MSIA travel staff were recently in South America, providing MSIA Services (Innerphasings, Polarity Balances & Aura Balances) as well as MSIA events. Staff member, Angel Gibson, provides this update from the trip:
DAY 18 — BOGOTA
Today is a rich, full day for all of us, but before having breakfast, Celia and I do a little run to our favorite cafe in the mall attached to our hotel. We inaugurate Lana Barreira, who’s been training in Services and traveling with us, in the joys of the espresso at this place where each year we’re greeted and served joyfully by the ladies who work there. We even have time to do a little window shopping as a way of working up an appetite for breakfast back at our hotel. We’re joined at breakfast by the rest of our crew and then Ilse Arango, our divine Services coordinator, corrals us and away we go for a day of Services. Leopoldo comes to transport Vincent and the equipment to the nearby location for the workshop tonight and the seminar tomorrow night.
Lana graciously arranges lunch for us of ajiaco soup, grilled chicken, avocado and those wonderful cheese arepas. We fill up ‘cuz it’s a long way from 2pm til 10:30pm when we have our next food opportunity. As soon as Services are over, Celia and I move into initiations and then Alberto chauffeurs us to the workshop. Meanwhile Vincent, Leopoldo, Miguel, Marta and a huge bevy of assistants have been working joyfully to prepare our room for the Traveler.
As I walk into the room I feel as if I’ve stepped into the upper chapel at a convent, and indeed this meeting room is part of an old church complex. The arched amber-colored glass windows give a warm glow and the wooden floors bring a simplicity to the room. The doors open and the participants flood into the room with happy buzzy talking. John and Leigh and John Marin arrive and we’re ready to roll.
Leopoldo is tonight’s MC and he does a great job of welcoming and setting up the workshop and then introducing John and Leigh. In the back we enjoy John Marin’s deft and fun translation style, keeping pace with the different expressions that John and Leigh give throughout the evening. Once again the theme is You Are the Blessings and as the evening closes there are abundant smiles and many, many participants hugging and proudly wearing their You are the Blessings pins.
Well, it’s Friday night and even though we have a full day tomorrow, we take time to fellowship and do a late night dinner with some of our friends which becomes an adventurous ride out into what looks like the country to me. We even get to experience being pulled over by the police for a “normal” check. Those big rifle type guns still give me pause, but our smiles bring a smile to our policeman’s face and we’re soon on our way again. The goodness of the food and the fun of being together more than carries us back home in the wee hours of the morning. Some of us check our email for any late-breaking updates and then we dive into bed for some short but deep sleep.
DAY 19 — BOGOTA
I can’t believe it…I’m up before my alarm this morning so ready for a workout in the itsy bitsy gym downstairs. I must confess the altitude is having its way with me and my head, neck and shoulders feel like they are in a vice off and on, at least throughout yesterday. So I have to breathe a little harder but it feels great to work up a sweat and work off a few of the yummy calories I consumed last night. Celia and I then grab some breakfast before starting off today with more initiations and then into the full schedule of Services to be done on our last full day on the road. One sweet moment I experience is towards the end of the day; my head is having that vice feeling. My next Service appointment hasn’t come and I look over at the antique espresso machine that seems to call out to me. I go over to see if I may somehow get a quick shot and the servers behind the bar ask me how I’m doing. I tell them that I think the altitude is squeezing me. They smile and say let’s fix you a good coffee. As they hand me the coffee and I ask for the bill, they say to me “Not necessary”. This is for your altitude adjustment.” The sweetness of their taking care of me does even more than the coffee to ease the pressure on my head. When services are done, Celia and I walk over to the seminar location in time for an ordination.
Tonight’s event is a seminar with the Traveler for Ministers and Initiates. John tenderly and deeply talks with the ministers and initiates that are present and the room seems to fill with the fullness of Spirit. On his Baruch Bashan all stand to thank with clapping and loving this Traveler for coming to be with them. Afterwards we are hugged, loved and appreciated thoroughly many, many times. In between hugs we start packing up the sound equipment. The appreciation and gratitude is so heartfelt and effusive I realize again and again how much these people are grateful to have the physical presence of the Traveler be with them. We finish pack up early and head back in the cool night air to our hotel. Tonight we go for soup a la room service so we can do emails and pack. Tomorrow our bags need to be down by 7am. We have a wonderful feeling of completion as we go about pulling things together, and a profound gratitude ourselves for this opportunity to be in the presence of so much loving.
DAY 20 – FROM BOGOTA TO LOS ANGELES
It’s another early morning but we’re excited today to get up and get going towards home. Ani comes to collect our bags and one by one we bring them downstairs to the lobby. Ani and Leopoldo will take our bags to the airport and begin the process of getting us ready to fly out. John and Leigh come down to have a bit of breakfast with us too. Then Alberto comes to load us up into his car. We hug John, Leigh and Lana goodbye as they have other work to do before they head home, and then we’re off to the airport.
Ani has done a wonderful job of clearing our way so relatively quickly we have our boarding passes and are on our way upstairs to go through immigration and security. Big hugs and muchissimas gracias to Ani and Alberto who had been with us closely, especially during this Bogota segment of our trip. Our flight to Miami whips by as we sleep and S.E’s away. We have a little time in the Miami airport to relax in the Admiral’s Club and then we head to our gate for the final leg of our trip. Securely ensconced in our seats we settle in for the last flight knowing that we will be home in our own beds tonight. We are so very grateful and blessed by all who have stepped forward and assisted us on this trip. Each of the cities we’ve visited has a beauty all its own in its people and location. Thank you each and all for sending us the Light along our way. This is the wind upon which we soar. Thank you to each and every one who prepared our way ….your work is that of the Beloved and we rejoice in your companionship. We look forward to the next journey!
