#4 The Suitcases

Lily ran along the edge of the conveyor belt, searching for their bag. She remembered that they had tied a bit of bright cloth on their suitcase to distinguish it from the other black suitcases. As they watched, Lucy tiredly thought, "Two kids, one really big suitcase, one moderately pregnant belly which all needed to go down the escalator and to the train. She wondered how much the tickets were now. Did she have to pay for the kids? The last time she was in Chicago seemed so long ago. Lily started jumping and down screaming "There is our bag. Get it mami. Get it! Apurate! Hurry! As Lucy stepped forward to haul the bag off the belt, a voice behind her said, "I'll get it."
She looked up and saw her brother-in-law , Phil, sweep the bag off the belt with a grin. "We thought we'd surprise you". He nodded his head and she saw Martha approaching. She looked around for the girls and found them behind her, clinging to her skirt , suddenly shy.
"Look Lily, look Cilla it's Aunt Martha"
Martha knew children and didn't crowd them. She pulled two little wrapped gifts out of her bag and did what any good aunt does: Bribed them with gifts for a hug. It worked and while the girls were occupied with hugs and presents, she turned to Phil. She hugged him and started to thank him, but as soon as she felt the strength in his embrace, she dissolved into his arms and much to her surprise, burst in to tears. The trip had been so hard and the relief of having some help blindsided her emotions. She wept for a moment in his embrace, then took a breath and tried to smile.
"Hey I'm happy to see you too. Are you ok? Is there another suitcase? We were going to bring the car, but we have no car seats. Should we get a cab.?"
Lucy said "I promised Lily the train. It will be great now that you guys can help me with the girls. She tore Martha away from the girls and their new coloring books long enough to hug her
"Martha, you are a godsend. I'm having culture shock or something."
Surly little Pricilla took an instant liking to her Aunt Martha and cooperated with hand holding and careful steps down the escalator. Lily, loath to leave Marta, took Lucy's hand and Phil followed with the suitcase. Lucy's felt her burden lightened, at least for the moment and practically floated onto the train.
Phil settled into a seat beside Lucy and as the train pulled out, commented " I half expected to see my brother standing there with you."
"That would have been great, but he has so many things to finish up. I didn't want to wait any longer because of the baby."
"When do you think he will come? Your baby won't wait forever."
Lucy laughed, "I sure hope not! I think he should be able to leave in a month. Six weeks at the latest."
"Is he the same Lucy?"
"What do you mean?"
"You know driven, perfectionist, so serious about every thing?"

#3 12/6/08 Mary and Martha

Luke 10:38-42

[38] As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. [39] She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. [40] But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

[41] "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, [42] but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Lucy finished reading the story and asked, "What do you think of the sisters?" She had hoped to encourage the women in their spiritual lives, to claim the right that Jesus gave Mary to sit at the spiritual table. The culture and the Catholic church both side-lined women from leadership and service.

The women sat quietly, glancing at each other, confused. Lucy's stomach sank, as she thought "I've probably just done something culturally inappropriate. Were they not used to being asked their opinions, or were they trying to figure out what it was that she wanted to them to say?".

She tried again. "Jesus told Martha that Mary had chosen well to listen to his teaching and that He wouldn't take that away from her. I think Jesus is telling us that women have to right to study and learn about the Bible."

Finally, Pilar spoke up, "Pues, si," "Well yes, but how will Jesus and the disciples eat if every one is sitting at his feet listening. The food doesn't make itself." The ice broken, the women's chatter flowed. There seemed to differing opinions. The younger women supporting Mary, saying, "The men and our mothers' just want us in the kitchen, cooking, when there are interesting things going on the the living room. The older ones scoffed, "Its all just talk, air. We serve God by serving our families."

Lucy although pleased with the discussion, had felt a little unsure about the direction it had taken. In the Bible studies at home the older women had always kept things on track following the party line of the church. Mary was elevated for learning from Jesus and Martha was criticized for being worldly and unconcerned with spiritual things. It had always been a bit confusing for Lucy, because at the same time, women were taught to submit to their husbands and that men were the head of women.

Remembering the beginning of their time together, Lucy felt a deep pang of loss for her friends in Cochabamba. She startled as Lily started jumping up and down with joy as the suitcases started spilling out on the baggage belt. She shook her head at the delight children take in the most mundane things. When had she grown out of that?