Peruvian Visit 4

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 evening.

Feeding these children for a YEAR costs about $1400. In La Piedra, one man feeds the children, while in Los Polvorines the parishioners of St. Monica feed the children.

After Mass at the fiesta, a man asked me what limits us from feeding children in more villages. I told him that nothing does. So, in talking to Ginet, she is going to arrange for him to feed the children breakfast in another village.

The photo shows children getting breakfast in La Piedra.

Peruvian Visit 3

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 we needed were people to attend. This was a concern because it was Labor Day weekend, the first OU game of the football season, and the first auction held at the parish.

Enough people turned out so that everyone had lots of fun. And what  a bunch of bidders at the auction! My wife entered several bids for items in the silent auction and got outbid on everyone of them. A significant amount of money was raised to help the poor in Piura -- our ultimate goal.

Thanks to all who helped set up the auction, those who worked it, and to the marvelous bidders! God is good!

Peruvian Visit 2

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 his story is here. Ginet shared a powerful story of transitioning from a teacher who had never been in a poor house in Piura to managing 1,300 sponsored families. There were some wet eyes; well at least my two. Freddy told of how he got to work at SS by Fr. Joe gradually testing his abilities. Freddy is the "ropa hombre." You have to go to Piura to understand what this means.

We then showed the video of the first St. Monica-sponsored  mission trip in June. It brought back great memories, again with teary eyes.

We finished with powerful witness talks from missionaries Alice Robin, Mark Mathison, and Christopher Barry. Many asked about next year's mission trip, wanting to capture some of what they heard.

The next mission trip is scheduled from June 5 to 14, 2009.

The photos is of Christopher and Mark preparing to bring the donated crucifix into the St. Monica Chapel in the village of Los Polvorines.

Peruvian Visit 1

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. I gave them to Ginet and Freddy before dinner and they both got tears in their eyes and looked somewhat lonesome for a minute. Freddy exaggerated for this photo.

Peruvians on Way to Oklahoma

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 be at all the Masses on the indicated weekends.

August 30 Fiesta

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 visitors. We will dance to music provided by D.J. Robert O'Connor from St. Monica.

There will be an optional live and silent auction. As of August 1 we have 40 donations to auction off.

The Subcommittee has big plans. Now we need YOU to be successful! Hope you can make it.

Dr. Jim from St. Monica

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?

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 experience later in the evening, we all felt the effect of his care. In children, C.M. is generally a fairly benign condition in which it expresses itself with spots all over the body that cause itching, but it can be scary for a mother if one doesn't know its origins and potential long-term effects. As Dr. Boothe reassured the mother the condition would more than likely run itself out and go away on its own. Though she had been to numerous doctors, no one had ever told her that her child would be able to get better. Upon receiving that news, the mother was so overwhelmed with happiness, she broke down into tears. This moment highlighted our presence here not just in treating the physical symptom, but we are also here to provide mental and spiritual support."

Fiesta at St. Monica Parish

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 (party) in the Parish Hall. You will get a chance to meet of Peruvian visitors, eat, dance, and participate in an auction.

We are in the planning stage, so watch for more details.

Connecting with Church

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 families not only food for their journey but also a closer relationship with our God.

Epilogue 3 to St. Monica Mission Trip

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 not gone to Communion.

Although at first this might seem as bad news, in reflection it is really good news because the villagers now have a place in their village where they can worship and draw closer in their relationship with God. An they do this they will get married in the Church and have their children baptized. We have given them a much higher opportunity to do this.

We have seen this happen in the village of La Piedra and it will happen also in the village of Los Polvorines.

Good News

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 a positive difference in the lives of their sponsored Peruvian families!

Medical Clinic Visits St. Monica Chapel

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 we are leaving money for so he can be referred. Hope to see him again in July."

Feeding Children Breakfast

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

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

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 cries most of the time when I visit him.

Several photos I recently received showed two youth attending to his personal needs such as a haircut, shave (see photo), finger nails, etc. One photo amazed me: he was smiling! Yea for youth!

Epilogue 2 to St. Monica Mission Trip: New Name

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 of Piura does not have deacons.

Here are the other names:
- Lee: used all of my life
- Honey: by my wife
- Doctor: when I was a chemist
- Dad: my favorite until very recently
- Padrino: by my family in Peru and especially by their children because I am their godfather
- Papa: current favorite by my grandchildren

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

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 there. St. Monica sponsors 24 families. Santisimo lends La Piedra a cathechist to help people prepare for sacraments.

