Jaclyn shared a bond with a little boy who didn’t know his name.  Piggy back rides, roller skating, tickling and belly laughs were evident.  She captured his heart and he captured hers.  A beautiful connection made that will be remembered for years!

 

Missioners wrote about some of their hardest experiences in San Lucas:

 

"The hardest part for me was when you actually encountered the poor - you visited their homes. You saw the crippled and homeless out on the street."

 

Another wrote, "The hardest part is understanding that I can't help out with everything and everyone.  I can't save everyone and I hate it."

 

 Another wrote, "Seeing Bonifacio's house.  How much you could tell he and his family had gone through, especially his wife."

 

“I had a difficult time letting go of this little girl in the orphanage.  My heart broke a little bit.  I have no words.”

 

 

LouAnn Ellringer was bombarded with a huge hug from this little girl at the Orphanage Alleluia.  In the toddler and baby area there were about 75 kids.

 

Missioners wrote about some of their best experiences while in San Lucas:

“I can’t say one thing that was the best, everything was new.  I just tried to take it all in and take each moment and challenge as they came.  I knew I would learn something new each day and experience something different.  I had the hardest time in the orphanage (it is the largest in Guatemala) seeing all those little ones.”

 

“The best experience I had was understanding that I could/can make a difference in the people of San Lucas’ lives.  I feel empowered and obligated to do everything I can ~ a fire was lit in my belly and I love it!  The relationships I created were ones I plan to hold on to for a very long time.”

 

“The best experiences I had were playing with all the kids.  That was my gift I could share.”

“I loved meeting all the different people and hearing their stories.  I also was able to get to know the people in our own group better!”

“My best experience was being able to help people in different ways; money, clothes, work and bringing Jesus to them!”

“Holding this precious little baby at the orphanage.”

 

 

 

Saint Hermano Pedro, the first Guatemalan canonized Saint.  (1626-1667). He became a Franciscan tertiary and took the name Peter.  He visited hospitals, jails, the unemployed and young.   This Saint did a great job of helping others, and favored the marginalized at the time like:  lepers, prisoners, slaves and Indians and served as advocate for Human Rights.  His tomb is in the San Francisco Church in Antigua, Guatemala.  He was known to work miracles also, some of them including healing sick people in under an hour.  He was known in town, ringing a bell, asking people to pray for the souls in purgatory.

God is Good!

LouAnn had a little boy playing with her, talking the whole time in Spanish, not understanding a word he said, he didn’t care, just spending time with him was all that mattered.

 John Farrell had a little girl who played peek-a-boo and patty cake with him soaking up all love he gave. 

Tim and this little girl sat together in contemplation, each time he changed his facial expression or hand gestures, she copied.  It was a beautiful moment shared.

 

Stove Top Chimney

  Stove all done without the metal plate on top.

     I was told on my last visit to San Lucas Mission in Guatemala (2009), that a part of you will always stay in San Lucas~ that was especially true for me.  The people of San Lucas have never left my heart.  I prayed how God could use me to help their family.  I learned how on this last trip November 22-Dec 2 while traveling with 13 others.

 

     The more I've gotten to know Bonifacio Cuz Tzunun and his family the past 4 1/2 years through letter writing, the more connected I felt.  I wanted to share that connection with everyone else... especially with you my faith community.  Bonifacio was orphaned at 7 months old.  His mother was brought to the San Lucas clinic and died. Bonifacio was found, very sick in his mother's back-sling.  He was taken to Casa Feliz Orphanage and there he grew up with the other 175 orphans and became an adoptive son to Father Greg Schaffer, the founder of San Lucas Mission.

    As Bonifacio grew up, he married his beautiful bride, Anna.  They have been married over 18 years.  They have six children and learned in 2007 that their seven year old daughter, Ana (Anita) had leukemia.  Years of chemotherapy treatments, and numerous trips to Guatemala City each week, the family was sponsored by Father Greg financially, just to feed their family.

     I visited them on my last trip to San Lucas in 2009 with a group from Fulda, Mn.  I was fortunate enough to write Bonifacio and Anita's stories.

There was something about their family... they are so humble and meek.  They are quiet mannered and have a strong faith. 

    I learned that a hurricane ripped through Guatemala three years ago.

Bonifacio's humble home was built of pieces of wood, corrugated metal and plastic.  Their family lost everything in the torrential flood waters.

Luckily, there was no loss of life. They built up the land and started over.

 

    Also during that time, Father Greg's health began to deteriorate (he was diagnosed with melanoma) and he needed to move back to the U.S.  It was a very sad time, knowing that he wouldn't have Father Greg near his family.

Sadly, Father Greg died May, 2012.  He had touched so many people...over

25,000 people mourned his death. 

      One this trip, I spoke with Bonifacio and his wife Anna at length. I asked them of their hopes and dreams... and Bonifacio shared of someday having  a home of his own....a cement block home.  And I knew that was how I could help him... to help build his family a permanent home.  This

Christmas, I plan to donate towards building Bonifacio his "dream home".   I

have been very blessed in my life and want to give something that I know will make a difference. I want to keep my promise that I made to Father Greg, that I would not forget the people of San Lucas.

 If you feel called to help or donate, please contact Nichole Paladie,

507-932-3294 or email:  triparishff@hbcsc.net.

 

Bean growing up the corn.  When the corn gets so high, they break it off so it will know to stop growing!

The crops in Guatemala have been planted this way forever.  They grow corn all year round, planting the seeds at different intervals.  When it's about knee high, they plant a bean seed next to it, so it will weave around the corn!  Between the corn rows, squash is planted!  Nothing is wasted here in planting.

In coffee fruit to shelling process, even the outer shell is used as compost afterwards.  The Mayan people are so reverent to the earth and see their great responsibility to care for it.

Poinsettias are giant here in Guatemala.  They were growing in the ditches even… 

Sherry posing next to a poinsettia tree on our walk.