Mary Ellen, Jim, Kathleen and Joe

Dear Friends and Benefactors,

On the last day of our trip to Honduras we celebrated our successful work with a day at the beach.

The view from the porch of the beachhouse

It was a wonderful day of fellowship with each other and finally a chance to catch our breath before we returned home to the States.

Deacon Bill relaxing at the beach

A large crowd of people left Casa Guadalupe at 4:00 am (!) to make the drive across the country to the Caribbean coast: all the missionaries, the Friars and a bus load of neighborhood Hondurans who either work with or are helped by the Friars.

A view of the beach

The Mission Team with the Friars

The water was gorgeous, clear and warm as a pleasant bath. As I was swimming around, I found myself playing with a group of young teenage girls who live in a home called Casa Milagro. (Miracle House). This home was established by the Friars as a safe haven for up to 8 girls who come from abusive environments.

One of the girls from Casa Milagro

A house mother lives there with the girls and they are raised in a secure Catholic home. When they finish school, the Friars even work with other Catholic organizations in Honduras to provide them the opportunity to go to University. It is truly a miracle from God for these girls who have been abused in all possible manner to wind up with a very bright future.

Br. Daniel, Kate, Kathleen and Tom enjoying lunch

While I was in the water, one girl in particular wrapped herself around me because she couldn’t swim and she was laughing and playing with the other girls. She was about 12 or 13 years old and big enough that I couldn’t manage swimming with her arms around my neck. So I turned her over on her back and let her lie in the warm, salty sea.

Paul and Tom playing with Jesus (one of the boys from the house they painted)

Immediately, her body relaxed as her ears lowered beneath the surface of the water. For ten minutes or more, I held her in the water as she floated and I could only stare at the serenity in her face and think about all the horrors this child has seen in her young life.

Tom with one of the girls from Casa Milagro

What a contrast with the security and peace she must have been feeling in that water! The sounds and sights of the world were blocked out by her closed eyes and the water over her ears. I hope she felt the presence of Jesus as much as I did.

This made me think that all we are really trying to do when we travel to Honduras is to bring the presence of Jesus to these children. Me and the girl in the water seemed a metaphor for the purpose of our mission: to provide a bit of fun and security to these children but especially to bring hope. The hope of a Christian who can face all things because God is with him. And the knowledge that every Christian has that ultimately good will always overcome evil.

Meghan playing with some of our Honduran friends

Thank you very much, benefactors, for the opportunity to share this hope with the children of Honduras.

From Fr Dye

Mary and her new friend

John with his little friend whose dad was killed this year

Dear MOQ Missioners fellow members of our parish family:

Br Gabriel with the children in front of the aldea's little church

Deacon Bill communicating with a child

Coming back after Honduras is always an adjustment.

Everything in Honduras is behind locked doors, but my keys there were three in number. My key ring here has about 15 keys! Are we more imprisoned by our wealth here than the poor in Honduras?

Br Miguel driving the kids to the fiesta in the rain. The weather didn't dampen their spirits at all.

In Honduras I talked to the group non-stop from awakening to going to sleep.

Br. Malachy with the children

Since returning I have talked face to face with my wife and have communicated with a ton of people by telephone and through answering emails.

Bruce and Zach with some of the children

It is difficult to love people from a distance. Maybe we need to make more of a conscious effort to be present to one another and not just live for ourselves. I ate some ice cream when I arrived home last night which was a treat that I probably did not really need.

Little house in the mountain aldea

Our abundance distracts us from what would really make us satisfied.

We shared God’s love for us with the poor people we met in Honduras, but we certainly were blessed more than we gave --- about a hundred times more!

Chris having fun at the fiesta

It is very special to be back where we came from and where we are planted. Whatever we shared of ourselves we shared as a mission group from our parish family at Mary Our Queen.

Cecilio (whose house we painted) and his two youngest children

The Mission was truly a larger and extended version of the love of God in Christ that we know here in our parish.

It is good to be home, and see our many blessings more clearly.

Br Miguel,Mary and Kate with their friends

Fr. Dye

We're home safely

The team with the Friars

The teenagers with the Friars before we left today

Dear Friends,

We arrived home safely tonight. We are all tired but quite joy-filled.

