Chiltiupan, here we come
Our mission team met tonight for the last time prior to our departure, dividing up the materials we are taking to the clinic and school in Chiltiupan, El Salvador. Most of the missioners, including myself, went wild collecting over-the-counter medical supplies, rosaries, children's books, novelties to entertain kids, school socks and, last but not least, laptop computers.
One of the decisions the group made early on in our planning was to collect gently used laptops to donate to the school kids, perhaps setting up a computer lab for them. Through the generosity of others, we got 4-5 serviceable laptops--short of our goal of 12, but much appreciated nonetheless.
When I was getting out things to pack for the trip, I completely neglected work clothes. Since performing service projects is one of the main activities in our plans, I had to correct that oversight. As a result, I jettisoned a couple of nicer shirts and packed a pair of jeans and a few extra T-shirts. Rumor has it we will be laying a cement floor in a building, so it's bound to be messy. I have to remember to grab a pair of work gloves tomorrow and throw them in my bag.
Gerry J. from St. Barnabas parish met us tonight, giving us a bag of rosaries and a guitar to take to Sister Rose, our diocesan contact in Chiltiupan. Gerry spent 10 days at the diocesan mission previously and is going back this spring. He spoke about how the people there love their children and also how the dads often leave to work in the U. S., sometimes sending money home to the family in El Salvador, but sometimes not...
All of us on our team are filled with eager anticipation about the trip. We expect to learn a lot (hopefully breaking down some stereotypes in both directions), do a bit of hard labor, break bread with our brothers and sisters and, in general, have a good time with lots of opportunities for spiritual growth.
Supposedly there is an internet cafe down the road from our hotel, but no wireless in the hotel itself, so I will try to get online now and again to provide updates as our trip unfolds. If not, I'll provide updates when I return.
One of the decisions the group made early on in our planning was to collect gently used laptops to donate to the school kids, perhaps setting up a computer lab for them. Through the generosity of others, we got 4-5 serviceable laptops--short of our goal of 12, but much appreciated nonetheless.
When I was getting out things to pack for the trip, I completely neglected work clothes. Since performing service projects is one of the main activities in our plans, I had to correct that oversight. As a result, I jettisoned a couple of nicer shirts and packed a pair of jeans and a few extra T-shirts. Rumor has it we will be laying a cement floor in a building, so it's bound to be messy. I have to remember to grab a pair of work gloves tomorrow and throw them in my bag.
Gerry J. from St. Barnabas parish met us tonight, giving us a bag of rosaries and a guitar to take to Sister Rose, our diocesan contact in Chiltiupan. Gerry spent 10 days at the diocesan mission previously and is going back this spring. He spoke about how the people there love their children and also how the dads often leave to work in the U. S., sometimes sending money home to the family in El Salvador, but sometimes not...
All of us on our team are filled with eager anticipation about the trip. We expect to learn a lot (hopefully breaking down some stereotypes in both directions), do a bit of hard labor, break bread with our brothers and sisters and, in general, have a good time with lots of opportunities for spiritual growth.
Supposedly there is an internet cafe down the road from our hotel, but no wireless in the hotel itself, so I will try to get online now and again to provide updates as our trip unfolds. If not, I'll provide updates when I return.
posted by Joe Wollet at 10:47 PM
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