In Colorado
June 22-July 7.
Omaha!
July 7-12.
Hope to see you!
June 7, 2009
Friends.
These have been some good guys to know.
Santos below will be joining the Jesuits here in the next few weeks, he leaves for his home in the village tomorrow. Santos…quite possibly the coolest guy I know here in Kathmandu, he works a lot with interfaith dialogue and bringing the people of Kathmandu together. He also works a lot with the poor serving anywhere and everywhere he is. Not to mention he is a teacher. I told him that in his decision he has crushed the dreams of many ladies in Kathmandu.
My favorite thing about Santos is that he was willing to ride on my bicycle rack for over an hour as I took him home.
Below is my other friend Brother Aasheevadom (I actually don’t know how to spell his name, but do know it means blessings.) Brother A. has a joyful sarcasm about him and is willing to talk about and joke about everything. He will be going to Kolkata in a couple of weeks to continue his studies with the Jesuits as well. Brother A and I usually have a lot of good laughs with our good friend Brother Rakesh.
I have found my favorite thing about Brother A. is this fact: His favorite musician and song John Denver Rocky Mountain High. Today as we walked he listened to my I-Pod with the sweet headphones I got from The Well! and with a raised voice he says “MY FAVORITE SONG IS COMING, JOHN DENVER.”
May 28, 2009
This past Saturday.
This past Saturday the Catholic Church Andrew and I attend here in Nepal was bombed. This came to me as a shock to know the details of the bombing and I have been saddened by the reality it has left for many of my friends. Two young girls have passed away as a result and many are still in the hospital recovering.
We are praying for those who passed, the injured, their families and the people behind the act. I request your prayers for our friends, for this nation and for peace.
Sunday after the bombing the church had an open prayer for all of the religions represented here in Nepal (Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims). Leaders from all around came together to hope and pray for religious tolerance and peace for the nation.
Andrew and I were debriefing the Servant Team in the mountains at the time, and had received the news the day after the incident. After receiving the news we viewed photos of the area and were shocked to see it is in the area we sit in. Our good friend Brother Rakesh has been hospitalized along with many others. We are thankful we were not there, but wishing in ways that we were there to support our friends and community.
Thanks for your thoughts/prayers during this time.
May 14, 2009
Jail house conversations.
In a conversation about egalitarian female/male relationships my friend in Jail states:
“I do not belong to tradition, I belong to love.”
-friend.
May 4, 2009
Monkey madness.
A few months ago Andrew was taking pictures of his friend. I had to hold her up to get the good “with a monkey shot.” This little friend has traveled from a far away land, so the monkey shot was necessary.
I attempted to get as close as possible…maybe not the best idea.
Then it came after me and I took off in fear! (something I can do pretty well.)
no injuries to report.
April 25, 2009
Van.
My Dad loves music especially classic rock. Through his joy and love for such music I have found myself also enjoying classic rock.
During some harder times in his life I took note that he listened a lot to two bands; Counting Crows (which you have to be crazy to not like) and Van Morrison. I have recently been listening to Van Morrison more than I usually do and I realize the healing powers of his music. He sings of hope, joy, beauty, good times, his loved one, friends and much more. He also isn’t afraid to sing about the difficult times either.
I love listening to Van, for many reasons, he has a taught me a lot about love, hope and healing.
Below is a picture of my Brother Brent, Dad and my Grandma. This was taken last year, so I imagine, though I haven’t seen them since, I imagine they all have gotten that much better looking.
April 22, 2009
‘The Times They Are A-Changin’
‘Come Gather around people, wherever you roam
And admit that the waters around you have grown
And accept it that soon you’ll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you is worth savin’
Then you better start swimmin’ or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin’
-Bob Dylan
I have enjoyed this song for years now, and I don’t know about you but when I hear a song a million times over it begins to lose the impact it had in the beginning. I started listening to this song again after having listened to it so many times before and the words came alive again, like never before. I have been impacted in many ways here in Kathmandu, some good, some difficult and I have found myself broken before the poor…in shock at times and in awe at other times. I am thankful to have another day here but have found that each step forward takes me further into a place where I don’t know the answers.
I remember writing you all prayer letters over a year ago when I was still at home hoping and praying to come back to Kathmandu. Now I am here and wondering what was it that I was hoping and praying for. Was I hoping for many ‘souls to be saved,’ the poor to find justice, God to be recognized in places He isn’t, coming out to find myself, or coming to build relationships with those I love and yearn to live in solidarity with? I think it was a combination of these things. Funny thing is that I don’t think I have ‘saved any souls,’ actually Andrew my roommate was asked by a man at our church the other day:
“How many people have you converted this past year?”
Andrew replied
“Zero.”
The curious man then replied
“Oh you must not be doing it right.”
I thought to myself when I heard this, maybe Andrew is doing it the way it is suppose to be done. I don’t know.
Since the days of volunteering with The Well at Eastern Hills Community Church I had come to understand ministry as a gift of our life. Our life, a gift we can give to the poor, to the high school kids at the Well, friends at The Gathering Church, family, wives, husbands, to our friends, co-workers, and children. It is in our death to ourselves that life is brought to others. This may not make much sense, but I really felt affirmed the other day when I sat with Sister Bernadette who serves with and has given her life to the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa) serving the elderly who have been forgotten in Nepal. Sister Bernadette was telling me “our lives speak louder than our words.” Sister Bernadette’s words affirmed that what I can give the Servant Team is my life when I serve along side them. My prayer is that these times speak louder than my attempts to speak about the beauty of life with the poor and the heart of Jesus. Sister Bernadette also described how she loves to talk about Jesus when she is asked about Him, and that in those times her friends are eager to listen.
So back to an amazing song written by Bob Dylan, I have found myself at times drowning in emotions, thoughts, questions and lifestyles. Yet, I have been encouraged and supported by all of you, by our friends here that I feel so grateful to call friends, and in my journey into understanding what it means to have faith and hope. I admit the waters around me have begun to grow and I find myself learning how to swim to save my life, but I am also realizing it is a life that I am learning how to give. The best part of the above lyrics “Come Gather around people, wherever you roam”, I have found it so important that we do as such. Maybe we come from a different church background, gender, religion, ethnicity, age, social class, caste, education wherever it is that we are roaming may we do it together.
Love and Peace,
Calvin
smothersc@gmail.com
smothers.wordpress.com
p.s. On what is an extremely exciting note for all of us here in Nepal and all over the world, Word Made Flesh is getting a make over. New things to come include a new website, logo, prayer letters, version of The Cry, and online store. By the time you will have received this most of the updates will have taken place. Check out www.wordmadeflesh.org to see the sweat and tears put into what we hope will serve you better.
April 5, 2009
music.
I love music.
recently I have been listening to the following:
Audioslave
M.I.A.
Rolling Stones
DJ Shadow
Four Tet
Bon Iver
Kings of Leon
The Beltones
Mogwai
Hendrix
The Beatles!
If you want keep me informed on what you all are listening to!
