MSIA travel staff are currently in South America, providing MSIA Services (Innerphasings, Polarity Balances & Aura Balances) as well as MSIA events in various locations. Staff member, Angel Gibson, provides this update of days 17 through 21 of the trip:
DAY 17 — Santiago
Looking out my hotel room window this morning I can just make out a snow-covered mountain top beyond tall buildings. I see red and purple flowering trees too. It is springtime in Santiago. Cool in the mornings and evenings and warm during the day. A quick appreciation of the vista and it’s time to get down to breakfast to huddle with staff as we look over Services and remind each other of the line up of the schedule of activities. Today Lesley, Celia, Ani and I are all doing Services while Vincent sets up for the Open Seminar tonight with John Morton. The hotel lobby is also starting to buzz with MSIAers coming in for their Services. We get the word that John Morton has arrived at the airport, being welcomed by Ani and Jose Caraball, and is on his way to join us. I take a few moments to savor a double espresso (still always a treat to me) and visit with some of our Chilean MSIA family. One of the ladies went on a mission to find some black licorice for me in Santiago and presents me with this bag of mixed licorices. I’m delighted and touched by such caring. We put in our orders for lunch. We are so very appreciative that we can get lunch set up for us because there isn’t much time at the break. Then we’re off to starting Services. This morning passes very quickly. I notice the security guard is watching me go up and down in the elevator. He looks very serious, and even though I smile at him, his face remains straight. But that doesn’t stop the joyful bantering we staff and MSIAers are doing as we go in and out of the elevator throughout the morning and day. Lunch finds us all hungry and John joins us regaling us with special moments of his adventures getting from Buenos Aires to us. He had the special opportunity to hold the Light in the Santiago airport immigration line for over an hour waiting for his turn to be stamped. Ah, the special joys of travel. We would love to hear more, but it’s time to start Services again.
We have just enough time after Services end to wash up and change for ordinations and the seminar which is being held at the Club Manquehue. This club was founded by the German community in Santiago, and even looks a little like a 1950’s version of a German chalet. Our seminar room has very high, lofty ceilings and Vincent with the strong, steady support of the brothers Moleker – Nigel and Helio – has done a great job of equalizing the room.
John and Vincent step up to do the ordinations and that special energy is anchored into the room. We open the doors shortly thereafter and are hugged and welcomed over and over by our many Chilean friends. The program is short and sweet tonight consisting of Calling in the Light, chanting Ani Hu and introducing John. Nora Valenzuela glows in her role as a translator for John, keeping pace right with him. John covers a lot of ground in this seminar including opening the floor to anyone who would like to ask a question. By the end of the evening there is this sacred silence that just envelops us and all that can be said in that moment is “Baruch Bashan.” Vincent and his merry helpers waste no time in packing up the equipment, for tomorrow he, John, Lesley and Ani will fly from Santiago to Belo Horizonte (Brazil) and leave the equipment behind to travel with me and Celia to Los Angeles when we fly out on Wednesday. Our Santiago family is deeply touched with John’s sharing with them for two hours this evening and seem to be floating around. Still there’s enough energy present to finish the pack up and get the staff back to the hotel for a little bite to eat, some emails, more personal packing and then, bed.
DAY 18 – Time to say Good Bye
We scheduled Services today to begin a little bit later giving everyone a chance to sleep a little or prepare for departure. Vincent ever willing to serve — our true minute man — is meeting with the Chilean Reps and key volunteers to go over the changes that are happening with MSIA in South America generally and in Santiago specifically. The rest of staff eats a late breakfast and give Celia and me last minute instructions for we are staying behind in Santiago (sniff, sniff) while the rest of the gang head out to new adventures in Belo Horizonte. We hug and wave goodbye to our compadres as they head for the airport. Our Santiago family embraces Celia and me and soon we’re rolling along in the swing of Services enjoying each person we’re with. Of course, every once in a while we send Light to our gang who are on their way to Brazil. Celia and I debate going out to dinner tonight. I opt for a workout in the gym and Celia opts for a workout at the shopping mall. We catch up a few hours later and have a little picnic in my room watching the movie Seabiscuit. Celia found some yummy croissants, and opens up her stash of chocolate covered almonds. I provide some tea (courtesy of room service) and some nuts out of our mini-bar. We’re enjoying our fun and spontaneous eating moment. Well, as much as we would like to watch all of Seabiscuit both of us are starting to fade, and I have more emails to see. So off goes Celia, I do the day’s report and then my lovely bed and hopefully God claims me for the night.
DAY 19 – Santiago and the Belo Horizonte report
We have an early morning today as initiations are starting a few hours before Services. Celia and I grab some breakfast and I’m suddenly aware that the dining room is full and there’s a different tone of voice around us. Sure enough there is a group from Austria that is visiting and their cheeriness and exuberance reminds me of what our groups must have looked like at breakfast during our PAT 4 trips. I enjoy watching the scene for a few moments. Then it’s off we go to participate in these wonderful initiations. Two hours later we start Services. During the day I download my email and see John Morton’s “On the Road” report of their travel day to Belo Horizonte. I laugh at the vivid imagery and happenings that he describes. What a blessing to hear from him!