So, during his homily, Fr. Joe asked, “Who will come?” I think he was talking to everyone in the room, parishioners and missionaries. I sure heard the call and have been haunted by it since.

When I got home Sunday, at Mass I was more disturbed when I heard the song “Hear I Am, Lord.” Its refrain being, “Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people (gente) in my heart.”

So, I ask you readers: Who will come?

We're Back

The St. Monica mission team made it back home Sunday afternoon, very tired, but very happy.

Thanks for your prayers!

Saturday and Leaving Piura

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 deacons). After the homily I blessed both the crucifix and picture. We had a very hard time leaving the chapel: people wanted us to remain. Many thanks were extended to the parishioners of St. Monica parish.

On the way home we stopped at the Hospice Center and greeted the patients, whom have many medical needs. Many good ideas were generated from the visit as many different eyes saw different needs.

We then left to the airport with many teary eyes as we left behind friends and family for a while. I'm writing this in the Lima airport as we wait for our flight.

Photo of team presenting crucifix and painting to chapel.

Friday Afternoon in Piura

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

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, people with palm branches through them at our feet like on Palm Sunday. It was a very emotional experience. The Mass was wonderful with beautiful music. I had tears in my eyes and could hardly proclaim the gospel.

We then had a fiesta with school dancers followed by dancing ourselves with various people. I did the hat dance with the school principal. The village loves parishioners from St. Monica.

My Wednesday Homily

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 Time

This 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 nature and always worth much more to me that what I give.

In today’s gospel, Jesus is saying that when we act holy we are not supposed to impress other people and make ourselves look better in their eyes. This is the wrong reason for acting holy. We are supposed to give alms, pray, and fast to enhance our love of God. These three actions are supposed to purify ourselves and bring us another step closer to God.

When I read today’s gospel selection, certain words were very meaningful for me. They reminded me of something I learned from you when I was here in January for a month. The part of today’s gospel reading that came alive for me is: “But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing.”

When I was a boy, our family had just enough money to buy the necessities of life. There was very little money left over for those extra things that people desire. So, as I began to raise my own family, I always watched our money very closely. I always gave a certain percentage of our money to others who had less. As I grew older and saved more money, I began to give more and more of it away, but always is a calculated way.

My wife and I have been padrinos of a family in the pueblo of Chavín de Huántar for eight years. We have grown to be one family. They have graced me by allowing me to baptize their children. My Peruvian family has taught me to help them in a way that my left hand does not always know what my right hand is doing. My left hand now gives alms with less of a connection to my right hand that keeps track of our alms. My two hands are still connected, but much less than in the past. I continue to progress in the direction that Jesus teaches. I have seen the same thing happening this week to the other missionaries with me.

Mother Theresa tells the following story. “The mother of a starving family was given a small dish of rice. That was nice, but the real act of neighborly love happened next. Before anyone ate a grain, the mother disappeared out the door. She came back quickly with half a dish of rice and everyone ate hungrily. When asked why she gave away the rice when her children were so hungry, she answered that they could not enjoy the food knowing that their neighbor had nothing.”

An abundance of possessions can easily lead us to forget that God is the source of all good. We must be careful not to trust ourselves and our wealth rather than the almighty. When we focus on ourselves, we forget not only God but also the people he created. In our self-absorption, we are fooled by the pleasure of possessing.

What happens to us when we are giving alms? When are we going to let go of unnecessary things in our lives? What are our attachments? Are we aware of those who are in need and of those who need our love and our care?

Almsgiving is the practice of giving to others more needy than us, especially at the cost of some sacrifice on our part. Such generosity gets the focus away from ourselves and back on Jesus, especially Jesus in our brothers and sisters.

You are my brothers and sisters. Thank you for helping me to better live the gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ!

Thursday in Piura

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 off goats to middlemen who resell them. Then there was the bargaining that when on for a price.

While delivering the goats I learned about the many sponsored families who live as squatters on public land. Since everyone else also thinks that the land is public, dump trucks full of broken bricks are dumped in the "front yard" of these families (photo).

In the afternoon. one of our St. Monica families paid to take 100 orphans, the staff, and other missionaries to a movie in a very nice movie theater. Wow, were these teen girls excited!

