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 other sponsoring doing the same. We saw Panda in 3D. Many families had never been off the farm and were amazed at what they saw.
At evening Mass I thought I would have some time to myself when the orphan girls showed up and took both my hands. During Mass my family showed up and my goddaughter reclaimed my right hand. So many people loved me up to day that it is hard to express.
After 7 p.m. Mass we heard one of the early pastors of the parish preach. He was originally from the United States as were all pastors. He now lives in Lima. This is part of the yearlong celebration of the parish’s 50th anniversary.
Photo: really, this is the only one of the baptized who cried.
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 a house for the Tarman family tomorrow, some build a wall in a home, and others helped teach English in the new school.
This afternoon we will have a picnic with our sponsored families and then do something with the later. Until then…
The photo is of a new Chapel.
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 visit the 100 orphans who St. Monica supports. Each missionary had two girls in arm. The girls danced and then made us dance. I did my first Macarena. The girls presented us with very nice Father’s Day gifts. Early in the morning I read a card Stephanie had given me before leaving and Lisa gave me a two cards at 9 this evening. In between I got cards from my sponsored family. My goddaughter cried as she read her card to me.
We then had one more Mass at the main church followed by a Father’s Day dinner. I’m going to have to let out my pants before going home. Tomorrow we begin a real work week – not too hard as you will soon see.
Hasta mañana.
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 who is named after sponsors Bill and Linda McKinney. It was the third child I baptized in the Janet's and Marco’s family. I also participated in their wedding several years ago.
