Well, we didn't get our family all together at the Lake this year with our Texas family unable to make it, and, of course, Hallel in France out of our family circle of spending times and sharing experiences. We were in the Hardware store parking lot and Hallel called from France - Why? Because her sandals had broken while walking through Saint Pierre the day before and she needed another pair. Why call us? Because living in Ghent were a group of former sisters, who sold sandals. Why call us for that? Because John is driving through Ghent on Saturday on his way to share his story with people at the Canby parish after the 5:30p mass, and it would be only logical as he passed through Ghent to stop and pick up a size 42 women's in European size shoes from this group of former sisters in Ghent. As we were talking with her she mentioned the big occasion coming up for the U.S. foundation of the Community of the Lamb - the Dedication of their new little monastery in Kansas City. The following day will be the vesture- taking of the habit of the first American Little Sister since Susan! Maria will take the habit and change her name on September 15th! As Hallel was saying - this is one of the most powerful ceremonies because you can watch the transformation as they leave wearing their polo and skirt and return in their habit! They also kneel in front of Little Sister Marie - their foundress - and she lays her hands on their shoulders and announces their new name..."You will be called Little Sister Hallel!" She said joyfully in English, just for her family, when we were there when John had just started his cancer journey in August of 2009. We had never heard Hallel before, but now it's message of praising God is a great delight to us - knowing that everytime we say her name we are giving our Lord the highest praise! The Hallel psalms at the end of the psalms - 145-150 can give you an idea of that JOYFUL praise, and the ones around psalm 100 are called the Grand Hallel psalms and you can spot them when they go on and on with the words of King David as he dances in front of the tabernacle praising The LOVING and FORGIVING GOD of Heaven and Earth!
Our last mass with Hallel in Kansas City when we returned her to her community after our home visit. We are now marking our calendars for this huge occasion for her Community here in the U.S.
The stairway in place that leads to the heart of the Community - the chapel where they spend much of their day in contemplative prayer! It was really funny to just here a story that Mateo had to share with Nancy in Vienna - Nancy had asked Mateo how Susan was when she returned from her home visit... "She was dead...What did you do to her?" he told her laughingly. He also admitted that they all come back from home visits that way. It struck me today that as much as Hallel loves children and that it was a sacrifice for her to be celibate for Christ as his Spouse... Her love for Him and spending time with Him in His Word and in prayer is what she is called to first of all in her contemplative LIFE. I think that after being snowed in with her mob of a family with 9 little ones 8 and under, and all of the others that wanted to delve into her last 3 years of living in the Community. Then she came to us with a cold on her second day, so no wonder she dragged back to find her peace and solace once again in the chapel throughout the day.
Hallel in the arms of her Community in April when we returned her HOME!
Lord, we are filled with great excitement for this landmark time for our American Community of the Lamb! Even Maria is marking off her calendar for this time as thinking that it is possible for them to come from the South to join in the gathering for dedication of the Monastery! "The salvation of the just is from the Lord; he is their refuge in time of distress." Psalm 37 - the psalm from mass today. Lord, we are so blessed to have this special large family of Faith in our lives. Thank you for calling Hallel to be your spouse and to allow us to share in her LIFE and learned Truth from a distance. Sharing with her yesterday about the single black eyed Susan we found in the ditch and it reminded us of Hallel's prayers for us... "I do pray for you." When I told her that she had reached us in Michigan - "OO, La, La!" was her comment - she has become so French! It was such a gift to have her looking for her sandals and calling us in the midst of our final days of Michigan. Just as our facetime with Maria and her family brought them here with us in a togetherness that spans the miles that separate us. Jesus, we loved the way that we can be together although we physically are not. Prayer is our bond! Jesus, we trust in YOU. Amen and Halleluia
Bless-bless, Barb
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