Changed Lives
By Tim Kimmel
In 1921 Lewis Lawes became the warden of Sing Sing Prison. No prison was tougher than Sing Sing during that time. But when Warden Lawes retired some 20 years later, that prison had become a humanitarian institution. Those who studied the system said credit for the change belonged to Lawes. But when he was asked about the transformation, here’s what he said: “I owe it all to my wonderful wife, Cattherine, who is buried outside the prison walls.”
Catherine Lawes was a young mother with three small children when her husband became the warden. Everybody warned her from the beginning that she should never set foot inside the prison walls, but that didn’t stop Catherine! When the first prison basketball game was held, she went… walking into the gym with her three beautiful kids and she sat in the stands with the inmates.
Her attitude was: “My husband and I are going to take care of these men and I believe they will take care of me! I don’t have to worry!”
She insisted on getting acquainted with them and their record. She discovered one convicted murderer was blind so she paid him a visit. Holding his hand in hers she said, “Do you read Braille?”
“What’s Braille?” he asked. Then she taught him how to read. Years later he would weep in love for her.
Later, Catherine found a deaf-mute in prison. She went to school to learn how to use sign language. Many said that Catherine Lawes was the body of Jesus that came alive again in Sing Sing from 1921 to 1937.
Then, she was killed in a car accident. The next morning Lewis Lawes didn’t come to work, so the acting warden took his place. It seemed almost instantly that the prison knew something was wrong.
The following day, her body was resting in a casket in her home, three-quarters of a mile from prison. As the acting warden took his early morning walk he was shocked to see a large crowd of the toughest, hardest-looking criminals gathered like a herd of animals at the main gate. He came closer and noted tears of grief and sadness. He knew how much they loved Catherine. He turned and faced the men, “All right, men, you can go. Just be sure and check in tonight!” Then he opened the gate and a parade of criminals walked, without a guard, the three-quarters of a mile to stand in line to pay their final respects to Catherine Lawes. And every one of them checked back in.
Reference: Stories for the Heart, compiled by Alice Gray, pp. 54-55
Questar Publishers, Inc. 1996
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Baseball Spring Training in Arizona
BASEBALL SPRING TRAINING IN ARIZONA
February 28, 2010, by Dennis Ginoza
When I first thought about coming to Arizona to watch the San Diego Padres in their spring training, my knowledge about it was very limited. My! Have I learned a lot.
I learned that the Padres share their Peoria Complex at 83rd Avenue with the Seattle Mariners. That was just the beginning of my learning. There are in total fifteen teams in eleven different sports complexes in Arizona. They are as follows:
Camelback Ranch-Glendale 16101 North 83rd Avenue, Peoria
Los Angeles Dodgers & Chicago White Sox
Goodyear Ball Park, 1933 South Ballpark Way, Goodyear
Cincinnatti Reds & Cleveland Indians
Corbett Field, 3400 East Camino Campestre, Tucson
Colorado Rockies
Hohokam Park 1235 North Center Street, Mesa
Chicago Cubs
Maryvale Baseball Park3600 North 51st Avenue, Phoenix
Milwaukee Brewers
Peoria Sports Complex 16101 North 83rd Avenue, Peoria
San Diego Padres & Seattle Mariners
Phoenix Municipal Stadium 5999 East Van Buren, Phoenix
Oakland Athletics
Scottsdale Stadium 7408 East Osborn Road, Scottsdale
San Francisco Giants
Surprise Stadium15960 North Bullard, Surprise
Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers
Tempe Diablo Stadium 2200 West Alameda Drive, Tempe
California Angels
Tucson Electric Park 2500 East Ajo Way, Tucson
Arizona Diamond Backs
Each of these sports complexes have multiples fields for training with one stadium for games played in the Cactus League. They are beautiful fields with green grass, large parking areas, athletic sport shops, indoor batting cages, pitching areas, administrative offices, and other facilities.
