It's been two months...

After a 9 hour plane ride, two 14 hour bus rides throw the mountains of Central America, 6 weeks in Guatemala for 4 hour days for 5 days a week of language school, the door was opened and I was home. Raising my head from my luggage the most beautiful sight a soul could look upon was before me, our Lord in the most Holy Eucharist. It felt like he was there to welcome me home. While in Guatemala I lived with a host family in the colonial town of Antigua. It was once the capital of the Spanish while they visited but because of floods, earthquakes and territorial disputes was moved once again to a different location. But the Spanish still left it's mark with cobble stone streets and century's old church's. I had many expieriances while there. It was strange because leaveing home from Seattle I was well prepared to live as a missionary in Honduras. I was not prepared to be put on a bus day's after arriving and shipped to Guatemala, but I'm not complaining it was great! To be honest it was more like a vacation. I studied at one of the best schools in Central America with one on one tutoring. I woke to the bells of San Francisco everymorning, the 4 centuries old iglesia en el oltra lado de el caille. By the second week I had my dailing routine of prayer, mingaling, and studys. The Sunday after my first week I sat in the city square reading a Thomas Dubay. I looked up from my book and lamented torwards the heavens with a deep breath. I was really feeling the pains of the "priest crisis"


Unfinished...

Blessings to all,

I'm still here in Honduras and this month it will make one year. I've done a horrible job with communications, it just hasn't been a priority. In this past year I feel I've exceeded the capacity of "raw life" experiences of a 21 year old (an American 21 year old) to equal that of a soul of many more years. But the one that is to embark on us tomorrow will probably take the cake. 

          Last Thursday we (Missioners of Christ) were preparing to say good-bye to one of our dear friends and fellow missioner who God was calling to another mission. She was set to leave the following day, Friday. God had other plans and in the process taught us that life can change in the blink of an eye. We got word mid-day that if she didn't leave for the airport in a matter of hours she might not be able to get out. So her and two priests from the states who had been missioning with us for some weeks, who were scheduled to leave also the following day loaded all there belonging and were off. It came as a surprise because we are used to saying good-byes, it's a monthly occurrence. But never as abrupt as this time, we didn't even have time to morn. The reasoning for such a departure at the time wasn't clear, at least to me. But "things" happen all the time and I didn't think much of it (her and the priest got out just in time). We were told that there was a strike and by Friday morning the road would be completely blocked. In Honduras there is only one main road from the major cities so if it's blocked tough luck. We live in Comayagua a town on that one highway between the two biggest cities of San Pedro Sula and the capital Tegucigalpa. 

           When Friday came we started to understand for the first time the real gravity of what was going on and that the strike wasn't an isolated incident. We heard of our president Jose Manuel Zelaya's plan to have a "vote" asking the "people" whether they wanted him to serve another term. It's against the law to run for two terms and this "vote" in the words of Zelaya would be only a survey. This all sounds nice and democratic but his way of going about with a free election or survey is with lots of bribes and threats. This was set to take place Sunday. As information from a plethora of sources both local and international filtered in we understood, for a time at least that we would have a new apostolate. One of deeper prayer, faithful intercession, and heroic witness. 

               Before Sunday Zelaya fired the head of the Military, and took what troops he could to a military facility to collect the ballets that were going to be used for the vote. To be honest I don't even know if there was a vote or if there were results that Sunday. Because what followed Sunday was what made our problems apart of the worlds and especially the United States whether some choose to acknowledge it or not. The UN had a summons in New York because of the situation. I believe it was Tuesday in the presence of  the worlds elite. The event for me is one I will never forget. I had reminiscent thoughts of what life was like for those I've witnessed in the movies in times of war. When entire families would huddle around a radio eyes fixed, ears as close as possible with a pin drop silence. Only I had to chuckle when I looked around and noticed the 21st century up grade. We were huddled around my laptop watching a live wire of the conference from CNN with our music sound system blaring the translators every sentence. We sat with the fixed stares and just listened. What I heard gave me the chills. He just simply lied. At that point I realize a lot of things about our media, about how the world works, and how only God is truth, nothing else is to be trusted. But to top it off after clearing up all the "misunderstandings" of why the world would think he possibly would be moving this country in a socialist direction, he was giving a standing ovation.? Standing! As well as Obama's "full" support (and this is what I mean by the United States problem). Well after our hope for the worlds support was crushed we had nothing left to do but pray, fast, and sacrifice. Zelaya was given permission to return to Honduras and take back his office after the Honduran National Congress already reinstated someone else whos name eludes me right now. The date for the arrive tomorrow July 4th, Saturday. The roomer is if the government doesn't allow him back in office to finish out his term until November. His good friends Chavez and Ortega will assist him in any way needed, Land, Air, or Sea. 

