The following is the fifth installment of reflections from Sr. Pat Horan, who is spending the year ministering with Dominican Sisters in Montebello, South Africa.
11/5 Johanna and I were chauffeured to Wartburg to get haircuts. A young German – South African woman was very excited to give her first cut to a New Yorker. Little perks!
11/6 A full day of “refreshing prep” and assisting learners to read for understanding. Finding I am explaining dictionary definitions. Sight vocabulary is great but definitions are another world.
11/7 Vianney Home held its Annual Meeting and in attendance was the Board, a few donors and other interested friends, mostly Sisters. The children entertained with song and dance between reports. The staff also entered the spirit. It was just as wonderful as a Broadway show! Sr. Valentine faces the same problems as St. Dominic’s Home with Welfare and high costs of feeding and caring for the many emotional and spiritual needs of the children and staff. Coworkers are very caring and awfully underpaid. The Sisters receive no stipend. May love enrich our poverty in fact and spirit.
11/8 We join today in celebration with Sr. Terry Rickard so well known by the Sisters of Montebello for her work in South Africa with Renew International. Know our love, prayer and blessing Terry!
11/9 My very limited ability to follow hymns in Zulu is improving. Following with the eyes of the heart is one thing and understanding quite different. We are all LEARNERS in this special project and have our similar weaknesses. Truth, the Sisters do better with English than I do with Zulu.
11/10 The fierce sounding wind, blowing through this Valley of a Thousand Hills, is mighty. Is it Mother Nature? Is it the Strong Wind that is Spirit? Are they really One?
11/11 At 3 AM, noticing a small light through the lace curtain and pulling it back saw a star! Hurriedly dressed and from the roof saw that the night sky was illumined by a waning moon and brilliantly decorated in the jewels of the Milky Way. Billions of her finest diamonds encased in black velvet! I wanted to shout, “Sleepers arise” but instead drew the wonder inward remembering we are made of the same finest stuff. Came in but compelled to return. Hints of dawn showed off on the horizon.
11/12 Warmer days are enlivening my spirit. How thankful I am. Walking today around 8 a.m. I realized that my Irish skin has no place to hide itself. A schedule change is needed to keep exercise a priority.
11/13 Today I savored a pear!
11/14 In spite of what was going on ay Montebello, I took the opportunity to go the mall and stroll around for my mental and emotional well being. The freedom of non-confinement and buying a donut was liberating.
11/15 This week I am “Heb”, the leader of prayer, and the chanting of all the “oremus (es)”, closing prayer, returns like a newly gloved hand!
11/16 I visited the 2-6 year olds at CRECHE today. The day was cold and rainy so only 19 children were present out of 109. Curiosity ran high and I was given a “touch over” by kids needing to feel my hair, ring and stockings. I joined in the ring game of Who Stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar. Cute and rare gift!
11/17 Our small group gathers twice a week for increasing our ease in conversational English. It has become a faith sharing which is creating a strong bond among us. Our senior Sisters, like all in our Blauvelt Community, are treasures. O the depths of the wisdom of God!
11/18 To be without water for two days and then experience its flowing again is to rediscover that it is gold. Today, a lull in several days of rain enabled wash to be hung out and dried. This is also gold.
11/19 Sr. Helen’s wound is healing very slowly and she is courageously working at getting down and up two small steps with her walker. Her sister visited over the weekend and it was a B-12 shot for her. JOY!
for her. JOY!
