We spent today at the Diocesan Center, primarily in the Seminary. The Center and the Seminary occupy a converted house in a residential neighborhood, with the diocesan offices on the first floor and the Seminary on the upper floors. There is one large classroom for the Seminary that also serves as the chapel. There is also a smaller conference room. There are bunk rooms (and I do mean bunk rooms: two or three sets of bunk beds in a room) for the seminarians when they attend classes. They spend one weekend per month, arriving on Thursday and leaving on Sunday. Some of them travel up to 16 hours to get to Quito in order to attend these sessions. They do this for six months, followed by a four month break, and then repeat the cycle. A large enclosed porch serves as the dining room.
Our primary job today was to conduct a workshop for clergy and seminarians. One of the exercises we did was to create a time line of the history of the diocese and of Ecuador. Veronica and I put up a few facts about Ecuador and the Episcopal Church to get them started. They were surprised to learn that the first Anglican Church in America was founded only 400 years ago in Jamestown. Actually, they were surprised by a lot of things. As they worked, it quickly became apparent to them that they did not know much about the history of their own diocese. As a result they initiated a project, with which we will assist them on an ongoing basis, to prepare a history of the diocese so that they have one for future generations. One of the things that surprised me was that they noted the date women were first ordained in England, but not in the United States.
Ruth-Ann also led them through several communication and listening exercises. Again, they were surprised by what they learned about each other in the process. They also feel disconnected from the main body of the church. We brought some copies, in Spanish, of Summaries of the 2006 General Convention, which they had not yet seen. I'm not sure if this was because it had not filtered down out of the diocesan office, or if the information had never reached Ecuador. Or some combination of both. They crave information. However, they are also fiercely independent and proud of their culture as Ecuadorians.
They were pleased to learn that there is an ongoing project involving theologians and curriculum writers from Province IX to create a Spanish Language curriculum for the dioceses in Province IX, not just translations of material written for English speakers in the United States or material written for the Hispanic communities in the United States. Some of the clergy and educators have provided us with copies of material they have developed, which means that they are helping to inform the work of the Province IX curriculum writers.
After only four days here we are beginning to feel close many of the people we have met and worked with. Some of them we have seen several times, and relationships are developing. In spite of the language gap, there are already shared stories and jokes. For instance, the moment during the Wednesday workshop when Veronica turned to Ruth-Ann to translate a question into English for her and began speaking in Spanish. The look on Ruth-Ann's face was priceless, and one of the Ecuadorian women who knows very little English called out, in English, "In English, please!" The entire room burst out laughing. Or Raul who is still thanking us for coming to visit his missions in the indigenous communities he serves. Or Javier, who is probably the safest driver I have encountered in a long time, who keeps apologizing for all the sharp curves in the roads.
I have been stumbling along with my limited Spanish. Today I was actually able to carry on several short, simple conversations with folks. When I wasn't thinking in German or trying to translate into French, that is. It's an odd sensation thinking in two languages and trying to communicate in a third.
There is something that happens here that gives me great hope for the future of our church, not just in Ecuador, but throughout the Communion. I observed it most clearly Wednesday and today as we did the workshops. People will disagree and argue vehemently over even small things, yet they sit down to meals together as friends and talk about their families and what they have been doing since the last time they saw each other. Then we would go back into the workshop, and arguments would break out during some of the large group activities. Yet they would come together in small groups to accomplish a task by working together in a professional, and dare I say it, even a friendly manner. They are a community. They are a Christian community. Many of us in the Anglican Communion could learn a lot from these people.
Tomorrow we have a "free" day, and we will do some sightseeing and visit a native market to do some shopping. After all, we have to fill our suitcases with something after we emptied them of all the resources and clergy shirts!
Peace,
Jeffri
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