Cobquecura, Chile

journal entry: Monday May 24th--synopsis of my weekend in the South of Chile

Arrived home from Cobquecura today..with a renewed worldview, a happy heart, and soar arms. So much to experience: the division between classes forcing some into extreme poverty while others lounge in cabanas calentitas with their cable, SUVs, and abundance of food. To watch the struggle for power, authority, purpose and respect broke my heart. The humble life of the impoverished met the proud life of the wealthy. To kiss the cheek of a mother overcome by tears of gratitude, to witness the 80 year old Senor Juan saw every piece wood which would build his new house, the senora ever silent with high hopes and tired eyes, await a home atlast 3 months after the earthquake made of wood to never again fear loosing everything--to call something yours and care for you family with dignity. It's the very least one can do, offer but a weekend of the hustle and bustle of life to restore life of another. It was a retreat from the sickened reality I had created with my "poor me" mentality and boredom of routine. Atlast, my mind could disconnect from my body and with the rhythmic beats of hammers it was as if my mind was rocked to sleep, my soul hipnotized, I was at peace with the world with purpose and desire. Being and nothing more. No future to question or past to regret--just ever present. As the ocean waves grew bigger, the livestock roamed the land and depression lost its grip on the people for a brief moment in time and lifted from the site of destruction. in this moment I understood everything. Not that I understood, but I accepted. I accepted the meaning of life. To utilize all which we've been given to better humanity, promote peace, and love one another--selflessly. 4 days without a shower, 4 hours of sleep with nothing but coke and cookies in my stomach--fatigue is out of the question. In my heart there is joy. Every moment of exhaustion conquered by the inspiration to provide a home for this family. I drove through the only street that ran through the small village as the community swept up the pieces of their adobe homes which had crumbled to dust during the earthquake. I had the opportunity to visit a small farm home 2 miles inland on a dirt path. The home of Fidel, a 98 year old man who lives all alone attempting to manage a field of potatoes and a farm with sparse chickens, cows, and pigs. I found him hoeing a 4 foot circumference around him with his hunched back and sombrero. Atlast he can shed a smile after the group provided him with a media-agua (a small home to shelter someone from the earth's elements..a single room home big enough for a bed). I greet him with a kiss on his cheek as his eyes fill with confusion. we visit for a while to shed but an ounce of joy back into his life. When asked how he has been, Fidel mutters, "me da mucha pena estar solo" (it gives me great pain to be all alone) beneath tears as his aging body trembles, he continues, "but I am proud to have met such a class of people" refering to not only our social status but our nationality (american). his humility, his perseverance, and gratitude--a tremendous life lesson. There's more to life than what lays in front of you. To open your mind, accept all people, dream big dreams, and serve all people--this is success. Building bridges among culture and among class divisions. Success is not what your wallet contains or the size of the house in which you live..but your capacity to love--to give without receiving and finding joy in the dessert and hope in the storm. This is my prayer. That I never forget the humble lives of the grateful family in which we built the house: Lorenza and Juan, or dear Fidel out in his field each day anticipating his death.

*check facebook for photos of my experience in Cobquecura and watch this video of the production of that we built from the ground up*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b62GhW1yQkk"