On Mission in Piura

2011-07-01T19:48:00.001-05:00

It is not easy to "measure" just how well we do in Peru. But, as it is said, a picture is worth a thousand words. In this case we have two pictures: one before and one after.In June 2010, Pam and Jay Burnside sponsored a family, especially after seeing the "before" photo of the 6-month-old, youngest child, Jesús.Immediately the family from the village of Monte Castillo began getting a $30 food

Mission Team Is Home

2011-06-26T22:42:00.002-05:00

After tears, the missionaries returned home uneventfully. Many photos and videos are being sorted. I have many cards given to me for sponsors.It is difficult being the the one representing all of St. Monica's sponsors. All families hug and kiss me and ask me to send their greetings. They ask that you write and send a photo. I received so much love each day that some days I'd go into overload and

Thursday and Friday

2011-06-24T17:52:00.003-05:00

Photo is in La Piedra Church.Wednesday ended with a fiesta next door to the St. Monica chapel. Mostly we danced till we almost dropped. The last dance went 20 minutes with high intensity aerobics. We got to squeeze most of the St. Monica chapel people whom we know. Thursday morning I took Communion to the residents of the Hospice Center. Then I fed some of them, clipped their nails, and messaged

Two Days Left

2011-06-23T22:12:00.002-05:00

I'm running out of gas. The next two days will be a little easier as we wind down. The trip has been spectacular, except for Marguerite who has been sick since the second day. See has a "bug" and is going to a clinic in the morning. More later when I get the tank refilled.

Wednesday Morning

2011-06-22T16:46:00.003-05:00

My group went to the new school, Mother of the Good Counsel. I was looking for an overview of the school while my companions, who are educators, got into very specific areas. We were absolutely impressed. The school has almost 500 students in its first year of operation. We visited most schoolrooms and took photos. We taught in the 4th grade room of a teacher from Piura, who

Tuesday Afternoon

2011-06-21T21:30:00.003-05:00

My group of a whole van full went to the remote village of La Piedra where St. Monica sponsors 25 families. Out missionary artist, Meredith Kuntzsch, set up an art program. Last minute arrangements resulted in over 200 students sitting on a large cement slab doing paintings and then making one paper saying what they were thankful for and another saying their dream. It was

Tuesday Morning

2011-06-21T14:18:00.002-05:00

Everyone was very busy this morning. My daughter, Steve Yandell, and I brought Communion to 11 homebound people in the village of La Legua. I had visited all the people in past years. We were taken back when finding that a man’s wife has died earlier that morning. Lisa knelt and cried with him. Another group went to build a new house for the Hardings. The day before a large

General Thoughts

2011-06-21T11:48:00.003-05:00

Many children come up to us and hug, kiss, and hold us. Since we are tall and they are short, their heads rest on our bellies. This year I have had a few pat my belly, look me in the eye, and say, "Gordo." You can look that up in a dictionary or figure it out knowing that I have to go on a diet when I get home.My goddaughter is Mileny and I first met her when she was 2. She is now 12. We have

Monday Afternoon

2011-06-20T21:23:00.002-05:00

All sponsors met with their families for lunch at the San Jacinto retreat center. Missionaries with no Peruvian family got adopted by the rest of us. Fr. Joe began with jokes, but we decided that he should stick with preaching or get some tips from Fr. Ray. After lunch we all did various things with our families. I took my family and my son’s family to a movie with many

Monday Morning

2011-06-20T12:14:00.005-05:00

We broke into groups Monday morning. Three others and I blessed six houses. Some of the sponsors are the Gordys, Lindsay Taylor, Serranos: we have photos. Our liaison has made 40 videos of families that we will get later. There are more requests for letters and especially photos from sponsors. Other groups went shopping for their families, buying building materials to build

Day 2: Sunday in Piura

2011-06-19T21:59:00.002-05:00

After a delicious breakfast at the church, I went with Fr. Joe to celebrate Mass at La Legua. I sang the Gospel alleluia in Spanish for the first time. Then further south to San Jacinto to meet the rest of the team and celebrate Mass again. The parishioner blessed us missionaries -- see photo. This was followed by an authentic Peruvian lunch. After a siesta we went to

Saturday: Visiting Homes of Peruvian Families

2011-06-18T22:01:00.003-05:00

Missionaries visited the homes of their sponsored families. See the photo of the Steve Yandell family. My cousin from Kalamazoo does not have a family and spend time with my family and me. The visits allowed in-depth conversations as well as a look at living conditions. I did weekly baptisms with six children became new Christians. It was very fortunate that I baptized Bill

Church Welcoming

2011-06-18T18:38:00.002-05:00

These are St. Monica sponsored families welcoming us at the parish. We took many photos of you families and will forward them.Peruvian families make me promise to tell the sponsors to PLEASE send letters and photos.

