Last week was taken up with the AGM of the St. James Society in Lima, Peru. Actually it was the 50th Anniversary meeting so there were lots more people there than normal – I think around 70 folk made up of past and present missionary priests plus an assortment of invited guests. We had the usual business meeting on the first day – that was the typical tedious voting on motions and amendments. The big issue of the Business Meeting was how we treat new missionaries as they arrive and settle in to their missionary appointment. We agreed that, of course, the small details are important if not vital (who meets you at the airport etc) but also the settling-in period (where the new missionary is going to work and who looks after his needs). There was the usual robust interchange of ideas and hopefully, as a result, we have all seen the need to look after the “new guys” in a very direct way. The rest of the days were taken up with reflections on 50 years of the St. James’ Society: how the countries of Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador have changed and developed over those years; how poverty still seems to be a devastating factor in the lives of the people we serve; and where the future of the Society lies. On top of all that one great aspect of such meetings is the friendship and ‘craic’ that is shared. Indeed each night there was plenty of good singing (I closed my mouth from time to time) to send us all to bed. Back in Nueva Prosperina, I have started my guitar classes again after so many people had asked. This time I am taking the class in the new chapel of Naricssa although half of the people come from other chapels. It amazes me that I am even doing this as I am not a great guitarist (what I lack in skill I try to make up in enthusiasm). Yet one thing I learned from many teachers over the years is one thing you need to do to be successful as a teacher is to stay one page ahead of the rest. Apart from that, we have great fun learning chords and songs together. More or less I will keep the class going for around ten weeks and see how we get on after that. It would be great if some of the people could learn enough to play at Mass – but we shall see. Let’s learn to walk before we run. The building projects are still going full steam ahead. The football pitch is progressing well – now we have the outer fencing in place, the spectator steps are built and all we are waiting for is enough good weather to allow the main pitch to be laid. I had hoped that it would all be finished before I head for Scotland but maybe not. I have learned in these projects not to hassle the architect and workers with timetables – best to get it done well and behind schedule than on time and falling apart. As for the classroom build, we are looking good. Two storeys are clearly now visible and should be ready, I would say, in March/April. As well as the eight classrooms we are putting in two new toilet blocks and a new office. So when the new school year opens at the end of March (with a full Primary and Secondary education) it should look fantastic! “Mud, Mud, glorious mud” is the order of the day as we are fully into the rainy season. So far we haven’t had the heaviest of the rains – they sweep whole streets and houses away – but, when it is just non-stop smirry rain, then the dusty streets become pure mud that sticks to everything. As I go around in the car for Masses, I have to abandon the car at the bottom of hills as it often becomes too dangerous. Sometimes I have gone up a hill thinking it was fine only to find that I am half way up and sliding dangerously close to the edge. However, if it is bad for me in a car, think on how much worse it must be for the ordinary families who have to deal with the rains flowing in through their houses or have to strengthen their foundations so that their houses do not get swept away. Coinciding with the rainy-muddy season the schools have just started their long holiday that will take them to March/April. Last week was all about final exams so the kids were wondering around very nervously waiting for their results. Most have made it through safely but some have to resit exams in a couple of weeks time to see if they can step up to the next year group. Mucha suerte, no?

One of the things that has been absolutely astounding since I started work here on the Missions has been the level of support and fundraising that has come from home. I say ‘come from home’ and not ‘come from Scotland’ because I have received some very generous donations – especially towards our school – from England, Ireland and further afield. Today I would like to highlight and thank two charities: the ‘Rope Foundation’ and another charity called ‘2 Hands’. Together they are the major sponsors of the present building programme at the school: eight new classrooms; two new toilet blocks with their respective septic tanks; a new office; and a patio/playground. The Rope Foundation operates out of the south of England and has had connections with St. James’ missionary priests for many years. I have applied to them on two occasions for work with the school. And this year they donated £12,500 which is part of the present school project. The second charity is called ‘2 Hands’ and was set up over two years ago. It is also run from England. Two of its directors – Dianne Kidd and Douglas Mullen – came to visit about two years ago and were so moved by the poverty they saw that they immediately decided to help where they could. I was so surprised recently when their charity donated £25,000 towards our present school project. The total cost of the school project will be around $60,000 so I also have to thank so many individuals from ‘home’ who donate through charitable events. However, today I simply wanted to thank two specific charities who have been very generous towards our work.

