Ann Marie's thoughts!

To prepare to go to Ecuador, I have crocheted prayer squares for all the 60 residents of Damien House, as well as crocheted tote bags.  I hope to be able to teach some of the residents at Damien House to crochet the tote bags to sell to raise funds for the Damien House expenses. Our groups hopes to assist the residents with their occupational and physical therapy.  The residents make hammocks and crafts for their occupational therapy and these items are then sold t raise funds for Damien House.  I have also began to collect wound care supplies, ace bandages and other medical supplies to bring with us to Damien House.  We are bringing Tylenol, aspirin and ibuprophen for the residents to help with their physical pain caused by changes in their cartilage, bone and joints from the effects of the years with Hansen's Disease, before they received treatment, and due to reactions after treatment has been started.  I am sure our team will be learning a great deal about the effects of Hansen's Disease and we will be so inspired by the courage and fortitude of all the residents.  We asre all so happy to have this opportunity to go the Ecuador and to Damien House.  Thank you all for all your support and prayers.  Ann Marie

Kathleen's perspective!

It is unbelievable that our trip to Ecuador is a little over 5 weeks away.  We have had a wonderful time meeting together each week.  I cannot say enough about the fantastic group of young people that are going on this trip.  Each one of them brings their gifts, spirit and enthusiasm to each meeting and the energy is so contagious!  I am so happy to share in this experience with them. 

Our fundraising efforts have been incredible and we have raised over $10,000 so far.  WOW!  This week, we are planning our last big fundraiser.  This weekend, June 2 and 3, the youth will briefly talk at each of the Masses to let our parishioners know more about our service trip to Damien House.  After all the Masses, we are going to have a Bake Sale in front of the Parish Center with delicious treats for everyone!  We will have cookies, dirt, sand, biscotti, cupcakes, Rice Krispy Treats . . .  and the list goes on!  Make sure you stop by for some tasty snacks for your family while helping us raise the money we need to reach our goal! 

With our tickets booked and our reservation set at Tangara Guest House in Guayaquil, Ecuador, our trip is becoming very “real”.  I have so many emotions in my heart as I think about what this trip means to me.  I love, love, love to travel, experience different cultures and meet new people.  I also LOVE the Spanish language.  I spent over a year as a volunteer in Mexico after I graduated from college and I would visit regularly.  Once I became a mommy, my international travels stopped.  As any parent knows, once you have a family, your priorities completely change.  So, this will be my first trip away from my husband and two boys.  (In fact, I haven’t been away from Noah and Landon for more than one night!)  I have to be honest that the thought of being away from them for 8 days brings me slight anxiety.  But, I know Christ will bring my heart peace and the Blessed Mother will watch over my family and protect us travelers.  I think about the people at Damien House and the amazing people that give everything to bring these patients dignity and comfort and I realize what I can gain from an experience like this will make me a better person, wife and mother.

I remember the prayer of St. Teresa of Avila, “Christ has no body but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours.”  We are called to serve others; to be Christ.  With great enthusiasm, our team will give all of ourselves to those at Damien House and all the Ecuadoreans we meet. 

Sara's thoughts...

When thinking about going to Ecuador, I just think of how amazing this trip is going to be. With each day gradually leading up to our departure I think of this amazing opportunity and how this is such a blessing. I am so excited to be a part of this and to experience this as well. With school starting to wind down, it's getting me more excited than ever. I think the best part of it all is that we are spreading the word of God. I feel as though this opportunity will give me personally, the chance to not dwell on the small things, and really be grateful for what I have. To step out of my comfort zone, To not take things for granted and to really look at the big picture. I feel as though with this trip, we are one step closer to making a difference in the world. I think it's really amazing how we all have a desire to reach out to others and have a spark in us to do good in the world. I really feel that this trip can be such an eye-opener and also see what the culture of Ecuador is really like. I look forward to the meetings every Tuesday, and I'm really happy that I am apart of this group. Another thing I'm really really excited about is to meet everyone (in person) instead of just through Skype. I am so ready for this once in a lifetime trip!!!! 
-Sara

Jane's blog entry!

            Tuesday night, at our weekly group meeting, Lizzie shared with us a beautiful reflection entitled “My Own Little World.” Her reflection, inspired by Matthew West’s song of the same name, gave each of us chills. She encouraged us to broaden our outlook on life, creating a more global perspective. Listening to the words of the song, I realized how much I take for granted.

In my own little world it hardly ever rains
I’ve never gone hungry, always felt safe
I got some money in my pocket, shoes on my feet
In my own little world
population me

Peace, financial security, good health, and love are all I have ever known. I have never feared for my life, nor have I ever had to beg for money or food. I am a person who loves to embrace the happy, bright, cheerful moments of life. The problem is: sometimes I fail to embrace the fact that not everyone has a bright and cheerful life. People in our world are in pain. They suffer, they cry, they beg. I feel like for many of us, our “perfect” lives distort the reality of real life. Too often, we ignore the problems of the world because we believe that they will not affect us. Just because the problem does not affect us directly, this does not mean that we do not have the responsibility to address and solve the problem. We are called by Christ to serve our neighbors and bring light to the darkness.

Father break my heart for what breaks Yours
Give me open hands and open doors
Put Your Light in my eyes and let me see
That my own little world is not about me

            We, as a group, are excited to bring our light and to share our love with the people of Ecuador. Ecuador will certainly give each of us the opportunity to step outside of our own little worlds. We will garner a new perspective on life and a better idea of the unjust conditions that exist outside out of our own country. Ecuador will be eye-opening. Hopefully, it will leave each of us with an eternal desire to change the world… one step at a time.

Source: http://pinterest.com/pin/154037249725073459/

Source: http://pinterest.com/pin/261701428316221486/

Peace and love,

Jane

Click on the following link to listen to the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR57M80-rzE

Chick-fil-a Spirit Night a HUGE success!

THANKS to all who came out for our Chick-fil-a Spirit Night on Monday! We raised over $250 ... in just TWO hours! The staff at Chick-fil-a said it was certainly one of their better Spirit Nights and that we should be very proud of our efforts. So a HUGE THANKS to all who came out - stay tuned for our Mass Extravaganza (saying a food words after Communion and hosting a bake sale) at each Mass during June 2-3 at St. Joseph Parish. We appreciate all your support for our endeavors and all of the awareness raised about service to others, faith in action and Hansen's disease. Muchas gracias!

Beth, Jane, Casey, Carolyn, Lizzie and Matt at Chick-fil-a on York Road, during our fundraiser on May 7.

Casey's thoughts!

I am super excited for Ecuador!! I love all of the people that I will be traveling with and I have found that we all work really well together. I look forward to the meetings every week because everyone in the group is so much fun and we all bring an estatic energy with us every Tuesday. Each week we all get to know each other a little better and enjoy more and more time with one another. We all have been working so diligently towards our goal to finally travel this summer. Fundraising has been a huge thing for us as a group. We need all of the support we can get in order to reach the amount of money we need to cover the expenses. But since all of us are overly passionate about helping the community and reachng out to others, we have put together many opportunities for anyone to donate. I am overly energized with the fact that I will be able to leave the country for the first time ever this summer! I cannot wait to meet all the people we will be helping, and to give back and reach out to the many Hansen's disease patients at Damien House! Thank you for all of your support and donations!!