Missionaries Arrive in Piura

2011-06-18T14:20:00.003-05:00

The missionary team arrived after a record shot 15 hours at 8:30 am Saturday morning. We were worried about four of the team, but they suddenly showed up in Lima. We were met by the staff at the airport and some of our families, who we will also visit in their homes this afternoon.

Mission Trip Begins Today

2011-06-17T08:18:00.001-05:00

Two missionaries are already in Lima working with the Sisters of Mother Teresa. 16 of us will be meeting in Miami this evening from OKC and Detroit. We fly during the night to Lima where we pick up the next flight to our destination of Piura, arrival time about 8:30 a.m. Saturday. There is a large list of things for the 18 of us to do, including building two homes. The week will seem to fly

Peruvian Family Needs Help

2011-06-16T10:07:00.002-05:00

The parents in their 50s have two sons, 10 and 15. They live in a farming village and earn $3 per day. Their house is made of reeds and mats and has two beds and no electricity. $30 per month is necessary to provide them with sufficient food. They have many other basic needs. For more details and photos, click here

Missionary Blessing Time Changed

2011-06-10T15:57:00.002-05:00

Most of the team could not show up for the Saturday 5 p.m. Mass. The blessing has been delayed until 13 of us arrive at the OKC airport Friday afternoon. I will bless the team before we go through security.

Special Donation "to help the poor"

2011-06-05T19:18:00.002-05:00

Today a St. Monica family, who knows what we do in Peru, gave me $1,000 "to help the poor" while on our mission trip. I feel a burden to find just the right thing to provide a meaningful experience for someone in Peru as well as the generous donor. At least there will many opportunities to evaluate.

Mission Team Blessing

2011-06-03T09:19:00.002-05:00

Team members will receive a blessing from St. Monica's pastor at the 5:00 p.m. Mass on Saturday, June 11. I can feel the excitement growing!

2011-06-01T21:05:00.002-05:00

The new parish school, Madre del Buen Consejo, opened in March this year and is full with 400 children. Support of a child for the year costs about $550. A few St. Monica sponsors pay for their children to attend school.There will be more classrooms in March 2012. Today six new sponsors asked about enrolling their sponsored children. Now I am doing some research to see what is possible.

2011-05-30T15:26:00.001-05:00

This is part of the staff that assists the missionaries while they are there and also helps deliver food, build houses, etc. for sponsors of families all year long.

2011-05-30T12:14:00.002-05:00

Last November we began planning the 2011 mission trip to the parish of Santísimo Sacramento. Our team consists of 18 people. In Edmond, there are 12 from St. Monica and 3 from St. John the Baptist. Two are from Michigan and one from Texas. Eleven are returning to Piura and 7 are making their first trip. The total trip will take ten days, with eight days in Piura.If you Google "Piura, Peru" you

2011-05-30T11:20:00.002-05:00

My blog was quiet since September 2008. Last year I used Facebook, but many people do not use it, so here I am again.On June 17 eighteen of us are leaving for Piura to serve the poor. Check back to see how things develop.

Peruvian Visit 4

2008-09-05T23:24:00.002-05:00

Many good things came as a result of the visit from Fr. Joe, Ginet, and Freddy. At the Vigil Mass Saturday evening Fr. Joe preached about children from the villages of La Piedra and Los Polvorines being fed breakfast five or six days per week. There are 100 to 120 children in each of these villages getting something to each before school whereas they would not have gotten a meal until

Peruvian Visit 3

2008-09-04T22:20:00.002-05:00

While on mission in June, Fr. Uhen asked if St. Monica might be able to host him over the Labor Day weekend. Fr. Tim said "yes" and the Peru Mission Subcommittee began planning after returning from Piura. We decided to have a Saturday evening fiesta with free food, dancing, and a open and silent auction.Many people and organizations contributed donations for food, drinks, and auction items. All

Peruvian Visit 2

2008-09-04T10:36:00.001-05:00

On Friday, the Peru Subcommittee and spouses had dinner with Fr. Joe, Ginet, and Freddy and then met together in the Parish Hall with invited sponsors and supporters of the mission in Peru.We began with the Peruvians sharing their journey to helping the poor at Santísimo Sacramento. Fr. Joe's story covered a long time from a conversion experience in high school to eventual pastor at SS. Part of

Peruvian Visit 1

2008-09-02T23:12:00.002-05:00

Our Peruvian friends have come and gone. I was too busy during their visit to blog. I will now share a few experiences.The first evening after the Peruvians moved from Christ the King to St. Monica, several of us had dinner with them. Knowing that they would would be away from family for a month, I printed a photo for Ginet with her mother and another of Freddy with his children and grandchildren

