Thursday, June 22, 2017
Heading home
It's been a busy last few days with tearful goodbyes and discovering the natural beauty of the Nicaraguan landscape. At the hotel lobby at 3:45 and on our way home!
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
San Ignacio - 6/19 (both groups)
Here is the capilla (San Ignacio) where we celebrated Mass Monday and a picture as Mass was about to begin.
Device Name: Spot Mission Dallas Latitude: 11.83352
Longitude: -86.01495
GPS location Date/Time: 06/19/2017 17:12:17 CDT
Message: Youth Mission 2017 Check in OK
Click the link below to see where I am located. http://fms.ws/jrBeY/11.83352N/
If the above link does not work, try this link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=
Device Name: Spot Mission Dallas Latitude: 11.83352
Longitude: -86.01495
GPS location Date/Time: 06/19/2017 17:12:17 CDT
Message: Youth Mission 2017 Check in OK
Click the link below to see where I am located. http://fms.ws/jrBeY/11.83352N/
If the above link does not work, try this link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=
Diria - 6/19
Abby K. (Diria)
Hello friends and family. I’m sorry that it has taken me so
long to write but I really wanted to wait until something important happened
and luckily today was that day. The spirit of Nicaragua is inside me and I can
only pray that it will stay with me long after I board the plane to Dallas. The
people here are so wonderful. Where else but Nicaragua can you stop and say
hello (or hola) to every person you see? Each day in this trip has been filled
with so much happiness that I long for daylight and dread marking another day
off in my journal. My brief stay here has been filled with dancing, soccer
(something I’m surprisingly good at), and laughter. Today was especially
memorable. This morning I was feeling really nervous because I hadn’t given
away my cross yet and hadn’t even met someone that I had bonded with. Of course
I met people and became friends but I wanted to have something special. I
wanted to just… know. So as I boarded the bus I was especially anxious to start
the day at the new work site, determined to find someone I could connect with.
Then our head chaperone announces that we will be stopping at a school for 15
minutes or so before heading to the new community. When we got there, I
wandered through classrooms and finally made my way to one of the last ones,
where a couple of others had stopped to go inside. My eyes immediately
gravitated towards a boy by the windows of the school. I went over to him, said
hello and asked him for his name and his age. He said that he was nine years
old and that his name was Francisco. I replied by saying that I was 17 and that
my name was Abby. He smiled and said “Hola Abby” and I swear in that moment I
had found the person that I was going to give my cross to. He was the first
person here to ever directly call me by my name as weird as that sounds. I felt at peace and 100% confident in my
decision for the first time since I arrived here in this amazing country. After
talking to him a little bit more (mostly through a translator), I wrote my name
on the cross and gave it to him. I never really believed in having a call to
God or receiving a vocation but today I completely felt the pull of faith,
something that I had never truly experienced before. I know now that God is
within the people of Nicaragua, and their spirit is alive within in me.
Along with sharing this story I would really like to thank
my family for sending me their kind words in letters. I burst into tears at the
sight of your words and they have truly pushed me to continue in my mission of
faith. Dad, I loved your letter so much that I kept it over my heart when I
went to bed last night (also Happy Belated Father’s Day you ninja dad). Sarah,
I seriously miss you so much and I can almost hear your laughter every time I
have tripped while walking on the slippery Nicaraguan roads (which has been
about 10 times now). Mom, I miss telling
you about my day and am looking forward to when I can tell you all of my
stories from my time here. Coop, every time I see a dog here I wish I was at
home with you. Thank you all so much for supporting me and loving me. I am so
excited to see you back in Dallas.
P.S. Mom, I am taking my malaria medication and probiotics.
You can stop worrying now.
Carter P. (Diria)
Hola, Como Estas. I miss y’all a lot and am so thankful for all
of the letters. One thing that really stuck out in the letters is what Papa
said. He said that whenever he visits out of country it seems like the people
with the least seem to have the most joy. That has been so true throughout this
trip and every single person I am meeting has been making an impact on my life.
It has been so amazing in Nicaragua. I have made so many life-changing relationships
and I have given my cross away. I met a little boy named Miguelito and he had
such an impact on me. I got to play with him, his brother Andreas and their
cousin Anayensi for two straight days at Granadilla. He always had such a smile
on his face and just seeing him made me so happy. I already miss him and it has
only been two days since I last saw him. Our living conditions and food are
amazing but recently the entire city of Diria has been celebrating their feast
day for the past two days and it has been a pain. They party all night and all
day and with all the fireworks it has been crazy. Also it took until today for
my dumb self to realize that we packed earplugs so hopefully tonight I get some
more sleep. I love and miss everyone back home<3. Can’t wait to see all of
y’all again. I have been having such a great time here and yesterday Morillo
taught me how to salsa. We are going to be performing tomorrow for the
Nicaraguan people and I am so excited!!! Adios from Nicaragua
Colten P. (Diria)
Hey everyone, Happy Late Father’s Day Dad. Hope y’all had a
good time at the hotel thing and I hope all y’all are healthy. Things have been
going good here, the people are really nice and they are all very strong in
their faith and it is just really awesome to see that. We haven’t done like any
manual labor but I know our main goal was to build up the communities in this
diocese and I think we have done that. I gave away my cross to a little boy I
met named Andreas from Granadilla, he was really funny for like two days
straight all he did was play and he was just so full of energy, it was just
awesome. In Diria their Patron Saints are Saint Peter and Saint Paul and they
celebrate hard core on their feast day
(June 29th) but… they start celebrating like a week in
advance so for the last like 3 nights they shoot fireworks all night long and
there are bands that walk the streets playing music at all hours of the night.
It is so annoying, but now while I’m typing it is raining so they can’t shoot
them off right now… Thank God.
But yeah that’s about all I got so I guess I’ll end it here.
I love all of y’all and I’ll see y’all soon.
Roland L. (Diria)
Hey everybody…Happy Father’s Day Dads love both of y’all and
I hope y’all had the best father’s day! Sorry it has taken me so long to write
a second blog post…it took forever to find any wifi connection and everybody
else was always on. But the past couple of days have been great. We have
visited 3 church communities so far on our trip. I will tell you all about them
when I get back because I am way too lazy to type up everything that has
happened so far. It’s pretty lit over here … the Nicaragua people literally
party every single night. They are life goals, yet the constant explosions due
to the fireworks can get a bit annoying. The towns people do this because it is
the feast of Saint Peter and this has been going on for the whole month. I have
made a lot of new friends and I’m fairly sure we got the coolest chaperones by
far. Lastly, before I get back to breakfast I wanted to thank everybody for
their letters. I read them last night and it meant a lot and it will definitely
affect the way I approach the last bit of this journey. Btw Jason liked his
Jake. Much love and many prayers from Nicaragua!
