NAVIDAD EN JAVIER Every Christmas begins with Advent and we here in Javier, in our reading club, were commenting that it is a time of hope and what signs we saw of that hope. Encarna Hualde (who previously ran through Cochabamba on her motorcycle, carrying either a doctor or a sick person and now cannot move from her wheelchair) told us, “I am surprised that, despite how I feel, I HAVE A LOT OF PEACE. That Peace is the expression of what has been experienced this year in Javier. It was written in the chapel and in different places in the house. - A Peace in relation to what Alfonsine wrote about herself in the bulletin, a Peace that is the presence of Christ in the sisters. - María Salud said that for her the union she finds between us is a sign of hope and all adhered to this sign. Well, yes, this union is lived and breathed in many details of affection and mutual help, which does not mean that there are no difficulties, because a holy Jesuit friend of ours said that: “We all have the right to five manias, as long as they do not bother others” and the bad thing is sometimes we have one that does bother…. But (difficulties aside) in Javier we have lived Christmas WITH A LOT OF PEACE, WITH A LOT OF UNION AND CONSEQUENTLY WITH A LOT OF JOY. PEACE is the result of the sign of hope, which I see in everyone and is THE CONFIDENT ACCEPTANCE OF OUR REALITY. This is what is meditated so much 19 in Advent on the YES of Mary. And what the Pope has highlighted to us in his last Exhortation ON TRUST on the occasion of the centenary of ST. TERESITA UNION is lived in many details because everyone does their best: Loli Gómez in the decoration of the chapel, Tere Esteban and Maite in the delicious dinner, Teresita Ríos in the gift to each one of a Nativity scene made of hazelnuts, walnuts, or peanuts. THE JOY that comes from all of this is a serene joy, without much noise, although we do sing Christmas carols in the chapel and after dinner. The carol “That precious Child” could not be missed remembering María de Borja. On the 26th, Galo and his wife (who had been volunteering in the Congo for some time) visited us with their children and nephews to brighten the morning with many Christmas carols. Everywhere during Advent, the cities are filled with lights and many cards and gifts arrive from friends wishing “Merry Christmas”. Here Javier we have also received wishes and gifts from many people who love us. Because everyone's wishes have been fulfilled in that Light, that Peace, that Union and joy lived, the word that sums up our Christmas is GRATITUDE. Carmela Taravillo.
Carmela Taravillo