Peruvians on Way to Oklahoma

2008-08-15T10:40:00.003-05:00

Here is a photo of Fr. Joe, Ginet, and Freddy having a late meal before their overnight flight from Lima to the USA. When traveling this route, one gets to know the Lima airport very well because of the long layovers.They will arrive in OKC about noon today and begin a couple week stay visiting the parishes of St. Monica (31st), St. John the Baptist (17th), and Christ the King (24th). They will

August 30 Fiesta

2008-08-04T20:42:00.002-05:00

The Peru Ministry Subcommittee has been diligently working on the fiesta (party) for when Fr. Joe, Ginet, and Freddy will be at St. Monica.Fr. Uhen will celebrate and preach the 5:30 p.m., Saturday Mass. The fiesta begins immediately after Mass at about 6:30. The Knights of Columbus is cooking a free meal for everyone who comes and EVERYONE is invited.There will be time to talk with our Peruvian

Dr. Jim from St. Monica

2008-07-24T08:26:00.003-05:00

Here is a report from Jim."We have had an excellent week with VERY cool weather and a wonderful team."I am going on a home visit this morning to see a very debilitated patient with multiple ulcers and then spend time at the Hospice."I intend to make a presentation next month to the Mercy at Home Team (Home Health and Hospice) about what these services can really mean."

What does a medical mission do?

2008-07-23T16:20:00.003-05:00

Here is one example.St. John the Baptist Catholic Church from Edmond, OK has a medical mission in Peru. One of the members is Dr. Rick Booth from Christ the King Church in Oklahoma City. Rick is also a deacon candidate for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Here is a note about Rick."Dr. Rick Boothe cares for a rare case of Cutaneous Mastocytosis in a two year old girl. As he described the

Fiesta at St. Monica Parish

2008-07-16T08:19:00.003-05:00

St. Monica in Edmond is planning to celebrate a visit from our brothers and sister from Santisimo Sacramento the weekend of August 29-31.Fr. Joe Uhen will celebrate and preach all the Masses that weekend. Coming with him is Ginet who leads the Family-to-Family program and Freddy who is an ambassador for his community.Saturday evening, after the 5:30 Mass, all parishioners are invited for a fiesta

Connecting with Church

2008-07-16T08:12:00.002-05:00

Families being sponsored are asked to do their part and get connected with the Church, if need be. I have seen evidence of this happening in the last couple weeks.Many translated and e-mailed letters have been arriving. I have noticed that many sponsored families are proudly informing their sponsors of upcoming marriage, baptisms, and First Communions.Sponsors are providing their Peruvian

Epilogue 3 to St. Monica Mission Trip

2008-07-04T14:47:00.002-05:00

On our last day in Piura, I did a Communion Service at St. Monica Chapel. I had asked the staff how many consecrated hosts I should bring and they guessed about 50.When I returned to the church and was putting the remaining Eucharist back into the tabernacle, I had about 25 left. Since our mission team was present plus an over-flowing crowd of villagers, it became apparent that many villagers had

Good News

2008-07-04T14:32:00.002-05:00

This is a good-news story from the medical mission.A first-time pediatrician from St. Louis was examining hundreds of children from the villages near Piura and she commented that she could tell the difference between children who were in the Family-to-Family program and those who were not. The children in the program are much better nourished than the other children.Sponsors are definitely making

Medical Clinic Visits St. Monica Chapel

2008-06-30T21:26:00.002-05:00

St. John's medical team held a clinic at the St. Monica Chapel. Here is a report from Cheryl Pierce, the team leader. Thanks, Cheryl!"Jim & I stopped at your chapel on the way back from the F2F lunch. The ladies were kind enough to bring the picture and the cross in so we could see it. They are beautiful. We had our last day of clinic at the chapel. Saw a really bad infection in one child that

Feeding Children Breakfast

2008-06-27T16:20:00.002-05:00

St. Monica missionaries did not get to help feed children breakfast at the St. Monica chapel this year. Today I got some photos from another chapel where children were being fed oatmeal/hot chocolate and rolls at another chapel with the help of St. John missionaries. Often a child will eat only an evening meal.

St. John Dental Clinic

2008-06-27T16:11:00.002-05:00

The St. John Dental Clinic is using five chairs this year compared to three in the past (see photo). There is always a large group of villagers waiting for free dental care. Last year the mother of my sponsored waited for 4-1/2 days and got in 15 minutes before the clinic closed for the year. Her husband slept outside of church at night to hold her place. Being poor is a difficult life.

