20 de octubre de 2012
Uno de los mejores recuerdos que tengo del «Taller arte y comunicación para la paz POR UNA CULTURA DE PAZ CON JUSTICIA» que ofrecimos a en Chiapas, México, fue conocer a la inteligente niña maya Elda.
Deseosa de aprender, Elda me preguntó sobre el libro que yo leía en ratos libres. Así comencé a compartir con ella la obra del Juez de la Corte Superior William Fred Santiago “Venceremos… recobro de Martin Luther King, Jr.”
Como una fotografía de esos momentos en octubre del 2012, publico este artículo escrito por la querida amiga Doris Mayol y publicado en su blog www.internationalministries.org. Su título: «A Girl, a Woman, a Judge and a Dream».
Puedes leerlo directamente en el blog (presionando sobre la foto a continuación), o más adelante en esta página, donde transcribo todo el texto.
A Girl, a Woman, a Judge and a Dream
They were there, a peasant girl and a retired sociologist. Elda a poor Mayan girl of nine years old and Liliana a Portorrican retired university professor of sociology. Each one of them from completely different worlds, completely unlike histories, living so far, far away from each other, and yet… they were together as if there was nothing else in the world but themselves and what they were sharing. What could draw them together like that?
Liliana came on October 2012 as part of the team providing the Art and Communication for Peace’s Workshop, to give seminarian students and other young people from allied organizations audio visual tools to support their work on peace building and conflict transformation. At Chacacal, one of the indigenous communities we serve, we gathered to take some pictures and complete some of the student’s videos. In this community Elda’s grandmother gave to the seminary part of her land to plant crops for our students and to build a small structure for lodging during the theological trainings and workshops we give to the pastors.
In this setting Liliana was reading under a tree the book of former Superior Court judge William Fred Santiago, “Venceremos… recobro de ML King, Jr.” (We will prevail… recovery of ML King Jr.) It was hot and the kids were playing around or helping with house chores. Yet, Elda mystically drawn to Liliana by her quiet reading, asked her: what are you reading? And with that, the series of answers to the 
“whys” and “tell me more” of Elda, not only entangled Elda’s interest for days, but filled Liliana with joy and with that deep responsibility of sharing a life changing story.
In this storytelling, Elda lived together with MLK his struggle to summon his people to face the painful story of abuse of all kinds by those who believed themselves superiors. She understood what it’s like, because she is poor, indigenous and female. She also understood that God calls us to fight for the dream of a just and fraternal society, because we all deserve the Lekil kuxlejal, the abundant life Jesus promised. Elda, whose sister already left school to help the family, is in turn. Poverty pushes children from Mayan communities to find work to help their families. Elda, who loves to learn, was inspired by this story opening the possibility of a different reality. Her beautiful dark brown eyes opened wide with wonder, shined for more. More hope?
The promise to give her a copy was set. Yet, it was not until 5 months later that together with Liliana we got to encounter Judge William and after telling him the story of Elda, he autographed the book for Elda. On my last visit to Chiapas in April, though I couldn’t get to Chacacal, I sent the book with Eleazar to be given to this shy but resilient child who, like MLK, dreams a better world.
What pull all of us together? I truly believe that the deep yearning for peace that outpours from our hearts, always reach up to God “Heart of Heaven and Heart of Earth.” It doesn’t matter whether you are a man or woman or child. It doesn’t matter your language or nation or race. This “Heart of Heaven and Heart of Earth” with infinite mercy and grace draws us together and crosses our paths to become builders of a different future. God pulls you and I, pulls William, Liliana, Elda, Eleazar, Mario, Ricardo, Dalia, all of us, our minds, hearts and abilities in order to touch one another, to learn and grow together; to become one, large heart beat attuned with the Spirit’s desire for Peace.
Thanks for your prayers, for your steadfast love and financial support. You make possible this crossroad of lives! Maybe, if God calls her, Elda could become a future leader to her community. We as SIM will like you to be here at Chiapas, with your prayers and offerings to accompany this girl to reach her dream. Keep us close to your heart!
