Pilas and Politics

So, it seemed to be time to post something a little bit more about life here in El Salvador, in addition to all of these Peace Train updates.

A central part of every house here is the pila. A pila is the house water reservoir, with a connected concrete slab used to wash dishes, wash clothes, hands, brush teeth, and store water in case the water gets turned off (or in some parts of the country, their running water is only hooked up one or two days a week so they fill up their reservoirs for the days the don't have running water.) It is VERY useful.



As I said, one of the things pilas are used for is to wash clothes. Most people do not have washing machines (and dryers are even less common -- they use too much gas to run!). In fact, having a washing machine has been used by the government as a marker of income level. At the beginning of this year, the government changed the way they did the gas subsidy. They used to subsidize the companies and all gas "tambores" were sold for about $5. However, in the surrounding countries, they cost $15. So, now the government gives a monthly subsidy of $8.75 to families you do not own more than one house and do not have a washing machine. In many ways, this makes a lot of sense -- it cuts (necessarily) on government spending and on the gas black market. However, it's been a real struggle for many families (especially large ones who use more than one tambor of gas a month) and some have begun to cook in the older way using fire wood in a "stove" like this one.


At any rate... pilas are very useful for washing clothes, and quite the exercise. (Even people who have washing machines tell me that they still wash the things that get really dirty, like socks, by hand because they get them cleaner.) Welcome to a part of my weekly life!

spread the dry dirty shirt out in the pila and get it wet!


roll on soap (both the front and back!)


scrub the shirt using...the shirt! (particularly the armpits!)



Rinse and wring out



Turn inside out and repeat ... and your done!


All that's left is to hang it out to dry!

You say "Good Bye" I say "Hello"

It's a time of transitions at Centro Arte para la Paz. Within in the next week, all of the other volunteers I have spent the last 9 months with will have left. A new volunteer has just arrived. I am sad... and excited for the adventure of these coming months.

At the same time, two weeks ago was our Peace Train Class Graduation. I was so proud of my students, I almost cried ... but instead spent most of the day laughing and smiling so hard it hurt.

It began a little stressful (only three of our kids were there), but ended beautifully. Everyone came but the three that were preparing for their first communion in church the next day. We began marching into the chapel singing "Caminamos en la Paz de Dios" ("We are marching in the Peace of God") which is the song we sing as we swithc stations every day in class. Then we went down the line and each shared "what gives us peace" and "what takes away our peace" and led the parents in our Peace Pledge. The Helpers explained their experience with the class and said they wanted to continue as helpers in the next cycle.


We sang the songs we had learned together (some of the mother's teared up at this point, evidently having heard nearly all of the songs sung at home over the past few months)



gave a little talent show,


and finally presented "Peace Maker" Diplomas to each of our students.


Peggy had Diplomas and thank yous for Ariel and I, and said, among other things, that the Peace Train Class "is the heart of Centro Arte."



When she was done talking, one of the Dads stood up, wanting to thank us. He talked about how much his daughter loved the class and Ariel and I. He talked about how much he trusted us and was grateful for the opportunity we were giving his daughter. Before the graduation, he recommended we give our class in the schools.


It was a beautiful, bittersweet morning. I was bursting -- immensely proud of all we had done together, and sad to say good bye to these students.

Ariel and I spent an entire day last week revamping our syllabus -- tweaking the things that needed to be, and adding some more art projects and English lessons and reformatting the sheet as we begin the work to publish our curriculum. And yesterday, the next cycle of the Peace Train Class began. It was a miracle morning -- the day before only 3 students had signed up. At 9 o'clock, one of the woman from the office took our class list and added 4 more. Decent with 7 students at least. At 2:10, we had 11 students (3 who had signed up and 8 others!), our 2 helpers, 2 mothers, and 2 guests visiting. It was the biggest opening circle we have ever had and felt more than anything like a gift from God. I had been so scared there wouldn't be enough students to actually give the class again, and instead the room was overflowing. And one of our students was in the class last cycle, and even though we are doing nearly the same thing, she wanted to come again.

Hello, Hello! I don't know why you say Good Bye, I say Hello!

We have a dream ...

Yesterday we had peace class again! We studied Martin Luther King Jr as our "artesano de paz" and in the spirit we made skits of our dreams for a peaceful world.

In creating the skits, we talked about dreams the students had -- some to be teachers or principals, others to take care of animals or to be singers. We also talked about things that we need. Then after brainstorming in their groups, here are our students dreams for a peace world:




Thank you God for the food you have given us
Gracias, Senor por la que nos ha dado.

Thank you God for water
Gracias Senor el agua.

Playing soccer
Jugando pelota!

Thank you God for making us friends
Gracias Senor por nos convirte en amigos



*calling names*

We are on page 10
Estamos can la pagina 10

I'm done
Yo termine

I'm done
Yo termine

Me too
Yo tambien

Now for math...
Ahora matematica...

I'm done
Yo termine


Now what beautiful worlds! With food, water, soccer, friends, and education. I think we've got the basics!!

iRomero Vive!