St. John the Baptist Mission Trip

2008-06-27T16:07:00.003-05:00

A missionary group from St. John the Baptist is now in Piura. Their group consists of medical, dental, and families. Some youth visited a man to whom I have taken Communion for several years. He is almost blind from cataracts and lives in a very small house by himself. A family member lives nearby and brings him food. He was ready for cataract surgery in June, but could not get to the clinic. He

Epilogue 2 to St. Monica Mission Trip: New Name

2008-06-23T21:48:00.002-05:00

I have had several names during my life that define who I am. A new one was given to me in the villages south of Piura: Papacito -- little priest. Now, I am definitely not any kind of priest, but I have been taking Communion to the homebound in the villages for so many years that they now recognize me. I always tell them that I am a deacon, but that means nothing to them because the Archdiocese

Epilogue to St. Monica Mission Trip: "Who Will Come?"

2008-06-23T16:09:00.000-05:00

While preaching at the Mass at La Piedra last Friday, Fr. Joe asked the parishioners how many times they had Mass in the last year. I think the number was 20; anyhow it was way less than once per week.La Piedra is a mission of another parish and there is no priest assigned there. La Piedra was adopted by Santisimo Sacramento when a large number of poorer than usual people were discovered to live

We're Back

2008-06-22T16:00:00.002-05:00

The St. Monica mission team made it back home Sunday afternoon, very tired, but very happy.Thanks for your prayers!

Saturday and Leaving Piura

2008-06-21T19:52:00.005-05:00

As we prepared to leave for home, we all went to Santa Monica chapel to present them with a crucifix and painting of St. Monica with St. Augustine, both of which we had commissioned at a Peruvian artist to prepare. After being greeted by the people of the surrounding village of Los Polvorines, I did a Communion Service which may have been the first in the Archdiocese of Piura (they have no

Friday Afternoon in Piura

2008-06-21T19:41:00.003-05:00

Some of us went to Paita with children from our families, who had never seen the Pacific Ocean. Paita is a seaport. We took a boat ride and the children were bug eyed. Sea lions were swimming near the boat. During the hour trip back home many fell asleep on us. Missionaries love the Peruvian children. We treat them like our own children (grandchildren for some of us.)

Friday Morning in Piura

2008-06-21T19:23:00.002-05:00

In the morning we went to La Piedra where St. Monica sponsors 24 families. La Piedra is so far south that it is in another parish boundaries, but served by Santisimo Sacramento. We began by being welcomes in the desert street by many villagers with placards with out names. Fr. Joe was led down the street with a canopy over his head. As he, and we, entered the walkway to to the church entrance,

My Wednesday Homily

2008-06-20T06:58:00.002-05:00

I want to share my homily with you because what has happened to me has been happening to all the missionaries with me this week. I am so proud to be with them.Wednesday of 11th Week of Ordinary TimeThis is my seventh visit to Santísimo Sacramento. On each trip I try to give something to my Piuran brothers and sisters and, of course, I always get something in return. What I receive is spiritual in

Thursday in Piura

2008-06-19T18:19:00.005-05:00

What a day: I did things all day that I never did before.In the morning I learned the ins and outs of buying goats. We set out to buy (photo) and deliver ten goats, which I thought would be easy because I had seen goats given to families as a gift. After 4 hours we only had 9 goats and 3 delivered. We went to two places twice to find goats. The busiest place is along a highway where busses drop

Wednesday in Piura

2008-06-18T22:05:00.003-05:00

Today we had a chance to do many different projects: buying building materials, building houses, taking Communion to the homebound, teaching Bible school, and delivering food packages, or furniture, or clothes. Everyone enjoyed what they did.This evening Deacon Lee preached at Mass about the generosity of missionaries using the gospel pericope of "the left hand should not know what the right hand

Tuesday

2008-06-17T22:43:00.003-05:00

Let me begin with a photo from the fiesta. It shows some of our missionaries who are awed with what they are experiencing. They say that one has to come and see because no one can explain it ahead of time.This morning almost everyone picked cotton. I stayed "home" to prepare a homily for Saturday. Fr. Joe asked be to do a Communion Service at St. Monica chapel, perhaps a first of its kind in the

Monday, Our First Work Day

2008-06-16T22:41:00.004-05:00

And did we work today! It is winter here, but a hot 80 degrees with humidity. We had four groups working today. One group roofed the house of my daughter's house. They ran out of roofing and two workers decided to buy the rest of the roofing and finish the jobs. Being here with the people of God causes great generosity.Robin Barry, two college girls from the midwest, and I spend the morning bring

My Goddaughter

2008-06-15T22:36:00.002-05:00

I had to add this photo of my goddaughter and me on Father's Day. She is now nine. I baptized her on my second trip when she was 3. Life is good!

