BELO HORIZONTE, BRAZIL

“Beautiful Horizon” is the translation for Belo Horizonte in Brazil. This is our next stop after Mendoza. We have a trek to get there and it is an all day three flights and a van process that takes us through Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo before we finally arrive around 10:30pm at our Beautiful Horizon city hotel. Waiting for us at the airport is Lana Barreira, the overall Brazil MSIA Rep and Luis Fernando and his lovely wife, Monica. They help us get our luggage and ourselves into the cars and van waiting for us. When we arrive at the hotel, Roberta Vasconcellas, the coordinator for the events logistics, and Eliete who is coordinating the Services warmly embrace us. Even though it’s almost midnight we all opt for dinner together and we laugh past the tiredness and weariness, enjoying some yummy eggplant parmigiana and pizza among other treats. And we manage to cover some important logistics so that we can hit the deck running in the morning.

Lucky us! we have the morning free and it feels good to sleep, exercise and see a little bit of the city too. Celia and I taste some of the local offerings at a huge central market nearby, and then, after more walking, we head back to the hotel to get ready for some afternoon Services. Throughout the morning we are attuning to the Portuguese language which has lots of “ao’s” and “tch’s” sounding words that puts a twist on the Spanish that we thought we had down pat. Still the sweetness of the people in this city is quite outstanding as they would do their very best to assist us with directions and getting our purchases done. When Services start, the lobby is literally buzzing with people there to get their Services, the translators, and the volunteers helping to coordinate Services. Eliete is in full swing to get things started and then she hands over the baton to Ana, and then Graciela on the last day. Cristina Rivera and Paulo Fortes are with us continuing their training in Services along with Lana. So much fun to greet more old friends and meet lots more new people. At the end of this day we take a little field trip out to the restaurant, Da Vino. John Morton and Leigh go with us and we discover that “not too far” here in Belo Horizonte means “Oh, probably an hour”! Still the drive is worth it as the meal’s courses are quick to come and gratifyingly good to eat. We’re joined by Marcello La Croix who helps all around, especially with translating, and our very staunch volunteers, Lana, Roberta, Eliete, Monica, Luis Fernando and Fernando, who seem to be working round the clock to handle all the details and surprise changes that always seem to come up during our staff visits. (At one point we see Roberta holding a little impromptu tele-conference via three cell phones and a computer).

Thursday, the next day, the events start with the Health and Well-Being workshop. The MSIA community here have put together a huge banner bearing the cover image from the Health book that hangs beyond our facilitators, John and Leigh, and the translator Adi. It’s quite striking and bears the eight principles of Health and Well-Being. The volunteers also put in an all-nighter to get a special booklet completed that will have the perfect handouts for the workshop’s participants along with a special purple pen. We are touched by the caring that has gone into this action of giving to the participants. Roberta was a clear and welcoming Mistress of Ceremonies. There are quite a number of new people to MSIA in the audience and they seem to stay right with John and Leigh throughout the evening. It was fun for us to find out that some of these new participants had heard about the workshop and had been touched by the Spirit through an interview of John that had been featured in the city’s paper earlier in the week. And after the evening was completed many of the participants hung out talking and enjoying the rich energy of loving that had filled the room. We staff were in pack-up mode for the next day would bring another sound/video set-up for Vincent at a new location and another full-on day of Services for we ladies and our translators. Tatiana Texeira is Vincent’s right hand person at the new hotel event location. During our Services days, Luis Fernando, Fernando, Suely, Adi, Sandra, Marcello, Paulo and Lana have jumped in to help with the translation. It takes a lot of focus and loving to maintain on-going focus throughout a service, so we thank them from deep in our hearts. Friday evening brings the Traveler together with the Brazilian Ministers and Initiates. We start off with our fellow ministers and do ordinations. Luis Fernando and Maria Christina are the MC’s for the evening and delightfully introduce the contributors and their offerings. Marinalva Bukuzis shares a lovely poem, Paulo sings and plays a touching song, and Roberta surprises us with another of her many hidden (at least from us) talents — her beautiful voice — as she sings to us of Dreams. So the place is prepared and John ascends the stage with his lively translator, Marcello, and takes questions and answers until we are floating. We gals are buzzed and a little more pizza and eggplant parmigiana is just what is called for to help land us back long enough to take a shower, do some emails and get to sleep.