While taking Communion to the Hospice Center yesterday, I noticed that the first resident who I had visited often on other trips was no longer there. She died of breast cancer in March and I was very down for a while. Please pray for sweet Louisa.

Hasta luego!

Wednesday in Piura

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 in doing."

 

This evening some missionaries began talking about going home on Saturday and how bitter sweet it will be. We want to see our families at home, but are leaving so much behind.

The photo is of missionaries dancing with the parishioners of St. Monica Chapel during the fiesta.

More exciting events are planned for the final three days.

Chao

Tuesday

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 parish. I will bless the new crucifix and painting of St. Monica after the homily.

The afternoon was spent with out families at a picnic. Then we took them either to a movie of shopping for clothes. I did the later.

We all have several children each that we would like to bring back with us. The children here are absolutely beautiful. Hasta mañana.

Monday, Our First Work Day

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 Communion to the homebound. I have visited the same people before, but something was very holy about our visits today. I wish I could capture the situation.

In the afternoon, Mark, Robert, and I delivered furniture to the homes of Deacon Jerry and Carol Ann Rakosky and of Tina Konzak. It was great to do this for sponsors that we know.

This evening was the mother of all fiestas. St. Monica Chapel was build by St. Monica parish and we daily feed the children of the surrounding village. The fiesta was great with all the dancing put on by the village plus their dancing with us. St. Monica parishioner have to visit Piura to experience their love of us. The Peruvians are a special beautiful people of God. Photos later.

My Goddaughter

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

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 to an art colony in Catacaos for shopping, and then to an orphanage with 100 teenage girls who hung on to us, danced with us, and served us cake for Father's Day. A visit there puts the rest of the world into perspective. You got to be there because words cannot describe it.

We finished the day with one more standing-room-only Mass back at the parish. There was a spiritual concert afterwards in the auditorium. Most of us got to spend time with our sponsored families before and after Mass. My goddaughter made me a Father Day card.

The photo is of the parishioners at San Jacinto blessing the missionaries during Mass.

Tomorrow we go to work. More about that later. Hasta mañana.

St. Monica Mission Team in Piura

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 (other photo). At lunch we celebrated Father's Day with the Peruvian staff who are fathers.

In the afternoon each missionary visited their family in their homes. Then it was back to the parish for Mass followed by dinner. Deacon Lee did baptisms.

Tomorrow, Sunday, we have a couple Masses planned, a tour of some villages, and then of the orphanage. 

Buenos noches.

Leaving Tomorrow for Piura

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 of that village. Here is a photo of the two youth groups dancing at a fiesta.

The next post will be from Piura. Hasta luego.

A Small World Story about Edmond and Peru

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 stopped in Guatemala, El Salvador, and now Peru. Our continuous job has been to send doctors, nurses, corpsmen, and veterinarians ashore to offer medical and dental treatment, to fix medical equipment, to teach medical skills, and to test and purify water sources. On most days, we see about 1000 patients in a variety of sites. The sites have previously been chosen because of their isolation and poverty. We also send Seabees ashore who have built and fixed clinics, schools, and mission churches. We send Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Soldiers ashore to clean, paint, and fix the same kinds of buildings.

We are presently in Peru, serving in the Diocese of Huacho. Today, I met the Bishop.

I am writing to you because I once served at St. John’s and I see that your parish has a mission in Peru. Fr. Joe Uhen was one of my students at Bishop McGuinness High School in the early 1970s.

I just had to write to your parish and tell you of our connection over the miles. Please give my regard to your pastor, Fr. John.

I send my best.

Fr. Phil
Chaps.

Mission Team Receives Blessing

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 Hunt, Suzy Johnson, Haily Jones, Robin Justice, Mark Mathison, Helen and Robert O'Connor, Alice Robin, Karen and Wade Phillips, and Debbie and Steve Yandell.

Photos are of the front and back of the T-shirts. Thanks to St. John the Baptist for the design!

Cost of Living in Peru

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 and as I write this it is $545. Imagine if the cost of food is going up at this rate!

The house we are replacing can look like the house on the right. I have been in some that are 10x10 feet. While in Piura we will build some new houses.

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 rest in peace and may Marlit and her family also find comfort.

The photo is of Rufina and Marlit.

Sadness in the Village of San Jacinto

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 her at night when she had a stroke or aneurysm. The grandmother, Rufina, was taken to a hospital that would not admit her because she did not have enough money; she died five hours later. This is a reminder of why so many of us in the U.S. help our brothers and sisters in the villages near Piura, Peru.