              For the past week we have had all day and all night vigils with intense conversations on the churches teaching of social justice. It's been beautiful. Faith comes alive when it's truly all there is to grasp on to. As far as changes in our life style a 6pm curfew, plans to cut power in the country for 12 hours daily, reduced sources of communication as far as television and radio, and a reduction of what foreigners (A.K.A us) are allowed to do or buy. Marshall law anyone?

             Personally let me tell you what's going on in my head. All of what I just told you is from a multitude of people, news casts, internet articles, eye witnesses, and observance. I really don't know what to think, and don't trust anyone to tell me what's really going on. I honestly feel like I don't have a clue. I think the most uneasy thing of it all for me is the looming weight of uncertainty. As an American I have that tendency to say it's all going to be ok, but the thing is I don't know that. This same time tomorrow the world could be a completely different place. 

             Now that I've scared the bajezes out of I'm sure a few people. Let me tell you what's going on in my heart. I am a missionary of the Holy Roman Catholic Church the church that has defied the lays of decay for over 2000 years and has seen the rise and fall of Dynasties, Empires, Civilizations, and yes communism, and is still going to be here tomorrow and for ever. Nostalgia fills my heart when I think of the missionaries who have come before me. In the end it's all about souls. I'm encouraged and in high spirits!

                   Please pray for me that I may do all I can sacrificially as I've become quite comfortable. Please pray for the state of my soul which only His Mercy can save. I wish you all a blessed 4th of July, and ask that you remember to be thankful and praise God for haven given us our dear county. And our true freedom in Him.

Your sister in our Eucharistic Lord and his sweet Mother,

             Candyce Maximilian Maria Ochoa

     I will attach some links to this page so if anyone wants to get better idea of what's going on you can read about it from those who are able to articulate themselves a little better then I can and a little more factual. For I've been told I can be a little dramatic.

I wrote this with the intension of prayers and got carried away. So please feel free to forward this to whom you believe will storm heaven with us!

http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=33986

http://witnessinghope.wordpress.com/2009/06/30/what-the-world-needs-to-know-please-read/

