HolySpirit

LAST 3 UPDATES

*Well, we had a great day visiting the other two campuses of the El Hogar Projects. Which meant we spent a lot of time on the road. Thank you for your traveling prayers.........we had a great time.Yesterday, we went to 3 worship services. St. Mary's English service, where I was celebrant and preacher; then to Cristo Redentor; and then to San Isidro in El Cruce. Three very different services, yet one could feel the presence of our Lord Jesus in all of them.There was a group from Penn staying with us this week end. They found out Sat evening that one of their member's father back in the states had had a major heart attack. That's why I couldn't get back to you any sooner. We prayed for Bill in all three of our services and also at our devotional meetings. They took off earlier today. Please keep Bill in your prayers.We are scheduled to come into New Orleans on Continental Flight 5, arriving at 7:17 PM. For you parents, I know that your child would consider it a joy to see you at the airport and spouses too.
We do need all of you who said that you would pick us up to come. It's been a great trip and we are planning on a covered dish this coming Sat at St. Margaret's to share our experience with any of you that can make it at 6 PM. Be Blessed,Fr. Joe

*It was too late to report when we got back from the day's schedule to report yesterday.We went to San Isidro at El Cruce to do a VBS for the children that are a part of the church there. We had about 28 children to show up as well as two mothers. It's always interesting to watch the mothers in this culture because they want to participate as much as the children. Needless to say most of the women grow up too fast here and have children at a very young age.They loved the puppets....And we had a great time just singing songs, telling stories, and playing with all sorts of things: balloons, pick up sticks, jacks, soccer and just having fun. It was a great day!Last night we went to John and Miriam Rehill for supper. It was a great evening to be with them and to enjoy their hospitality. It's their way to thank us for doing what we do for St. Mary's School. Truly a blessing.Today we leave for the Valley of the Angels for a fun day and to shop.Please continue your prayers for us as we will be doing a lot of traveling by bus the next few days. Have a Blessed day,Fr. Joe+

*I couldn't get to the computer last night, so an early start this morning concerning yesterday at El Hogar.We arrived at El Hogar at 7:30 AM to set up. Claudia, the director, gave us the Volunteer House to use to keep our personal supplies and to be able to use the bathrooms. We set up the puppet stage and got everything ready for the day. Then Claudia took us on a tour of the El Hogar Campus. More important, she told us the "El Hogar Story" and how she got involved. In all the years that I've known Claudia, it was the first time that I heard some of her stories. Needless to say, they drove many of us to tears. The love that she has for those boys and girls radiate from her eyes and smile.Well, we had all our interpreters today and they were very much needed. We did activities in the chapel and also outside at the same time. Fun was had by all. We also provided pizza for everyone at El Hogar and they provided us with music from their band. It was precious. Then they did several presentations from their various music groups.After lunch we had a time of just enjoying the children. I was able to bless each child and then we had a closing prayer. We gathered up all our supplies that we were going to leave behind and those we needed to take with us for the next day.We went back to the Humuya Inn to change and get ready for the Graduation at St. Mary's School. There was a bit of sad news in that one of the students was not able to make her graduation because the roof of her house collapsed during a hard rain that we had earlier in the afternoon.However, it was a very moving Graduation.Thank you for your continued prayers. Tina is much better and is getting better each day. Her back is fine now........it was yesterday, too. Praise the Lord!!!!We head out for El Cruce in a few minutes. Be Blessed,Fr. Joe