MSIA travel staff recently completed a trip to South America, providing MSIA Services (Innerphasings, Polarity Balances & Aura Balances) as well as MSIA events. Staff member, Angel Harper, provides this update from the trip:
DAY 16 – From Buenos Aires to Brasilia
We all rally early this morning. Some of us do a few last Services as others head out to get our table for one more breakfast at B Blue…ooh that berry juice with spirulina does some kind of trick…or is it the double espresso? Doesn’t matter it is all good. Ani, in the meantime, is point person for our luggage and check-in and she makes sure we give her every last check-on before we leave for food. She’s like a little Light pit-bull when it comes to getting everything that’s needed for airport check-in and we bless her continuously for her thoroughness. Cate and Nora come to corral us at the restaurant as we wave goodbye to our new found friend.
Off to the airport we go and so begins our adventure of travel to Brasilia. Every travel day brings its share of laughs, peeves, drama and excitement. Today in the flurry of unloading and check-in Vincent has left Lesley’s walkie in the hired car. This makes for some drama as we now need to head for the gate. The comedy in all of this is that Vincent also left his own walkie in the car that took him to the airport in Bogota. That one was found and is being carried as we speak back to LA by our very own Ligia Marcela, the Bogota MSIA Rep, who also happens to be a DSS student. Meanwhile back to the Buenos Aires lost Walkie…Nora and Cate are entrusted with tracking down the car and driver that carried Vincent and hopefully retrieving the walkie as we have to board the plane. Of course, we can’t resist joking and teasing Vincent but only for awhile as we know that each of us has had the experience of leaving something somewhere on these travel days.
We have two flights today — one to Sao Paulo and the other to Brasilia. Turns out we hurried up only to find that our flight is delayed. Hmm, will we make our connecting flight?…Guess we’ll find out. Finally we’re allowed to board but as we settle in we’re informed that due to traffic we’ll have another 50 minute delay…hmm next flight really not looking good. So what do you do when looking ahead you see you’re in for a much longer travel day than expected? Hey, you watch G.I Joe…at least that was my coping mechanism. Luckily we each have mini-tv’s on the back of the seat in front of us and we can have our pick of what to watch. I instantly bond with the fellow next to me as we’ve both picked GI Joe. He’s watching in Portuguese and I’m on English. Munching along on snacks and watching GI Joe…not a bad way to pass the time. Finally our flight takes off…oops we have to restart GI Joe, but who cares it’s all fun…even though GI Joe gets interrupted several more times for announcements and we have to re-start. Something symbolic here. The flight passes quickly, but wouldn’t you know as we touch down the movie is cut off and we miss finding out what happens to GI Joe in the end. Instant detachment practice…thank goodness for rentals.
Now it’s a race off the plane to the ticket agent and yes indeed we’re too late for the connecting flight so we’ve got about two hours to hang out in Sao Paulo international airport. What’s great about this is the complete change of vibe. Here we now can get fresh coconut water — and I do mean fresh — they cut open the coconut and pour into a glass the coconut water…there’s fresh pineapple and guava juices too…I feel like I’m going native. We find a food court type place and spread out to forage for some foods as it’s now about 7:30pm and dinner time. We each come back with something to share and our fallback is espressos with chocolate/vanilla muffins and Lesley provides us, out of her Mary Poppins-type miracle bag, some luxuries like an amazing blue cheese, almonds and rice crackers. Now this bag never fails to have something for all of us throughout this entire trip. It can only be magic and a demonstration of Lesley’s food ministry to each of us. My personal favorites are the chocolate and the cookies! While waiting in the boarding area Leigh tries her best to download; John does his one-handed typing and Vincent and Lesley snuggle; I’m running around pretending I’m paparazzi.
Our flight to Brasilia is simple, quick and quiet. On the ground we are lovingly greeted by Eliete, Ana, Eliana and Linda and Marcelo. They help gather our luggage and us into vehicles and quickly get us moving towards our hotel. Things are well in hand for us when we arrive. Lana Barreira, the Brazil MSIA Rep had gone ahead of us today and with her trusty co-worker, Roberta Vasconcellas, have been organizing our rooms and everything we could think of to go into our rooms. They do their best to get us dinner, but the kitchen is not quite up to the task. But that’s ok, as we default to the mini-bar and some to Lesley’s bag for a little something to carry us over ’til tomorrow. Ah, it feels so good to take a shower and just get horizontal…after, of course, just a few emails. Thanks for the Light today–felt like hands holding us along the way.