Dear all,

It will be three months this week on the 22nd which happens to be my 21st birthday. In those three months time seemed to, for the first time in my life, be what it was. Not fast or slow but just was no agenda just Gods whim. Also on the 22nd my visa expires which means I have to leave the country pretty soon, in fact I get on a plane in a few hours and head for Boston. What has happened in the last 3 months? Well where to begin? I arrived July 22, and 4 days later I (to my surprise) was put on a bus on my way to Guatemala for language school. One of the best in Latin America actually. I lived with a host family, they were wonderful. I went to morning Mass at San Francisco everyday and was awaken by it's 400 year old bells. After classes I would go to the hospital/orphanage to feed the babies, man I loved it. The first Sunday after I arrived in Antigua, Guatemala I dearly missed the sweet sacrament of Reconciliation and lamented to my God about it. It was a helpless feeling really the town swarmed with Franciscan Nuns, Brothers, and Priests. But English speaking priests were hard to come by. Except for one Fr. Bernard, the 80 year old Italian priest who hard of hearing and fluent in 7 languages would forget what language you spoke, he was hilarious, but as a confessor challenging. My lament was heard and the next day at school I was greeted by two white collars and a group of seminarians from Texas, Sweet English! The group went home after a week but one of the priests Fr. Gary was to stay as long as I was. I stayed in Antigua for 6 weeks and was joined later on by a fellow missioner and three Friars (CFR's from Honduras) two being priests. During my stay I visited the most active volcano in Guatemala with my fellow missioner and a Fray. That was a hoot! Unlike the states there are no rules, if a soul felt like walking in the lava they were more then welcomed to do so, I on the other hand kept occupied by throwing things in to it and watching them burst into flames, good times. When I returned from my studies the door opened and when I looked up from my luggage our Lord in the most Blessed Sacrament looked up at me and said welcome home. Our chapel is beautiful it's the first thing you encounter when entering threw the doors and the community was at Holy Hour.
The following day orientation was to begin and I finally got to meet my fellow extended term missioners it was a really good week. My first mission to the mountains was the following week. We were accompanied by two CFR priests. It was cold and a lot like home, it rained, and rained some more. We split into two groups with six of us in each. When I say mountains I mean mountains. The woman slept in the church on the pews while Father and the guys in the shack next door. How I loved waking up in the presents of Jesus. Honduras has one of the greatest Priest crises in the world, 1 priest to every 80 to a 120 mountain villages. So the people only at most get to receive the sacraments once a year. And they'll walk miles in the mud and rain the do it. We were there for a week giving talks, celebrating Mass, having Adoration, and just being Christ for the people and seeing Christ in the people. We were treated like royalty, old ladies kissing you and offering you all they had of food for the week. It was quit the humbling experience. We had our meals in a small house near by which 12 people lived in. We brought the food they cooked it, and yes watched us eat it. Other times were even more humbling when occasionally I got to go with Father to help prepare for Mass in a near by village and after we would be served in the sanctuary of the dirt floor church with clay walls, again while every one watched. The Missioners have a rule, whatever is placed in front of you you have to eat it. The most difficult thing I ate, cow stomach, and I would not recommend it.
A day for me at home in Comayagua, Honduras. Well, I wake at 5am to roosters and howling dogs. Have an hour of personal pray on the balcony overlooking our barbed wire compound, the Friary, the mud roads, the brick homes, cows, chichens, goats, lizards, donkeys and the gorgeous mountains that surround in all directions with the morning fog at there bass. Liturgy of the Hours in the chapel follows with Mass. One day a week we get to go to Mass at the friary, O sweet Latin how long have I missed you, it's like heaven! Then the work begins. The rosary is at noon, Holy Hour at 5 dinner fallows with Night Prayer to finish off the day. My responsibilities consist of many different things. Among all of them the Liturgy is my passion it consists of community devotions, formation, and the physical appearance of the chapel, vestments and liturgical objects setting up for mass being my favorite. Since we're a relatively new community they're really aren't any guide lines as to how anything should be, so if I feel like doing something I do it. The other things I get to do are more the practical things in the community considering I'm the only missioner who doesn't speak Spanish I try to make myself useful at the homefront. I'm a driver, which doesn't sound like much but in a country with no road rules, lets just say there are a lot of Ave's to be said in the course of a day in the car. I like to fix things and am working on cubbies for the chapel but do to a lack of donations in the tool department it is hard to do to much, I believe our planer is a hand me down from Jesus if not Moses'. I enjoy the challenge though.
My greatest joy, community, my biggest cross, community. Living in community here has been a wonderful experience. In only a few months I have learned a great deal about myself. I really do enjoy having young fervorous men in the community as brothers. But the experience has affirmed in my heart the desire for a comrodary of sisterhood. There is always someone to have an intreaging conversation with but on the other hand there is always someone there. You slowly learn to sacrifice, ignore annoyances, compromise what little free time you have to aid another, and just do your best to love. This place just happens to attract young men and women discerning the priesthood or religious life and as a result the house is filled with ambitious zealous Catholics who want nothing less then to give there all for Christ. My greatest cross I would say is the fast that our apostolate here is mostly concerned with educating and being educated by the occasional classes with the Friars weather it be Latin or theology of the body, I can't take part, I simple don't speak Spanish. They say it takes at least a year before one can express rather then just commicate and when it comes to the faith I'm willing to wait for. A priest told me that God's probably trying to teach me something other then spanish, I have a lot of guesses as to what that could be but only time will tell.
Well after reading what I wrote I realize I have just written a book and have just decided to use this as my first blog entry. You have to excuse the typos, it's 3am and all I can think about is that I haven't even packed yet. Which brings me back to the subject of I'm going to be in Boston for a couple of weeks because of my visa situation. My first two weeks I will be in a Poor Clare monastery and after that at Boston College with the old roomates of a friend. But I would like to stay for the election the following week, If someone has any friends in the area, feel free to email me if they are willing to take me up for a week or even a couple of nights. My blog should be found at the web site, http://www.missioners.org/. I will try to be consistent but we don't have really any free time. If anyone would like to donate any liturgical items or tools email me. Or even if you would like to say hi I would really like that even if I can't response back I can still read. If it sounds like I'm babbling I am, it's 3 and I'm tired. Bye my friends, please pray for me, as I will for you.

P.S. I know I have sent this video to most of you but if you are like me you can watch it over and over again, please send it to as many people as you know.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61wj4tJICcc

Your sister in Christe,
Maximiliana