In the first few days of visiting the Padres, I gained new information. The early players that arrive are pitchers and catchers and coaches. Several days later, the full staff arrive, numbering some 70 plus players, many minor leaguers here for tryouts, to be observed and having the opportunity to train and perform with hopes to move up in the Big League. When the Cactus League begins, the teams will carry a roster of 40 players and when the Major League season begins, the roster will be set at 25 players.
Every day, I encountered someone new, a sports fan who made it to Arizona to follow his or her favorite team. These interactions added to my excitement and to the dynamic of the pre-season preparation. When I walked over to the Mariners spring training, the parking lot was full of cars, fans who support their team in the most enthusiastic way. I asked several people why this is so. I got several answers. “We love our Mariners.” “We come from wet, snow country.” Also, I observed, one Mariner was followed due to his celebrity status. On Ichiro Suzuki, one fan told me, “I love watching him. He has the best work ethic.” There were ten cameras with multiple crews of Japanese media. Whenever Ichiro moved to another part of the complex, the cameras followed him. There were two others: Ken Griffey, Jr., known for his power, son of Cincinnati Reds Ken Griffey and Cliff Lee, a pitcher who helped Philadlphia win the World Series in 2008 and he had just joined the Mariners.
I caught the Mariner excitement. I got me a baseball for $10.00 with the markings, “Seattle Mariners.” I hurried to a gathered crowd waiting to get an autograph. I had kept my Padre baseball in my right pocket, now the Mariner ball in my left hand. It was pitcher Felix Hernandez who was runner up for the Cy Young Award in 2009. I told him, “I am a new Mariner fan from San Diego.” He smiled as he signed his autograph. This was my first day at Arizona Spring Training.
My experience began to move toward different and interesting interactions. People are friendly, they all love baseball, and I found a comfort zone. One lady from Washington state told me about her excitement over a young player who led the Oregon State baseball team to two NCAA championships, in the College World Series held in Omaha, Nebraska.
His name is Mitch Canham, a superb catcher and hitter. He just lost his mother. Mitch caught the fascination of this fan. “Besides,” she told me, “he is good looking.” I later found out, Mitch is with the Padres, not the Mariners. As he walked from the field toward the hitting cages, I got Mitch to sign my Padres Ball. I wished him well.
On the second day, I walked up to the fence where the Padres were batting. I met Luis Fernandez. He told me, “I played in the Little World Series in Williamsport for Venezuela in 1977.” Wow! That was exciting. “It was!” he said. I told him, I wanted to get to Williamsport, but I only got half way. I told him I played on the Pony League Team from Maui, that won the state championship in Hawaii and played in the regional tournament in La Mesa California. We lost there, but I got half way to Williamsport. The love of baseball stays in you for a long time.
Luis is in business where he transports equipment and personal belongings for major league players. One of his clients is Oscar Salazar, infielder from Venezuela now with the Padres. Luis said to me, “If you wait, I’ll introduce you to Oscar.” He did. He said, “Oscar, I want you to meet my friend Dennis.” Oscar shook my hand, signed my Padres baseball and I had my photo taken with him.” What a day! Luis told me, one of his good friends is Luis Aparicio who played for the Chicago Cubs and now resides in Venezuela. Again I was impressed. Luis Rodriguez lives with his family in Florida.
One day, at the Padres complex, I met John B., a staff member working at the gates to keep order and help move the fans. He told me how he used to visit Ebbets Field and watch the Brooklyn Dodgers. That was a conversation all its own as I was a Brooklyn fan as a young boy in Hawaii. I asked John, “How did you get this job?” “I applied for it,” he said. This year they hired thirteen new workers and they work for a month and a half. Sounds like a neat job.
By now, I caught the gist of how things work. I would visit the Mariners and watch them practice. Then I would watch the Padres work out, or vice versa. I found where I needed to be where the players would sign their autographs. I got autographs of manager Bud Black, San Diego Padres, Tony Gwynn Jr. son of Tony Gwynn, one of San Diego’s favorite sons; Jerry Hairston who just joined the Padres from the New York Yankees. He and his brother Scott are now two brothers on the Padres.