Clare N. (Diria)
Okay, I’m back. Fireworks have been going off
for a few days now. The place we are staying at is nice. I met this one girl,
Hillary. She is 12 years old. She touched my heart. I feel in love with her
over two days at one of our worksites. The people here are really nice. I love
the architecture. Beautiful vegetation everywhere. AHHHHHH SOS!!!!!!!!! I AM
RUNNING OUT OF MALARIA MEDICATION SO IF ONE OF MI FAMILIA READS THIS PLEASE GET
MORE GRACIAS!!!!!! The mangos fall straight from the tree and we wash, peel,
and eat them. Mr. Brant wakes us up by singing every morning. That’s pretty
lit. Okay ladies, byeeeee
Monday, June 19, 2017
Diria - 6/18 evening
Caroline M. (Diria)
Today was my 16th birthday and it was so great;
this morning everyone sang ‘Sweet Caroline’ to me and it was both awkward and
fun. I found out yesterday that my brother Chris got drafted with the Rays, so
congratulations Christopher you deserve it – miss you queen. Can’t wait to see
y’all!!!!!
Clare N. (Diria)
Sorry I have not written this whole trip. Yikes? Happy
Fathers Day dad. I would say I miss you guys but I am really liking it here. I
wonder if Evan has gotten out of his room yet. How many podcasts Hannah has
listened to? I cant imagine how many coffee/wine glasses mom has had to have to
deal with my absence. Molly- praying for ya girly. Missy- stop barking. DAD I
LOVE YOU! Okay you crazy kids, be careful. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t :)Hugs
to all. …………………..CRETE
Luke B. (Diria)
Hey everyone back at home, sorry I haven’t written until
now! Dad, I’m sorry I’m missing your day and I love you very much and can’t
wait to celebrate when I get home! I’m loving my time here especially the food!
Erin, I can’t wait to go to Bubba’s and watch the Bachelorette with you when I
get home, and Mom I’m super excited to go to Northpark! I miss y’all very much
and have thought about you guys every day! Love y’all and can’t wait to see
everyone!!
Morgan A. (Diria)
Hey everyone! Happy Father’s Day, Dad! I hope that you had a
great day and that Heather or Mom made you a great dinner!! I miss everyone so
much! (Please tell Kelly that I miss her too) So much has happened during this
trip from meeting so many new people to being woken up non-stop by constant
fireworks. (The Nicaraguans literally fire off fireworks in the middle of the
night and during the day.) Yesterday, I gave away my cross necklace that we
were to give to a person whom we connected with most. I gave my cross to a
little girl named Noelia. I played with her and her friends for hours, playing
tag, soccer, and Frisbee. One day, I even ran for nearly two hours straight, so
make sure to tell Heather that I’m ready for that running plan when I get back.
Also, tell Heather that I can now relate to her stories about eating white rice
non-stop. I can’t wait to see you all again and to tell you about everything in
more detail. Love you guys!!!
Sunday, June 18, 2017
UPDATE! Tepeyac 6/18/2017 - Happy Father's Day!
Sitting on the porch at Tepeyac wondering what to blog
about, I looked out at the landscape and the flora surrounding our retreat
center and was reminded of the stark contrast between the concrete jungle of
Dallas and the jungles of Nicaragua. Everything here in Tepeyac and the
surrounding rural communities seems to be formed by the natural environment.
The people live off of the land. If someone wants a snack, they pick a mango or
avocado from a nearby tree. Nature is not just a source of beauty for the
locals; rather, it is a critical part of their survival. This reliance on and
connection with nature reflects the pure and devout faith of the people. On the
first day of our mission work, my group visited the home of a ninety-year-old
lady. Fr. Ambrose asked her how many people lived in her home and her response
was that she was “alone with God.” Back home in Dallas, it is easy to forget
the importance of faith in everyday life since most of us never want for food,
water, shelter, air-conditioning, stable infrastructure, safety, electricity,
or whatever luxury that we often take for granted. For many people here, faith
is a necessity. Along with the faith and nature of Nicaragua, I love the
peaceful slow lifestyle and the joy of the people. Today we played a huge game
of soccer with both camps of missionaries and a large number of Nicaraguans.
Regardless of victory or defeat, the locals and the missionaries were united in
the joy of sport. Nicaragua is a beautiful place with beautiful people. Happy
Father’s day to all the fathers of the missionaries. All of us wish we could be
there for Father’s day.
Love you Mom and
Dad.Matthew Sawtelle, Cistercian class of 2019
To my Dad, who I miss very much here at Tepeyac, Happy
Father’s Day! Even though I’m currently (very) far away, know I’m thinking
about you! I wanted to blog mainly to tell my loved ones that I’m thinking of
them and I miss them all, but I also wanted to share my experience thus far. I’ve
had the most amazing and beautiful time, and I’m so grateful for my family and
Bishop Burns for the opportunity to meet and know the people and culture of
Nicaragua.
It’s impossible to not fall in love with the community here
and to truly see the presence of God in them. The children are the most genuine
and purest people I’ve ever been blessed to meet. I was able to create a very special
relationship with a young girl named Esther. She immediately touched my heart
and I fell in love with her, even with the language barrier. I gave her my
cross today (and cried while doing so) because she asked for it as something to
remember me by. We danced and laughed and sang together and with her family.
Not only have I made special connections with the native Nicaraguans but also
the missionaries in my camp. My roommate, Natalie, is wonderful and kind, and I
could go on and on about the other missionaries here as well. I’ve made many special
relationships here that I know will last a lifetime.
To my friends and family: Mom and Dad I love and miss you so
much. I found the pictures you hid in my backpack and I teared up. They’re all
hanging above my bed. Michael, I miss you the most. Please know I’m thinking of
y’all constantly! (But still having so much fun!) I can’t wait to see everyone
again and share my experience with you! I’ve had the time of my life and I love
you all! Please keep me and the community of Nicaragua in your prayers.
God Bless,
Claire Shelton
Lorraine King: Tepeyac
First of all – Happy Father’s Day, Daddy! I love you! I wish
I could celebrate with you, but if it’s any consolation, I’m out of the
continent and I’m still thinking about you.
Hey Mom – the notes you left in my bag have been
entertaining to find; don’t worry, I heeded your warnings and have yet to drink
any tap water (*knocks on wood*). ;) Dear Livie, girl you can’t imagine how
many times I wish I had my phone to show someone a picture or a meme or a funny
video. Don’t take it for granted.
Y’all, I know we complain about Texas heat but like, at
least we ain’t drippin’ sweat most of the time! (Or at least most of us aren’t
haha.) I know sometimes I can be a pain around the house while practicing my
Spanish, but believe me, it’s definitely paid off. I made a friend on Wednesday
with Father Ambrose when a guy named Pedro invited us to his house to see their
fields and meet his family! Y’all…they gave us MANGOS as gifts when we told
them we had to get back to the church. Everyone here is unbelievably nice. You know
how people honk to get you out of the way in Texas? Here, people honk to say
hi! Haha it’s great. You feel like everyone is your friend. Even though you can’t
flush toilet paper because you know…plumbing, I feel like I could live here
happily.
It’s phenomenal down here, y’all, I wish you could see it
and experience it with me. Today, we get to see the people from Diria because
we split up from them on the first day. I really miss a few of them... ;) and
can’t wait to exchange stories.
Anyways, I can’t wait to see y’all again. I also can’t wait
to eat a burger and fries and take a hot shower again! I love y’all and miss y’all.
Hasta la vista.
Katie Picha
Bishop Dunne 2018
Happy
Father’s Day Dad J And,
to family and friends back home, I miss you and am thinking about you and praying
for you. Today I realized how much I really do miss home. It’s been easy so far
to focus on what’s happening here and now, but that quickly changes when we are
given time to reflect on who and what we left behind. So far, one of the main
things I have learned is that as soon as we drop our selfish desires, we are
able to love others fully and enjoy moments in utter happiness and joy. This
week has been full of new encounters, whether that be with people or nature.
