Lauren's update!

Welcome to Flight #2012.  We are prepared to take off to Guayaquil, Ecuador.  Please make sure your Attitude and Blessings are secured and locked in an upright position.  Should we lose Altitude under pressure during the flight, reach up and pull down a Prayer.  Prayers will automatically be activated by Faith.  Once your Faith is activated you can assist other passengers.  There will be NO BAGGAGE allowed on this flight.  The Captain (God) has cleared us for takeoff.  Destination: GREATNESS.

Less than 10 weeks until Ecuador, and I can hardly wait!  While I’m a bit nervous about traveling so far without my family, I’m positive that I will have a great time and learn a lot with my new friends.  I am very excited to use my Spanish-speaking skills and to immerse myself in the Ecuadorian culture while helping the people at Damien House, and I know that I will come home as a changed person.  I can’t wait to hear the patient’s stories, to tell them mine, and to form new friendships.  Each time I think about visiting Damien House this summer I reflect and say a little prayer, asking God for guidance and strength to be a light for others.  I am so lucky to have the countless blessings I have, and I am really anxious to share them with the people of Ecuador.  I know that they will teach me so much during the week I’m there.

As school is beginning to wind down, our Ecuador preparations are speeding up!  We were all super excited to hear that plane tickets have officially been booked.   Our weekly meetings always have several surprises in store—whether it’s learning something about a new friend, a new prayer, how to pronounce a new Spanish word, or brainstorming fundraising ideas.  This past weekend, we held our first fundraiser—a jewelry sale and it was a huge success.  We raised over $400!

Carolyn and Lizzie speaking at the 7:30 Mass slot of Fellowship Sunday.

Our flyers and collection jar - thanks Ann Marie!

The posters in the church measure how far along we are to our goal :)

Casey speaking at the 9:00 Mass slot of Fellowship Sunday.

One upcoming event we have planned is a Chick-Fil-A night on Monday, May 7^th from 5-7pm; please consider coming out to support us!  Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our fundraising events so far; our goal is becoming more obtainable every day.  Please continue to keep all of us in your prayers as we prepare to embark for the journey of a lifetime. 

Ecuador Mission Trip 2012, start packing your bags…we’re just about cleared for takeoff.

Caroline's update!

With less than 150 days left on the countdown until Ecuador, the nerves and excitement are continuing to build! I have really enjoyed getting to know the group I will be traveling with this summer. All of us have been working hard setting up and brainstorming fundraiser ideas. We simply started by writing and sending out letter to family, peers, and neighbors. We also set up dates to sell jewelry, baked goods, and hand out m&m's after the weekend masses. I look forward to Tuesday nights with the other group members - it gives us a chance to learn and build together on the Lord's faith and the mission he has made for us. I am so grateful to be blessed with such an amazing experience and I honestly could not be more excited. My friend recently came back from a trip she took to Uganda and she was sharing amazing stories with me this morning; it made so much more excited for Ecuador! We are all looking forward to putting our Spanish to the test, as well. I am certain that we will spread God’s word and light to the people of Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Carolyn's update!

Less than 150 days until Ecuador!  Sometimes the days seem to last forever when I think of this statement.  I cannot wait until we head down there and work with the Damien House.  Almost everyday at school, I tell another friend that I am going to Ecuador over the summer.  I can't stop talking about it!  I am so excited to meet the people of the Damien House, experience the culture, and help where I am needed.  Although I am excited, I know we still have a lot to do before we can head down there. 

Our group has meetings once a week where we try to fit in learning, new ideas, and over excitement.  One part of the time is spent discussing fundraisers.  We have so many ideas and Mrs. Kathleen, Ms. Beth, and Mrs. Ann Marie are trying to fit them all into the schedules.  Our main fundraisers are Chick-fil-A night, bake sales, car washes, and Dunkin' Donuts.  Being able to sit in the meeting room and hear people throw out one idea after the next is intoxicating.  I love hearing about different fundraisers we can do, to not only raise money, but also awareness.  