On Saturday, it was Fan Fest Day at Peoria Sports Complex. The Mariners took the field for the first two hours, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., hitting, pitching, fielding as the fans watched from the stands. Hot dogs were not free, but for $5.00, you got the super deal, a hot dog, chips, and a drink. From 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. the Padres took the field and did their batting and routines as well. Ken Griffey and Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners were knocking the ball out of the park. Then Padres Kyle Blanks was hitting homeruns as was Dusty Ryan, catcher and power hitter who came from Detroit.
At the fence behind home plate I met a young man named Darryl from Georgia. He was not a Braves fan. Surprised, I asked “Why?” When they traded power hitter Dale Murphy, he gave up on the Braves and became a Mets fan. I laughed because that’s what happened to me. I too gave up on the Dodgers when they traded Steve Garvey to the Padres. I became a Padres fan. Baseball can be a funny game. Loyalties change. Darryl told me where I can best be to catch the players for their autographs. I got more autographs including infielder, Chone Figgins, Mariners. From my right pocket I would get my Padres ball and got pitchers Luis Perdomo, Cesar Carillo; and outfielder Milton Bradley now with the Mariners.
If there is a baseball heaven, it’s in Arizona. There’s more baseball here than you have time for. And that’s the point. This is the place for those who love the game, who follow the players, who know what loyalty means. Of all the teams, Chicago draws more fans than any team; the Mariners stand a close second. They come in bus loads. Plus, Chicago's winter is a good reason to spend time in Arizona. At the Cubs field I saw that Greg Maddox is now on the coaching staff.
At the Fan Fest, Sylvia and learned that a college game was to follow at 2:00 p.m. The University of Kansas and Gonzaga were playing. I stuck around. I went over to the left field stands to watch the Kansas players warm up. This led to another interesting encounter.
A woman came by. I asked her, “Are you staff support or a mother?” “My son is in on the team,” she said. “He’s number 5, a first baseman, a sophomore.” Zach Elgie played for a high school in North Dakota. In his senior year, he hit 35 homeruns. The scouts came out to watch him. He was drafted by the Oakland A’s. The agent came to his home, offered him a bonus of $100,000. Zach thought about it. “How long does it take to make it to the majors?" He was told, “Nine years.” He decided to play college ball and enrolled at the University of Kansas, and get his degree first. His mother said, “That was a good decision.” There’s more to this story. In baseball, there is an excitement, but also a reality. It’s a tough business, and as Luis Rodriguez told me earlier, “It is a money business.” Not everyone makes it in this game.
In professional baseball, the beginning salary is $400,000. That is what I discovered with the Mariners and the Padres, in the year 2009. Ichiro Suzuki received $18 million. At the fence, as I talked to Luis from Argentina and Larry Rizzo who played in a traveling team in San Diego, all of us who, at one time shared a dream, and Larry said, “If I could play for two years and earn $400,000 each year, I could retire.” We all laughed as another day at the ball park came to a close.
When Kevin Costner’s Field of Dreams was released, it gave baseball in America a boost. For some, playing in the majors is a dream we all shared at one time, especially as little kids, and for others, it is a game that is still America’s past time.
Let me share another perspective. As I see the game of baseball in the larger perspective of life, especially in fielding faith, it makes me think of the day I was in the living room of Pam Chodola, at her daughter’s graduation lunch. Pam is the daughter of Duke Snider who played for the Dodgers in Brooklyn and in Los Angeles. I was having a conversation with Duke. It came to the topic about faith and serving God. Duke said to me, “Isn’t that what we are all about? Serving God.” Those words have left on me a lasting mark. So as one game ends, a New Game begins.
February 28, 2010, by Dennis Ginoza
When I first thought about coming to Arizona to watch the San Diego Padres in their spring training, my knowledge about it was very limited. My! Have I learned a lot.
