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Santa Cruz, 6th May 2008
Although the sun still shines a lot, the chilly wind from the South - the "sur" - makes us wear sweaters and jackets. The first sur is a harbinger of the dry, winter season. Of course, we will never have frost or snow. But when the temperatures are below 10?C you can feel the wet air in your bones. Moreover, there in no heating anywhere and you can feel the winter in the tropics. For people who often live in airy cottages it is a very hard time. You can often see them cuddling in their beds, covered with all they could find to survive the cold. Because of the sudden temperature changes I caught a small cold. But it is nothing unusual during this time of the year. Luckily, the tropical disease called "denge" has not caught me so far. However, many people were struck down by it. It is a disease carried by mosquitoes. Especially at the end of the rainy season, when there are many insects, you can get easily infected. High fever, vomiting, lack of appetite and strengths are the main symptoms of "denge". As a result, a course of antibiotics is necessary and you should stay at least one week in bed. Younger people get over it earlier but neglecting the symptoms at older people may even lead to death. That is why old people are taken to hospital right after they get infected. But these are kinds of diseases you should count with and learn to live with. Luckily, another tropical disease - malaria - is rarely found here.
But let's stop talking about diseases because everybody will get scared. In general, a little bit of cooler weather after the hot summer months pleases us rather than saddens.
As far as politics is concerned, the last few months were "hot" as well. A new project of the constitution was announced a few months ago. It was approved only by the ruling socialist party. The constitution discriminated the regions in Bolivia which tended to nationalize some institutions and favoured some groups of American Indians, especially those from the mountainous terrains. Some departments, among them the biggest one in Santa Cruz, announced their autonomous statutes. They also announced a referendum in which they could vote for or against the autonomy of the regions. The authorities were against it. Despite the fact, the opposition in a peaceful and democratic manner called for taking part in the referendum. The first referendum took place last Sunday, on the 4th May, in our biggest department. Although people from the ruling party, often drunk and under the influence of coca, blocked access to the polling stations, burnt ballot boxes and terrorized people, 85% of the voters were in favour of the autonomy and for more democratic statutes. The reaction of the president in a television programme was very critical, even appalling. He condemned the voting and claimed that it had been illegal. He condemned the democratic voice of more than one million people who were against the current government. The "camba" people managed to do it in a peaceful way. When the results were announced, hundred thousands people went to the town to celebrate the victory. Similar referendums will also take place in other departments in the next the next few weeks and similar results are expected. I wonder if the government which speaks about democracy will still disregard the opinion of so many people. The next few weeks will show if there will be talks and compromises or, God forbid, other clashes or even a civil war. The government attacks the Church, our cardinal from Santa Cruz too. In the mass media there were many pictures which showed the voting cardinal. As a result it was announced that the Church is no longer accepted as a mediator between the left-wing government and the opposition.
The situation in the country is tense. A dialogue is the best thing which could happen now. Not all the reform plans of the government are bad but all people's voices should be accepted and not only the voices of selected parties, ethnic groups or regions.
Luckily, politics is not the only thing that keeps us going. Everyday life means bigger and smaller joys and concerns which turns out thoughts away from the propaganda, unfulfilled words, slogans and promises. Each house, each parish and each mission lives its own life.
So... a few days ago we celebrated Brother Diego's 85th birthday anniversary. Our senior has felt quite good since he came back to Bolivia. He has been active and if the weather is fine he gets on his 29-year-old VW and drives to a nearby swimming pool. He works on his computer and is active at home. I think that this discipline keeps him going. He has got his own rhythm and his healthy food in which there is a lot of honey, lemon and garlic. Thanks to such a way of living he will live until he is 100 years old.
These days we have also recollected Fr Rudolph who died last year. He was the founder of our parish and the builder of our convent. He was also the good spirit of this house for more than 50 years. He was very cheerful and always smiling even when the suffering was ruining his work-worn body. He will always remain in our memory and it is difficult to imagine this house without him.
The recent Ascension Day was also an opportunity for us to go to the Guarayos terrains of our Vicariate. The reason for the journey was the parish fair in Ascension, the biggest parish in this region. I was accompanied by Fr Cesar who came to Cochabamba especially for this fair. On our way there we took two fellow-brothers from El Fortin - Felek and Staś. Unfortunately, this 300-kilometer-long journey lasted almost the whole day. More than one hour of waiting in front of the railway bridge over the Rio Grande and awful conditions of the roads did not discourage us and in the evening we knocked to the gates in Ascension where we were welcomed by Brother Bernardo. Bishop Anthony and Brother Mark joined us few hours later. On the next day Bishop Anthony celebrated a solemn Holy Mass in the huge church in Ascension. The church was full of people. After the Mass there was a procession around the main square in Ascension. A Christ figure was carried in this procession. People were wearing their best clothes and the traditional music from Guarayos was played. Later, according to the custom, local "bigwigs" - i.e. local authorities - met the guests and the Bishop. Only after this "ceremony" could we go to the Sisters' House (Australians and Bolivians) for a ceremonial dinner. The "youngest" sister from Guarayos, the 89-year-old Sister Dorothea, also took part in the dinner. And then, after a short break there were... 300 kilometres back to Santa Cruz. On the way back we left our fellow-brothers in El Fortin and took a bag full of grapefruits and lemons.
Such a journey always makes me feel good. The distance and the tiredness caused by driving a car for so many hours are not important. The people there are important. It is great to meet them and celebrate with the humble but also cheerful and happy brother and sisters.
I wish you a lot of joy and warmth for the forthcoming days and weeks.
With best regards
Tarcisio, OFM
Fiesta Ascension, 1st May 2008, together with Rev. Paul
Fiesta Ascension, Bishop Anthony, Fr Cesar, Sister Martha, Fr Bernard and... your friend in the habit
Fiesta Ascension, Bishop Anthony among the bigwigs
Fiesta Ascension, the Holy Mass
Fiesta Ascension 2008
Fiesta Ascencion 2008
Fiesta Ascencion 2008
Fiesta Ascencion 2008
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