Hello again and HAPPY NEW YEAR!! It’s hard to believe that I have been a missionary at the Finca for 3 months already. It seems like the time has just flown by and I still don’t really know what I am doing. Seriously. Last month, there was an outbreak of COVID cases within the Finca community and we had to quarantine in our homes for about 3 weeks. For me, it was a very difficult time because I could not spend time with or develop relationships with the kids in the same way as before. There was also the fact that the start of our jobs had to be delayed a bit longer so that everyone could take the necessary precautions to stop the spread of the virus within our community. Thankfully, none of the kids or house parents experienced extreme symptoms and none of the missionaries, including myself, tested positive for COVID.
During this time of quarantine, we spent a lot of time as a community and tried to make use of our time to still try and serve the Finca in whatever way possible. So, we chose to clean our home—both inside and outside—the church, the library, and the clinic. We also created some activity packets for all the kids since they did not have as much freedom as we did and could not roam around the Finca as freely. We, as missionaries, were allowed to leave our house as long as we had a mask and socially distanced ourselves from those whom we do not live with, whereas the kids all had to stay within their homes since it is harder for them to wear masks or keep from playing with us or the other kids. It was hard on all of us to not be able to interact with one another and it was easy for me to start questioning what I was doing here. I missed my family, friends, and home a little extra during this time and found myself close to tears almost every time I thought about it for too long. Yet, every time I thought about it, Jesus also made it clear to me that I am exactly where He wants me to be. He showed me His love through the conversations I was still able to have with the kids, through the conversations and time I got to spend with my missionary community, and through the silence. He filled my heart with peace and showed me that He was present through it all.
Thankfully, we exited our time of quarantine right in time for Christmas. Nine days before Christmas we started a novena in preparation for the birth of Jesus. Our novena consisted of posadas every day where we walk to the different houses and sing songs and ask them for a place to stay for the night as Mary and Joseph did on their way to Bethlehem to welcome Baby Jesus. Each day we reflect on something different in preparation for the birth of Jesus, sing some more, and end our night with a little merienda, or snack, provided to us by the hosting house. It has been nice for me to see the ways in which each house goes all out to welcome others into their homes in preparing a thoughtful snack, a reflection, cleaning both inside and outside of their homes, and decorating the space appropriately. Our house was very excited to host as well. I also love to see the community come together and see the ways in which the kids love and care for one another as the family that they are for one another, especially after so much time apart.
These past couple of weeks that we have been out of quarantine, I have gone to all the houses with the kids and spent multiple hours with them. I had missed hugging them, seeing them on a more regular basis, and going to spiritual events together in the mornings and afternoons. It seems like our time apart has brought us closer together and I am no longer seen as a “new missionary” but rather someone who has been part of their lives during a weird and tough time. The kids want me to play with them and spend time in their houses and the older girls know that they can ask me to do something for them and that I will make myself available to them in almost an instant.
Christmas and New Years were both really fun holidays to be a part of here at the Finca. On Christmas Eve Eve, the missionaries helped prepare gifts for the kids that we would drop off at their homes after they went to bed. The gifts contained their esternos which are the new outfits that they would wear on Christmas Eve at the party. On Christmas Eve, we were all busy preparing the colegio for the party and getting ready to welcome Jesus anew. The party after mass was lots of fun. We played lots of games, danced, and the missionaries, and some of the little kids, prepared a dance for everyone that we performed. At the end of the night, we went to the church and prayed as a community right before midnight. There was a lot of peace and joy present and we were all very excited for the birth of Jesus. Afterwards, we went out to the campo and set off fireworks, something that was very stressful for me and the other missionaries, but lots of fun for the kids. They were lighting up the fireworks and throwing them right before they exploded, but luckily no one was injured and the stress only lasted for one week since we had to do it all over again for New Years. The parties were both very similar, but the main difference was that we fixed all of our mistakes from the Christmas party to make the New Years one better. In my opinion, we were successful. The kids’ faces lit up when it came to receiving their presents, even though some of them seemed like they could care less. They also really wanted to hit the piñata even though some of them acted like they didn’t want to because it was only for little kids. But let’s be honest, even I wanted to hit the piñata. Overall, it was a blessing to be at the Finca and spend it was the kids and see them interacting with one another like one big family.
Though I would like to say that I feel like I am settled into life at the Finca, I don’t think that would be the complete truth. There are aspects of my life here that I can say that I have settled into, but there are some things that are very difficult, like having unexpected events change the entire course of my day/week or communicating with people from home for only 2 hours a week. I have reflected a lot on the things that I would often take for granted and the ways Jesus has called me to detach from many things. I have started to notice small things that I am so grateful for like certain conversations or interactions with missionaries or kids, extra delicious meals, or the beauty of creation more often. It’s in the small moments that I have started to see Jesus present throughout my day and the ways in which He has given me everything that I need and has blessed me so much even though there are tough days. So little by little, I know that Jesus will help with the full transition and that even in moments when I don’t know what I am doing, He will be there and guide me through whatever steps He desires me to take next.
I am looking forward to what Jesus has in store for me and the community during this year. I know that He has grand things in store for us. The new school year is starting up in February and I am excited to start teaching 3rd grade English, working as the School Ayudante, and working in Special Education (with a focus on Math) with the middle schoolers. I ask you all to pray for me and my missionary community as we more fully enter into our roles here. I also ask you to keep us in your prayers as we go on our first retreat of the year this upcoming week. Please know of my prayers for you all as well. Until next time!
Paz y bien,
Alicia
