“Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return” - Gen 3:19. These are the words spoken on Ash Wednesday as the ashes are spread upon your forehead. These words are hard as we are reminded of our human nature: We will die. Yet these words are also freeing. What’s more freeing than the words, is the way that these ashes are placed on your forehead: The shape of the cross. This cross of ashes is a reminder that through all the ash, filth, and sin in our lives, He took it upon himself to die, as a human, so that we can live with Him as intended.
Amidst all the ash, February was filled with blessings for the Pio House. Moments such as camping out under Estaban’s coconut trees, visits from some good friends from the states, having all the SOLT sisters over for dinner, Lenten resolutions as a house and of course an ice cream excursion in Guatemala. We were fortunate enough to end the month with the Eucharist being brought to our house for an overnight adoration. It was such a gift to have Jesus stay with us overnight and see all the guys take turns sleeping and praying so that someone was constantly spending time with our Lord.
One moment from this month which stood out was a seemingly small one, but one that has stuck with me. Every family dinner at the house whoever is assigned to cook that night gets to ask a question for the table. The question asked one night was something along the lines of “what’s something you’ve done out of love?” There were some great responses and stories that came from this, but the answer that struck me the most was one which seemed so simple. Riccardo mentioned that he couldn’t pinpoint just one, but something silly and small he said is that he’ll make a little paper crane and place it on a windowsill, knowing that someday someone might come across it and it might make them smile. I thought about and prayed with this seemingly small act for a while afterwards, and it has helped guide me through the thickets that came pretty numerous this month. I wrote a little poem about it but I don’t want to bore y’all with it, so if you do want to check it out you can find it in the blog page on this site.
The image of a paper crane goes right with the words spoken on Ash Wednesday; “remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” We are handcrafted by God from dust to become something beautiful and to serve however He designed us. Knowing this, again, is hard yet freeing. As time goes on I’m reminded of why I’m currently down in Central America in this small, beautiful town of Benque. I’m so thankful to be here and couldn’t have been without many of you following this journey so I want to thank you and I hope you have a fruitful Lent and an excellent Easter!
“Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return” - Gen 3:19
Camping under the coconut trees
Trip to the other side to visit Carlos always requires a stop at Sarita for ice cream
I've also been coaching track at Mount Carmel High School and we had our first meet this month, It went great! It was also a BYOB meet (Bring your own bib)
Surprise visit from my favorite Benque dog Nina!
Been teaching at a primary (elementary) school which has been a blast! It's always a gift to run into some of my students on the way down to school
"A thousand years of enjoying human glory is not worth even an hour spent in sweetly communing with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament." - St. Padre Pio
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