This day sails by ending with more initiations. Celia and I have invited Maria Eugenia Ducci, the resigning MSIA Rep, Veronica Zarate, the PTS Rep and Reymi Urrich to join us and Nora Valenzuela for dinner tonight. We have a ladies night at the Hereford Grill and the food is “que rico.” The conversation this evening goes to exploring the idiosyncrasies and conditionings of the Chilean culture. It is fascinating and yet as the evening ends we are once again brought to the place of seeing the Soul and heart in each one of us at the table that is connected through our love of the Traveler. How sweet it is!
DAY 20 – Our last day in Santiago
Today both Celia and I hit the gym early. This is going to be a long day and there is lots to do before we end up at the airport tonight for our flight back to Los Angeles. We fortify ourselves at breakfast and then launch into our Services schedule for the day. Today’s schedule brings us some of our favorite old-timers and I so very much appreciate spending some time with them. Still there’s a little part of me that feels like a horse wanting to get back to its home stable, and I finally have to discipline myself to stay present because I’m still here in Santiago and have Services to tend to. Nora Valenzuela continues to look lovingly after us, and we appreciate her company. Chef Igor once again makes us the best vegetable soup for lunch and supper without onion or garlic. At supper we nosh, sharing our crackers with Miriam lahsen, Maria Eugenia, Nora and Celia and me. We laugh a lot as we talk about the different traditions we’ve grown up with. Then it’s time to load up the cars and head for the airport. We have a moment of worry when our customs man is not immediately seeable but soon his friendly face appears and our equipment sails through the final customs process. We go to check in and soon have all we need to go through immigration, security and onto the gates. Our little goodbye party has expanded to include Maria Christina Echavarri and Fernando, so we take the time to hug each one goodbye and receive their loving too. Then Celia and I move through the doors and into the waiting area for our first flight on the way towards Los Angeles. We’re feeling happy to be going home, and grateful for the blessings that have multiplied of loving, sharing, caring and touching that have repeatedly been bestowed on us since we began this trip. Our heartfelt thanks to each one in our Chilean family who reached out to assist and love us, and thank each of you that sent Light to us as we wended our way through South America. Please continue to send Light to our Belo Horizonte staffers and I look forward to hearing more from them soon.
DAY 21 – Arriving back in Los Angeles
As we gave embracitos (hugs) to one another at the Santiago airport, Celia and I asked our little loyal band of Santiago MSIAers to send the Light ahead, seeing us flow smoothly all the way through customs at Dallas, making our Dallas to Los Angeles plane and landing with all our baggage safe in Los Angeles. And so it was our nine hour flight went smoothly and quickly. Both Celia and I got some good sleep in. We arrived promptly in Dallas and I settled back in my seat expecting we would have ye old loooong taxi to our gate. I was very surprised when about 2 minutes later we stopped at our gate. Perfect for us because we needed all the time we could get to get the sound equipment through customs.
Immigration was a breeze, and the Light was working full blast for as I entered the customs hall I saw a skycap type man with a huge cart, and when I signaled him he gave me the nicest smile and came over with the cart. Oh, I so appreciated this because the thought of maneuvering 6 suitcases plus my huge bags onto those little wobbly carts and then figuring out how to push both carts had been hounding me. With all the bags in my name in tow, my bag attendant and I headed for customs. Celia was going to meet us outside once she was through herself. All went simply until I came up to the customs man and he wanted to know what I was doing with 7 cases, given I’d been visiting 4 countries in South America. As I explained, he pointed to the special door #2 and through it I went wondering what adventure would be next.
50 minutes until my next flight and counting. The customs official who called me over was in a non-chatty mood so we went right to the heart of the matter. Apparently I didn’t have the correct paperwork from his perspective. I could feel my stomach sink as quick visions of having to open every bag, taking copious minutes, missing the next flight, etc… sped through my head. Stop! I order myself. LIGHT!!!! LIGHT!!! I decide to not fight anything and I asked the man to educate me on what is needed. He goes and gets the form he thinks we should have used before we even began the trip. He explains how it should be filled out. I ask him for a copy to take back to my department. He gladly gives me a copy. I ask him if there’s anything else at this point. He says “No, and have a good trip.” As we push the carts toward the transit area, both the bag attendant and I let out huge sighs of relief. The attendant tells me I have about 40 minutes, I should be fine. He helps me transit the bags and I’m so happy to give him a nice tip. Light to him too as he is new at the job, but very kind and willing. Looking around I realize that I don’t see Celia. Since it’s been awhile, I figure she has gone on to the gate, and I make fast tracks to get there too.
Ah, but first there is more security and lots of people in the security line. Another LIGHT!!!!, and then a quick trot to the gate. As I come up to the gate I notice there is a familiar-looking body standing in front of the gate agent. Hey, it’s John Morton. Our paths connected — his coming from Belo Horizonte, Brazil and ours from Santiago. Then much to my relief we see Celia too. John is on standby for the flight. Another round of LIGHT!!!!! We start to board. Hurray, John has made the flight with us. We relax and get a little taste of the happenings in Belo Horizonte and a few catnaps too. We arrive safe and soundly. Roger Wakefield is there to greet us and take the equipment under his wing. All is well that ends well. More Light to Vincent, Lesley and Ani who are doing Services today and tomorrow before they leave tomorrow night for their trip back LA (Lesley and Vincent) and Bogota for Ani. We have been blessed and are grateful to be home.
Click here to read Days 1 through 4 with Angel Gibson.
Click here to read Days 5 through 8 with Angel Gibson.
Click here to read Days 9 through 12 with Angel Gibson.