To say
that Nicaragua is beautiful would be quite an understatement. Each day, we have
been able to walk (a lot) and I constantly find myself tripping over my feet
because I am looking up at the landscape rather than where I’m walking. I can’t
help but stare everywhere we go because of the sheer magnificence of the nature.
I have never seen a place so green (and wet might I add). Pictures never quite do
justice to beauty like this.
Aside
from the nature, it has been the beauty of the culture and the people that has
left me truly speechless. Each day we are invited into the homes of Nicaraguans
and are blessed to be able to hear their stories and share the love of God with
each one. I have never met so many people with such strong faith. Right now, my
heart is overwhelmed with a new feeling of love; one that is built and
strengthened through vulnerability, faith, and pure joy. This love is so
incredibly strong, and I can confidently say that I am full of happiness every
second of this trip. The students I am with, next to the Nicaraguans, are some
of the best people I have ever met and I wouldn’t trade the friendships from
Tepeyac and memories for anything in the world. Keep us in your prayers as we
continue on our journey and are filled more with grace and love.
Katie Picha
Bishop Dunne 2018
Diria - 6/18
Adriana C. (Diria)
Hey dad happy father’s day, I hope it has been a great day
for you so far. I still remember the time in kindergarten when I made that hand
print t-shirt for you; I miss you all deeply and I hope Dj and Martin are doing
well. Mom I miss you, everything you packed for me was a blessing because I
used just about everything throughout the trip. I thank you for doing so much
for me; no words can explain all the wonder things you do for me. Tell Daniel
that I miss him and it was strange not talking to him, since we talk
constantly. I know he would have enjoyed seeing all the kids play soccer, I
wish you were here. It has been an
adventure out here, yesterday the kids ran aggressively up and down the field,
I was benchwarmer of course but found out they had no benches, it was ok the
dirt wasn’t so bad after all. We have mass everyday with the community and I
believe has brought me closed to God. Mom tell Tia Fina we have to go eat at her house when I get home,
I would love to see everybody with me and all my cousins. I love and miss all
of you.
Jack K. (Diria)
It’s a party down here. After being a part of a group of
students, chaperones, and Nicaraguan locals that recruits members of jungle
Church communities to go to whatever mass we might be hosting for four days
now, I’d say that what shocks me the most about the Nicaraguan people is the
way that their almost universally happy and upbeat attitudes and outlooks on
life directly contradict the destitute poverty most of them have been living in
for their entire lives. These people are happier in their 3 ½ walled, tin
roofed, bug infested homes than we are in our North Texas houses. Immediately,
it wouldn’t make sense that the forgotten citizens of a third – world country
could enjoy life more than the rest of us could as Americans, but nothing at
all about the way that this country works really makes a whole lot of sense, as
most of the days (like today) we wake up without a direct plan, and just “Go
where God takes us”, so I guess anything can really happen down here. Also, I
did specifically choose Father’s day to type in my entry for the trip so I
could wish my Dad a happy Father’s Day, I feel guilty for not being in Plano to
celebrate it with you this year Dad, but I got you a card that I think makes up
for my absence. Mom, I’ve had two cups of coffee every day at breakfast here,
and about every other day we get Coke to drink with dinner, so the “Caffeine
issue” was never going to be an issue in the first place, and the dogs here all
look like hyenas, so I’m not even tempted to pet any of them, and at this
point, I’ve been totally healthy for the entirety of the trip. Most importantly
however, I’d like to wish my little brother Jeb, who’ll be turning 10 tomorrow,
when the word on the street is we’re going to have a pretty busy day and the
connection here is already spotty at best. Happy Birthday buddy, happy Father’s
day Dad, I’m ok Mom, and a massive thank you to all of my family and friends
who made it possible for me to get down here, please do say hi to Julianne and
to the dogs for me. I’ll be back before long.
Tepeyac - 6/17
Marisa N. (Tepeyac)
Throughout
these past few days I have seen Christ within everyone I meet and I have grown
so much in my faith. As we travel through Nicaragua communities, the Tepeyac
group has grown like a family and we get closer every day. The locals that I
have met here are so full of Christ and sometimes I think they have more Christ
in them than most people in America. God has blessed me with the opportunity to
also grow with the community through the activities we invite locals to before
Mass. I have grown to love three beautiful children: Adrian, Guadalupe, and
Angie. They are all very young, about 5 to 9 years old, but I see Christ
through everything they do. I also got the chance today to play soccer at a
nearby school with three of the local boys that are about ten years old. We had
so much fun and as we played we could see the volcano and surrounding greenery.
I have never seen such a beautiful sight. As we walked back from playing, I
actually got the chance to see a couple of monkeys from far away. It was really
neat. Today at Mass in the community I got to witness two new people being
initiated in the Church. It was beautiful to see the locals radiate with joy as
the two girls were Baptized. I am excited to see what these next few days hold
for my friends and I here. I would like to say hello to Mom, Dad, Maria,
Monica, Grandpa, Grandma, Tia Lupe, Christina, Stephanie, Tio Danny, and Lily.
I think of y’all every day and am so excited to share
what I have experienced here with you. I love you and miss you.
Happy Father's Day
Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful fathers
out there!!! Sorry we can’t be there to celebrate with you but you are in our
prayers. We thank you for everything you do for us and don’t worry we will
celebrate when we get home J
love you!
Diria - 6/17
Marifer F. (Diria)
Today was our 6th day in Nicaragua. Time has
flown by and I can’t believe we are already half way through our trip. These past
few days have been filled with laughter, happiness, tears, and more laughter. I’ve
made so many new friends and memories. The memories I’ve made I will remember
forever. Like meeting a 17 year old with the same name as me!!! For the past 4
days we have been going from house to house, inviting each family to join us
for mass and other activities with the kids. The kids are incredible and so
full of joy that it’s hard not to be happy around them. My favorite part of the
day is definitely playing soccer with everyone.
I haven’t given my cross away but I hope to find someone in the next
village. Today was the second time that we had to say goodbye and it was super
sad but I can’t wait to meet new people.
PS: Los extrano mucho mama y papa!!! And Happy Father’s
Day!!!
Saturday, June 17, 2017
Camp Locations Youth Mission 2017
We have two Camps locations, The students and chaperone assignments can be found on this blog.
Tepeyac 2017
June 15th Tepeyac:
Amy Olvera Tepeyac
At first, hearing what others had told me from this mission
trip to Nicaragua I expected to have an experience like theirs that was full of
labor. It’s been 3 days and my experience has been nothing like they have
described, it’s been even better. The other students and I all feel incredibly
close as if we have known each other for years, because through our faith and
through our mission God has made us brothers and sisters which gives us a
strong foundation for our friendship. The people here with so little and such
difficult lives go day to day living by their faith and always trusting that
God will provide for them and will continue to walk beside them always, which
is what I hope one day to be able to do. The chaperons are a wonderful example
of Christians who continue to live and work by God’s words and love. Although
it has only been a short amount of time, I already know that this mission trip
is one for the memory books, that these people are examples to live by daily,
and that this faith and love is something I will make my mission to continue
spreading back home. Everyone here continues to shock me with their love for
Christ, their humble lives with such graceful hearts, their kindness to not
just their families but to everyone they encounter, and most of all they
undying faith in God’s word. Nicaragua has taught me to love everyone and begin
with God and with my family, to be grateful for the things that we take for
granted and see as privilege though we should see them as a luxury. Nicaragua
has taught me to be mindful of my words and actions, and it has taught me that
with God all things are possible so long as we have faith in Him and in His
never ending love for us.
