GS 16-18/12 EST

<<< 12/16/2022 This God Stop begins before arriving in Madrid. We went as a family, not all of us, but as we were told during these days. Those whom God willed. And heaven worked hard. When the couple decided we were going to go, two of our children decided to join... we asked if it was possible, and we were told it was fantastic, so we also registered them. And suddenly our children (adults and professionals) found out they were confirmed to go while we were not yet... Since we are very passionate people, I will just say that the roller coaster started to work. WhatsApp goes back and forth with L., who tells us there are two spaces for the God Stop and that maybe we were going to Cifuentes. They decided that alone, they were not in a condition to make the long trip and we waited to see if there was space or not, all this was happening on one of our couple anniversaries, and... it announced that it was not our moment to live the God Stop. Finally, on Monday before starting the God Stop, a phone call dismantled the story and we all set off early on Friday, and even meeting up was an adventure, 4 people from 3 different locations with precarious communications and transport. On the way... I must say none of us likes to drive, and in my case, I don't even drive well. But the second kindness and change notice came because for the first time on a family trip, each of us drove a stage. Which allowed us to enjoy the trip all together with much peace. At the moment you don't realize it, but later, after returning, you visualize what God has gifted you. The God Stop in Advent time! The Hakuna house, despite the ivy on the facade, still announces that it is the monastery of San José. And inside, like a good family father, José gives prominence and you are welcomed by Jesus Eucharist and the Mother of Hakuna. Both presided over the entire God Stop. In fact, the Mother only disappears to give prominence to the cross on Saturday afternoon. I usually get lost in symbols and poems, but this time I was well accompanied, and I received all the information my heart needed to know that I will be resurrected as many times as necessary. What overwhelms me most is the continuous reading of the litanies to death and life. Which I try, as recommended, to work on every day. By the way, I will say that by professional habit I had reviewed all the material and the book given to us at welcome. Logically, I went through those pages that contain the litanies and are easy to find because of their color. But God preserves innocence, when we did it together, the strength of the group gave them a totally new, richer, and deeper flavor than my first review. What has made this God Stop different from other retreats experienced? First, the least important, with tiredness I left the folder in the chapel and when I asked, they recommended I look for things where I thought they would be... And just like that. Second, the most important, although I was only in two chapels. The Study has four chapels open with a functioning tabernacle. Everything is open all the time... and His presence is very real in everything and everyone. The couple got the Jerusalem room, the phrase that presided over us was that we always love each other more. Although silence is quite flexible, and the cells due to their size force communication at certain moments to be able to move, silence was our companion and our children were on their own after the first mass. Despite the silence, there was time to contact other people who also want to participate in Hakuna and who live in places that, like us, do not have a group and also with others who empathize with our prayer. As a child, I have been bored many times, although I was told I would be bored, I have not had time... I still have much to work on heart and mind, and a week has already passed, but it is a source that does not cease. If we had already decided that every Monday we could we would travel 90 km for an hour of adoration, the God Stop has only reinforced that this decision is the right one, and that the early start on Tuesdays will be compensated by the personal peace that the Prince of Peace gives us. I also want to say that my particular God Stop is still ongoing. We had talked with several people about our interest in Hakuna and some had asked us to tell them when we returned. Well, on Monday, which was supposed to be for resting from the trip fatigue, we saw that we had to give up our comfort and first take our daughter to her workplace, and then to an intermediate point from where she could go with another companion. My husband, who is sparing in gestures, proposed to take us to the tabernacle and morning mass and then have breakfast. In the church, we met a couple who also see the importance of living hakuneando. I only have to say that "coincidentally" we all sat in the front row and although they had to go to work, we had coffee together and stayed in touch. That was not the only detail, in the weeks before and after the God Stop, despite pastoral circumstances and the scarcity of time of our clergy, doors have opened for us with a ease that cannot stop surprising us, because before we knew Hakuna, while we were searching for the kingdom, it had been completely impossible to talk to some of them or despite contacts no one had been able to guide us to get out of our comfort zone. God gathers each time the people He wants. Miguel, your constant references to "many here have or are about to have a courtship" were all and each one providential to give hope to my people. It is not the same for a mother to tell you as for a stranger to prophesy it. Living with someone who opens their home again and again to welcome children, the effort of parents of three children, one of them one month old, the young people who were not bothered by our presence but approached to chat, people who have passed through the parish where it all started... the drinks on Saturday and the music they played for us... all so normal, all so contextualized- I finish by thanking that we did not wait to have spaces with water, where the electrical system does not fail, where we all have sheets, in short, thank you for helping us empty our mental suitcase of so many unnecessary burdens. >>>