Pd. Basilio has been in charge of Priorato La Resurrección down in Cobán, Guatemala for so long that he once told me he didn’t know anymore if he was American or Guatemalan.  He’s been a generous host each time we’ve been down there and he’s one of the kindest men I’ve ever known.  Pd. Basil had a bit of trouble in the last couple weeks, and is currently hospitalized in Guatemala City after suffering a stroke and a heart attack.  We pray for his recovery and ask you to send your thoughts as well.

Noticias de Guatemala (actualizado 21/7/10):

FIJATE QUE EL PADRE BASILIO ESTA  MUY DELICADO DE SALUD, EL SABADO LO OPERARON DEL CORAZON PORQUE LE PUSIERON UN MARCAPASOS PARA QUE LE AYUDARA UN POCO EN EL CORAZON Y LUEGO AL SIGUIENTE DIA EL DOMINGO LO OPERARON DEL CEREBRO PORQUE TENIA UN EMATOMA CUAULADO EN EL CEREBRO, PUES DE LA OPRECION SALIO BIEN DICEN LOS DOCTORES, PERO TENIAMOS QUE ESPERAR 72 HORAS PARA VER LAS RESPUESTAS A LA OPERACION,  YO LO FUI A VE AL HOSPITAL Y REALMENTE ES UN CUADRO MUY TRISTE VERLO, PORQUE LO TIENEN CON MUCHOS APARATOS Y AMARRADO A LA CAMILLA DE PIES Y MANOS, PORQUE EL DOMINGO SE ARRANCO TODOS LOS APARATOS Y DESTROZO ALGUNAS COSAS EN EL HOSPITAL PORQUE NO ESTABA CONCIENTE DE NADA POR LO MISMO DEL CEREBRO. HOY MIERCOLES VIENE EL ABAD DENNIS PARA VER A BASILIO Y VER COMO SEGUIRA LA COMUNIDAD.  POR AHORA SOLO NOS QUEDA TENER PASIENCIA Y SEGUIR REZANDO PARA QUE DIOS LE CONCEDA LA SALUD QUE EL NECESITA.  HASTA HOY MIERCOLES NO HA REACCIONADO EL PADRE BASILIO, CUALQUIER NOTICIA YO TE ESTARE INFORMANDO. UNAMONOS EN ORACION POR SU RECUPERACION.

Leonel and JuanJose are our monk friends from Guatemala (they’re the first two handsomes pictured below).  They’re preparing for their solemn vows (where they commit to the Order of St. Benedict Forever and Ever Amen) so we’re raising money to get them here for a visit in June so that they will be able to spend some time in our community for our wedding, and a week at Blue Cloud Abbey in South Dakota with their counterparts.   As you can imagine, the religious life in Guatemala is not fruitful in terms of money.

But you’ve got $50, right?

20 prints will be made and signed (or not signed, if that’s your thing).

Link To Buy Prints.

The Prints For Sale:

You know it’s official when you change your Facebook status.  Kess and I got engaged today.  This is exciting.

** Edited to add: Image #1 by Riccis Valladares. Image #2 by Nicki Lou (Kess’ roommate).

The monks pestered us to explain our jobs to them.  When they found out we were theater types, they wanted to see some proof.  Rita gave a little performance: a Two Minute Monologue* (which Matt later had to translate into Spanish).
Location: Resurrection Priory in Coban, Guatemala downstairs from where we stayed
Prop: Mop
Prep time: Zero

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*Our friend Jill is famous for her mad improvisational skillz.  We saw her Two Minute Monologue and it got stuck in our collective brain.  Hers is rated R for language and T for tattoo parlor.

And now, a message and photos from Katie Workinger.

Buenos dias! Today is our second full day in Coban, Guatemala. I absolutely love it here! This is my second year coming on the trip and it feels so good to be back. I didn’t realize how much I missed the people, monastery and city until we arrived.  Coban is a beautiful, colorful, small city. There is graffiti, bright colored walls, alleys, exposed wires, mountains, small shops, etc. Allowing plenty of photo opportunities for me! Here are some images I’ve shot so far…

The Guatemalans I have met this year and last year are some of the most trusting, friendly, loving and hospitable people I have ever met. I have been to different parts all over the world and never met people like this. The best part is… it’s genuine. For example, yesterday we went to an hour and a half morning mass that was entirely spoken in Q’eqchí (one of the Mayan languages spoken in some Guatemala communities). We all obviously stuck out like a sore thumb. It wasn’t even our skin color that gave us away as much as our Western clothing and the unbelievable height difference. Monica (who is about 5’1” on a good day) is tall compared to most Guatemalans… so you can only imagine the stares we got from being a group of 9 average height Americans plus one giant Blum. As we walked into the church, there were glances and whispers but I never got the feeling that I was being judged; it was more so out of intrigue. And anytime we noticed their glances and our eyes met, they would blush and give us a shy smile. I especially noticed two teenage Guatemalans (a boy and a girl) that kept glancing in our direction. As soon as it was time to say peace, they immediately scurried over to our pews and hugged and kissed every one of us. I try to think back to when I was 15 and I could never imagine not only willingly going to mass without my parents (they were by themselves) but going out of my way to greet foreigners.

Oh, another cool/interesting thing about the mass was that there was an earthquake. I lived in California for 4 years and never experienced one. Although, the earthquake was so small, I didn’t know until last night that it was one. I felt the floors and walls vibrate but since the mass was in another language and they were singing loudly, I was confused and thought people were stomping for effect… smart kid.

I’m not sure what the rest of the trip has in store for us but the cool thing about Guat is you just go with the flow. It feels so good to be back and I look forward to the rest of the week! Ciao!