The funeral Mass is June 3 at 2 p.m. Please pray for Marlit, her "abuela," and the rest of the family.

Marlit, la bendicion de Dios todopoderoso, Padre, Hijo y Espíritu Santo, descienda sobre usted.

St. Monica Mission Team getting ready

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

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

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 minutes to select seven pieces of clothes.

The photo is of a child resting in the pile of clothes.

Eye Mission Continues Work

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 do no matter what their skills.

The photo is of Gayle and John cooling their heels in a restaurant after a long day.

Fr. Joe's 50th Birthday Blast

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

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 boxes on the container are being delivered to sponsored Peruvian families.

The St. Monica Parish Mission Trip is nearly ready for their trip that begins on June 13. Airline tickets are being finalized, T-shirts, Bibles, and crucifixes are being distributed, and a team blessing is scheduled for the 5:30 Mass on June 7 at St. Monica.

Photo is Michael Stanfill being welcomed before Mass at San Jacinto.

Another Trip to Piura

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

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

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

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 families I visited who had no roof, a partial roof, or an entire but leaky roof.

I have had time to reflect on the Santa Monica Chapel that our Edmond parish built and continues to support. The link summarizes the ongoing project.

Much remains to be done, yet we already have accomplished so much.

Photo of chapel.

Day 30: Rehab, orphanage, and out of here

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 discussions to go to the orphanage.

We met Fr. Joe at the orphanage where I helped at Mass for the orphans. I hope my lips are okay after all the kisses. We toured their facility, had cake and a drink and were then off to lunch.

Again, the staff treated us to a nice lunch. We are now packing our suitcases for the long trip home.

What a month! Would I do it again? You bet! But, my wife will have her input.

Peace!

Photo: a kitchen in a village

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

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 new $30 packet. The dollar buys much less here in Peru than six months ago.

We visited the last St. Monica sponsored family. A single mom and two children are living in a 10 x 10 foot house – a bedroom with one bed for the 25-year-old mom and her two children. The dad died.

The one Ash Wednesday Mass here in the parish was packed, with most pews filled an hour before Mass began. After Mass we discussed how someone who only has one meal a day fasts.

There may not be a Day 30 unless I write it on the plane.

Photo: taking a break with my goddaughter, Mileny, during food distribution

Day 28: More families and Mardi Gras

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 Spanish.

Immediately after the rehab Fr. Joe and I are going to the orphanage for a Mass for the girls.

Last night was Mardi Gras for the staff. The meal was great and the fun was even better. The staff here is great and supporting and they do have fun.

I was late for the party because I had to help with marriage counseling with a family I know. Most of the Spanish flew by me, but I did get to say some things that I thought would help. Some new photos are available via the sidebar link.

Photo: a painting on the wall of the “narthex” by a famous local painter who died 18 months ago, but who trained others who use his technique.

Day 27: Orphanage and visiting more families

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 had many good answers of how to avoid temptation.

We were again treated to a good piece of cake. Dean and I relaxed while the girls played board games. Of course, we had to kiss our way in and back out. Come to Piura and test it out—I guarantee you’ll like it!

Fr. Uhen had lunch with us and tried to capture what was so successful about our trips so he can put it to use for future missionaries.

In the afternoon we visited five of the last eleven families sponsored through St. Monica parish. If you haven’t heard from us yet, you soon will. Again, we saw the good and the bad in terms of family needs. See my earlier post if you are challenged by what your Peruvian family needs.

Photo: inside of St. Monica Chapel – some needs are obvious

Day 26: Sunday, a day of rest

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 still does not have “water.” They wanted to have a glass of water from the tap. Everyone in the family had had an afternoon siesta, except the mom who had to wash clothes.

Life in the villages is hard.

Photo: taking communion to the homebound in the parish neighborhood

Day 25: House blessings and baptisms

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 Deacon Dennis Frazier from Oklahoma City helped work on last year.

Then we walked further south to Sector 3 where St. Monica Chapel serves the people. A few friends from this area welcomed Marlit and me. A little six-year-old girl held my hand all the way in case I got lost. Although this was a hot day it was exhilarating to see the smiles when people got their homes blessed.

Returning to the parish for lunch, Fr. Uhen was talking to what looked like another priest. He hugged me and said, “This must be the holy deacon.” He is the bishop of a near-by diocese. Originally he was from Chicago. We talked about the need of deacons in Peru.

