I recently returned from doing mission work in Peru. Someone asked me the other day why do I do this? In January I had worked in an orphanage in Thailand and a couple times I’ve been to San Lucas Toliman in Guatemala. I pondered this question a bit and this is my answer.
The obvious is that I like to travel and see the world (even practice my Spanish). Also I wanted to do more to help other people who need it the most, meaning Third World inhabitants. A mission trip is generally cheaper then taking a sight seeing tour. The money goes a lot farther. We don’t stay in fancy hotels and maybe take cold-water showers.
It allowed me to engage in more hands-on, eyeball-to-eyeball experiences with the people that we are trying to help. Maybe in just a little way I can help make someone’s life just a little better. I enjoy meeting other people and learning about their culture. I found the rural people in Peru to be very patient and gentle; who seem to appreciate all our efforts.
In Peru we were with VOSH “Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity”. I joined a group of 26 volunteers in Piura and Montero, Peru. My optometrist from Paynesville, Dr. Greg Friederichs, was our leader. We saw 1800 folks in 4 days and hopefully helped many of them to see better.
I had a very interesting bus trip by myself to and from Guayaquil, Ecuador. I spent part of my trip visiting a former AFS exchange student and his family. So you see it was not all work and no play. It was great spending time with my South American family. My daughter here was anxious that I get back as I was missing some very important practices for the summer theatre. We are singing and dancing and trying to act in “Music Man”.
But, now I’m back; and I am anxious to get on with the local work of working in the Cold Spring Deanery. Our parishes are busy this summer with the usual bake sales, ice cream socials, vacation bible schools and parish celebrations to name just a few activities.
Hopefully some of our parishes sent ladies to the Food, Fund and Fun Day and the Province conference. We look forward to the Sept. 18 DCCW convention in Freeport. More information will come out soon in the DCCW Newsletter.
Plan to attend the DCCW Annual Convention
“Made in God’s Image”
Saturday, Sept. 18th
Sacred Heart Parish at Freeport
Fr. Peter Laird, St. Thomas, St. Paul will speak on “The Incarnation- Illuminating Human Dignity”.
Family, Rural Life and Legislative commissions will also have speakers in the afternoon.
Presidents should post the flyer and advertise this event in the church bulletin. The registration form is included in this newsletter.
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