Out of everything we have learned so far from our meeting, I think that raising awareness is the most important.  I, like most people I presume, thought Hansen's disease was like it was told in the bible; everyone had to steer clear because otherwise, you would catch it too.  What I have learned most is that, the way it is described in the bible, is not how it is today.  The people with Hansen's disease are just like us; regular, normal people.  Most people don't know that the only way to actually contract Hansen's disease from another person, is if you have three main, and kind of far stretched, stipulations.  Of course, you must have all three to receive Hansen's disease.  A big part of what I, and the rest of my group, is trying to do is bring about that awareness; the fact that these people with Hansen's disease are not outcasts, and they shouldn't be treated any differently. 

 I know that there is still a lot to do before the actual trip, but I can't wait!  It is going to be an amazing, life-changing opportunity and I am so appreciative to be a part of it!

-Carolyn

"Why do you want to go to Ecuador?"

Jane:

1. I love service. It inspires me and makes me happy. I am on a mission to make our world a better place – and I am sure Ecuador will help me do this.
2. I love to travel. South America, here we come! 
3. I love Spanish. I cannot wait to immerse myself in the Ecuadorian culture and put my Spanish skills to the test.
4. I love adventure. Life is too short not to take risks. (YOLO!) I want to be pushed outside of my comfort zone and do something awesome.
5.  I am inspired by the opportunity to be strengthened mentally and spiritually.

Carolyn:

I want to go to Ecuador because I am getting a chance to do 2 things I love; help people and see the world.  I have always enjoyed helping people, whether it be easy stuff like tutoring or, in this case, having the chance to go to Ecuador.  Also, I love traveling the world and visiting new places, so to be able to go to Ecuador, a place not many people go to, is an amazing opportunity.  I am extremely excited to meet the different people down there and to meet the people with Hansen's disease.  I think it will be interesting to see their views on not only life, but also on Hansen's disease.  Finally, I really like the fact that I am able to bring awareness about Hansen's disease, and show people that it isn't something that should be shunned.

Casey:

I am really excited to go to Ecuador because I have never been out of the country. I want to improve my spanish speaking skills, and I want to give back in any way I can by helping the less fortunate and tending to the Hansen's disease patients.

Caroline:

I feel that I am interested in going to Ecuador to mainly strengthen the relationship I have with the Lord. I am so excited to help the people of Damien House, serve Christ, and share His Word with the people we will encounter in Ecuador. I have also been working really hard, studying spanish for the past 3 years, and I want to see what it is really like to hold a conversation with a native speaker.

Lauren:

I want to go to Ecuador because I love helping people and traveling and this amazing opportunity is a perfect blend of the two.  I am excited to see how others live and I'm anxious to see how I can use the many blessings I was given to make a difference in the lives of others.


Lizzie:


I am excited to go to Ecuador for some many reasons!
1.) The Service. Serving is what I feel I am truly called to do! It reminds me how lucky I am and help me stay grounded along with the fact that I am doing works of God. I am excited to have the hands on service opportunity!
2.) Travel. I am excited to see a brand new part of the world.  I have never been out of the country before so this is a big step that I know I am ready to take.  I am excited to see the culture of Ecuador!
3.) People.  There are two types of people I will be interacting with on my trip; the patients I will be serving and my fellow volunteers.  Some of the volunteers I have know for years and some I just met a couple months ago at our very first meeting.  I am excited to make all these new friendships that will keep memories that last forever.  Also I am excited to working with the patients which is going to be wonderful!
4.) Spanish.  I will have an amazing opportunity to put all those years of Spanish classes to work! 
5.) Experience. I am taking a huge step and this will be a big chapter in my life! I am excited to be put in this type of experience! The culture, the food, the language, and the people.  It is all going to be different and I am excited to take it all in to the fullest! 


Matt:


I want to go to Ecuador because I want to help people.  I have never travelled outside the United States and am excited to be visiting South America.  This will also help me learn about another culture and the Spanish language.


Sara:


I want to go to Ecuador because I have always enjoyed helping people, and I really want to experience the culture in Ecuador. I have never been to South America, and I'm really excited to see that part of the world. Also this will help me step out of my comfort zone and experience something completely new and different to me. 
Being able to serve others is such an amazing opportunity and I am excited to interact with the patients and all of you. 