If yesterday seemed full, today is even more so, at least for John who starts the day presiding at the Festival of Blessings, otherwise known as the BlessingsFest. Vincent heads off to man the sound table, Lana, the M.C. takes off early too to help organize the buffet. John and Leigh follow not too long afterward and along with over 30 participants are soon underway into the BlessingsFest, Belo Horizonte style. Meanwhile back at our hotel we ladies continue with Services. Graciela is our lovely hostess and holds down the fort. It definitely is a lot quieter today at the hotel as almost everyone seemed to be at the delicious blessings happening. A few empty spaces gave each of us gals a little break. Celia and I head to the mall nearby for a little teatime and some wonderful window shopping. Just love those special basic selves’ moments. Then it’s back to finish up Services and get a little head start in packing our suitcases before heading over to join in on the final event of our visit here, the Traveler’s sharing with the MSS Year One class. When we enter the MSS class sharing room we see that many of the BlessingsFest participants are also members of the year one class. We are embraced and even fed some of the desserts that are left over from the abundant fest. John continues the theme of the day by intermingling questions and answers with class members and responding to Blessings cards that continue to be put before him. Lots of laughter flows in and amongst precious wisdoms. Light-hearted yet profound sharing caps our stay here. We pack up the sound equipment and head for our hotel to complete pack up before catching just a few hours of shut-eye. The next morning Monica and Luis Fernandez are there to make sure we get to the airport and on to our flight to Sao Paulo and our connection to Bogota. We are deeply grateful for the joyful loving and willingness to do whatever was needed that was consistently there for us every moment of our visit to Brazil this year. Obrigado!

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA

Some of our troops eagerly are waiting by the door of our hotel restaurant at 6:30am this morning to get a quick bite to eat and a little sip of coffee. In a half hour we must board our cars and vans to ride back to the Belo Horizonte airport. We journey today from Belo Horizonte to Sao Paulo to Bogota. Since we will be all day getting to our destination, we are into the basics of comfort, comfort, and more comfort as well as that higher attitude of asking for Light to be placed wherever we are. The ride to the BH airport goes quickly and we actually enjoy the verdant green hillsides that we’re getting to see in the daylight. A little chaos ensues at the airport as we deal with trying to check our luggage all the way through to Bogota, pay for extra luggage and in general try to understand where to go to board our flight. Of course this brings giggles eventually as we are determined to make our adventure fun today. Luis Fernando and Monica have escorted us and give each of us a warm abracito as we move on through into Immigration and security lines. Our first flight to Sao Paulo is actually quite comfy with most of us having a seat free next to us giving us that quasi-business class feeling. We do so love and enjoy those little pleasures, even if almost all of us pass out for the short two hour flight.. Well, the Belo Horizonte airport now seems positively laid-back compared to the buzz of Sao Paulo’s airport. With just a little over an hour to find our way we’re like a little herd of cats — each thinking we’ve discovered the way — trying to find our way to the proper portal to get us through to our gate. At last we discover that we have to go upstairs. The minutes start ticking away. John and Leigh need to go back to get a stamp on their boarding pass…will they make it to the gate on time to board? Fear not, some of us head to the gate determined to hold the plane. Lesley and Vincent reconnoiter for water bottles for all of us. The gate attendants assure me “No problemas…they will hold the bus for the rest of our gang.” Whew! Soon all converge and get onto the bus and we board our 5 and some hour flight to Bogota. A lucky and very nice man lands in the seat between Celia and me. After a few moments of thinking “shoot, there goes our luxurious empty seat possibility”, Celia and I welcome our seat mate and share with him what goodies we’ve garnered for the journey. He’s delighted and soon joins us in passing out into his version of SE’s or SZ’s. Paulo Fortes, Lana, and Christina Rivero are following along with us to do more sitting in training. Ani is perched somewhere back in the plane, and John & Leigh, Vincent & Lesley have scored empty seats between them. Ah, the trip that we had braced ourselves for actually goes smoothly and pretty quickly.

Brrrrr!!! It’s nippy as we debark in Bogota, but our Bogota family bring the warmth with their love and welcome us through the arms of John and Virginia Marin, Ana Maria Gonzalez and Felipe, Alberto Arango and Leopolda Villa. While Ani and Vincent handle the customs for the equipment, Alberto and the Marins whisk les Girls (less me) and some of the luggage to our hotel. Leopoldo waits by the curb loading luggage into his van. All looks good to me and I get to jump in with Ana Maria and Felipe for a superbo animated catch up with them all the way to our hotel. Mercifully it’s Sunday so there’s no rush hour to contend with. At the hotel Ilse Arango is on hand for a fun huddle as our dinner time with the whole gang at a nearby favorite restaurant is adjusted to be earlier. Moments later Ani, Vincent and Leopoldo arrive. Soon we’re in our rooms, figuring out the Internet connections, putting away just a few things and then we’re off and walking to Amarti in this wonderful plaza that’s home to an old church in which Mass is being celebrated. Dinner is gay with tons of laughter. We’re so grateful too that it’s early so that we can settle in and get some email done before the final portion of our trip when all the events and Services get underway tomorrow. Ah, but one thing I forgot is the ALTITUDE. Bogota is almost at 9,000 feet. So at least for me I start to feel my body being pulled to my bed and I surrender to an early night’s sleep…and so do several of my comrades.