Day of Rest

2008-06-15T22:20:00.004-05:00

Sunday was a great day. It began with a great breakfast followed by group time for reflection. We went to San Jacinto for noon Mass and were greeted by children holding placards with our names. During Mass Fr. Joe did a marriage and presented the family a Bible and the groom a broom telling he was supposed to help his wife -- the church broke up.After Mass we had lunch at the Retreat Center, went

St. Monica Mission Team in Piura

2008-06-14T21:53:00.003-05:00

After traveling 22 hours from Edmond, we arrived in Piura at 6 a.m. We were greeted by the smiling parish staff and Deacon Lee's Peruvian family. The photo shows some of the missionaries and staff.After a quick drive to the parish, we were greeted by more of the staff with bacon and eggs. Then we went to our rooms for a three-hour siesta. At 11 we were up greeting arriving Peruvian families (

Leaving Tomorrow for Piura

2008-06-12T15:31:00.002-05:00

I am all packed and ready to go early tomorrow morning for the airport. New missionaries have been asking lots of last minute good questions. Of course, they will never understand until they get there.We will overlap a couple of days with a mission group of youth from St. John the Baptist. They stay at the Retreat Center at San Jacinto, a village south of Piura. They interact a lot with the youth

A Small World Story about Edmond and Peru

2008-06-11T21:40:00.003-05:00

Today I got the message below from Cheryl Pierce a mission team leader from St. John the Baptist in Edmond. It is a small world!Good afternoon, ma'am.I am Fr. Philip Creider. I am a Priest of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. I am a Navy Chaplain. I presently serve as the Command Chaplain aboard USS BOXER. We are presently in the middle of a two month exercise in Latin America. We have

Mission Team Receives Blessing

2008-06-08T21:29:00.003-05:00

At the end of the 5:30 Vigil Mass on June 7, most of our team received a blessing for missionaries from our pastor, Fr. Tim Luschen. He said all the magic words we needed to hear. We had sat in the front pew in our bright yellow mission T-shirts so Fr. Tim would be sure to remember us.We leave in five days. Please pray for the following missionaries: Christopher Barry, Jeff Higgins, Deacon Lee

Cost of Living in Peru

2008-06-06T21:47:00.004-05:00

We know how expensive things are becoming in the U.S. It is also happening for the poor around the world. Things are even worse since the value of the dollar keeps dropping which makes our money buy less in Peru.As an example, last year it cost $300 to build a new bamboo house with a plywood front like the one in the left photo. This house is about 20x20 feet. Early this year the price was $500

2008-06-04T23:04:00.002-05:00

Rufina Sosa Silva’s funeral Mass was Tuesday afternoon. Fr. Uhen was the celebrant and the parish staff attended. Fr. Joe said that Rufina is closer to God and is praying for all us. Marlit told of how her grandmother was her best example, teaching her and all her family to live more closely to our God. Rufina was always at Sunday Mass with her husband and listening intently.May Runfina’s soul

Sadness in the Village of San Jacinto

2008-06-02T21:43:00.004-05:00

My sadness was complete today as I heard, by chance, Tchaikovsky's Sixth Symphony while driving home from a Peru Board meeting. The "Pathétique" symphony is filled with tones of pathos—compassion. It was compassion that I felt for our sister Marlit—St. Monica's liaison—today as I learned of the death of her grandmother who raised her. Marlit was keeping her grandmother company while sleeping with

St. Monica Mission Team getting ready

2008-05-31T16:08:00.002-05:00

The team has less than two weeks to go before leaving on our trip. We now have all of our airline tickets. Hopefully all T-shirts, Bible, and crucifixes will be distributed this weekend.One first-timer told me that she does not think she is worthy to go. I assured her that she is.

Delivery of Boxes to La Piedra

2008-05-31T15:58:00.003-05:00

Medical missionaries on a St. John the Baptist trip delivered boxes to several St. Monica sponsored families in the village of La Piedra.From the photo it is hard to tell who is happier, the family receiving the gifts or the missionaries giving them.

Delivering Clothes

2008-05-29T10:18:00.003-05:00

On Wednesday, the eye surgeries were cut back to 13 giving the medical team time to deliver food to the village of La Piedra where St. Monica has 24 sponsored families.Meanwhile, the non-medical part of the team delivered clothes from a Oklahoma to a village. Clothes are spread out on a tarp in the village chapel. Then about ten women at a time are let into the chapel and are given several

Eye Mission Continues Work

2008-05-28T09:03:00.004-05:00

The medical missionaries performed 17 cataract surgeries Tuesday on patients from 9 to 90. St. Monica parishioner Gayle Stanfill is a nurse who helps with the surgeries. There are 5 MDs, 6 RNs, and 2 scrub techs who are from Oklahoma, Arkansas, South Carolina, and Colorado.Her husband and son, John and Michael, helped build a house with non-medical staff. There is always something for everyone to

Fr. Joe's 50th Birthday Blast

2008-05-28T08:56:00.002-05:00

Fr. Joe Uhen's 50th birthday was celebrated by many on May 19. Many photos of his family, a party, clergy, and orphans can be see at the parish web site.Included here is my favorite celebration photo with his parishioners who love him so much.