Diego Arellano, (Tepeyac)
Hello to all who read. This will be my second year going on
this Nicaragua mission trip and I could not be more overjoyed to be here again
at the same site. We missionaries have only been here for three days, yet we
have already incredible bonds and friendships with one another. I cannot say
enough good things about the people I have had the pleasure to meet so far.
Even though I think I’m one of the quieter and more reserved students here,
everyone has been very accepting and kind not only towards me, but also the
people of the community. To speak about today specifically, my group did a lot
of walking in the mountains to reach certain homes and evangelize. We invited
each of the families to mass and we invited the youth to hang out before mass
to play soccer, do crafts or listen to music. My favorite thing to do is simply
look around me everywhere I go because it is so beautiful. The colors are vivid
and there are animals everywhere. There is just so much humility, faith and
hope everywhere we go. I sincerely hope that we all are able to get something
out of this trip that helps our faith. If I have learned anything from last
year, it’s that you only get out what you put in and I don’t see anyone here
who isn’t truly trying to do good. This trip really forces you to reflect and
not take things for granted. I also would like to recognize the chaperones.
They are what makes this trip function and I’m very grateful for all them. They
could not be doing a better job. I’m praying every day for everyone here who is
helping out with the mission trip and for you all, their families, as well. I’m
sorry, I probably just rambled but I can’t wait for what the rest of this week
holds for us. Lastly, to my mom and dad, who are for sure reading this, I love
you guys a lot.
June 16h Tepeyac:
Mary Chen, (Tepeyac)
Today being
the fifth day of the trip, I had an idea of what the day would be like, but I
was surprised nonetheless. We began by attending Mass and eating breakfast, and
after, we walked on foot to a chapel in the neighborhood. The chapel was small,
but it was beautiful. We went through the neighborhood in small groups, meeting
with the people and inviting them to the chapel for mass at 3 o’clock. One man
in particular stood out to me; he had so much to share with us that the
translator could not translate quickly enough. He spoke to us about how even
though we all look different, we are brothers and sisters in Christ and that we
need to work together if we are to be united as a family. Because there was a
lot of individualism in today’s community, I felt that our visits were
especially influential in bringing the people together. I loved that no matter
where we went, we learned new things about them and about ourselves.
Maria Heredia: (Tepeyac)
Hola amigos
y familia! It is day 5 in our journey in Tepeyac; we are halfway
done. Time has passed by so fast, but which is sad to know that this will be
over soon. Overall, this experience has been wonderful and impactful. There
have been too many people and events that have occurred to mention all in this
blog. All of my fellow missionaries have been amazing and we all have been able
to bond and grow closer to each other.
Some of us thought we were going to build buildings, such as a Church or a school, instead we are building relationships and connecting with the people here in Tepeyac. In the past couple of days, we have been going around the community and spreading the word and message of our Lord. Overall, the Nicaraguans have been very welcoming with open hearts and it warms my heart that they want to learn more about our God and the Catholic faith. For me, personally, being bilingual, it has been both a blessing and a bit of a hassle these last two days. I love being able to connect with the people here in Tepeyac and learn more about their lifestyle and their culture. However, yesterday I was asked to help translate in an Anointing of the Sick, which was a new experience for me. This was the first time in that I was able to preach in Spanish, which was difficult to translate on the spot right after a blessing or a prayer. I stumbled a bit and keep forgetting the simplest words. However, I have been blessed that everyone in my group has so far been patient with me, which I truly appreciate. Today, I was also asked to translate prayers and blessings, and towards the end I keep getting mixed up between the languages. I was talking in Spanish, when I should have been translating in English and vice versa. However, being bilingual has been more of a blessing. Not only am I able to connect with the people here in Tepeyac, but I have also helped my fellow missionaries form relationships with the Nicaraguans!! I am very grateful and blessed that I am part of this missionary trip to help the people here in Tepeyac bring God into their lives.
I would also like to mention that the food has been very delicious!!!!!
Some of us thought we were going to build buildings, such as a Church or a school, instead we are building relationships and connecting with the people here in Tepeyac. In the past couple of days, we have been going around the community and spreading the word and message of our Lord. Overall, the Nicaraguans have been very welcoming with open hearts and it warms my heart that they want to learn more about our God and the Catholic faith. For me, personally, being bilingual, it has been both a blessing and a bit of a hassle these last two days. I love being able to connect with the people here in Tepeyac and learn more about their lifestyle and their culture. However, yesterday I was asked to help translate in an Anointing of the Sick, which was a new experience for me. This was the first time in that I was able to preach in Spanish, which was difficult to translate on the spot right after a blessing or a prayer. I stumbled a bit and keep forgetting the simplest words. However, I have been blessed that everyone in my group has so far been patient with me, which I truly appreciate. Today, I was also asked to translate prayers and blessings, and towards the end I keep getting mixed up between the languages. I was talking in Spanish, when I should have been translating in English and vice versa. However, being bilingual has been more of a blessing. Not only am I able to connect with the people here in Tepeyac, but I have also helped my fellow missionaries form relationships with the Nicaraguans!! I am very grateful and blessed that I am part of this missionary trip to help the people here in Tepeyac bring God into their lives.
I would also like to mention that the food has been very delicious!!!!!
PS. Mami, Papi, y Caro, estoy rezando por
ustedes y les extrano mucho!!! Les quiero mucho!!
June 17, 2017 Tepeyac
Laurel Schuckenbrock (Tepeyac)
So far my trip is going very well.
Different than what I expected but good. I am meeting lots of great friends
which is super exciting. The people on this trip are amazing. I have had 2
highlights of my trip so far. One being a house we visited. When we arrived
they set out chairs for every single one of us, completely welcoming us. The
ice cream man came by and we all bought ice cream for each other. The ice cream
was so good. We had it again last night as well. As we all sat together there
was this one couple that stuck out to me. (@adam) We asked the guy who his
favorite music artist was and he said Eminem. He was in university studying
blood work and testing. He was studying that so that he could come back and
serve his community who didn’t have money for medical test etc. His girlfriend
was also in University studying psychology. So that she could come back and help
kids in the community who had gone through traumatic situations (@katelyn I
though you would like that). They had been dating for 5 years and were not
engaged because they wanted to wait and be stable in jobs, out of university,
and so on. It was very admirable. My next favorite memory was doing the
anointing of the sick. It was very cool and different than anything I had ever
done. Hayden brought his guitar to the anointing and I sang with him. It was
very cool. They love the guitar and music here. I could go on and on. @meghan I
miss you so much. I can’t stop talking about you around here, I think I may be
annoying people about it but I just miss my second half so much. @mom and dad I
miss y'all so much too. I can’t wait to be home with y'all! Don’t worry I am
feeling much better since Wednesday or whenever I passed out etc. the days all
run together here so I can’t really remember what day that happened. @everyone in my family and friends, I miss all of you
soooo much! I can not wait to see y'all again! I love you!
