August 2007

Dear family and friends,

Much has happened since we sent out our last update in early May, which is why it has taken us 3 months to get this one together instead of the usual month-and-a-half. Here are some of the highlights:

CLAI
Part of Chris’s work at the Latin American Council of Churches is as a representative to the indigenous Ecuadorian church organization FEINE. In May and June, Chris gave one-day workshops on community pastoral counseling and accompaniment in the southern Ecuadorian Andes and in the Amazon to indigenous pastors and church leaders. Then, in July, he helped develop the next three workshops in this indigenous pastoral training program. This work with FEINE continues to be an incredible opportunity to gain insight into and learn from indigenous peoples and realities in Ecuador. Equally so, for us the relationships that are developing from this work are an incredible fount of awareness-raising and learning about ourselves and where we come from.

In June, Trish and Chris translated the latest addition of the Latin American Ecumenical News, an English-language newspaper from CLAI. In July, Chris had the privilege of preaching in a Mennonite church in Quito where two of our Colombian colleagues at CLAI are pastors.

Diocese of Central Ecuador
The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Katharine Jefferts-Schori, came to visit the diocese from July 13 to 17. We had the privilege of being with her for much of her visit. Like the members of the diocese, on a personal level we were greatly encouraged by her sensitive and generous spirit and her vision for the church. On Saturday and Monday, Chris was able to accompany Katharine, her husband, and representatives of the Episcopal Church on visits to the parishes in Quito, an ecumenical breakfast at CLAI, several media interviews, and meetings with national government officials and the mayor of Quito. On Sunday she presided at the service at the Cathedral and preached in Spanish, which was attended by over 600 people. After the service there was a large reception - which Trish had helped prepare - with lunch for all and presentations from different churches from the Diocese.

Also in July, Trish attended meetings focused on creating an ecumenical group that will work on Colombian refugee and immigration issues and needs in Ecuador. As part of this growing commitment, Trish also attended two days of workshops in Ibarra in August. These workshops were hosted by the diocese, presented by Episcopal Relief and Development, and involved members and bishops from the two dioceses in Ecuador, the Diocese of Colombia and the Diocese of Venezuela.

We have been incredibly privileged to be with recent volunteers to the diocese who have come to work and learn. Thomas Fregoso spent seven weeks in Quito, Ibarra, and Puyo, improving his Spanish while getting involved in the work of the diocese. Marian Dickson, a volunteer with the Episcopal Young Adult Service Corps, arrived in July and will spend the year here, primarily teaching English at the Cathedral primary school. Also, in mid-August we spent 10 days with 16 people who visited the diocese from the Seabury Deanery in Connecticut. This was a great time of hard work, learning about realities in Ecuador as well as more about ourselves, and building relationships. For us as for the diocese, these new relationships are a great source of encouragement, support, and mutual understanding.

Family
In the midst of all of this, Trish had her right kidney taken out. Right after the Presiding Bishop left, Trish went to the doctor for discomfort she had been feeling on her right side. We found out that her right kidney had failed and was filling with fluid and putting pressure on her other organs. After two consultations with urologists, we agreed that the kidney had to be removed. The doctors were able to do the surgery laparoscopically here in Quito. Trish spent three days in the hospital, and the recuperation has been very quick.

The doctors even felt that we could still make an already-planned quick visit to the U.S. for a big family reunion. Although Chris had his doubts, we flew back to the U.S. just a week after the surgery. We normally would not have done that trip, but Chris has two uncles who are very ill and his grandmother was celebrating her 80th birthday. In addition to spending time with family, we were able to visit San Andres, a Spanish-speaking church in Brooklyn whose priest, Francisco Rodriguez, is a friend of ours (and of the Diocese of Central Ecuador), and Chris had the privilege of preaching there.

At the end of June Claire graduated from Pre-Kinder and gave the class’s closing words to the parents. It was wonderful to see how far she has come in developing her Spanish and friendships with the other kids. Now we’re getting ready for the next year which starts in about two weeks.

Isabel continues to grow up quickly. She’s a big eater and is learning to love all foods. She continues to (mostly) sleep through the night, which was long in coming, and she has also taken her first steps. She’s still a little timid to walk on her own, but that will come in time.

Love,
Trish, Chris, Claire, and Isabel

www.flickr.com/photos/morck
www.stjames-cambridge.org/morcks

Iglesia Episcopal del Ecuador
F. Sarmiento N39-54 y Portete
Quito
Ecuador