This week is the 31st anniversary of the death (assassination) of Monsenor Romero -- this Thursday March 24 to be precise. So this past Saturday was the March and the Vigil in the capitol. It was my second year attending and, once again, it was beautiful.

In his honor, in Peace Club at school on Monday we talked about Monsenor Romero as a Peace Maker and his vision of Peace. I found, on the spot, that just telling the story with no visual aids was going to tough for my second graders (my first class), so with them and the rest of the day, I drew pictures on the white board as we talked:

Once there was a little boy. He came from a poor family in the campo.


Even when he was little, he dreamed of growing up and becoming a priest.


And so he grew and studied and did, in fact, become a priest. He was in charge of constructing a cathedral. So he asked for help getting materials, like concrete and bricks.


He became friends with very rich people and he was very respected.


He also had another friend, and mentor, who was a priest. His friend worked with the poor, teaching them and loving them. Because of his friend, he too got to know, and love the poor. Then he was named archbishop. And a war started. He began spending more and more time with the poor.


In his homilies he began calling for the violence to stop and for care for the poor. Because of this he became known as "the voice for the voiceless." He had a vision for peace in which the poor had food and houses. Children and youth could go to school and people got along and worked together, without violence


After our story, I handed out construction paper "Romero Glasses" and asked the students to write or draw their vision of peace. I invite you to make your own glasses, or comment here :)

This Little Light of Mine

So, today I write with some INCREDIBLY EXCITING NEWS ...

The Peace Train Class has started, and is off and running!

(This is a long one! Lots of beginning things. Talking about class structure, and philosophy --and just excited! -- so feel free to just look at the pictures and watch the videos if you would like :D )

So far, we have given a week of classes (2 2hr long sessions) of class at Centro Arte. The first class at the school I teach in across the lake and this past Sunday was the Grand Opening.

I am so beyond words, overflowing with this class. It is so amazing to see several years worth of work and preparation (both of the class material and of myself) put into action!

One of the things I am emphasizing is the Peace does not mean there is no conflict -- at times we all feel sad mad or frustrated and there are conflicts -- what peace is about is figuring out how to resolve conflict nonviolently in the midst of these tough feelings. And to do this, we first need to find the seed of peace within ourselves, and nourish it to share it with others. This, I suppose you could say, is the basic philosophy of the class. So through art projects, music, english, cooperative games, drama games, and circle time we are looking for and feeding our seeds of peace -- growing in self-esteem and self-confidence. Meanwhile, we are studying the Peace Train for tools to resolve conflicts. And studying peacemakers such as Romero, MLK, Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela etc and inviting special guests to our class every week to lead an activity and show how the find peace to learn from examples how to live Peacefully.

Our first class at Centro Arte was about a week ago, Wednesday. We had 5 kids come (and one join half way through the class after observing the first half). We started in an opening circle, did check-ins (What made your peace this week? What broke it?), said a peace pledge.



Then we went to our stations! :

Learning from volunteer Alex about Monsenor Romero,


learning "This little light of Mine" and "Caminamos en la Paz de Dios" (originally "Marching in the light of God") from volunteer Ariel,


and tracing themselves with chalk and writing inside what brings them peace with Raquel -- one of our salvadoran helpers!




To rotate stations, we walk "in train" and sing "Marching in the Peace of God"


We ended in our circle, showing and telling what we did during the day and singing "This little light of mine" like we will every class. Amazing. See!!

Friday! We had 11 kids -- 5 boys and 6 girls. We again started in our circle and then went and saw volunteer Paul -- our special guest for the day. he brought his guitar and helped us write a song about the Peace Train. So cool.



We took a video which you can see here (The words to the song we wrote: "Vamos a subir el tren de paz / Alto alto cuando estoy enojado / Saber el problema / Buscar soluciones de paz / examina cada solucion/ Negociar una solusion" which means "Hop on board the Peace Train/ Know what the problem / look for peaceful solutions/ Examine each solution / Negotiate a solution").

Then we had one station to make situpons and another to paint using watercolors, a straw and their breath. We talked about the power of breath (and words). These pictures are going to be used as the "body" of little people we will put on the wall for each student -- they already all of glasses from Wednesday, which the decorated as "visions of peace" after learning about Romero. Oh yeah! And half way through each class we play a game -- to bring everyone together and to get out some of that always flowing fountain of energy every 7 8 and 9 year old has!

Oh my goodness, there is sooo much in the class that it's hard to convey it all. It's so life giving, I think both to me, the other volunteers and helpers, as well as the students. Two classes and there is already so much goodness!

At school on Monday, we also started with check ins and Peace Pledge and then we had a big peace of paper with a big circle in the middle -- Our World of Peace.

Around the World we traced our hands and drew what we like. In the middle, we each drew what gives us Peace. I was surprised at how well they all worked together -- I had classes of 12 and of 15, so a lot to all be doing the same thing on the same paper at once, but they did it! And were excited that it was going to be a regular thing.

