Our youth formation programs our nearing vacation time, during December and January we will be switching gears and focusing more on special projects with the youth, retreats, and trips as well as facilitating numerous short term missions teams.
This past weekend was a great example of an atypical weekend. As most community members were nearing the end of the 90 days we are allowed to remain in the country on our visas (we must leave Honduras for at least three days every three months), many of us spent the weekend traveling.
Carol, Greg, Brad, Richard, Andy, and Erica traveled to Belize to visit and establish a relationship with the mission community of the Society of Our Lady of the Trinity or SOLT. Rachel and Tracy spent the weekend in Costa Rica. Also, Marylee was blessed to be able to travel home to spend some time with her parents. Those who remained in Honduras were no less busy, as Milton, Maynor and Andres traveled to visit Fr Balthazar in the aldeas and those in Comayagua were busy attending the first communions of many of our youth and preparing for the Medical Brigaide that began this monday.
Below are some excerpts from our weekends:
"Tracy and I went to Costa Rica to renew our visas. The bus ride was a grueling 20 hours! But the views of the ocean, volcanos, mountains, and flora were breathtaking. Tracy called it a "feast for the eyes" It was great to experience a new culture and see a new part of the world. The people were very friendly and generous. Whenever we got lost people would walk with us out of their way. Although it wasnt much of a change of pace being as it was a big city, it was nice to have a change of scene and a break from the stresses that sometimes exist in community. It was also a good chance to spend some time with my pal Tracy and have me some good laughs."
"Belize was beautiful with all of its culture and the mix of people. We were blessed to be able to see so much of the country in such a short time. We stayed for several days with the Society of Our Lady of the Trinity community there on the border of Belize and Guatemala. We were able to participate in their prayer life, share with them about their mission, and visit the school they run. They are beautiful examples of the goal to unify lay men and women with the religious to work together in mission. We were able to spend time with their priests, sisters and several mission families. We then began the long trip home which included Belize city, Dangriga, and Punta Gorda as we traveled our way down the coast, not to mention a Mass with some great Garifuna women and a missionary priest, dinner and breakfast on the beach, and a very interesting boat ride. It was an excellent chance to meet and share with other people with the same hearts for the poor as well as a chance to spend some quality time together exploring as a community."
Photos from Belize:
Greg leaves our community on Monday to return home to the states, he will be greatly missed and we are not looking forward to his absence but we are looking forward to his "Despedida" or going away party that we will be throwing!! Look for his reflection on his experiences here with the mission to be posted soon.