DAY 17 — Brasilia
We’re ready for breakfast this morning. Linda is our food maven and she is the maitre d’ of Light overseeing our food wishes in the restaurant. The buffet has plenty and it’s always diverting to watch how “poached eggs” gets translated and what it looks like when they finally arrive. We’ve a full day ahead of us. Vincent will go off to the seminar location to set up for the events tonight and tomorrow. Les gals will do services. Paulo Fortes has arrived to sit in and continue his training. Eliete, like an angelic field marshal, is matching up translators with balancers and balancees. It’s a veritable beehive of activity and we’re underway.
At lunch time I take a few moments outside to enjoy the beauty of the swimming pools, palm trees and exotically blooming trees set against the background of the lake…lots of different shades of blue and green and the air is humid and warm…very tropical. Lunch is good, filling and then it’s more Services with just enough time to change clothes and drive to the Finding Peace in Today’s World workshop. Eliana is the MC, warmly welcoming the participants. She’s delighted to introduce Linda Darliss and her group of children singing their song of Peace. These children are either orphans or have only one parent and their smiles are radiant as they sing away. Eliana then calls forward Leigh who with Marcelo take the stage to start the workshop. Warmly Leigh gets the group going in looking a their experiences of peace and what challenges their peace. Then John comes forward to take the group through the process of peace, moving into accord, and demonstrates these keys throughout the sharings that he takes. In the space of two hours a lot of ground is covered as many new people get their first experience of the Traveler and MSIA. Afterwards a small group of us head to a nearby restaurant called Gazebo. On the way we pass some fascinating architecture as we look at the ministry buildings, the Cathedral, the Brazilian flag and the J.K. Bridge. Dinner is a rollicking mixture of fun, teasing and story-telling with a dash of business. We take a moment up top to look at the bridge and breathe in some fresh air and then it’s back to the hotel for our evening email dates and perchance to sleep.
DAY 18 — Brasilia
More Services today and we’re joined by Vincent who jumps in full speed. I take a few moments to grab pictures of the inside design of the hotel foyer and outside the back vista of the swimming pools and the lake. Afterwards there’s only time to jump in cars and get over as fast as possible to start ordinations before the Ministers/Initiates seminar & Q&A starts. Six new ministers join the Brasilian fellowship and each one’s blessing brings more gratitude and awe in us as we remember again the magnificent lineage of our ministry.
Then it’s show time for the last event of our trip. Linda is our MC tonight and does a sweet job of welcoming everyone…She brings up John and Marcelo and right away we’re into the heart and soul of what we’re here for. John just keeps giving forth and we’re full to overflowing. As John and Leigh head back to the hotel to pack-for their trip tomorrow, we hop to packing up the equipment for the last time on this trip. Lesley has been about her food ministry and wonderful soups arrive to keep us nourished and energized as we finish the packing. Then with many hugs we’re heading back ourselves to the hotel. OK, I surrender…I’m too pooped for emails and it’s a sweet dreams for most of us, though I hear Vincent is still at it as I fall to sleep.
DAY 19 — Brasilia
John and Leigh are up early this morning for their flight. I manage to catch them for hugs just before they leave and see them well taken care of as Marcelo and Helena drive them towards the airport. Thank you from deep in our hearts, John and Leigh, for your fellowship and all you gave to us and to everyone along the way during the trip. I go back for a few more winks and then we’re off and running for one last full day of Services. Dear Eliete finishes her monumental job this afternoon. We are so grateful to her for holding such a strong, steady and loving light while managing all the changes along the way in the Services schedule. Eliana takes over for her for the rest of the afternoon.
As this day of Services end, each of us is feeling the need for rest and “just be” time. Celia and I decide we need to walk, just walk. Our walking takes us lakeside for some virgin pina coladas and sunset watching…so beautiful and peaceful…then we walk around the hotel finding an unusual building. On Celia’s suggestion we check it out and discover a theatre that right now is showing a dance group. We ask how much it costs and we are told for us it is a gift and would we please attend as their guests. Wow! What a treat! We watch and laugh freely as this modern dance company presents a comic version of a pink panther like story. As the show finishes, both Celia and I are feeling eons lighter and more joy-filled, so grateful for the spontaneous gifting we’ve received. Not sure what we want for dinner we wander down to the restaurant and again another magical moment takes place as Marcelo and Helena are also dining there and assist us in conveying to the chef that we would love to have a special tomato basil sauce free of onion/garlic that we could put on the penne pasta. The chef is delighted to serve us and the sauce he comes up with is so tasty that we share it with Marcelo and Helena and also Roberta who happens by. It’s a perfect ending to this day. Happy campers now we go back to our rooms. Me to a little night email catch up and Celia for some reading and then both of us to a pre-midnight lights out…another rare treat on the road.