Diria - 6/16
Angela T. (Diria)
Hello family and friends! Sorry I haven’t written anything
I’m just having too much fun !!! J
The first few days I got here were a little awkward considering I only knew the
BL people. But quickly I became closer with other girls (aka Alexis, Abby,
Morgan, Kim, Kasey and many more) and by day 3 I had made all these new
friendships.
Today we went to a new community in a small town called
Granadia. This community we went into today was different from the one we went
to the past 2 days. The people in this town were NOT SHY at all. The kids had a
blast playing soccer, volleyball, making bracelets, and coloring. I made a
bracelet for a little girl named Maria Belen and she was the cutest thing
because she kept staring at me at Mass. (: Another girl that really stood out
to me was Junielica. Although she wasn’t the nicest (especially to Roland and
Kasey) she was nice to Marifer, Alexis, and I. We would talk about boys and
sing and have a good time. I felt that she was already one of my best friends
(don’t get jealous Jessica). The best part was when she said Marifer, Alexis,
and I were the prettiest girls there lol! Overall it’s been the best week of my
life and I will miss this place when I leave L
John H. (Diria)
Hey everyone, John’s here (finally). Although we’ve only been here for 5 days, it
really feels like our home. Although I
still miss the amenities of home (hot showers, AC, clean towels) I know that I
will miss this place (and my new friends) as soon as we leave.
Today we started walking through a small town called Granadia. Following the pattern from the previous two
days, we trekked through the village. We
had 4 little girls as guides (from about 12 to 3 years old), who continuously
had to wait for us after we fell behind going up and down steep paths through
the jungle. The people from Granadia had
much less than the previous town, but it seemed like they were much more
grateful for our company. I talked to
this old man who lived alone (with my excellent Spanish of course). He was in his 80’s and still worked all-day
as a broom maker. He joked that he was
skinny because he was sick the week before, but that hard work had made him
strong. He had this really cool tan
horse, and I asked to take a picture with him and the beast. I don’t think I will ever forget it.
After we had finished inviting the community to join us in
activities and games for the kids and then later mass for everyone, we sat down
for lunch (prepared by the women of the village). Even after 3 days of it, I am still so
grateful for their hospitality. They
obviously don’t have much, but what the little they do have, they give it
without hesitation, almost always asking if we want more. There was this huge tree with tons of mangos,
and I had about 6. (If I get sick it was
totally worth it.) I also played soccer
with the children and helped with the arts and crafts. We had mass in this thatch roof “chapel”, but
it was really just a single thatch wall with some wood poles and a roof. Even the kids playing soccer and shouting
right next to it, the Spanish, and the distraction of the bugs, it was probably
the coolest mass I have ever been to.
I’m really having a great time here, and I want the next
half of the trip to be even better than the first.
P.S. I miss all my
family and friends at home, and I hope you’re not having too much fun without
me. Mom, I really wasn’t some ice cream
right now, so we’re going when I get back.
Adriana C. (Diria)
It has been an incredible experience for me in Nicaragua;
the people are generous and loving which made me think of home. I have talked
to many schools and I have made friends through friendship bracelet making. The
community is different than home, I don’t remember the last time I walked four
miles to arrive at my destination, but besides the walking it worth it because I spoke to some of the girls. We walked around
neighborhoods on the June 14th and 15th, we talked to
each person individually to bring their kids to play soccer, make crafts and
attend mass. It was difficult to say goodbye but I know each sector will get
better and better as we continue to travel.
Alexis M. (Diria)
It honestly feels so unreal being here in Nicaragua. It’s so
much fun, I’ve made so many new friends, and I braid 2-3 or even more hair each
day. I’ve also made some friends here in Nicaragua. Tuesday and Wednesday was
our first work days. On Tuesday we walked around house to house talking to the
members of the community. I even spoke Spanish to one of the Families but I
messed up but I corrected it, it was kind of funny. After we finished walking
we went back to the church we met up at and we ate. The people of the community
cooked food for us. I think that is so amazing because they have so little but
they give us all they have. After eating we started to make crafts with the
kids and families that were coming in and we also played a very heated game of
soccer. Then we ended the day of with mass. On Wednesday the same thing
happened but we walked in a different area and it was raining a lot. After we
walked we came back to the church and had a wonderful meal. I met so many
wonderful kids while playing games. I gave the two bracelets I made to Linda
and Nicole, and took pictures with them. Also another lady wanted to take a
picture with me so I did and we also took a selfie, that was fun. I also met the cutest little boy and his name
was Henry and I took a picture with him too. I can’t wait to meet the families
again today at the other community we are going to. This trip has been amazing
so far I can’t wait to see what else it brings.
We're on Twitter
If you are on Twitter, follow @DallasCath to see tweets from Maria Beltran, Deacon Charlie's translator. If you are not on Twitter, you can still see the posts at https://twitter.com/dallascath.
Friday, June 16, 2017
A few more pictures
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| Dancing after Mass on 6/13 |
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| La Asuncion de Maria |
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| Playing tag |
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| Futbol |
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| Crafts, coloring, and bracelets |
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| Musicians at Mass |
Diria - 6/15
Kate H. (Diria)
These past three days have been so much fun, but it is very
different from our first Nicaragua trip. We are staying in a convent and we all
each get our own rooms and bathrooms. Also it is only a short drive to where we
work instead of two hours. I have met so many wonderful children at the work
sites and have been practicing my Spanish so much. I realize I know more
Spanish than I thought going into this trip. At the work sites we stop by many
houses telling the families who we are, why we are here, and tell them about
the mass we will be having later in the day. Then after walking from house to
house we go back to the church in the community we work, eat lunch, than wait
for the families to come. I have met the sweetest children and have really
enjoyed my small conversations that I can have with them in Spanish. I have
made so many bracelets for all the little girls and then attempt to teach them
how to make them. I also have met so many new friends from the other schools
and it is crazy how nice all the people here are. I have had a wonderful time
here with all the children in the community and the missionaries I have met and
hope the rest of the trip is as amazing. I love you guys and I can’t wait to
see ya’ll in a week!
Caleigh B. (Diria)
Today has probably been my favorite day in Nicaragua so far
because I really began to see relationships forming with the local people here.
It has been so shocking to see how they live everyday and the struggles that
they endure. I am lucky to have met these people and am very excited to meet
more soon. Yesterday and today I was at a local community walking to every
“house” (more of a shack with no power or water made of materials they have
found locally) in hopes to inspire them to join us that evening at mass. They
all welcomed us into their homes and were open to the idea of joining us. My
Spanish definitely needs work and talking to the kids was definitely a struggle
but they were all so nice to me and they colored me pictures while we were
doing crafts and I thought it was so cute. The Spanish speakers here have been
so helpful and I have actually manages to have a few very short successful conversations
in Spanish. It’s been such an amazing experience and definitely a good way to
start 17. I missed Nannie’s birthday call though but this is for sure birthday
I will never forget. The other missionaries here at the camp are also so nice
it’s crazy they are always offering to take my dishes and get water so
hopefully some of their generosity can rub off on me. I can’t wait to meet more
friends and strengthen the friendships I have. My faith and character is
definitely growing. I miss you all so much though and can’t wait to tell you
all the details when I get back. Love you guys and I’m so excited to see you in
7 days!
