March 4th 2010 – I Can Now Empathize ...

... with those who have to walk to San Francisco.

Hooray Alisha.  She likes to walk and experience things.  And she is pushing me to my limits.  And that is a good thing.

Today we had on the calendar that we were going to visit San Francisco.  This is the partner community to Alisha’s church (Westminster Presbyterian).   I was originally planning to drive, but then I thought … she wanted to walk to Alejandria – and we did.  She wants to walk to the cross on the top of the mountain overlooking Berlin – and she will … so why not walk to San Francisco?

So I talked to Miguel (the S.F. Pastoral Team liaison) and we set up the time.  I apologized and reminded him that someone would have to walk back down to Berlin with us – and he said he would do that.  Keep in mind he lives in San Francisco.  So he walked down to the Pastoral House to fetch us, walked back up with us.  Walked back down with us and then had to walk back up again to go home.

What a trooper!

We left the house about 1:50.  And we walked and talked.  It was not a fast pace and quite frankly, not a difficult walk.  But I imagine we walked a little slower than Miguel would have if we weren’t with him.  We took a back path as a short cut around the cemetery but ended up on the main road leading out of Berlin and up the mountain.

It took us about 40 minutes.  Not too bad.  A funny thing – we were on the main road and we could hear a car coming.  It is a curvy mountain road of course, so we move to the side.  Along came a police car.  We smiled as they approached and they stopped and asked where we were going.  They were quite nice really.  They offered us a ride.  But I told them it was good for us to walk to really understand and get to know the struggles of the walk to the nearest canton.   

As soon as we turned the corner to head up the little road to the church where we were to meet some of the youth group, we saw Alisha’s friend Maria and her little girl.  Perfect timing!  Alisha had a letter for her and we had to take photos of course.  They chatted a little while.  Maria is quite pregnant and we oohed and aahed over her large tummy.  She is due this very month. 

Miguel told me the kids were waiting for us in the church.  So while Alisha said goodbye to Maria, I headed in.  What a surprise I saw!  There were a ton of kids there!  They had the chairs all set up in a large circle and they were all waiting for us.  I counted 21 … and we later learned that there are about 30 in total in the church youth group.  This is a huge growth from last year when there were only 11.  How cool is that!

I smiled and said ‘hola’ and in unison they said it back.  So I joked and said it again.  It was like a chorus I told them.  And that we needed to work on the harmony next!

Alisha and I sat down with them and the young man in charge said a few words of welcome and suggested we make introductions.  He said everyone should say their name and how long they have been in the group.  I asked them to also tell us how old they were.  They ranged in age between 10 and 29 but most of them were in their teens.  There were some that had been there since the beginning (over a year) and a couple that it was their first time!

Alisha was asked to say a few words as representative of her church.  She did well considering she was put on the spot.  And of course, I can’t resist saying a few things.  Miguel spoke as did Daniel (the Delegate of the Word in San Francisco).  Alisha asked what kinds of activities they do.  We were told they get together to talk about “themes” (discussion topics), and sometimes just get together to try to support each other as friends.  They are becoming ‘community’ it sounded to me. 

It was a great visit.  We only stayed about an hour but it was enough.  Hopefully they were inspired to continue on and stay together and continue supporting each other.  

So we began our trek back down the mountain.  

The walk was pleasant.  It was certainly not as strenuous as the walk to Alejandria or San Lorenzo.  It is still a two mile hike.  First downhill (maybe a mile) then uphill the second mile.  But there is enough variation in the road – level, not too steep for not too long… but a steady up hill for that second mile.  We were hot and tired when we got back, but not physically drained.  I think we both just felt good about the walk. 

And now I know that walk.