On Saturday, we weathered the Tropical Storm Alex with pouring rain all day. The Adventures in Faith team had planned a Mass and fiesta for the aldea for the afternoon. We debated whether or not to do it but ultimately decided to go for it. The Mass was held in a one-room school and by the time we were ready to do the fiesta, the rain slowed enough to do some of the fiesta activities outside. The children and parents loved it. It was an awesome way to end our time with children.

On Sunday we had the blessing to go to Tela which is a beach on the northern coast. We left at 4:00 am for a 3.5 hour drive. It was a beautiful beach and a time for being with each other and the Friars and relaxing. The storm had moved out and it was great.

This morning we had Mass at 6:00 am and then headed out to go back to Tegucigalpa to fly home.

God bless you all for your support.

More posting and photos will be posted in the next few weeks.

Thursday

Dear Friends,

We are having a blast here. We can´t believe how much joy and laughter a person can have while doing a mission, serving Christ.

The work team is almost finished painting the house. The bedrooms are painted with three walls light pink and the fourth wall a purply pink. It looks really nice. Today the family members are helping the team paint. The other day, after the team left for the day,the little six year old boy decided to paint too. When our team arrived in the morning, he had paint all over himself and he even painted the refrigerator! Today, Br Damiano, Br Matteo, and Br Andre are helping the team. Once they are finished they will go to another house that the Friars are building and help backfill the foundation.

The Adventures of Faith team (AIF) are rearranging their schedule because the children in the first aldea have to go to school this morning. This afternoon, the AIF team will split up so that they can go to both aldeas to present their program.

Last night after dinner, Br Gabriel gave us his testimony of how he came to be a Friar. Afterwards, Jennifer and Sarah had us do a group activity and we all laughed hard...and what we found out is who can make up a really believable wild story.

This morning is the Solemnity of St John the Baptist. Br Daniel (who is a transitional deacon Friar who will be ordained a priest in May) gave the homily at Mass. He talked about living a radical life like St John. St John said that He must increase and we must decrease although we are frequently tempted to do the opposite....increase ourselves. John preached God´s truth and we must also be bold and do the same.

God bless you and thank you again for your prayers. We are keeping all of you in our prayers.

The Mary Our Queen Mission Team

PS I am having trouble uploading photos today so I am sending this without photos....what we take for granted in the US!

Adventure of Faith photos

Kate with her little friends

Singing songs in the aldea

Meghan doing a craft

Sarah, Marybel and Abby telling a story

with the mountain vista in the background

Fr Dye walking to the first aldea

with some of his friends

Wednesday

Unpacking and shelving donated goods

John and Tom

Alan, Paul, Tom and Br. Andre

Alan and Br Andre painting the exterior

Alan and Jennifer painting the inside

while John and Eric paint the outside of the window grill

Dear Friends,

As part of our mission trip, Mary Our Queen flies some Friars from New York down to help us. Br Andre is helping with the painting and Brs. Gabriel, Miguel andMalachey are helping the the Adventures of Faith team.

Last night Br. Malachey gave all of us his testimony. It was a touching story of his faith journey where a confession and the Eucharist eventually lead him to see Jesus in the least among us.

Today we started our day again with prayer and Mass. Fr Francis Mary talked to us in the homily about seeking our vocation on a daily basis. A vocation is a call of God. First we have to give God permission to let Him in and open our heart. We also have to receive God´s love and to trust that he knows what we need. If we do what he is asking us, it leads to peace and joy....the only thing that we truly satisfy us. Each of us are called to ask God each day what His will is for us.

The work team went back to the house. They started to paint the colors on the wall. The main area of the house is a yellowy peach color. It looks good and the family is thrilled. Yesterday the father of the house insisted on giving the team something (even though they have very little) so he walked to a store and bought the team some Pepsi. The team was very humbled by his simplicity and generosity.

After lunch the work team unpacked and shelved all of the items that you donated to bring with us. The Friars are so appreciative of your generosity. Thank you.

The Adventures in Faith (AIF) went back to the same aldeas to do their program. Today´s theme was on the Bible. The children were so excited to see the team back again. We are not sure who is having more fun....the children or the AIF team.