I learned that the Padres share their Peoria Complex at 83rd Avenue with the Seattle Mariners. That was just the beginning of my learning. There are in total fifteen teams in eleven different sports complexes in Arizona. They are as follows:
Camelback Ranch-Glendale 16101 North 83rd Avenue, Peoria
Los Angeles Dodgers & Chicago White Sox
Goodyear Ball Park, 1933 South Ballpark Way, Goodyear
Cincinnatti Reds & Cleveland Indians
Corbett Field, 3400 East Camino Campestre, Tucson
Colorado Rockies
Hohokam Park 1235 North Center Street, Mesa
Chicago Cubs
Maryvale Baseball Park3600 North 51st Avenue, Phoenix
Milwaukee Brewers
Peoria Sports Complex 16101 North 83rd Avenue, Peoria
San Diego Padres & Seattle Mariners
Phoenix Municipal Stadium 5999 East Van Buren, Phoenix
Oakland Athletics
Scottsdale Stadium 7408 East Osborn Road, Scottsdale
San Francisco Giants
Surprise Stadium15960 North Bullard, Surprise
Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers
Tempe Diablo Stadium 2200 West Alameda Drive, Tempe
California Angels
Tucson Electric Park 2500 East Ajo Way, Tucson
Arizona Diamond Backs
Each of these sports complexes have multiples fields for training with one stadium for games played in the Cactus League. They are beautiful fields with green grass, large parking areas, athletic sport shops, indoor batting cages, pitching areas, administrative offices, and other facilities.
In the first few days of visiting the Padres, I gained new information. The early players that arrive are pitchers and catchers and coaches. Several days later, the full staff arrive, numbering some 70 plus players, many minor leaguers here for tryouts, to be observed and having the opportunity to train and perform with hopes to move up in the Big League. When the Cactus League begins, the teams will carry a roster of 40 players and when the Major League season begins, the roster will be set at 25 players.
Every day, I encountered someone new, a sports fan who made it to Arizona to follow his or her favorite team. These interactions added to my excitement and to the dynamic of the pre-season preparation. When I walked over to the Mariners spring training, the parking lot was full of cars, fans who support their team in the most enthusiastic way. I asked several people why this is so. I got several answers. “We love our Mariners.” “We come from wet, snow country.” Also, I observed, one Mariner was followed due to his celebrity status. On Ichiro Suzuki, one fan told me, “I love watching him. He has the best work ethic.” There were ten cameras with multiple crews of Japanese media. Whenever Ichiro moved to another part of the complex, the cameras followed him. There were two others: Ken Griffey, Jr., known for his power, son of Cincinnati Reds Ken Griffey and Cliff Lee, a pitcher who helped Philadlphia win the World Series in 2008 and he had just joined the Mariners.
I caught the Mariner excitement. I got me a baseball for $10.00 with the markings, “Seattle Mariners.” I hurried to a gathered crowd waiting to get an autograph. I had kept my Padre baseball in my right pocket, now the Mariner ball in my left hand. It was pitcher Felix Hernandez who was runner up for the Cy Young Award in 2009. I told him, “I am a new Mariner fan from San Diego.” He smiled as he signed his autograph. This was my first day at Arizona Spring Training.
My experience began to move toward different and interesting interactions. People are friendly, they all love baseball, and I found a comfort zone. One lady from Washington state told me about her excitement over a young player who led the Oregon State baseball team to two NCAA championships, in the College World Series held in Omaha, Nebraska.
His name is Mitch Canham, a superb catcher and hitter. He just lost his mother. Mitch caught the fascination of this fan. “Besides,” she told me, “he is good looking.” I later found out, Mitch is with the Padres, not the Mariners. As he walked from the field toward the hitting cages, I got Mitch to sign my Padres Ball. I wished him well.
On the second day, I walked up to the fence where the Padres were batting. I met Luis Fernandez. He told me, “I played in the Little World Series in Williamsport for Venezuela in 1977.” Wow! That was exciting. “It was!” he said. I told him, I wanted to get to Williamsport, but I only got half way. I told him I played on the Pony League Team from Maui, that won the state championship in Hawaii and played in the regional tournament in La Mesa California. We lost there, but I got half way to Williamsport. The love of baseball stays in you for a long time.
