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 package every month. This is a very large percentage of this farming family of nine's income of sometimes $4 per day. Soon we were able to have a parish nurse visit the family and arrange a visit to the doctor for Jesús. He was given special nutrition and soon began to improve. The family welcomed me to the parish this June, and the "after" photo is one year later — Jesús is wearing a red sweatshirt.

Many people say, and I know, that we find the face of Jesus in the poor. In this case Jesus was Jesús.

Mission Team Is Home

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 have to go to my room for a timeout in order to process what was happening.

I will leave you with a quote:

"You must come yourselves; you must give of yourselves" —Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI)

Your families are waiting for you!

Thursday and Friday

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 their arms and legs. I saw my old friend, Manuel, who was the first resident and whom I have visited for years. Others delivered food packages, gifts, or built a house for the Tarman family.

Thursday afternoon I did a liturgy of the Word service at St. Monica chapel preaching about who St. Monica was and why we should use her as a model. As always, we finished the day with evening Mass.

Friday morning my group went to La Piedra where our missionary team from last year donated money for the village to enlarge their church by 35%. The village leaders made presentations and invited me to speak. Not being prepared, my Spanish abruptly came to an end. Then we broke into community and danced, eventually ending again in high-energy aerobics. We ended with lots of hugs and kisses. St. Monica sponsors 25 families in La Piedra. Another group taught the orphan girls how to play soccer.

In the afternoon one group took a boat ride in the Pacific Ocean in the harbor of Paita. I helped Steve Yandell deliver ice cream to the orphan girls. The showed their approval my making us dance the Macarena. I need to rest soon.

This evening we are going to a Healing Mass in a village. Fr. Joe will celebrate Mass for a charismatic group. We are going because of Debbie Yandell’s brain tumor, Clara Burkhard’s gum cancer, and the illness of the husband of one of our missionaries.

We are sleeping well at night.

Two Days Left

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

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 4^th grade room of a teacher from Piura, who had near-perfect English. I met my goddaughter and the “daughter” of Bill and Linda McKinney – she ran up and hugged me for 5 minutes. New classrooms are being added for special-ed students. There is a need for more of everything: classrooms, computers, books, and people with special talents to help in the school. It is a perfect opportunity for educators in the US because the school year in Peru is from March to December. Photo: 4th grade English class

Another group went to the Hospice Center and helped people living there. The missionaries told stories that touched the soul.

Other groups bought food for the girls’ orphanage, delivered food packets and gifts from sponsors.

This afternoon Debbie and Steve Yandell took all 100 orphan girls to the movie along with most missionaries. I did not go so I could prepare to preach this evening. After Mass we will have a fiesta and celebrate!!!

Tuesday Afternoon

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 like herding cats. Things did not work out exactly like the adults planned, but the children were very happy. One special needs boy latched onto me like I was his Father. I got home thinking that I had received an overload of love and needed to be alone to process what was happening. About then, my family showed up for evening Mass.

A group went to the orphanage to help buy cloth for sewing. Another group competed the Harding house and Steve Yandell ran a chiropractic clinic.

God is Love (1 John). Love is in Peru. God is in Peru.

Photo: Alisson and Dan Weninger family.

Tuesday Morning

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 wall project had been done for the Petro’s family.

One group assembled food packages and delivered them to families.

The last group went to the Hospice Center and ministered to the sick like Jesus washed the feet of his disciples.

All of have larger and softer hearts this week. Individual sharing at the beginning of each day has been wonderful!

Photo: Home of Meridith Kuntsch's family.