speaking out against violence, he was assassinated while giving the eucharist on March 24, 1980.

This was the first time I'd seen the movie since I actually traveled in El Salvador, since I actually visited the church in which he was martyred. Needless to say, watching this movie is always a difficult experience for me. However, this time I was impressed more than ever with the strength and wisdom Monseñor possessed. During a time of violence where it seemed that the only possible way to stand up against oppressive dictators and a dirty military was to take up arms against them, Romero spoke out for peace and tried to find a middle way that would end the violence and bring justice. I don't know if I would have his strength to resist violence and work for peace in such a volatile situation.

In my eyes Romero stands as one of those great, untouchable figures of history who spoke for peace and lived it out. Yet, history tells us that he was just a man, a man who had to struggle with his sins and failings in order to stand for the work of God in his suffering country. Would that we could all have his strength. I leave you with an excerpt from his final sermon given about a week before his assassination. He is speaking to those members of his crooked government and military who have chosen violence over life, to those people who would soon kill him for speaking out as he did:

"Nadie tiene que obedecer una ley inmoral. Ya es hora de que recuperó su conciencia y obedecer a su conciencia en lugar de una orden pecaminosa. La iglesia, el defensor de los derechos de Dios, de la ley de Dios, de la dignidad humana, de la persona, no puede permanecer callado ante tal abominación. Queremos que el gobierno para enfrentar el hecho de que las reformas no tienen valor si se quiere que se llevará a cabo a costa de tanta sangre así. En nombre de Dios, en el nombre de este sufrido pueblo cuyos lamentos suben hasta el cielo cada día más fuerte, te lo suplico, les ruego, les ordeno en nombre de Dios: ¡Cese la represión!"


"No one has to obey an immoral law. It is high time you recovered your consciences and obeyed your consciences rather than a sinful order. The church, the defender of the rights of God, of the law of God, of human dignity, of the person, cannot remain silent before such an abomination. We want the government to face the fact that reforms are valueless if they are to be carried out at the cost of so much blood. In the name of God, in the name of this suffering people whose cries rise to heaven more loudly each day, I implore you, I beg you, I order you in the name of God: stop the repression."

- Arzobispo/Archbishop Oscar Romero

Capital! Capital!

For those of you that didn't catch it, my title is a Pride & Prejudice reference. We'll get to that in a minute.

Well, things continue as crazy busy as ever here at Whitworth South. This last week we took our students on a canopy/zipline tour about 30-40 minutes away from our campus. They loved it, and Bean and I were happy to give it a second go-round.

This week our fearless leader has been up at Whitworth North for work and spring recruitment purposes, so Bean, Dinorah and I have been holding down the fort. Good times.

My Jane Austen reference at the beginning is in honor of an amazing party we (Bean and I) and all the students had last night: a Pride & Prejudice party! One of our student has actually spent the last 12 years (with the exception of the last two while he's been attending Whitworth) living with his family in Costa Rica. So yesterday all but one of us (missed you Raquel!) headed to his folks' home: 3 buses and 2 hours later we were ready to start the party! Costumes came out, beards were shaved into chops and mustaches, British accents appeared out of nowhere, scones were baked, biscuits and marmelade consumed, and of course, plenty of tea for all! We spent from about 3pm-midnight watching the 6 hour BBC version of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice, with snack, dinner, and dance party breaks in between of course. Sooooo much fun! Some of the favorite quotes of the evening were "capital, capital!", "shocking, abominable reply! How shall we punish him?", "Lord I'm so fat!", "Have a little compassion on my nerves!", "We seem to have been designed for each other", "What are you talking of", etc. For those of you who know the movies by heart like I do, you understand that the vocal inflections are of 'great doctrinal import' to all these quotes.

So, last night's party was basically the highlight of the week. It was a great time to get away from the normal scene, be off the freezing cold, windy mountain, and be in a semi-normal "home" atmosphere. It was a wonderful time of just being together, not worrying about school stuff, and being transported for a few short hours to the world of Jane Austen, a place that is like home to my heart. Thanks Nelson family!