MIssion Trip Season to Piura Begins

2008-05-27T10:11:00.003-05:00

St. Monica parishioners John, Gayle, and Michael Stanfill joined the 29-member Medical Mission Team doing eye and tonsil surgeries. Also from our parish (I think) are Ed and Shirley Glinski who recently moved to Edmond from OKC.Part of the team arrived in Piura at about the same time as their medical supplies that were on the ocean-going container shipped in February from Edmond. Family-to-Family

Another Trip to Piura

2008-05-14T23:22:00.003-05:00

I will lead 13 other parishioners from St. Monica to Piura in June. We will leave June 13 and return on the 22nd. Some or the missionaries are going for the first time while others of will be returning for more grace from our Peruvian brothers and sisters. We are basically ready to leave and and are now just counting the days.

Video Used at Santisimo Sacramento Staff Retreat

2008-03-06T22:40:00.004-06:00

Fr. Joe used this video at the March 5 staff retreat and he said that it was a very emotional moment for 30 staff members in the retreat.

Family needs to be sponsored

2008-02-21T12:30:00.002-06:00

The Alberto and Hortelia Perez family needs you to sponsor them by providing $30 per month to help with their food needs. The parents are about 30 and have four children from 2 to 11 years old. Hortelia is four months pregnant. They do not have electricity and cook with charcoal. Alberto rents a motorcycle and earns about $2 per day. Contact Deacon Lee for more details.

Back home

2008-02-16T15:08:00.003-06:00

The four of us returned home safely after a half-day delay in Lima due to an exploding volcano just north of Peru in Ecuador. I was very much missed by my wife and granddaughter who is nearing 3 years old. She told me, "Papa. don't ever do that again." I swallowed very hard when she said that.There have been some very rainy nights in Piura since returning and I have great compassion for the many

Day 30: Rehab, orphanage, and out of here

2008-02-07T13:41:00.001-06:00

This morning we had a early breakfast as a treat of the parish. We went to a nice hotel and I actually had scrambled eggs.After a short interlude with my family, it was off to the drug rehab, Vida Nueva, where I did a liturgy of the word service. I preached on the day’s scripture reading where Jesus had to suffer and explained that this is part of the human condition. I left them in group

Day 29: Communion to home bound, food packages, and last family

2008-02-06T21:49:00.002-06:00

This morning I took Communion to the same people in Palo Parado and San Jacinto villages. They seemed glad to see me again. I am still astounded by the time warp between here and where I live. Photos and words cannot do justice. You have to come and see yourself.In the afternoon we took February food packages to St. Monica families. We not have the original $25 packet that contains less than the

Day 28: More families and Mardi Gras

2008-02-06T07:19:00.001-06:00

We finished visiting all families except for one we hope to get on Wednesday. Again, we saw families with almost nothing and some better off, but still very materially poor.We leave Thursday evening and the day is already filling up. The guys at the rehab want to see me once more so I had to prepare a homily to go with the liturgy of the word. I could adlib in English, but not in

Day 27: Orphanage and visiting more families

2008-02-05T07:25:00.000-06:00

This morning Dean, my goddaughter, and I paid our last visit to the orphanage before heading home Thursday evening. We had liturgy of the word using next Sunday’s gospel reading about Jesus being tempted three times. I asked lots of questions and they again missed the one question I have been working on for a month: “Are you in the gospel?” They do know how to find themselves in the gospel and

Day 26: Sunday, a day of rest

2008-02-04T08:19:00.002-06:00

Other than serving as deacon at two Masses, this was truly a day of rest.After evening Mass, I took my Peruvian family out to eat. We swung by my apartment to show them where I live. The first comment when entering the apartment was “luz!” They just got electricity in their village last year and were surprised that every room had “light.”In the kitchen and bathroom there was “agua!” Their village

Day 25: House blessings and baptisms

2008-02-02T20:14:00.000-06:00

I saw “house blessings” on my agenda this morning and thought, this is going to be a cinch. Surprise!We drove to the large, relatively new village of Los Polvorines. It is divided into three sectors. We drove past Sector 1 and stopped in Sector 2. It was there that we began walking the desert paths between rows of homes for three hours. Was it hot! Sector 2 contains St. Patrick’s Chapel that

The very poor

2008-02-02T17:10:00.000-06:00

All families sponsored through Santísimo Sacramento Parish in Piura are poor. They were especially selected from others in their village because of their unique situations. Some of these families are exceptionally poor, many being from the remote, rural village of La Piedra. Some of these unique families are living in a 19th century environment.Since St. Monica sponsors are selected randomly, why

St. Monica Mission Team has an opening

2008-02-02T07:42:00.001-06:00

About 20 people are going to Piura from June 13 to 22. A slot just opened at group rates and costs about $1700 round trip from OKC. If you are not in the OKC area, you can join us in Lima. You need not be a parishioner to join. Contact Deacon Lee at DeaconLee@cox.net for information.