Ann Marie:

I have had the privilege to go on one other Medical Missions trip to the Dominican Republic and to be deployed to New Orleans after hurricane Katrina for two weeks.  For each trip, I believe that I returned home richer, spiritually, emotionally and socially than when I left.  The people were so grateful, welcoming, and generous with the little they do have that they warm your heart tremendously.  We have so much as citizens of the US, it is so important to have contact with and live with those, who have so little, who are forgotten, shunned and outcasts of society.  You came back with a more grateful heart and a love and understanding for those in need, as well as for everyone you have contact with in the future.  It is so important to me to share my gifts and talents with others and this will be a great opportunity  to share with people, who are outcasts in their society.


Kathleen:


There are so many reasons I want to go to Ecuador.  I had the blessing of living in Mexico working at a home for adolescent girls and I fell in love with the people.  I am so excited to experience a new culture and to get to know the patients at Damien House.  I love to travel and speak Espanol!  I am really excited to share this experience with such a wonderful group of young people. 

Beth:

I am blessed to have served in Ecuador for a year, and can now call Sr. Annie (founder of Damien House) a good friend. I am excited to return to Damien House, to see Trinidad, Blanca, Leon and all my other friends. It is a blessing to serve at Damien House -- to experience the pure joys and struggles of the people. This is truly where we find the face of Christ.

Beth's perspective: what have we been up to so far?

Hello everyone!


Welcome to the Saint Joseph Parish Ecuador 2012 blog! Each week, one of the 10 members of our Damien House 2012 trip will be writing a short little blog entry, to let you all know what we have been up to. They don't have a set format - just something to share with you what we've been up to!


I'll give you a bit of the background on this trip. I spent a year volunteering with Rostro de Cristo, in Duran, Ecuador. One of the worksite placements for Rostro volunteers is Damien House, a center for people with Hansen's disease. On a previous one-week immersion trip to Ecuador, and again during my volunteer year, I fell in love with the people of Damien House. Sister Annie is a great friend of mine, and the work she does to care for people with Hansen's is incredible.


We've assembled a stellar group: 7 high school students (Matt, Casey, Caroline, Lizzie, Carolyn, Jane and Lauren) and 3 chaperones (myself, Kathleen and Ann Marie). We've already met twice to start learning, fundraising, practicing Spanish and getting to know each other! It's been a huge blessing to have this group, and I cannot wait to see where the meetings continue to take us. 


Keep our group in our prayers - you are in ours!
Peace,
Beth




P.S. If you are able to give, we would greatly appreciate it. Even a small contribution can make a big difference! Donations may be made in cash or check (payable to Saint Joseph Parish, with my name and “Ecuador 2012” in the memo), and mailed to:

Saint Joseph Parish Youth Ministry
c/o Kathleen Paul
100 Church Lane
Cockeysville, MD 21030

Ecuador? Damien House? Summer 2012? ...what?

Hello! How are you? We want to tell you about something we're very excited about: 10 participants will be going on a service / immersion trip this summer to Ecuador! My church, St. Joseph Parish in Cockeysville, will be taking a group of 7 students and 3 chaperones to Guayaquil, Ecuador for one week.

While in Ecuador, we will volunteer with the US-based nonprofit Damien House (www.thedamienhouse.org). Damien House is a residential hospital for over 60 Hansen’s patients, and in addition treats a roster of around 700 outpatients. Quality medical care is provided seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day. Patients receive dental care, physical therapy, sanitary services, medication, and three well-balanced hot meals every day. Additionally, the staff makes regular visits within Guayaquil and in remote villages, providing public education about the cause and curability of Hansen’s Disease and spreading optimism for its eventual elimination. Through this organization, Sister Annie Credido has brought hope and dignity to the lives of many.  

Our group will spend the week in three different capacities. First, we will assist Sr. Annie in her daily needs that residents may not be capable of helping with: painting murals, dusting, mopping, etc. A large portion of our time will be spent being present to the residents of Damien House, mainly through games like Dominoes and cards, learning how the men make hammocks, and talking to the women. We will also have some time to visit the after-school programs sponsored by Damien House’s partner organization, Rostro de Cristo. The trip will surely be an experience of a lifetime, and we could not be more excited.