We are so famous!

So, this is a few weeks old, but I just stumbled upon it - an informal article by Whitworth about our center here in CR. Give it a look if you'd like to see another perspective on our work here at the Southern Campus. Cheers!

http://whitworthweekly.blogspot.com/2010/09/students-blog-directors-message-recount.html

Punta Mona!

This weekend we took a little road trip to the Caribbean coast. The reason for this trip? Aside from needing a little relief from the clouds and rain that oppress us up on the mountain, the highlight of the trip was a visit to my favorite Organic Farm, Punta Mona!

For those of you who haven't heard me talk about Punta Mona, it is a "Community and Center for Sustainable Living and Education". http://www.puntamona.org/ We visited Punta Mona during our CR portion of the CASP trip three years ago, and it has been a dream of mine to return ever since.

For this trip we were only able to make it in for a quick day trip that included an amazing 4 hour hike to the farm and then a tour. Going back to Punta Mona was so meaningful for me: I learned so many new and important lessons there about caring for Creation, about permaculture and sustainability, God definitely used my time there to expand my understanding of him and they way he works in this world.

For me, this whole beach trip was one amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience after another. To give you an idea and to share some of my reflections on it all, I'm going to share an entry I wrote in my prayer journal our last morning at the beach:

Thank you for the amazing experiences we've had here at the beach the last few days. The fact that we were able to rent this amazing balcony right on the beach, looking out on the beautiful Punta Uva beach not 30 feet away is amazing. Two mornings ago when Lindy rescued that bird, and I was able to just hold sweet little Chuck in one hand while eating breakfast and enjoying conversation was wonderful. Chuck's feathers were so awe-inspiring - that you would put that much detail and design into the feathers of a small, green bird - you are so amazing Creator. And then that Chuck flew away safely healed or rested after we finished our group yoga and meditation, that was precious. Who are we to limit your power oh God? Could you not take our combined energies and focus as a prayer to heal Chuck? Didn't you? I am so thankful Lord.
Yesterday morning hiking in to Punta Mona I was in complete awe at how you demonstrated your glories for us over and over. Seeing that sloth so shockingly up close was a true gift - it completely made my day. The way you put so much detail in to all your Creation is overwhelming, and so good. Watching his 3-clawed "hands" grip the tree as he pulled himself up it in slow-motion, I gained an extreme love and appreciation for these osos perezosos. And when I thought that my day was made by that, you kept showing us new and more amazing things. Baby howler monkeys, yellow eyelash vipers, red poison dart frogs. I loooooved those frogs - they were so cute and miniature, and yet the power they wield!
Thank you so much for the chance to return to Punta Mona again yesterday - it was a dream come true. Yes, things have changed, but it was still such a wonderful reminder of all the things you taught me there three years ago. I am constantly awed by the detail you put in to your Creation, and how evident that is at Punta Mona. They way you wrapped up all the things we need - like diverse foods, moisturizers, healing and soothing plants, all things in to your Creation is glorious. Teach us how to find and use all these plants and gifts you've given us so that we may be closer to you and your Creation.
And then there was the amazing boat ride back from Punta Mona last night. The beauty of the teal water, the amusement-park-like fun of the stormy waves, the glory of the palm-lined beaches we passed, the child-like joy of finding images in the clowds, then your glory shining through white, yellow and blue sky beyond the clouds. You are so evident in your Creation Lord God. Lars said it clearly on that boat ride "how can anyone see all this and the way it all works together and not believe in a Creator?"
And I am constantly awed by the way you have equipped each individual part of your Creation. You have given each part of nature the instincts and defenses that they need. Termites that humans can live off of it necessary, that anteaters do live off of, and yet those same anteaters know not to eat the queen or the hive will not regenerate. You have woven your wisdom and knowledge into Creation. The frogs that are poisonous stick out in color because they have ways to defend themselves, while those without toxic protection match the colors of your Creation around them in order to hide and protect themselves - amazing. Your goodness is so present in our world Lord Jesus. I am endlessly thankful for these last few days and all the things you've reminded me of here.