I have just come back from a second visit today to Javier who is dying of Leukemia. He is a 35 year-old father of three kids and lives in our sector typically in a raised-up bamboo house. The family, who I know from their kids being at our school, came this morning – could I go and see their brother who was seriously ill. Having Leukemia must be bad enough but, compound it with poverty, and it is almost unbearable. Of course, even although it was 9am, it was still incredibly hot and I was sweating by the time I got into their house – I thought must Javier be like in this heat. There he was lying (dying) on his thin mattress with only a bed sheet for protection. All of his family was gathered round: his three young kids (the eldest is 16), his elderly mother, and his brothers and sisters (10 of them). And I thought how unjust life is – if he was at home, he would be afforded the best of treatment in a very good hospital. But here he was – poor and dying – with not a cent to put off the pain. So I gave what was in my pocket for tablets and medicines. As the day wore on though it became clear that that donation for treatment was going to be in vain – Javier took a turn for the worse. I was called out again and said the ‘Prayers for the Dying’. I left them tonight with a heavy heart (10pm) saying prayers – I shall go again tomorrow and see … Of course, this visit is hard on the heels of another sick visit to Jacqueline, a mother-of-two who lives up at the Divino Nino chapel – the poorest of all parts of the Parish. She is 30 year-old and is suffering from acute kidney failure: all her insides have swollen up and, after having made an initial visit, I said I would be back the next day to speak to the husband about how best to take Jacqueline’s treatment forward. Sadly when I went back the next day, she was already away to hospital – to the Luis Vernaza Hospital (the hospital of the poor where even the sick wait around on metal beds in the ‘waiting room’). Both of these cases I thought just show up the difference between health care back home and health care here. The system is so difficult to break in to and I can only hope that what little help we can give from Scotland will give some sort of dignity to their illness or to their dying.

Okay so it’s the 9th January and so far nothing bad has happened: three years ago they stole and smashed my guitar from Resucitado chapel on this day; two years ago I was attacked and robbed on this day; and last year Ramon, Maria (church workers) and their daughter Angelica were murdered. Nothing yet but it’s still only 2pm. I shall stay put for the rest of the day. The rains have definitely come with a vengeance! I have replaced my nice, stylish Hotter shoes for welly boots. This produces laughter amongst the locals but I think I have the last laugh as I arrive at my destination without muddy shoes etc. Over the last years it has been amazing how the heavy rains have cut through the streets leaving enormous caverns. Nothing like that heavy this year but it is still only the first week in January so maybe more to come. We wait ….???? The rains have caused a bit of disruption in the building works – with workers not used to rains (unlike Scotland). The two projects are still ongoing – eight classrooms in our Parish School; and Paradise Park. I was down there this morning and the two seem to be doing well. When it rains they do what they can and if it is torrential rain then they stop till the rains stops! One interesting moment this week came from the gossip-merchant of a shopkeeper just beside Paradise Park. He said to the architect that the sheriff-lawyer (gangster-style) wanted to see him because he had heard that he (the architect) had been spreading malicious gossip against the lawyer and his friends and that, in any case, he wanted to see the plans. When I heard this I realized that it was I, not the architect that needed to go and see the sheriff. So while others in the neighbourhood pee themselves to go and see him I went in without a thought knowing that I had nothing to lose. After I very politely greeted everyone with a big New Years’ handshake. I said that I had heard there were some problems with the football pitch. No, he said, but maybe the dimensions would stick out a bit further on the main street than they should. No, I replied, we had thought of that and have cut it a metre-and-a-half; and, if the community don’t want the park, then we can stop tomorrow and move somewhere where they do want the pitch. No, Padre, we want the park and in fact we are very happy with everything that the Church is doing. You see, you just have to play these sheriffs at their own game – only problem is not many people can do that since their lives, their homes and their livelihoods depend on them being subservient! The excitement of the week came in our visit to Quito where those coming to Scotland were getting their UK entry Visas at the British Embassy. I was a bit nervous about the whole thing since the 21-page application forms are so complicated and I was certain that we would have missed something. However everyone was seen very quickly (eight of the eleven came with us – the other three will go later) and when we went back at 3pm, they were all successful in their applications. Scotland here we come! I have made some changes in Mass times recently for two reasons: we now have a Parish Church and they way I celebrate around the Parish should reflect that this is the major Church; and also it is fallow season where things go quiet for a few weeks. So I now have all weekday Masses (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) in the Parish Church. Then at the weekend at Reynaldo chapel (Friday); Maestro (Saturday morning); Divino Nino (Saturday afternoon); Carmen (Saturday night); then two Masses in the Parish Church on Sunday and others in San Ignacio, La Paz and Resucitado. The problem is that, as the Parish Church attendance has expanded so has attendance at each of the small chapels. So it should be exhausting but fun. Colm is well settling in. Today we were down looking for a driving licence for him but he already ahs a car – you can drive around for three months apparently as a “tourist”. However, he has in the past week secured tow other bits of land in his new Parish; he has got official confirmation of his position as Parish priest and the name of the new Parish (Baptism of Jesus) and he has started saying Mass in two make-shift locations. It is truly exciting to see him and this new Parish starting out. Well done, Colm. At the moment he has just arrived with priest friend, John Malloy who has arrived with two bottles of Jameson’s and a bottle of Baileys – maybe this 9th January will pass quietly after all!!!