Roland L. (Diria)
The past 3 days in Nicaragua have really been an eye opener
for me. I thought I would be ready for all the obstacles that Nicaragua would
throw at me. Whether it was the poverty I would see, the humidity I would have
to deal with, or the new people I would have to meet (whether they were Nicaraguan or not). In simpler
terms, the first day of Nicaragua was a rude awakening. Yet as each day goes by
the short time I have spent with the people here has really been something
special. There is a genuineness that this trip brings out in everyone. At first
everybody is in their little shell, yet over time people are willing to jump
into the unknown. Because of this everyone is more open to one another,
forgetting any prejudices they might have had before the trip. So far I have
loved my stay in Nicaragua. The convent we are staying at is basically a
resort, the food is really really good (rice with ketchup), and our missionairy
work has been pretty successful so far. Mom’s and Dad’s I love and miss you
guys so much, the spiritual guidance as well as the ability to approach certain
situations has been really helpful so far. Ivanna there are a lot of kids here
that you would have so much fun playing with. Jake you are a pretty cool dude I
hope you are having lots of fun without me jaja. See everybody soon!
Emma B. (Diria)
So far, this experience has truly opened my eyes. While we
may think of poverty a certain way back home, nothing in the US will ever
compare to this. Although these people have so little, they have opened their
hearts to us, and have been so generous. I cannot get over the amount of
generosity and kindness I have seen here, and I’m going to miss that back in
Dallas. Just walking through the streets on the second day, complete strangers
sitting in their doorways were waving and saying hello to us. As we walked
through the communities yesterday, people we had never even met welcomed us
into their homes, and it was even better when they were able to come to mass
later. Yesterday, when many of the children had arrived, we set up a huge
soccer game that went on for hours. Paige, if you’re reading this, you would’ve
had some competition at that game, these kids are really good at soccer. Hi
mom, Paige, and dad, I miss you so so so much, and tell all the pets I say hi!
Love you!!!
Wifi Update
We know you are eager to see these updates - the mobile hotspot that we purchased never worked out, but we have found a Wifi solution in Diria. We hope to be able to update the blog every 1-2 days now.
Thanks for your patience!
- Mr. Braun
Thanks for your patience!
- Mr. Braun
Thursday, June 15, 2017
Diria Posts - 6/14
Note: These entries were written on 6/14.
Colten P. (Diria)
Well I mean this place is really different from the US the
people here just give of this great sense of joy and love for other people.
Today (Wednesday) started off with a wake up song at 6:30 by none other than
Mr. Brandt and then it was breakfast. After that we all got ready for the day,
we got on the bus and drove to a small church called La Accucion de Maria, then
we broke up into 3 groups and started walking around the community. We were
welcomed by everyone we met, everyone was nice and happy to see us and it was
really cool to see that these people that had never seen us before are letting
us into their homes and letting us meet their families. Later we went back to
the church and had lunch then we started to play soccer with the children from
around the village that we invited to come play and go to mass with us. We
played for like 2 hours and I was dead because we played so long. I met some
really nice people and had a really good day. Have fun at home @mom and dad and
tell Brynna and Alayna I said hi.
Kim G. (Diria)
Hi everyone!
These past few days in Nicaragua have been full of singing, dancing, and making
friendship bracelets. Although these activities are very fun, I can’t help but
feel very homesick. I miss you Mom, Dad, Bean, and Elizabeth! & I want you
to know that I think about all of you constantly. Other than that, so far my favorite thing
that we have done is walk around the small village of Diria. While on this
walk, we saw a beautiful lake where many pictures were taken. After this we ate
lunch and rode a bus to a nearby church, where we met up with the Tepeyac
group. At the church, we saw many traditional dances performed by the locals
and afterwards we all did a bit of dancing and singing, which created a very
energetic environment. Besides this, I would like to say that I am having a
great time experiencing new things. I love you Mom, Dad, Bean, and Elizabeth.
See you in 6 days!
Antonia H. (Diria)
It has been an unpredictable few days in Nicaragua and it’s
almost too hard to describe. The first day I bet everyone felt homesick in this
new place we’d call home for 10 days but after a while, we started to warm up
(literally) to the idea of living in Nicaragua. For the most part the
missioners’ writing so far has summed up the life of Nicaragua. Today was the
day when we got to meet the people of Diria and interact with the children.
Three different groups split up inviting locals to the 4:30 mass we were
hosting as well as inviting young children to an arts and crafts time at 2:00
before the mass. Everyone we came across was so nice and welcoming. While my
group was walking past a food vender, Colten had looked at one of the snacks
asking Ms. Molina what they were. As we went on a few feet past the vender, our
guide told us that she had bought the snacks for us to try. They were
delicious. The people of Nicaragua are true examples of seeing God in
others. I thought of them as smiling
with their eyes showing absolute gratitude of our presence. During the crafts
time, many kids showed up to partake in coloring activities, bracelet making,
and soccer. I have almost zero experience of the Spanish language but I found
that smiling to all of the kids told them that I was glad to be there with
them. I can’t wait for another day with them to build relationships even with
the language differences. Pray for us for the rest of our journey.
P.S. Hey moms, I hope you’re having fun on your vacation.
When you get home, love on Latte (my Chihuahua) for me. Also tell Bryan that I
miss him and love him. Don’t worry, I’m staying safe and I’m having a good
time. I love you guys so much I can’t wait to see you guys, Bryan and Latte at
the airport!
Jason F. (Diria)
Rice Goes with
Everything… Plantains anyone??
It’s very different here. It
has taught me and many others to ask for “un poco mas” of rice, since it will
make anything taste good. We also have a very fair share of plantains. On the
second day, we had a choice of one for all three meals. After that, most of us
will not be eating them for a few days. However, whatever food they make, we
take and thank graciously for, since we know the trouble they take, and we’re
hungry. The people and country are amazing here.
Even though we’ve been gone for
three days (at the time of writing), it doesn’t feel like it. It’s a very
different experience from anything, and we love it. No one has phones, which is
surprisingly liberating; we’re now forced to talk to people. The country itself
is very beautiful. Anywhere you look, you’ll always find a beautiful flower in
the midst of the course forests. It’s kind of like the faith here. Here, you
look anywhere and see poverty and seemingly miserable ways of living, however,
you see the flowers everywhere, whether it is a little cute kid that gives you
a smile as you drive buy in a large bus, or the happiness some of them have
meeting us. It is truly incredible how much love there is in such an harsh
climate. The people have so little, yet, they give almost everything.
We are
strangers to them, in our minds; however, they don’t see us like that. They
treat us like family, giving all they can to please us. A great example was
today. We went to one of the local chapels of the area. As we split up into 3
different small groups in the morning, we were able to see how much they lack.
You don’t need to be good at Spanish to see the simplicity of their living
standards. We all invited them to join us at 2 for games and coloring, and mass
at 4:30. When we came back, it was around noon, so we needed lunch. These
people took so much of what they had, just to feed us and make us feel
welcomed. Giving a generous plate to each one of us, they served themselves
last. It is truly the work of God and they will definitely be the first in my
prayers. I hope that you will keep them in your prayers as well as us.
In
terms of Cistercian, the guys are really embracing everything. We’ve started to
sit with different people and talk (for once).
