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.