Paz En Las Piedras

Literally.

Now Meet Helen.

The girl who my community mates know far too well because of the amount of times I’ve said, Helen’s coming over or Helen and I are doing this..and then… it doesn’t actually happen. .womp womp…the psych practicante at my morning job who quickly became more than a coworker, a friend that I find myself laughing until my stomach hurts with at probably the most inappropriate times at work..Buuuuut when I mentioned Las Peñas, this girl came through.  Instead of making brownies at my house or eating empanadas por el centro, we went on a total of an 8 hour caminata through the desert of chile to “peregrinar” to La Virgen de Las Peñas crossing 24 bridges over rivers, tripping over lots of rocks, climbing cerros, not sleeping, waiting in lines, being hungry and sharing in a beautiful pilgrimage experience though our feet were on fire afterwards.

After many times of laughter in the Pastoral office of Fe y Alegria spent with Helen, the third musketeer found her way to us, adding the most contagious uncontrollable laugh of us all, the biggest smile, a beautiful heart and just a profound joy to el equipo Pastoral! Senaida also tagged along for the Las Peñas adventure.

Can’t forget my wonderful community mate Emily, don’t underestimate her, this girls got wings on her feet and was totally killing it on the caminata even if she had no idea what we were getting ourselves into (hope your shins are 100% healed Em!)

and Jose, Helen’s other half, I’ll remember him eating pollo frito on a rock in the middle of the desert and avoiding my video camera ALMOST the entire viaje, a little shy at first but don’t worry he’ll try and sabotage your documentary, all with the best of intentions of course.

So what’s Las Peñas, whats the story?

Check it here:

https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiesta_de_las_Pe%C3%B1as

So the “paz en las piedras” …..I believe I started this caminata fresh and rejuvenated from retreat but still battling some anxieties and I really needed to walk it off, reground, practice patience and give thanks.  Regrounding just happened to mean tripping on rocks and nearly slipping into roughly flowing rivers more than 20 times in the deep dark of the night in the middle of the desert in another country.  People might think I’m crazy for my willingness to go again but I really did find peace in the rocks (paz en las piedras) and in the walking and walking for hours BUT at the same time I was giving thanks to God for my life so far here, all the times I’ve listened, all the times I’ve received, all the times my heart has broken, all the times Ive felt human, all the times I’ve fallen in love, all the times I’ve been ruined, all the times I’ve made a friend...

Con un corazon agradecido I leave the following with you:

Food for Thought:

Have the courage to lose control.

Have the courage to feel useless.

Have the courage to listen.

Have the courage to receive.

Have the courage to let your heart be broken.

Have the courage to feel.

Have the courage to fall in love.

Have the courage to get ruined for life.

Have the courage to make a friend.

-Dean Brackley, S.J.

Thank you ALL for your continual support, abrazitos y besitos :)

Below is a video mini documentary of my journey I made for my family and friends. It is in Spanish. Enjoy it! I’m talking especially to you Mami, Papi, Tias, Tios, Primos, Primas, Ileana, Jose, the whole GT gang & Garcia crew, Yami y Caro y mis queridos amigos peruanos!!  

Con Corazón baby!