so for everyone wondering i´m alive and well, desfortunatemente the internet is down at the center so no skype, sorry dad...if i had any expectations and i really tried not to have any, they were all exceeded by this akf center. the grounds are beautiful, complete with palm trees and grass, hammocks and rocking chairs. just outside our room that kristin, trout and i share is a patio to sit at in the morning the trees here are amazing, my favorite so far are the ones that flower with brillant orange blooms. it´s paradise inside the centro but somehow you never get used to the huts of sorts made from scap metal, the sight of kids in tattered clothes and barefoot walking around the city at midnight, the smells of exhaust and burning trash. out welcome was warm, the first nicaraguan we met was an co owner of the centro, luis, he has turned out to be another antonio canaz -charity i know you´ll understand. he spoke today about his involvment in the cbc´s and about his understanding, through really living the revolution, of liberation theology. while i cannot do him justice here are some of his main points: the focus of liberation theology differs from the church he grew up in, and here i can relate, because of the focus on social sin over personal sin. we can become so focused on morals that the catholic church has lost a sense of the social element, a god who is communal-father, son and holy spirit-and this was one of the great successes of the base communities, drawing on the communal element of god´s very nature to understand more fully the mystery. he also emphasized god´s human element, the kenosis of god incarnate-jesus-who emptied himself of all power and priviledge to become fully human, humble, the suffering servant. the other emphasis was on the defense of life, above all else. in this sense it didn´t suffice to obey the theology of suffering now to go to heaven in the future, this god is a god who defends life here on this earth, right now, right here. jesus, for these people, is the god of the poor, simple, humble who sweats on the streets. luis said that in this context it makes sense to be a christian. if god was not a god of liberation he saw no purpose to his existance. trout asked about the divinity of christ, a point the vatican often faults liberation theology for underemphasizing, and luis´ framing of the resurrection was in terms of life overcoming death and evil and sin. that this human being defended life until the last and defeated evil. i had to ask about non-violence and it´s place in the nicaraguan reality, after all he had participate in the revolution although not as a soldier. he said he does not defend violence nor would he try to defend it but in defending life sometimes it was necessary. he cited the good samaritan story to ask what the samaritan would have done if he´d walked by while the beating was still in progress...he´d have defended life. i have my own thoughts here to add as well as a lot left to say about sobrino´s book i´m reading right now but i´m out of time at this cyber cafe so for now that´s it. if you´re reading this thanks for being curious, i´m not that sick mom and i´m really happy. hasta.