Diego, Joe, Ethan, Patrick, and Matthew were split from us at a
different location, Tepayac. Everyone’s Spanish is not very good, except Jose
and the Spanish major (Fr. Aug). It is actually quite impressive how much he
knows, he was able translate a spanish homily into English on the spot at the
local big church. Diria, in my opinion, is better, the group as well as the
amenities. We’re having a great time and do not worry about us. Matthew, John, Roland, Jose, and I send “a
ginormous hug (Fr. Aug).
P.S. Hi mom, I hope everything is going well. Make sure you
turn off the power like you said you were going. Make sure Chris gets out of
the house at least twice. Zach, make sure you bought what I told you to buy and
rank me up. Hope Ben and Dad have a good trip at Creighton!
Caleigh B. (Diria)
It’s been a very different past three days but I’m very glad
I decided to come on this trip it seems like it’s going to be quite the
adventure. Once we got off the plane I automatically felt the hot humidity so
my hair is very frizzy (mom you were right). Then we went to a chicken
restaurant and had fried chicken and fries and said bye to Catherine, Kaitlyn,
and Theresa. When I got to the retreat site I was very pleasantly surprised to
see how nice and well taken care of the convent was. We each got out own
individual rooms and bathrooms which was very exciting. Me and Kate have been
together the whole time though and everyone keeps making fun of us so I think
we’re going to be separated at the worksite today L It’s very hot all the time
without any A/C so the cold showers feel really nice. Yesterday we played some
board games during the day and even picked mangos off the tree. It was so cool!
There’s mangos everywhere and they taste so good. The bananas here are also a
lot better than at home. We have coffee here too so that’s definitely a relief.
We went on a walk yesterday to the lake and it is so pretty! All of the little
houses here are painted so colorfully and the people here are all so nice to
us. We went to village later in the day for a Spanish mass so I was very
confused most of the time but the Nicaraguan people danced their traditional
dances for us and it was really cool. We danced with the kids after mass and
they are all sooo cute. The people here are so poor which really surprised me
but they still remain happy and always smiling. One lady at mass randomly came
up and hugged me and smiled and I was so touched because she looked so grateful
that I was here to help her and her family. Then we went back to the camp for
dinner and showers. Today were going to the worksite for the first time so I’m
really excited to see what we do! It’s way more fun here than I thought it
would be so thank you mom and dad for letting me go it’s such a fun experience
and I have already learned so much. It makes me much more grateful for
everything I have at home. I miss you guys a lot though and I’ll see you soon.
I hope your all having fun in Dallas and tell the twins and Dominic I say good
luck on all their sport games! Love and miss you all so much!!
P.S. Jack I hope my streaks are ok, I think I’m having phone
withdraws.
Tepeyac Posts - Wednesday 6/14
Note: These entries were written on June 14.
Theresa K. (Tepeyac)
Hola, friends and family! This is Theresa from Tepeyac. The
past few days have been very fun and very tiring. I have met so many people and
made many friends. Today was my favorite so far because we spent most of our
day out in the Nicaraguan community. The day began at 6:30 am when we went to mass
(which we do every day), then we went on a bus and went to the church. We split
up into small groups and had leaders from the church who took each group out
into different neighborhoods. We went up to people’s houses and introduced
ourselves, told them why we are here, visited with them, and prayed with them.
I really enjoyed meeting all of the kids and speaking Spanish with them. We
also invited each family we went to come to mass with us this evening and play
soccer and other games with us before mass. We went to the home of a Nicaraguan
family for lunch, and I was touched by their kindness. When we returned to the
church, I played soccer with some of the missionaries and 4 very kind
Nicaraguan boys. Their soccer skills were much better than mine, but it was a
lot of fun. We did crafts and visited with the Nicaraguans until it was time
for the second mass of the day, this time in Spanish. Some highlights of my day
were the people I met along the way throughout the neighborhood. I met a sweet
old lady, who was born in the 1930s. She was full of joy and was very welcoming
and kind to us. As I speak on behalf of all of the missionaries here, we want
you all to know that we are doing great, and we miss everyone at home. To my
family, I miss all of you, and tell Emily that I wish she was here to
experience this with me. Adios!
Hayden H. (Tepeyac)
Hola from Tepeyac! Hayden writing here from Bishop Dunne,
although, at this point, the name of the school is simply that. In the short
span of two days, we have already grown into one big family, and I think that a
symbol of our new community here at Tepeyac is our faith. That is really
beginning to get to the heart of this mission trip; our faith in God binds us
all together in a very special way. It’s not only evident here at base camp,
but evident when we travel out into the community of Tepeyac as well. Wednesday
was really the first day we got to spread the Gospel and do God’s work out in
the community. I got to go out with Deacon Oscar Miranda today, blessing the
people and their households. I also brought my guitar with me and played during
these blessings, and during the Spanish mass with the entire community. I was
told by one of the locals, Roberto, that even though he couldn’t understand
what our song was saying, he felt the connection that we all have with God, and
the connection as brothers and sisters in Christ. This is precisely our mission
here; to build up the community of Tepeyac, and the kingdom of God, one heart
at a time. One of the most gratifying parts about this is that we will hold
these relationships forever, and that we now have a home here in Nicaragua. We
have all met someone here in Nicaragua that we have felt an emotion and
spiritual connection to, and I know that all of here are so excited to continue
to carry out the Lord’s work here. The love we have for our fellow brothers and
sisters, not just between each other, but the love we have for the people of
Nicaragua, is more than abundant, and I’m excited to get out to others to bring
them home to the Lord.
To all the parents, family, and friends that are reading, I
promise that you are still on our hearts and minds. We are praying for you guys
every single day, and I assure you that we miss you. But we have still have
work to do here in Nicaragua. We love all of you, and we can’t wait to see you
when we get home.
Natalie U. (Tepeyac)
Hello! This is Natalie from JPII writing from Tepeyac! We
have only been here for three days, but I have already been touched by God. The
first night was rough, but with the support of my roommate, Claire from BL, she
gave me such positive vibes and made me feel a lot better. Even though we have
not been here long, we are no longer in our group of school friends, we are one
big family. We all have grown so close by the love of God and passion that he
is putting into our hearts and it is honestly one of the best feelings I have
ever had. I know that we are all homesick, but we are here to serve the Lord
and he is calling us to be here for a reason. We, the missionaries have all
come to a conclusion that we were definitely called to be here at this moment.
I was able to see that today when we went into the community and we got to go
to people’s houses and bless their house and them. Knowing Spanish, I talked to
them and helped translate for my friends that cannot speak the language. I was
also able to spread the love of music with Hayden from Bishop Dunne, and he
played guitar and I would sing and we sung for the families we prayed for while
Deacon Oscar was blessing the house. Being able to communicate in a different
country, different language, but believing in God and being Catholic is so
incredible because they are so far away from us, but we still have a
connection. I have no words to describe the experience that I have had here in
one paragraph. I love Nicaragua and the community.
To my family and friends back at home, I love you all and
miss you all! You are all such a great support to me and encouraging me to come
on this trip!!
Diria Posts - Tuesday 6/13
Note: These posts were written on the evening of June 13.