Finally! On Sunday we had our GRAND PEACE TRAIN OPENING. We invited all 22 constructions kids and their families as well as well as all of the kids in the class and their families. We figured we'd have anywhere between 10 and 50 people show up, sometimes it's hard to know.



About 25 people in all came to witness the giving of diplomas and lots of thanks to the constructors.





Walter read the book he had written about his experience. I talked about the philosophy of the class. Raquel -- one of our amazing helpers!! -- talked about her experience as a helper, what we do, why the class is important. Walter and Raquel were perhaps some of the highlights of the afternoon.



They were both so articulate. Raquel tends towards the quite side and she talked in front of this group for 4 minutes!! Then the kids in the class and Paul and Ariel sang the song we had written with Paul on Friday. We ended, as we always do, singing "This Little Light of Mine" ("Esta Lucita Mia") and taught it to the parents!



At the end of the day, one of my students came over to me with a huge smile and said "Did we do well, Christy? Did we do well?" "Absolutely," I smiled hugely back and hugged him. "You did amazing!"

The light here is shining strong! What a privilege to be here, to be teaching this class, to be working with these kids.

LET IT SHINE LET IT SHINE LET IT SHINE

The Peace Train is finished!

After a month and half of work the Peace Train (or Peace Trains I should say) are finished!

Over 30 people were involved building these trains -- from idea generation, material acquisition, to wood frame construction, decorating, braiding, to finally putting it all together! Over 20 kids worked on the train, along with the whole volunteer team, and Centro Arte staff. What staggering thing to have been a part of!

So, since the last Train post, we had several more decorating meetings with kids ...







...and one with the volunteers!!




Finally, with all of the sides decorated (and cloth braided!) it was time to start putting it all together. We had a lot of velcro in the art bodega, so Cassie suggested we use it! What a great idea! The removable sides may be useful for transportation purposes, or if we ever want new sides. So that's what we did!





Finally! tying on the braid shoulder straps (and trying the train on for size!) :





Big train, little train, PEACE TRAIN! Done!






Done, and at the same time -- as with all things perhaps -- just beginning. The ending of train construction means that that the class itself is about to start! The curriculum I developed as my undergraduate thesis begins March 8! We have 11 - 15 year olds who have been coming to orientation/training classes for the past two weeks and we are handing out quarter sheet invitations right and left.

Peace Train is coming :)

Opportunity for Grace

It's the first day of class. My students come in and I invite them to sit with me in a circle on one side of the room. The other side, with the table and materials for the project of the day, must wait until later. Before anything else, we must begin with each other.

After welcoming them, and introducing briefly the class, we really begin, with what is maybe the most important work we will do in the class for the cycle. Taking yarn, and wrapping it twice around my wrist I introduce myself: my name and some thing I like. I toss the yarn across the circle and invite this first student to do the same. Sometimes as the students throw the yarn, the throw it too hard, or not hard enough, and doesn't make it to the student on the other side. We all laugh as it is retrieved, and this too is good. Finally, we are all connected.

"On the count of three" I say "Everyone stand up and put your hands HIGH in the air!"
We do.

"On the count of three, everyone, touch the floor"

"Now... if your name starts with a vowel reach into the air way high. If not, keep yours hands on the floor."

"Switch!"

"Ok, everyone touch the floor. And one person reach way high up.
When you feel tension, stand up with your hands way high too."

And we all stand.

"Ok, one person touch the floor, and when you feel the pull touch the floor, too."

Sitting back down, still connected, I ask, "What did you notice?" "We made a star with the yarn!" I usually hear. "Yes, I saw that too, what else? ... when was there the most tension?" We identify that there was more tension when we did different things and less tension when we worked together.

"And what about when only one person stood up?" ... "We all hand to stand up!"

And so we discover that we are all connected. That it's good to work together. And that what one person does affects everyone else, for good or for bad.

This is my favorite way to start every class -- be it an English class, Cuentame, or Peace Train construction. It expresses a deep truth in a tangible way -- a way that stays with me as at the end of the activity, as I cut the students free, I invite them to ask a friend to help them tie a knot in the yarn around their wrist, to wear as a bracelet reminder. I am wearing three of these bracelets now, reminders of my students, reminders that we don't walk alone. It makes me think of one of my favorite quotes:

"if you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. If you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine then let us work together."

It is only when we allow ourselves to be bound to each other that we can be free.

It is a wise game I think, one that continues to remind me not to feel "irrevocable responsible for everything ..." (that's God's job, I've heard). To step back, see the bigger picture, and take the long view.

It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view.

The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,
it is even beyond our vision.

We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction
of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work.
Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying
that the kingdom always lies beyond us.
No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection.
No pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No program accomplishes the church's mission.
No set of goals and objectives includes everything.

This is what we are about.
We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted,
knowing that they hold future promise.

We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities.

We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation
in realizing that. This enables us to do something,
and to do it very well. It may be incomplete,
but it is a beginning, a step along the way,
an opportunity for the Lord's grace to enter and do the rest.

We may never see the end results, but that is the difference
between the master builder and the worker.

We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own.
Amen.

-Monseñor Romero