Day 24: Taking Communion to the infirm and visiting families

2008-02-02T07:39:00.000-06:00

First, a little background: Santísimo Sacramento Parish lies within the city of Piura, about one mile north of the southern city limit where the villages begin. Today Marlit and I walked the streets near the parish taking Communion to those who can no longer get to church. It took us about three hours to visit 16 people. The main topic of conversation was how hot is has been. Very nice homes are

Day 23: Visiting more families and distributing clothes

2008-02-01T13:51:00.000-06:00

Suddenly things got very busy and there was little time to write or check e-mail.In the morning we visited more families. The first was REALLY poor with a large family having little to sleep on. Some of you will soon get a write up on your family with photos. We only have 19 more to visit and I think we can get them all in.For lunch, Dean and I took Malit and Yani to their favorite restaurant.

Day 22: Communion to the homebound and routine business

2008-01-30T20:00:00.000-06:00

This morning Dean and I brought communion to 16 people in La Legua and the Hospice Center. We experienced all kinds of infirmities, especially the blind or near blind. The sun shines daily in the Piuran desert and many people develop cataracts because they do not wear sunglasses, which are something you do not buy when you are hungry.I had the afternoon “off,” but not free. I prepared to preach

Day 21: Visiting more sponsored families

2008-01-30T06:55:00.000-06:00

Another enjoyment while walking from my apartment to the church was two parish security guards greeting me while they were walking to work. They were at the retreat that I gave at the drug rehab.We visited ten more families today that are sponsored through St. Monica Parish in Edmond. We have quite a team. Dean and I are from St. Monica. Our driver, José gets us to the houses in the desert when

2008-01-29T07:37:00.000-06:00

Day 20: Next to last visit to orphanage, more families, and a fiesta!Today was Monday morning at the orphanage with my goddaughter and Dean Herzog. After doing liturgy of the word for them, they got their exam and did quite well on it. The oral group exam started out with “What is my name?” and built up to the first Bible question of “What is the Bible?” They needed a little coaxing on “Why are

Day 19: Fun, Sunday Masses, and Stewardship Fair

2008-01-28T08:17:00.000-06:00

I’ve been feeling a little under the weather, but that all changed early this morning when three women a block from church started yelling “Hola, Diácono Lee, cómo está?” They gave me more Spanish than my brain could handle. I recognized one as the lady who runs the Hospice Center where I take Communion every week.Then I experienced the Stewardship Fair in action after Mass let out. I was amazed

What is in a monthly food package?

2008-01-27T08:36:00.000-06:00

Sponsored families get a monthly package of food. This is the basis of the Family-to-Family program. The photo shows that list of food in the assembly area where the food packages are put together.Here is the translation of the January list:Arros, rice, 55 poundsLeches, 10 small cans of milkAvenas, oats, 2 bagsAciete, cooking oil, 1 bottleFideos, noodles, 2 bagsAtunes, tuna, 2 cansGelatina,

Day 18: Chapel, baptism, wedding

2008-01-26T20:04:00.000-06:00

This morning I helped Fr. Uhen celebrate the first Mass in the St. Monica Chapel. I extended to them the greeting from St. Monica Parish and they send their greeting and thanks back to you. I told them that we are all on large Catholic Church extending all the way from Los Polverines village to Edmond, Oklahoma. I said that the whole parish has helped with the building of the chapel and its new

Day 17: More missionaries and adventure at St. Monica Chapel

2008-01-26T06:46:00.000-06:00

I woke up early this morning to a steady rain, which is a rarity in Piura. Having no rain gear I did not know how I would get to the parish without getting soaked by 5:45 a.m. to pick up Dean Herzog from Saint Monica Parish in Edmond. It stopped raining just long enough so that I could make a dash. After picking up Dean we returned to the airport to meet Becky Coyle and Stephanie Simpson at 7:20

Day 16: More visits to St. Monica families

2008-01-25T13:51:00.000-06:00

See more photos via the link in the sidebar.We visited more families today in both the morning and afternoon. This is not easy because the temperature soon gets to about 90 with 60% humidity. My jeans feel like they’ll fall off.After lunch Marlit got all the photos sorted and emailed them to me; she’s downstairs and I’m upstairs. I put the photos together with a letter to the St. Monica sponsors

Day 15: Another retreat

2008-01-23T20:01:00.000-06:00

Today I lead a retreat for about 40 staff members of the parish. It went super well because I had practiced on the village social workers the weekend before. The staff members really needed the retreat because it was for people who spend a large amount of their time taking care of others. They appreciated the time away from work and being able to share their inner feelings with one another in