Kasey L. (Diria)
Wow! It’s been a crazy almost 48 hours so far. We started
out with the first quick flight and then all found a big section and everyone
just spread out. It was funny because almost everyone from JPII fell asleep all
spread out on the floor while the other schools were up doing stuff and playing
games. Onto the second flight where it was bumpier than the first but we made
it. Once we got off, you could feel a different vibe than in America. It was
fascinating to see how many people could fit into one area and everyone feel so
normal. I would have been so claustrophobic! Once we got to the retreat center,
we started to unpack and unload all of our stuff. Our rooms are very small but
they are nice. The ladies here had given us some sheets and a pillow but I
decided to use mine because they smelt like home. The morning of the second day
was really pretty because it was raining all night and everyone was refreshed.
It continued to rain throughout the morning but then stopped in the afternoon.
We had our first set of walking which was 2 miles. We walked up to a lake type
thing and took group pictures and then walked back. I had walked a total of 5
miles yesterday and got more than my 10,000 steps! Dad I’m going to beat you
when I get back! The food has been mostly rice and beans but they are including
other foods that I have never heard of. Yes mom, I am trying them and not being
difficult. It’s time for JPII to go eat so I have to sign off. I really miss
home though.
P.S. Mom don’t worry I am taking LOTS of pictures and I will
make sure to continue to. Everyone I miss you a ton and can’t wait to see you
guys. Tell Cooper hi from me! The first thing I want once we get home is
Whataburger(: I love you guys so so so much and I hope to see you soon!
Love-Kas
Carter P. (Diria)
So much has happened since we left. Each day seems to last
so long and we are never running out of things to do. Our first day was mostly spent setting up the
rooms and meeting each other. After a whole lot of struggling and calling
people by the wrong names Roland, Abby and I made a list of all the students
and chaperones along with what school they went to. Then yesterday we all got
to go to the community where we will be working and to celebrate mass with them
and we got to meet up again with the people that went to Tepeyac!!! They put on
a few Nicaraguan dances for us which was really fun and we all got to see how
tight knit their community was. After that, mass was a struggle but I had Kiker
translate the important parts to me. One amazing thing though was how excited
everyone was to be at mass. Everyone was smiling and clapping along with every
song and it was so cool to look around and see the joy in all of their faces.
After mass we went to an party with all the Nicaraguan children. We even got to
give song requests so Despacito was played so now it will probably be stuck in
our heads again for the rest of the trip. We headed home and had dinner which
btw all the food here is phenomenal. Its not just beans and rice everyday but
we are getting stuff like steak, chicken and ham omelets. That is what has
shocked me the most about this trip. I feel like I have already been gone for a
week and miss yall. Love you all and cant wait to see yall again. Please keep
us all in your prayers as today we are going out and starting to help in the
community.
P.S. Make sure to record the Finals for me #CAVSIN7 ;)
Katie S. (Diria)
I could type A LOT, so I’ll try to keep this not too long.
We arrived in Houston pretty early on Monday – I would say about 6 something.
We then took a plane to Managua and arrived around noon ish. When we stepped
off the plane, it was like we were entering a whole different world. We went
through customs and got our travel visas, and then picked up all of our many
bags. What followed was a bus ride to “Pollos Frit,” which is basically KFC in
Nicaragua. It was really good! Then we went to our camps and got settled. Diria
is gorgeous! We are living at a retreat center with a convent nearby. Being in
the heart of the town, we can see – and hear – many of the local people as well
as the chickens and dogs that are roaming around. Monday was essentially for
acclimating and getting to know those in our camp. Don’t worry about bugs or
safety too much. Every room at Diria has a lock, and we have sprayed the facility
in addition to having mosquito netting over all of the open windows. Tuesday
has been more of getting a feel for our mission. We attended Mass at our
facility and later at Padre Eric’s parish. The locals performed various
traditional dances for us, and then we attended Mass again – this time in
Spanish. Mass was followed by a gigantic dance party. It has been so much fun!
Please keep us in your prayers as we start our mission and meet with the
Nicaraguan community.
P.S. Hi, Mom, Dad, Joe, and Grandma! It’s great here, and I
hope none of you – especially you, Mom – are worrying too much. We are in great
hands here and serving the Lord. I love and miss you all!
Monday, June 12, 2017
Camp Site Lists
Here are the lists of the camp sites. During the day, missionaries will go out into the community in smaller groups that will be determined on arrival based on the needs of the community. (Students are listed in alphabetical order by school)
Diria
Emma B.
Adriana C.
Antonia H.
Alexis M.
Colten P.
Luke B.
Marifer F.
Katie S.
Angela T.
Molly V.
Jose A.
Jason F.
John H.
Matthew H.
Roland L.
Kim G.
Jack K.
Abby K.
Kasey L.
Carter P.
Morgan A.
Caleigh B.
Kate H.
Caroline M.
Clare N.
Chaperones: Mr. Brandt, Mr. Braun, Mrs. Mannari, Mr. Morillo, Fr. Augustine, Mrs. Merkel, Mrs. Molina, Mr. Schettini, Mrs. Gibbs, Mr. Martinez; Nurse Barton
Tepeyac
Audrey B.
Mariana G.
Hayden H.
Marisa N.
Katie P.
Katie H.
Maggie O.
Amy O.
Elise S.
Claire S.
Diego A.
Ethan B.
Joe C.
Patrick M.
Matthew S.
Kolbe B.
Maria H.
Lorraine K.
Laurel S.
Natalie U.
Mary C.
Kristen H.
Kaitlyn J.
Catherine J.
Theresa K.
Chaperones: Mrs. Matassa, Mr. Rusuriye, Deacon Oscar, Mrs. Elliott, Fr. Ambrose, Mrs. Butler, Mrs. Haverkamp, Mrs. Strain, Mrs. Francis, Mrs. Wunderlick, Deacon Charlie, Mrs. Beltran (translator), Mrs. Cogswell; Nurse Wrozek
Diria
Emma B.
Adriana C.
Antonia H.
Alexis M.
Colten P.
Luke B.
Marifer F.
Katie S.
Angela T.
Molly V.
Jose A.
Jason F.
John H.
Matthew H.
Roland L.
Kim G.
Jack K.
Abby K.
Kasey L.
Carter P.
Morgan A.
Caleigh B.
Kate H.
Caroline M.
Clare N.
Chaperones: Mr. Brandt, Mr. Braun, Mrs. Mannari, Mr. Morillo, Fr. Augustine, Mrs. Merkel, Mrs. Molina, Mr. Schettini, Mrs. Gibbs, Mr. Martinez; Nurse Barton
Tepeyac
Audrey B.
Mariana G.
Hayden H.
Marisa N.
Katie P.
Katie H.
Maggie O.
Amy O.
Elise S.
Claire S.
Diego A.
Ethan B.
Joe C.
Patrick M.
Matthew S.
Kolbe B.
Maria H.
Lorraine K.
Laurel S.
Natalie U.
Mary C.
Kristen H.
Kaitlyn J.
Catherine J.
Theresa K.
Chaperones: Mrs. Matassa, Mr. Rusuriye, Deacon Oscar, Mrs. Elliott, Fr. Ambrose, Mrs. Butler, Mrs. Haverkamp, Mrs. Strain, Mrs. Francis, Mrs. Wunderlick, Deacon Charlie, Mrs. Beltran (translator), Mrs. Cogswell; Nurse Wrozek
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