Luis is in business where he transports equipment and personal belongings for major league players. One of his clients is Oscar Salazar, infielder from Venezuela now with the Padres. Luis said to me, “If you wait, I’ll introduce you to Oscar.” He did. He said, “Oscar, I want you to meet my friend Dennis.” Oscar shook my hand, signed my Padres baseball and I had my photo taken with him.” What a day! Luis told me, one of his good friends is Luis Aparicio who played for the Chicago Cubs and now resides in Venezuela. Again I was impressed. Luis Rodriguez lives with his family in Florida.
One day, at the Padres complex, I met John B., a staff member working at the gates to keep order and help move the fans. He told me how he used to visit Ebbets Field and watch the Brooklyn Dodgers. That was a conversation all its own as I was a Brooklyn fan as a young boy in Hawaii. I asked John, “How did you get this job?” “I applied for it,” he said. This year they hired thirteen new workers and they work for a month and a half. Sounds like a neat job.
By now, I caught the gist of how things work. I would visit the Mariners and watch them practice. Then I would watch the Padres work out, or vice versa. I found where I needed to be where the players would sign their autographs. I got autographs of manager Bud Black, San Diego Padres, Tony Gwynn Jr. son of Tony Gwynn, one of San Diego’s favorite sons; Jerry Hairston who just joined the Padres from the New York Yankees. He and his brother Scott are now two brothers on the Padres.
On Saturday, it was Fan Fest Day at Peoria Sports Complex. The Mariners took the field for the first two hours, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., hitting, pitching, fielding as the fans watched from the stands. Hot dogs were not free, but for $5.00, you got the super deal, a hot dog, chips, and a drink. From 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. the Padres took the field and did their batting and routines as well. Ken Griffey and Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners were knocking the ball out of the park. Then Padres Kyle Blanks was hitting homeruns as was Dusty Ryan, catcher and power hitter who came from Detroit.
At the fence behind home plate I met a young man named Darryl from Georgia. He was not a Braves fan. Surprised, I asked “Why?” When they traded power hitter Dale Murphy, he gave up on the Braves and became a Mets fan. I laughed because that’s what happened to me. I too gave up on the Dodgers when they traded Steve Garvey to the Padres. I became a Padres fan. Baseball can be a funny game. Loyalties change. Darryl told me where I can best be to catch the players for their autographs. I got more autographs including infielder, Chone Figgins, Mariners. From my right pocket I would get my Padres ball and got pitchers Luis Perdomo, Cesar Carillo; and outfielder Milton Bradley now with the Mariners.
If there is a baseball heaven, it’s in Arizona. There’s more baseball here than you have time for. And that’s the point. This is the place for those who love the game, who follow the players, who know what loyalty means. Of all the teams, Chicago draws more fans than any team; the Mariners stand a close second. They come in bus loads. Plus, Chicago's winter is a good reason to spend time in Arizona. At the Cubs field I saw that Greg Maddox is now on the coaching staff.
At the Fan Fest, Sylvia and learned that a college game was to follow at 2:00 p.m. The University of Kansas and Gonzaga were playing. I stuck around. I went over to the left field stands to watch the Kansas players warm up. This led to another interesting encounter.
A woman came by. I asked her, “Are you staff support or a mother?” “My son is in on the team,” she said. “He’s number 5, a first baseman, a sophomore.” Zach Elgie played for a high school in North Dakota. In his senior year, he hit 35 homeruns. The scouts came out to watch him. He was drafted by the Oakland A’s. The agent came to his home, offered him a bonus of $100,000. Zach thought about it. “How long does it take to make it to the majors?" He was told, “Nine years.” He decided to play college ball and enrolled at the University of Kansas, and get his degree first. His mother said, “That was a good decision.” There’s more to this story. In baseball, there is an excitement, but also a reality. It’s a tough business, and as Luis Rodriguez told me earlier, “It is a money business.” Not everyone makes it in this game.
In professional baseball, the beginning salary is $400,000. That is what I discovered with the Mariners and the Padres, in the year 2009. Ichiro Suzuki received $18 million. At the fence, as I talked to Luis from Argentina and Larry Rizzo who played in a traveling team in San Diego, all of us who, at one time shared a dream, and Larry said, “If I could play for two years and earn $400,000 each year, I could retire.” We all laughed as another day at the ball park came to a close.
