Retiro de Medio Año (Mid-year retreat)

This week we went on a retreat to Saltillo, about an 11hr bus ride from Chihuahua. The other four year-long volunteers are there and another 19 week long volunteers came down to do some work at a Salvation Army home. It was a great time getting to know the 19 volunteers and it was awesome to get to hang out with the other four volunteers. We didn’t take part in the work that the week-long volunteers were doing, as we had our own, separate retreat, kind of a, ‘how you doin’ so far?’ retreat. As Deanna said, it gave us time to “read, write, and reflect.” We also got to see the other Casa Hogares.
Getting to meet the week long volunteers was something else. This group had the widest range of personalities I had ever seen under one roof. Every evening, when we gathered for group prayer and reflection, I got to see some of these very different personalities; from John’s humorous and off-beat personality to Tom’s huge heart and kind smile. Every night and morning, we were also together for breakfast, we got to know them more and more. I enjoyed my talks with Janet and Ray who are a couple that had spent three and six years, respectively, as volunteers in Paraguay. I could go on and tell the attributes of all the volunteers but I’ll spare you, the whole group was great at sharing their background and had a fervor for their work that they were doing that week that gave a boost to my spirit. The gospel this week was the one where Jesus said, “whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.” It’s hard not to see God’s face in a group of people that are trying, to the best of their abilities, to live that passage out.
We picked things back up with the other year-long volunteers like no time had elapsed at all. And what I mean by that is we started playing Nerds and it was all downhill from there. If you haven’t heard of the game, learn it, and prepare to become addicted. As mentioned earlier we didn’t work with the week long volunteers as we had our mid-year retreat. It was great to get some mandatory time-out time and be able to reflect over our time so far. And equally amazing to get to hear what the other volunteers were experiencing so far. I saw God’s face every time I was with the group. I saw it in Maribel’s compassion that comes spilling out of her whether she wants to or not, I see it TJ’s loyalty, to God, and to all his brothers and sisters, that makes you want to serve, in Deanna’s faith, that is sometimes so deep and overwhelming, you just stand in awe, and in Laura’s humility whose unassuming and genuine attitude works its way into your heart, and in my wife’s breathtaking smile (added by Janiene, of course).
Their experiences have helped me see my own experiences in a different light. I see the relationship that they have with their kids and it constantly reminded me of our kids. I came back to Chihuahua ready to deepen the relationship I have with the kids. I haven’t built the relationship I would like to have with the kids but I am revitalized in my attempt to strengthen our relationship. All in all it was a successful week and that couldn’t have come sooner.

Luis