Assisi

Several friends of ours asked us, “What about Assisi — tell us what happened there for you?”  

When we arrived in Rome, Italy we took a 3 hour train ride north east to Assisi.  We were to stay in a monastery there.  Once we were shown to our rooms and I sat on the bed, a deep stillness came over me — I didn’t want to move.  Steve was feeling the same thing and we both agreed to remain here in Assisi for the entire week and not go anywhere else.  We felt, we can just get back on the train that takes us back to the airport in Rome and fly home from there.  Easy — and this sacred village captivated us.

Each day we went to a different sacred place.  The first place was the St. Francis Basilica and we went immediately to his tomb. The rest of the Basilica was to glitzy and was not St. Francis to us.  The next day we went to St. Clare Basilica where she was entombed.  It was lovely.  But, the best place we found, where the simplicity reflects these two saintly beings more clearly, was at San Damiano.  

It was down the hill outside of the walls of Assisi.  Here is where St. Francis got the message from the crucifix of Jesus, “rebuild my church”  which he then proceeded to do.   It was also where St. Clare lived her entire life.  Here we could relax and receive the gift of their Holy Presence.

Yes, we found great places to eat awesome food and overdid it on gelato — but, more importantly we had the time in a sacred place to integrate our experience from the time in Africa.  By the end of the week, ideas were coming as to how to continue being neighbors with our African friends.  

Now that we are home, it is apparent that it is going to take some time to integrate our personal experiences from Africa.  I noticed that everything was the same at home, but something was very different in us.  In Africa, we were open to what was presented in the moment and gave completely over to it.  So, in the same way, we are continuing this process.  We shall see where this takes us.

(From my journal)  On my first day in Assisi I had a beautiful walk in the woods where Francis walked and sat in a simple, quiet chapel.  Yesterday, I succumbed twice to the pervasive offerings of sweets in this tourist town.

On my fourth day here I finally experienced something deep.  As I sat in the simple chapel of San Damiano, I contemplated the crucifix from which Jesus spoke to Francis — “Rebuild my church.”  I said to God,  If you can speak to Francis, why not me?  I’ve spent these days here listening, and have heard nothing.”  To my surprise He spoke — not aloud — saying, “Feed my sheep.”  This is my call, sometimes to materially “feed” — support — the children at Maama Victoria’s and to offer spiritual bread.

Now, we know that our journey — started three months ago — has truly just begun.  We want to continue serving what has begun.  Ideas are coming and people are offering to assist.  We will keep you informed as we go along.  We invite you to continue being with us and join in where you feel moved to contribute.

Much Love,

Elizabeth & Steve