River that gives us back the transparency
of the spirit that blows and renews us,
that fertilizes the earth in its path
that makes your children bloom and nourishes them.
River that rejoices with those who
that rejoices with those who immerse themselves in its waters.
that gathers your people
for community fishing.
River crossed by the boys and girls
who come to study.
Current that carries the sick,
navigators and their stories.
River, wounded by the oil spills and by the machinery
by the machinery that extracts your sand.
We get into the canoe and
in Dominican community
we sail the river of the lower Urubamba,
we are linked by the desire to navigate
together with the Amazonian people
to learn from their wisdom
to know how to live,
connected to the beauty of nature,
with their bare feet,
rooted to mother earth.
We do not know what awaits us
on each journey,
we only know that we go with you
and your love awaits us at every port.
Thank you, Lord, because you weave us
with threads of tenderness
like women at their loom.
Thank you for your free welcome
for the yucca and the fish
Thank you Tasorintsi
because we want to embrace you
and listen to your heartbeat
in this sacred land
of the Amazon.
Help us to navigate
with the simplicity of your people,
to join in their struggles
and proclaim your hope.
Amen.
Sr. Jacqueline Sothers
Itinerant Dominican Community of Kirigueti
Peru