Yeah, the Internet stayed up long enough to get the daily report out!!!
Our tradition on mission is to start the day with Mass. In Sucre we walk down to the sister convent. The sisters graciously let us use their chapel. This year we are fortunate to have a local priest lead us in Mass. After Mass we gather for breakfast upstairs at the Hostal Sucre. It’s a great way to gather as the mission team to share stories and review the days tasks. Since today was our first work day the team leaders gathered with the hospital staff leaders and Jhonny from PASCAR to review the daily task for the next two week. While we were reviewing the mission tasks, others on the team started preparing the medical supplies that the clinic team will be using as they travel to various communities to provide heath care in the countryside. The construction team headed out to visit sites from last year. We spent time at the Sisters home for girls attending the university in Sucre. These girls are from families in the countryside who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford the room and board at the university. It is a great help to these girls working to earn their degrees and be able to build the future of Bolivia.
Next the construction went to the community center we painted last year. This was a very interesting visit. Our expectation was to see the room and how it was being used by the Qhara Qhara indigenous people. Instead we were greeted by the leaders for the people who shared their struggles with getting their rights from the government. These indigenous people were here in Bolivia long before the Europeans came to this land. It was very difficult to not be moved by their passion. It is sad to see oppression and withholding of peoples rights. Yet, we see it in all of the mission sites we participate with. Though I’m not sure how we can best help them. One thing we can do to support them with our prayers and be there to encourage them in their struggle. The rest we will sort of with God’s help and love. Tuesday will be our first full working day. We’ll see how tried everyone is Tuesday night.
Bruce
Our Global Mission Sites
Sucre, Bolivia - Navajo Nation, Arizona - Bacolod and Borongan, Philippines - Kenya and Uganda, East Africa - Natural Disaster Recovery, USA,
"MissionX" High School Missions throughout the Joliet Diocese
Partnership in Mission is an outreach of the Office for Human Dignity
