The missionaries finished their work yesterday! Here is Fr. Andrew’s final update.
Dear Friends and Families,
Today was an easy day, in comparison with the last two days doing concrete. We only had to paint the houses, and put the corrugated metal roof on. We all started the day happy, knowing that today we would be giving two families a house to live in, but at the same time not wanting this week to end. We have all made friends here, and we have been received so warmly! Everyone had something to give us, whether it was a kind word, practicing a few phrases of English they had picked up, giving us bread, avocados, we had everything we needed.
Fr. Dan has spent the last few days making for each house a cross he carved and painted himself. Today we mounted the crosses on the front wall of each house, and then we all took part in blessing the new home we left to the families, asking God to be present here always.
At 6:00, we had the final Mass with the townspeople. Many of them came to say good bye. We took with us all the candy, soccer balls, toys, coloring books, that we brought to give out to the kids, and after Mass we all had a great time meeting each other, and exchanging gifts, photos, best wishes, and even a few hugs from friends we made this week. We now have more bread and avocados than we could eat in a week! Everyone just wanted to show their appreciation, and to ask us to come back soon. Maybe we should ask to have two spring breaks! We could start a petition, and have at least 45 signatures right away!
Tomorrow we will have an exciting day as well, visiting a place called Malinalco. We have to leave early, so we will try to pack up what we can tonight, and be ready on time to leave at 7:30. May God bless all the people of this town, that have received us so warmly and found their way into our hearts in such a short time!
In Christ, Fr. Andrew Kolenda, LC
Below: Painting the houses (the Calvary house was a white-pink, while the farm house was more of a turquoise; the inside of both houses is painted white; the smile of the little girl who will be able to sleep in her new house tonight (she told me she already picked out her room!); a picture outside the farmhouse with the “farmers,” or the guys who built it.
Dear Friends and Families,
Today was an easy day, in comparison with the last two days doing concrete. We only had to paint the houses, and put the corrugated metal roof on. We all started the day happy, knowing that today we would be giving two families a house to live in, but at the same time not wanting this week to end. We have all made friends here, and we have been received so warmly! Everyone had something to give us, whether it was a kind word, practicing a few phrases of English they had picked up, giving us bread, avocados, we had everything we needed.
Fr. Dan has spent the last few days making for each house a cross he carved and painted himself. Today we mounted the crosses on the front wall of each house, and then we all took part in blessing the new home we left to the families, asking God to be present here always.
At 6:00, we had the final Mass with the townspeople. Many of them came to say good bye. We took with us all the candy, soccer balls, toys, coloring books, that we brought to give out to the kids, and after Mass we all had a great time meeting each other, and exchanging gifts, photos, best wishes, and even a few hugs from friends we made this week. We now have more bread and avocados than we could eat in a week! Everyone just wanted to show their appreciation, and to ask us to come back soon. Maybe we should ask to have two spring breaks! We could start a petition, and have at least 45 signatures right away!
Tomorrow we will have an exciting day as well, visiting a place called Malinalco. We have to leave early, so we will try to pack up what we can tonight, and be ready on time to leave at 7:30. May God bless all the people of this town, that have received us so warmly and found their way into our hearts in such a short time!
In Christ, Fr. Andrew Kolenda, LC
Below: Painting the houses (the Calvary house was a white-pink, while the farm house was more of a turquoise; the inside of both houses is painted white; the smile of the little girl who will be able to sleep in her new house tonight (she told me she already picked out her room!); a picture outside the farmhouse with the “farmers,” or the guys who built it.