Next day is Monday and we’re all up and running full speed. I’m super happy and grateful…no altitude headache for me. One by one we converge at breakfast and are delighted to see our friend, Pablo, waiting to serve us. It really does seem like family as we’re hugged and welcomed by the wait-staff. Ilse arrives, as does her daughter, Ana Maria Arango, to facilitate Services being done and lunch being prepared. Leopoldo comes to take Vincent over to the Samsung building to set up for some of the events. Tonight is an Open Health and Well-Being workshop. Services and set-up go smoothly today and we get to enjoy Bogota’s delicious Ajiaco soup for lunch. The whole trip we’ve been looking forward like kids to having Ajiaco in Bogota. This is one of Colombia’s specialities and is made with three indigenous potatoes and a very special herb that is dark green and whose name eludes me now, plus chicken and “mais” — a yummy corn. Sides of avocado, rice, capers, and cream make up the full experience. Today’s version is more like a potage, thick and filling. Given the coolness of this rainy day we are overflowing with gratitude for the taste and the warmth. After Services there are initiations and we make it over to the Samsung just after the workshop has started.

The room is almost full with somewhere between 150-170 people. Martha Cortes, the Bogota PTS Rep, is overseeing the logistics. Myriam Acevedo leads an enthusiastic assisting team; Vincent with Leopoldo’s ever-ready assistance has the sound beautifully tuned. Judith Abuabara is a graceful Mistress of Ceremonies, John Marin is translating with Leigh and soon John Morton goes up to complete the facilitating trio. I love this workshop that unfolds eight principles of Healing, and explores the causes and cures of disease spiritually. Profound doesn’t even begin to describe the experience and awarenesses that blossom for me every time I make myself available to the information. We float back to our hotel but still a little buzzy we chat ourselves down over some chicken soup and soon are ready to let go into sleep.

Tuesday and it’s more Services and then off we go for ordinations and a Q&A for Ministers and Initiates with the Traveler. Clara Isabel Rodriquez is our on-purpose and beautiful mistress of Ceremonies ably introducing each offering. Mercedes Beltran leads off with her meaningful poems and Ligia Marcela, our Bogota MSIA Rep, sings a capella her original song invoking the Christ in and around us — what could be more perfect to create a heartfelt place for the Traveler to be with the Traveler’s Ministers and Initiates? And we keep going up from there as the Traveler talks to us on many levels, answering even the unspoken questions that abound. Though we would love to transport ourselves to our beds there is pack-up to be done as tomorrow night’s event is in another location albeit one that is close by. So amidst all the hugging and loving we pack up the sound equipment, and while Vincent and Leopoldo and Ani head over to the Radisson to store the equipment, the rest of us staff retire–after a few more emails–to get a last dose of sleep in preparation for one more amazing day to come in Bogota.

It’s Wednesday and our last full day in Bogota. Ilse and Ana Maria greet us early reviewing with us the day’s schedule. We launch into Services as Vincent and Leopoldo yet again start a new set up — tonight’s event is the Festivals of Blessings otherwise known as the Bogota BlessingsFest. Ani Pacheco has held the vision for this beautiful evening and along with her sisters has created a most lovely and graceful ambience with the purple flowers and decorations and the beautiful and tasteful buffet. The participants have dressed for the occasion. Ani as this evening’s MC welcomes and thanks the many participants. In fact this is the largest BlessingsFest, outside of Los Angeles, (69 in attendance), that we’ve ever had. Ani introduces John who adds his heartfelt thanks and appreciation and begins to facilitate the start of the Blessings process which goes on from 6:30pm to almost 12:30am. Blessing after blessing is revealed including the magnificent blessing of the participants spontaneously donating the funds for someone else to come in and participate with them. The hotel staff join in the spirit of giving and keep manifesting more and more food in more and more beautiful presentations — it is amazing how much food 69 people can eat too!

In the midst of the evening, Celia and Lesley give their goodbye hugs and kisses as they are the first to depart for the States. Their flight leaves at 1:30am. The final Blessing is made by John after midnight and we are surrounded, filled and embraced as the Blessings Truly Are and continue as many hands make for a quick pack up. Good thing too as our early flights require that Vincent and I have just enough time to take a shower and finish packing up our suitcases and get ourselves downstairs in our hotel to jump into Leopoldo and Ani’s cars for the run to the airport. Amazingly enough all four of us must be held by the Spirit because we’re actually feeling pretty good even though it’s been more than 24 hours since we’ve slept. John and Leigh aren’t too far behind us with John Marin taking them. We all converge at the airport with final hugs, thank yous and words of loving and gratitude, and that is what it is all about…the love, loving, gratitude for the blessings and being held by the Spirit as we go. So as our planes lift off, we say Gracias to every single one of our South American MSIA family. Vaya con Dios to all who have assisted us along the way, and remember that you and we are blessed in every moment. Que te Bendiga!!