Today we had pancakes, bananas, and watermelon for breakfast and for lunch we had spaghetti and salad. It´s amazing how good food tastes when you are hungry.

Thank you again for your support again from home. We feel the power of your prayers. We are also praying for all of you at home.

God bless, The Mary Our Queen Mission Team

We are missing you!!

A group of "left behind missionaries" had dinner together Tuesday evening as we missed those that were working so hard in Comayagua. Members of the Hester, Kelley, Noyes, Savini, and Taylor families were glad to hear everyone was there safe and were discussing how much we all miss Alba's Kickin' Chickin'!!!

God Bless.

Our First Work Day

Dear Friends,

We woke this early this morning to chicken crowing, birds chirping and dogs barking. It was a beautiful morning.

Games with the children

Crafts

Priming the house on the inside

Priming the outside of the house

We started the day with praying the rosary, Liturgy of the Hours and then Mass. Breakfast was eggs and beans. The Adventures in Faith (AIF) team left at 830 for the first aldea (a mountain village). The theme was teaching about the Church and the Pope. Marybel did the opening rally and lead the skit. The children we spellbound as they listened and sang songs. The missionaries were all touched by the simplicity of the children and their humility.

Dr John Kelley and Dr. Christine Noyes doing surgery on the three year old boy

The work team started priming the cinder block walls (inside and out) of the house that they are painting. The Frairs built this house for the family. They were able to completely finish priming all the walls.


The whole team met at Casa Guadalupe for lunch which was some kind of soup with meat, vegetables and plantains.

After lunch every one went back to work with the AIF team going to another aldea. The Friars helped out with both the painting and the AIF. Everyone is tired but satified with the day.

We had an hour of prayer and songs from 5 to 6 and then dinner.

Thanks for your support.

The Mission Team

Arrival

Dear Friends,

We arrived safely this afternoon after a long day of travel. We are all excited to begin our work tomorrow.

unloading the suitcases

Our first Mass upon arrival at Casa Guadalupe

After Mass we had a dinner of tortillas, eggs, beans and meat. Sarah and Jennifer then lead the team in an ice breaker that had us both laughing and thinking deeply as to what we plan to give on the mission as well as what we hope to receive.

Please continue your prayers for us.

The Mission Team

Sunday

Dear Friends,

Tom sent me a few photos from Honduras today. The
team went over
to the house that they are going to be painting and Kathleen found some little furry friends. Tom and Paul are also helping Kathleen and Chris with last minute Adventures in Faith preparations.

The medical team is arriving today too. Dr. John Kelley is going to do some orthopedic surgery while Dr. Rick Seeger (from New York) will be doing eye surgery.

Today at Mary Our Queen we had the commissioning Mass for the rest of the mission team. We leave Mary Our Queen tomorrow morning at 5:45 am.

Please pray for us as we travel. We are all very excited to be going.

Final Preparations

Dear Friends,

Our 2010 mission trip is finally becoming a reality. We have 32 people going. We want to thank all of you for the support that you have given us. We especially want to thank Maria, Marcia and Scott who did so much for us to make it happen.

On Saturday, the advance team of Kathleen, Chris, Tom and Paul left for Honduras to make final preparations for the rest of the team.

This is the sixth year that Mary Our Queen has sent a group with almost 100 different people going over the years. This year we have 15 new missionaries and 17 returning missionaries.

Thanks again for your support.

The Honduras Mission Team

Packing

Dear Friends, Family and Benefactors,

The 2010 Mary Our Queen Honduras Mission team is getting ready to leave on Monday, June 21. We have 31 missionaries going this year along with an additional team of 9 doctors and nurses (some from Mary Our Queen) who will be staying with us at Casa Guadalupe in Comayagua, Honduras.
Marybel and Mary

Thank you for all of your continued support of prayers, donated items, and financial support. We could not do this mission without you.

Tonight we packed all of the items that have been donated which we will check.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers.
God bless, The Mary Our Queen Mission Team

Kathleen and Mary make final plans for
the Adventures in Faith program

John and Chris weigh a suitcase with
donated items

Deacon Bill with some of the packed
donated items