Beraca

On the last day of January, I attended a meeting of the members of the ministerio de alabanza (worship ministry). The praise band is named Beraca, which means "blessing" in Hebrew. Gaby and Elieth were there too since they've participated before. The meeting was somewhat logistical and also had an element of committing to participation in the ministry in the new year. The next day we had a rehearsal, and I practiced as well so I could start learning some of the songs even though I wouldn't be singing on Sunday the 2nd.

Gaby and me at rehearsal

My parents were here Feb 3-14 and Mom posted a great overview on Facebook of their time here. Check it out on her timeline or mine.

On the 15th I was called to rehearsal, and the next day I was up front singing with the band in the worship service for the first time! I also participated this past Sunday:

Gaby is to my left and her sister Flor is to my right

It really has been a blessing to get involved in music again this month, and I'm looking forward to continue participating and serving the church this way while I'm still in SPS! Speaking of which...

Another beraca I've been given over the past couple weeks is the opportunity to extend my term with MCC! I was really surprised when the reps asked me on the 20th how I would feel about the idea of staying through October, since I already knew my current position won't exist, exactly, in the coming year. (In the YALT position replacing it, my communications role will be combined with what has been Rudi's work at CASM for a focus that is less on general MCC communications and more about presenting the work of CASM's migrant program.) Well, it seems the lack of this role in the next cycle is partially why they would want me to stay on a little longer in it!

I've been continuing work on the alumni album and anniversary stories I mentioned, interviewing Linda Shelly and Luke Schrock-Hurst this month to round out my understanding of the context in the 80s and polishing up my first story about the Mennonite response to the Salvadoran refugee crisis (which also has info from my interview with Ovidio last month and with Cesar and Lizette in December). Keep an eye out for that article on the LACA blog in the next couple weeks!

Anyway, with all the comms work I've been doing re: the anniversary and the centennial celebration, the reps are hoping I can continue that work with a few more months to share more stories. My role will also be somewhat augmented by event planning responsibilities as we prepare for the centennial celebration in early October. 

So, logistically, this means that I'll no longer be flying back to PA the first week of July for SALT re-entry. Instead, I'll move from being a SALTer into my expanded role as an MCC service worker! And lucky you, you get to keep reading my blog for longer.