For us here in Ecuador New Years Night (Hogmanay) is like a mixture of Guy Fawkes Night and Happy New Year. For several days beforehand people are selling fireworks on the street like mad – indeed they let them, off like mad – and then there is a constant stream of kids wandering around asking the equivalent of “penny for the guy” as they hold up their home-made dolls for burning. When it actually came round myself and Colm (our new priest) had been out for an hour in the car looking for a good place to pass ‘the Bells’. We went all the way up to the top of Resucitado hill but there was not much happening there; so we went back down to San Ignacio, parked the car and went walk about. When the clock turned to a new day and year we were outside Lucy’s house. Her children (Valentino is probably known to a few) are all up for a laugh and so it was a good place to spend the bells watching them light their bonfire and set off their fireworks. No safety instructions here yet so you just pray for the best. One of the surprising things was that they invited us in for a New Years supper after ‘the bells’ so we tucked into turkey and stuffing. Luckily I had taken my hipflask so I was able to pass round some good whisky! The next day, as the sector recovered after a full night of loud music and alcohol, was quite quiet and, after phoning home, I went into the city to meet up with the guys for a meal. Good meal and good craic, and then it was off to the movies to see a funny film. Right enough, so enthralling that I can’t remember the title one day on! On the morning of New Years Eve we had a meeting for all those who are goijng to Scotland. It was a long affair and quite tedious once we got into the application for UK Visas. You see all eleven have to go to Quito next week – I will go with them – to present in person their application. So there are 21 pages in this form that need to be filled in in English – hard enough when you speak English but almost impossible for a foreigner! Anyway, after that was finished we got on with a few get-to-know-you games and sorted out the dances we will do when we get to Scotland. And then it was time for Padre to get the wallet out for a New Years lunch. Lovely. In all it made me feel that we have ‘a strong team’ coming to Scotland. It’ll be magic. Last week we were down at Ayangue for our monthly meeting with the St. James’ priests. Especially after the Christmas rush, it was fantastic to get down there for a bit of a rest. The craic is always good, add in a few sing songs and a wee bit of wine, and then you have a good celebration. Although it does make for an interesting comparison with Scotland when you can do your run along the beach and swim in the Pacific Ocean on Boxing Day! The nicest event of the week was Tito and Lourdes’ wedding. They got to know one another shortly after I arrived here three years ago and, with their two year old daughter, Yerly, they set up home in our Parish last year. Tito is a great guitarist but an even better motivator. His full-time job, which he is just about to give up to do youth work in our Parish, is in a city school where he works with young people. He has had a hard life, not least because he lived on the streets of Guayaquil for several years. And I have the greatest respect t for him. So the wedding Mass on Saturday was terrific – his musical friends this time providing the music and family sharing the readings. Then it was down tote h school for a meal and a party. It will be great to have Lourdes (one of our teachers) and Tito full time working in the Parish. Tragic news from back home when Phil O’Donnell died and I shared in the sad news through the internet. However, amazingly on the Monday some of the young people who hang around the Church came up to me and said ‘Muy trise noticia desde Escocia sobre la muerte de Phil O’Donnell’. I was stunned that they knew the story but even more so that they could pronounce his name. May his family find consolation and may he rest in peace.