DAY 20 – Brasilia to Dallas to Los Angeles
It’s another full day today. There are a few more Services to do and then we’re into full on pack up and ship out to the airport as we begin our trip back to Los Angeles. Linda oversees with Lana’s constant service our final lunch today. Vincent and Lesley contribute some Urth italia coffee which tastes sooo good. Super big hugs, thanks and goodbyes to Lana as she takes off right after lunch for her flight to Rio. We know we’ll see her back in LA for the DSS this weekend, but we’re so grateful for all she has held for and the love and caring she has for her Brazilian community.
At 4:30pm pronto we are in the cars and headed to the Brasilia airport. We take a last look at the lake and the rich green vegetation as we go. Linda, Eliana, & Ana drive Lesley, Vincent, Celia, Ani and me. Our check in is fairly easy and again we have more hugs and love and kisses with these dear ones who’ve done so much to take care of us during our stay, not to mention how much they’ve cared for all those who came for Services and the events. Ani and the four of us have a bit of leisure time before our flight to Sao Paulo; Ani and Celia go for a little shopping and Lesley, Vincent and I enjoy a few more emails. Then it’s all aboard to Sao Paulo.
Once in Sao Paulo we accomplish our check-in at American Airlines under the watchful eye of Ani. We have enough time to hug Ani goodbye as here she will spend the night in order to catch her super early am flight tomorrow. Thank you, Ani, muchissimas, for the tender and enduring care you give to each of us and the Traveler every step of the way. We also rejoice in the progress you are making in your training as a balancer!! Once through immigration and security we take a few moments of snacks and then it’s onto our plane for the second leg of our flight which will take us to Dallas.
The flight to Dallas seems to go quickly, at least for me. As we’re preparing to disembark, Lesley notices “Oh No, my engagement ring is missing!” Yikes!! Well, our connection in Dallas is suuuper tight, so while Lesley, Vincent and the flight crew search every inch of their seating/reclining space, Celia and I head through immigration to baggage claim to get the luggage pulled and ready to go in hopes that Vincent and Lesley will quickly appear. We get all the luggage except Celia’s when Vincent and Lesley appear. Victory sign! The ring was found thanks to Vincent’s eagle eye and a thorough stripping apart of the plane seat and a flight crew holding the Light and giving lots of cheers for the successful outcome. But where is Celia’s luggage. The clock keeps ticking. We have only 40 minutes to get our luggage through customs, into transit, catch the tram to the A terminal (we’re in D). We send a reluctant to go Lesley and Vincent so that they might hold the plane for us.
Fiiiinally Celia’s luggage appears and our run to the finish line starts. At first we hit a snag as a man up ahead of us in line seems intent upon discussing his customs form with the officer, however, we maintain our clear intention to get to our gate in time. Then as if the water is parting, the way is cleared and we make our way through security to the tram. We’re on a literal run now with hand carries dragging behind us. I’m laughing as we go…we have come up with an alternate fun plan just in case we don’t make the plane…but as grace, seeding and the goodwill of American airlines will have it we make it to the gate with about 1 minute to go (actually they ended up holding it for a few more people too for another 5 or so minutes). Cheers from Lesley and Vincent as we make it and are so grateful to sit again knowing our luggage and we are on our way to LAX.
Back in LA it’s hugs goodbye for my roomie, Celia, though we’ll see her again this weekend for the Mystic Journey bookstore launching of J-R’s new Serving & Giving book on Sunday; Hugs goodbye to Lesley and Vincent, though we know we’ll see each other at the office, but it’s a completion for this trip. Roger Wakefield is standing by to take me and the luggage back to Santa Monica. Wow, what an amazing three weeks! In some ways it seems like three days and in other ways three months, but amazing nevertheless. Our love, gratitude and appreciation to each and everyone who assisted us in any way during the trip. It is such a joy for us to be with you each year. We know already plans are in the making for more events to take place in each of our South American countries that we visit next year. We ask for the Light and Grace to go ahead to each of you, each MSIA community and each country in South America for the highest good of all concerned. We have been blessed!