When Kevin Costner’s Field of Dreams was released, it gave baseball in America a boost. For some, playing in the majors is a dream we all shared at one time, especially as little kids, and for others, it is a game that is still America’s past time.
Let me share another perspective. As I see the game of baseball in the larger perspective of life, especially in fielding faith, it makes me think of the day I was in the living room of Pam Chodola, at her daughter’s graduation lunch. Pam is the daughter of Duke Snider who played for the Dodgers in Brooklyn and in Los Angeles. I was having a conversation with Duke. It came to the topic about faith and serving God. Duke said to me, “Isn’t that what we are all about? Serving God.” Those words have left on me a lasting mark. So as one game ends, a New Game begins.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
The Peace Corps Experience
Have you ever thought of joining the Peace? Why? You might ask. That's a good point to begin.
I did and it changed my life.
The Peace Corps today has served in 139 host countries. Some 200,000 have lived in far away countries ever since President John F. Kennedy laid before us a challenge and a vision. I caught that vision and optism. I wanted to change the world.
You are asked to give 27 months of your time to serve, to help, to learn another language, to assist in a number of areas: education, health and HIVAIDs, business development, environment, agriculture, youth development, etc.
The volunteers serve all over the world: Africa 37%, Latin America 24%, Asia 7%, North Africa/Middle East 4%, Pacific Islands 4%, Caribbean 4%.
Congress recently approved a budget of $400 million for the year 2010. An increase from $340 million in 2009.
The Peace Corps Director in Washington is Aaron S. Williams who had served in the Dominican Republic, 1967-1970.
For information, call the toll free number: 800-424-8580. March is Peace Corps month.
My Brief Story
Right after I graduated from college in Iowa, I joined the Peace Corps and with 47 others, trained at Southwest Texas State College in San Marcos, Texas. We studied Spanish for four hours every morning, were trained in history and culture of Costa Rica, a Central American nation. We were introduced to riding horses: first to prepare them, brush them, get them bridled and saddled, then rode them. We played soccer, a popular sport in Latin America.
Our training was in "Accion Comunal," Community Action. For two months we trained in Texas, and six weeks in Puerto Rico. It was a physical training, climbing rocks, learning a drown proof method in swimming, and two hours of Spanish. The best way to learn a language is by total immersion. Then we were in the field. I was assigned to a 4-S program (4-H in America).
I served in Costa Rica from 1965-1967. My assignment was the Nicoya Development Association. We helped communities develop leadership, plan self-help projects such as building a water system, a health center. A major project of the Association was to work with four municipalities and three American engineers helped train students to operate heavy machinery and build impact roads.
In Peace Corps training, we were told, "Don't do anything major until you have been in the country for six months." By then you'll have developed language proficiency. Also, until you have the trust of the people, nothing will happen. This was good advice.
What I found is that, people are people wherever you are. We share a common humanity. Until you walk in the shoes of another people, you will never understand them. Speaking the language is an essential bridge to understanding and relationship.
After a year, one of the high school teachers approached me and said, "Senor Ginoza, my wife and I want you to have dinner with us." At dinner, he explained, at first they were apprehensive to invite me to their home. They felt it was not good enough, not comparable to American homes. Now they felt comfortable with me. Then he said, "If you want to borrow my motorcycle to visit the towns, just let me know." This was heart warming and a new bridge. We had a delightful dinner. I did borrow his motorcycle.
I had some wonderful experiences, some adventurous, some productive, some interesting, some close calls. Later I will write more. I remain, Peace Corps Volunteer, Costa IV.
I did and it changed my life.
The Peace Corps today has served in 139 host countries. Some 200,000 have lived in far away countries ever since President John F. Kennedy laid before us a challenge and a vision. I caught that vision and optism. I wanted to change the world.
