The Worth of Wait

The gobernador insisted on pushing his conquest toward the south, but the more territory he occupied, the less he could control...His army was divided into small parties that might go for months without communicating among themselves."

Isabel Allende (Ines of my Soul 286)

When thinking of the logic and the factors that play into the conquering techniques of Pedro Valdivia, and reading of the trial and error in these tactics, so much more can be sifted out and learned than how to try and conquer the native tribes of the Chilean empire.

After reading that line it immediately came to me that Pedro was not going to have success in this tactic. We all know it. The phrases “spreading yourself thin” or “build a strong foundation” first came to my mind. While throwing this thought around more I realized the significant importance of why one must secure his foundation strong before branching out to cover more areas.

From my last post about the pioneers, we know that they first built a strong central town before they sent out others to establish another town. Even to Washington waiting in the winter for the perfect time to cross the Delaware River and fight the Hessians. Why did they wait? Or in modern day living we cannot go run a marathon without taking the time to train or we will get hurt and fail most likely. Why do we wait?

From the scriptures we know that through “small and simple things are great things are brought to pass.” (Alma 37:6) Why would this be important to Valdivia or any person for that matter? Why aren’t people satisfied with what they have and often searching for more? When do we know we are strong enough to move on or if we need more time mending and building?

There is a key to this formula, of course more than one for whatever life is making you build or strengthen at any given moment. First, that understanding your strengths and weaknesses is actually a strength and second, to differentiate the difference between needs and wants.

Imagine if Pedro would have understood this? Do we understand this? That in truth we can be a greater strength and do more good if we can control ourselves and what we have, and then will come the prosperous life.

The Founders of a Nation

 "My responsibility was to nurse the wounded and ill back to health, and to do what I like best: founding. That was something I had never done before. I discovered my vocations and have never turned away from it. From that moment on, I have built hospitals, churches, convents, chapels, sanctuaries...entire towns...This land is fertile, and its fruits should provide for all." 

Isabel Allende (Inés of my Soul 164)

From the opening pages of this novel, we have seen the character of Inés evolve as that of an incredibly stoic, determined, and courageous woman. Inés was thought of as strange in her actions because this behavior was unusual and uncommon for the culture of women in Spain during that time. The New World was not the only place for determined and strong minded women like Inés, several examples are also seen in the thousand mile excursion made by the Mormon pioneer’s crossing the Midwest and also while they encountered many similar situations.

The history of the Mormon pioneers crossing the Midwest to the Salt Lake valley can be paralleled to any new territory of conquest. The natives covered much of North America as well and created very dangerous travel territory. Though the pioneers had a completely different objective in settling this new land, the women in these travel parties, while some lost their husbands to natives, exhaustion, and harsh elements continued to press on with their children in tow because of their desire for religious freedom. 

These pioneer women were as much founders and fighters as Inés was during her life time. Both starting their lives from scratch many times and re-creating what they hoped would be a new life, away from the suffering and distress they previously lived and knew. They echoed in their own footsteps and lives many of the words stated by Inés. At large these women did as much as their husbands in persevering and completing this journey, from the watching of their children, to the protecting and plowing of every step in their journey while ultimately building a flourishing land from what was before an isolate dessert abyss.

In both examples these women created a new town and a new life and thousands became benefactors of their courage to create in a barren land, and to their perseverance among the afflictions of dessert or snow, Indians, and near starving situations. In both of these New Worlds new lands were generated, new opportunities presented, and new lands for other founders. 

 

A Hope of a Beginning

“Juan de Málaga was dead and I was free. I can say with all certainty that my life began that day. The years that preceded it were merely training for what was to come."

-Isabel Allende (Inés of my Soul, 85)

Imagine being part of the discovery of the New World, but with the allotted benefits of the communication technology we have at our instant access today. To then leave out the pain of waiting, of wondering, and the whirlpool of emotions that accompanies the unknown facts in that usual long space of time. 

Looking back at the previous events in the lives of Pedro and Inés, they both lived through countless examples of enduring a present time until their ultimate desires or goals would be accomplished, ever waiting, working, and enduring. 

A few days ago I came across a story about a woman in Mexico who bid her love off to sea, while promising he would return and she would wait for him until he did so. The story continues that he never came back, and she waited there on the shores of San Blas until her death last year, where her specific wishes were that her ashes would be scattered in the bay of San Blas. 

The point is that from the words of Inés, all of her searching to find the truth, and saving her earnings to travel to the New World until she would meet Pedro would have been utterly worthless if our instant communication that we benefit from would have come into play. Besides the fact that world events would be altered, Inés herself said how incredibly important those years were or "training" in helping her understand the kind of life she wanted to have. 

From the song dedicated to this women and her story, because of her example of this determination, I then began to understand the crucial roles of patient waiting, and experience were in the lives of these individuals in this novel, especially the mentioned who risked the future of their existence on a hope.

Whatever that hope may be, usually different for all of us, causes one to risk for the unknown, inspiring the rest of humanity. Meaning we can be free if we are willing to risk, and begin our life anew, a hope of a beginning. 

http://lyricstranslate.com

http://lyricstranslate.com

The Beginning of this Latin Wanderer

I have always liked writing, but not really like any of the official kind of writing with footnotes added and such. It suits me very well that we will be writing for the world, (not that that is my cup of tea) but we as individuals are here for the world. Yes, I have always believed in the power of one, so I base my writing off of that belief.

Throughout my growing up years, I have happened upon many opportunities that revolved around the Latin and South American cultures. Since growing up, my father whom served a mission in Bolivia spoke Spanish at times and even showed us artifacts from his time serving there. With time I had the opportunity to travel back with him and other family members to complete a handful of humanitarian trips. People of that culture were so good. Often their goodness permeated with gratitude to us, though in perspective we didn't do a lot, but I will always remembered their warmth. It could have been found in an embrace, smile, fiesta or almost always gifts of food. During those years I was also able to visit Panama, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, and Dominican Republic. Several years later I was able to add the gift of learning Spanish to those past experiences I had serving as a missionary which only strengthened my respect and admiration for these cultures south of the border.

I never planned any of that. But that is what makes life—life, to see what it unravels for us.

That has always been my marrow of life. The itch to travel and wander and learn how others make it in life; how they show love, how they celebrate, how they reverence, and what is truly important to them.

With a bit of background of the peoples of South and Latin America, in this class I wanted to increase on what I already knew so I could more fully develop my knowledge of these peoples and put it to good use in this world of inspiring mixed ideas and cultures.