Day 14: Clothes, more family visits, and a surprise

2008-01-22T19:53:00.000-06:00

This morning we loaded up the van with big bags of clothing shipped here in the ocean-going container. As we would enter a village, the driver would begin laying on the horn while Freddy yelled out the door, “Ropa, ropa.” and blew a police whistle. That means clothing. Houses started empting out and old ladies could beat most of us in a 100-yard dash. There was already a line of people before we

Day 13: Orphanage and Family Visits

2008-01-22T06:57:00.000-06:00

There was nothing unlucky about this day; they all are good here.We went to the orphanage for Monday morning liturgy of the word and Bible study. I had to kiss all the girls, but I think you already know that somebody has to do that. I vested for the liturgy and wondered what we’d do about music. One girl plays a deep drum and the others sing like angels all part of the liturgy. It was

Day 12: Rest and grocery shopping

2008-01-20T20:41:00.000-06:00

Today I had to be nowhere. I did manage to pickup a new WiFi network in my neighborhood so I could catch up on lots of computer things without going to church and using their WiFi network. They have two videos cameras so you may be able to pick me up around 5:30 to 7 p.m., Central time, at http://www.santisimo.org/.In watching the people walk down the street past my apartment I noticed some

What does “poor” look like in the eyes of the First World?

2008-01-19T20:18:00.000-06:00

• It’s living in a 400-square-foot, bamboo house with one bedroom, with two to three people in a bed, with parents and children next to one another, and perhaps a leaky roof.• It’s having a throbbing tooth ache and waiting for the missionary dentists to show up next year.• It’s sleeping on a bed with flies crawling all over you.• It’s having mosquitoes feast on your children at night because you

Day 11: Retreat for 60 women ministers from villages

2008-01-19T20:10:00.005-06:00

I gave a morning retreat at San Jacinto for 60 women who are village social workers. They volunteer for Santisimo Sacramento Parish. There was my plan for the retreat versus what actually happened. I teach, but have a hard time remembering, that there are God’s plans, the plans of others, and then my plans. What unfolded was my inept Spanish versus the women’s acceptance of the ideas I presented

Day 10: Curing the sick & driving out evil spirits

2008-01-18T20:07:00.000-06:00

The most important thing I learned in studying to be a deacon is “be flexible.” This morning my goddaughter and I were already to visit more St. Monica families. That immediately changed to taking Communion to 25 people in San Jacinto. Five minutes later I was ready to go.Was it hot today! One lady I visited is 99 years old. I had to yell the prayers of Communion at her. Many of the people were

Day 9: Retreat for those afflicted by drugs

2008-01-18T07:03:00.000-06:00

A wonderful beginning and ending also framed this day. In the morning I was walking form my apartment to church and a lady stopped and said, “Buenos días, Diácono Lee.”Just before 7 o’clock evening Mass, I ran into a good friend, Caridad, whose house I had helped build a few years ago. She invited me to her house for a meal. She was ecstatic to learn that her padrino, Mark Mathison, is coming to

Day 8: Communion to Homebound & Planning

2008-01-16T19:37:00.000-06:00

This morning I brought Communions to 15 people in places I had never been before. One was way out in the “boon docks.” It is amazing how the church goes to the people when they can no longer go to the church. There are three people that made an impact on me. One was an old man who cried so hard afterwards. His eyes were clouded with cataracts, but he knew something special had happened.There was

Day 7: More Visits and Planning

2008-01-15T19:50:00.000-06:00

This completes my first week of four. Time has flown and Fr. Joe wants to know if I can stay longer. I didn’t say no, but told him that “my boss” at home expects me back.This morning we continued delivering food to St. Monica families and accessing their situation. The first stop was to a house 10 by 15 feet in size. The husband left with no support. The son has missed two years from school

Day 6—Contrasts

2008-01-14T19:49:00.000-06:00

This morning I went to the Orphanage to give a two-hour liturgy of the word / breaking open the word. We were too early so I had to give English lessions to the girls and then dance to music from a boom box. What I had planned got condensed to 15 minutes and it did not go very well from my standpoint, although the girls seemed to like it. The highlight was kissing all the girls goodbye. I am

Day 5

2008-01-14T06:55:00.000-06:00

I served as deacon at the beautiful church in La Legua, which I had seen many times, but had never entered. The church was packed and Mass was beautiful. Father picked up young children and walked around the church while preaching on baptism. I’ve learned that each church has a lectionary with a different translation, so I can’t get too prepared for proclaiming the gospel.On the way back to

Day 4: Reflection on Mass

2008-01-13T09:01:00.000-06:00

In processing what had happened to me during Day 4, I thought of when I was distributing Communion at Mass. About 15 girls from the orphanage received Communion from me and I was getting very choked up. Our mission group last year visited the orphanage twice. There are about 100 teenage girls there who are the face of Christ to visitors. They caused many of us to loose sleep the nights after we