You are asked to give 27 months of your time to serve, to help, to learn another language, to assist in a number of areas: education, health and HIVAIDs, business development, environment, agriculture, youth development, etc.
The volunteers serve all over the world: Africa 37%, Latin America 24%, Asia 7%, North Africa/Middle East 4%, Pacific Islands 4%, Caribbean 4%.
Congress recently approved a budget of $400 million for the year 2010. An increase from $340 million in 2009.
The Peace Corps Director in Washington is Aaron S. Williams who had served in the Dominican Republic, 1967-1970.
For information, call the toll free number: 800-424-8580. March is Peace Corps month.
My Brief Story
Right after I graduated from college in Iowa, I joined the Peace Corps and with 47 others, trained at Southwest Texas State College in San Marcos, Texas. We studied Spanish for four hours every morning, were trained in history and culture of Costa Rica, a Central American nation. We were introduced to riding horses: first to prepare them, brush them, get them bridled and saddled, then rode them. We played soccer, a popular sport in Latin America.
Our training was in "Accion Comunal," Community Action. For two months we trained in Texas, and six weeks in Puerto Rico. It was a physical training, climbing rocks, learning a drown proof method in swimming, and two hours of Spanish. The best way to learn a language is by total immersion. Then we were in the field. I was assigned to a 4-S program (4-H in America).
I served in Costa Rica from 1965-1967. My assignment was the Nicoya Development Association. We helped communities develop leadership, plan self-help projects such as building a water system, a health center. A major project of the Association was to work with four municipalities and three American engineers helped train students to operate heavy machinery and build impact roads.
In Peace Corps training, we were told, "Don't do anything major until you have been in the country for six months." By then you'll have developed language proficiency. Also, until you have the trust of the people, nothing will happen. This was good advice.
What I found is that, people are people wherever you are. We share a common humanity. Until you walk in the shoes of another people, you will never understand them. Speaking the language is an essential bridge to understanding and relationship.
After a year, one of the high school teachers approached me and said, "Senor Ginoza, my wife and I want you to have dinner with us." At dinner, he explained, at first they were apprehensive to invite me to their home. They felt it was not good enough, not comparable to American homes. Now they felt comfortable with me. Then he said, "If you want to borrow my motorcycle to visit the towns, just let me know." This was heart warming and a new bridge. We had a delightful dinner. I did borrow his motorcycle.
I had some wonderful experiences, some adventurous, some productive, some interesting, some close calls. Later I will write more. I remain, Peace Corps Volunteer, Costa IV.
Easter: Like Ships at Sea
We are like ships that leave familiar harbors to explore new lands, new horizons, and new opportunities. But like ships we face dangers of getting lost in the storms at sea or simply losing touch with where we came from. Dangers lurk at the edge.
Each of us has had a beginning. As children we are kept close to home by parental direction. When raised with caution, stability, and security, we keep close to those who have given us life and a continuing support system. However, we each have in us Adam's wayward seed.
Until we come of age, we shall walk that precarious edge. Curiosity will put us into the danger zone. Bravery can drive us to the point of self-injury. Weakness will make us subject to destructive forces indiscriminately. Ignorance and innocence will cause us to be vulnerable to anything and everything that exists out there. Mental frenzy will keep us confused and unprotected in a self-aggrandizing world.
For each of us, ready or not, the world awaits us. It beckons us to come like the unexplored forest, the city on a hill, or a distant shore.
The time will come when each must move on. Today we move to the Easter experience and from the Easter experience, the most remarkable event in history. We make this our truth claim. We build upon it our faith. We open our eyes to the risen Christ who set in motion the Christian movement of which we are a part.
Can we now move on without losing sight of our faith? Secular forms lure us, disbelief runs rampant in the streets, habits grip us again like webs, and worldly needs preoccupy us once again. But I say, hold dear to the Resurrection. It is the tipping point of my faith, our faith, and our future. God's power remains with us and is there for our asking. Move on but never from this Truth. Jesus Christ I do proclaim.
Each of us has had a beginning. As children we are kept close to home by parental direction. When raised with caution, stability, and security, we keep close to those who have given us life and a continuing support system. However, we each have in us Adam's wayward seed.