I did five baptisms before Mass this evening. Some families give mementoes with the child’s name. I don’t think I can bring them all home.

Photo: Walking streets near St. Monica Chapel doing house blessings

The very poor

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 might you be a sponsor of a unique family?

Perhaps it is because of your compassion for another. Maybe it is because God has blessed you and now it is your turn to pass it on. Perhaps God blessed you with being a team builder; some families support a Peru family as a group of family members. Maybe God is calling you to “come see” in Piura, because words cannot describe the actual situation.

St. Monica Mission Team has an opening

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

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 near the parish and some very poor ones that are imbedded. A couple people spoke English, several want me to return, and quite a few said “mi casa es su casa.” The Piurans are so welcoming to us “foreigners” who do not feel foreign.

We had lunch with the elderly at the Elderly Center and were welcomed with a bang. We passed out gifts from the TimeOut community at St. John the Baptist who weekly prays for their brothers and sisters in La Legua village. I met almost-blind “Old Man Guadalupe” whose house we build a few years ago.

Late in the afternoon we visited the remaining seven families in La Piedra. I am working on a reflection of why 24 families from St. Monica were randomly picked to help these Peruvian families who are so poor because of the remoteness of their location. God is providing an opportunity to us.

Photo: Rosary gifts at Elderly Center given by TimeOut of St. John the Baptist

Day 23: Visiting more families and distributing clothes

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. Dean and I had ceviche (!) and the chichas had Milanese chicken. It was a treat for all of us.

In the afternoon, we drove to the most remote village, La Piedra, and delivered clothes. About 180 women showed up and we did not have time for all of the to select clothing. As we drove around the village announcing our visit, donkey-pulled carts raced home to tell the women of our presence. I recognized some of the ladies since St. Monica has 24 sponsored families in La Piedra (The Rock). Come on mission and find out why that part of the area is called “the rock.”

My family and I made our last rip to the supermarket. I don’t think that the mom has yet caught on, but her 9-year-old daughter sure has.

Photo: Searching for clothes

More photos via links in sidebar.

Day 22: Communion to the homebound and routine business

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 at the evening Mass and to put all St. Monica donations for January together in a report for February food and gifts in Piura.

The end is in sight since we leave the day after Ash Wednesday. It is such a biter-sweet time and we leave people we love and return to people we love.

Photo: 99-year-old woman receiving Communion

Day 21: Visiting more sponsored families

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 there seem to be no roads at times. Marlit comes because she sees all the families weekly and knows where their homes are located. Jani also joins us because she is the best at both English and Spanish. She lived with her sponsors for a year in Wisconsin.

We pray before beginning our journey to the home. Once there we greet (hug and kiss) all family members and do some small talk. We then tour their home and look for needs that jump out at us. We then ask the family their opinion of their greatest needs. These families are the poorest of the poor in their own villages. While this is going on, Marlit takes photos. Then we take a couple more “formal” photos of the family to sent to the sponsors from St. Monica.

We end our visit with me doing a house blessing and then we re-kiss and re-hug as we leave. Most visits are very enjoyable. Yesterday I visited the family of my daughter, Andrea, who I have gotten to know over the last couple years. It was a very emotional visit for me because this beautiful young family had no roof on their house, no table and chairs, …. I am still dealing with my grief.

Photo: Cooking with charcoal or sticks

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 the gospels important” and “For whom are the gospels written?” They did real well on the last question, which this all led up to: “Are you in the gospels?” The chicas ended with personally finding themselves in next Sunday’s reading and then sharing their finding in a small group. Listen next Sunday and see where you fit into the gospel.

We visited five families today and think we can visit everyone’s family before we leave. The last visit was to Dean’s family. It was quite an eye opening for Dean and for me again!

After evening Mass we drove out into the dark desert trying to find St. Monica Chapel for the fiesta. It is dark because the village has no electricity. A portable generator had been set up and we were treated to local dances for an hour. We had to participate in most of them and got some good aerobic exercise. Dean and I got lots of attention because we represented all of the St. Monica Church parishioners in Edmond who are making this possible. Come to Piura and you can be the next representative. A “treat” during the fiesta was a rain shower. It slowed no one.

On the way back to the parish, Dean said, “This was the best day; I got to go to the orphanage, visit my family, and dance at the fiesta!”

Photo:Fiesta at St. Monica Chapel