Until we come of age, we shall walk that precarious edge. Curiosity will put us into the danger zone. Bravery can drive us to the point of self-injury. Weakness will make us subject to destructive forces indiscriminately. Ignorance and innocence will cause us to be vulnerable to anything and everything that exists out there. Mental frenzy will keep us confused and unprotected in a self-aggrandizing world.
For each of us, ready or not, the world awaits us. It beckons us to come like the unexplored forest, the city on a hill, or a distant shore.
The time will come when each must move on. Today we move to the Easter experience and from the Easter experience, the most remarkable event in history. We make this our truth claim. We build upon it our faith. We open our eyes to the risen Christ who set in motion the Christian movement of which we are a part.
Can we now move on without losing sight of our faith? Secular forms lure us, disbelief runs rampant in the streets, habits grip us again like webs, and worldly needs preoccupy us once again. But I say, hold dear to the Resurrection. It is the tipping point of my faith, our faith, and our future. God's power remains with us and is there for our asking. Move on but never from this Truth. Jesus Christ I do proclaim.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
The Big Burn
BOOK REVIEW by Dennis Ginoza
January 26, 2010
“The Big Burn” by Timothy Egan
(Teddy Roosevelt and the fire that saved America)
Gifford Pinchot, a product of the east and Yale, believed that forest fires could be controlled. Author Timothy Egan weaves in a superb way, America’s struggle to save our forests, the national parks, and nature’s gift to this continent.
President Teddy Roosevelt, once a collector of insects and frogs, teamed with Gifford to save Americas forest before the lumber companies, the railroads, and this nation’s rich and powerful would exploit further, this nation’s vast and rich forest.
August 10, 1910 was a tipping point. The drought stricken forests of Washington, Idaho, and Montana were swept by a fire uncontrollable and extremely devastating. Egan recounts the spread of the fire, how men and animals were caught in the firestorm, towns completely burned, or as said, “it was like all of New Jersey had burned, border to border.”
This account is worth reading. It is about pioneers with dreams to keep America with its cherished natural beauty—John Muir, the politics of power and the money grab, the tension between conservation and lining investments with profit, more often greed, and the mind of politics in this nation’s earlier days. And there is personal intrigue in the lives of those who shaped this nation.
For those who still enjoy America’s land of beauty, this is a story about how the woods of Appalachia, the Smokey Mountains, to all the forests in the west, in Idaho, Montana, to Washington were preserved. What this nation has was not preserved without sacrifice, the courage of a few, and the guiding hand of leadership. Without conscience, a nation cannot survive.
January 26, 2010
“The Big Burn” by Timothy Egan
(Teddy Roosevelt and the fire that saved America)
Gifford Pinchot, a product of the east and Yale, believed that forest fires could be controlled. Author Timothy Egan weaves in a superb way, America’s struggle to save our forests, the national parks, and nature’s gift to this continent.
President Teddy Roosevelt, once a collector of insects and frogs, teamed with Gifford to save Americas forest before the lumber companies, the railroads, and this nation’s rich and powerful would exploit further, this nation’s vast and rich forest.
August 10, 1910 was a tipping point. The drought stricken forests of Washington, Idaho, and Montana were swept by a fire uncontrollable and extremely devastating. Egan recounts the spread of the fire, how men and animals were caught in the firestorm, towns completely burned, or as said, “it was like all of New Jersey had burned, border to border.”
This account is worth reading. It is about pioneers with dreams to keep America with its cherished natural beauty—John Muir, the politics of power and the money grab, the tension between conservation and lining investments with profit, more often greed, and the mind of politics in this nation’s earlier days. And there is personal intrigue in the lives of those who shaped this nation.
For those who still enjoy America’s land of beauty, this is a story about how the woods of Appalachia, the Smokey Mountains, to all the forests in the west, in Idaho, Montana, to Washington were preserved. What this nation has was not preserved without sacrifice, the courage of a few, and the guiding hand of leadership. Without conscience, a nation cannot survive.
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