Sid's Visit

This post is actually a letter to our penpals in Canada. I felt that it was a good summary of Sid's visit to be Abram's Confirmation sponsor and a little hint of what we've been doing lately. There is so much to write about and so little time to do it. I can't believe that it's been two months since the last post! YIKES!

     We are very sorry for the late reply. We have been EXTREMELY busy these last few weeks. As you know, Sidney came from Louisiana, USA to be our oldest boy, Abram, Confirmation sponsor. It was very difficult keeping it a secret from Abe and Odilio even blurted something about going to the airport to pick him up...twice! Good thing Abe didn't pay close enough attention! He was totally shocked to see Sid standing a few feet away from him. Sid entered the training at the mission base in Louisiana at the same time we did in 2010. Here are some highlights of his trip:

• After the airport, we drove straight to Camiguin Island, our first mission post. Hopped on a ferry and ate lunch with Father Joe Villamil at the convento.



Swimming with the Archbishop of CdO and Heiko from Germany

• The next day we went to the Santo Nino Cold Spring. It is so beautiful there and it only costs about $2 for all of us to enter and get a private hut. The water is SO cold but very pure and crystal clear. We got used to it once we swam for a while. One bonus at the Cold Spring was a visit from the Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro with his friend form Germany! They swam with us and we all shared a chocolate cake as we dried off and headed back to our town.

• Saturday was the town's 3rd Annual Alumni Reunion. It was nice to see signs from the Class of  '66, '95, and many others all at one time. There was a Mass for them at 6am that we did not attend as we were very tired from the travelling and swimming.
• Later that day was the BIG day for our 3 oldest. Maddie, Meredith, and Abram chose St. Maria Goretti, St. Therese, and St. John Bosco respectively as their patron saints. Can you believe that there was 1,000 Confirmandi?! The church was standing room only. There was well over 3,000 people in attendance if you add in 1,000 sponsors and family members also. Five priests including the Archbishop concelebrated the Mass that day. It was a memorable occasion!

Maddie chose St. Maria Goretti

Abram chose St. John Bosco

Meredith chose St. Therese

• Sunday we were able to celebrate two Masses. One at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary and the other in the evening at a "barrio" chapel on the outskirts of town. We love the barrio Masses because people come down from the mountain to gather in a simple chapel made out of concrete blocks and worship our Lord with us. Also, something that is very touching to see is that many of the poor people cannot offer money during the offering. They wrap up their gifts of pineapple, crackers, rice, bananas, etc. in some kind of shiny wrapper and lay it at the foot of the altar. They give what they have.
• That very night we had a very powerful storm hit. In all of our 9 months that we spent there in 2011 we had never seen lightning or heard thunder that strongly. It would just rain and rain. This was different. Thunder was loud enough to shake our bamboo house and lightning lit up the dark sky as if it were day almost. We found out that we had a few leaks in our roof made out of palm branches. Thankful we were safe thru the morning.
• Monday we headed out EARLY...4am from the port. We traveled by ferry and car about 5-6 hours and into the mountains until we reached Malaybalay, Bukidnon, our new post since October '12. Needless to say we spent that day resting and catching our breath.
• Tuesday we picked up our regular ministry schedule with a visit to the City Jail. Sid and Odilio finished up a sacrament talk about Holy Communion that he had started the week before. Odilio loves visiting the jail and he loves when others come with him. A lot of times he take friends from our community at Isla Bonita who help with singing, playing guitar, translating, and giving testimonies. Sid was able to share his conversion through the power of the Eucharist. It was a great day!

At the City Jail

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• Wednesday we took advantage of the extra manpower and took Sid back to Isla Bonita to make a concrete floor. We sacked and carried many bags of sand and materials to a home not too far from the main road. As we waited to catch our breath, the others mixed and spread the concrete into a smooth finish. The family was very thankful. We were very thankful for all the benefactors that have contributed to this program called "Floors for the Poor". It was started by the Romero Family who was here before us and entrusted it to us and the Leano Family. It is a very successful project that will last a long time.

Floors for the Poor- with Sid and Ramon

• Thursday we went to St. Josephine Bakhita Chapel in Tag-Ilanao. It is very deep into the mountains that surround Malaybalay. St. Bakhita is one of Odilio's favorite saints. It made him sad one day to learn that there was another chapel named after her that was replaced by St. Francis Xavier because the people did not know who she was. Odilio and Sid shared Romans 12 with the group. A lot of it seemed to describe her life and her example of forgiveness of her captors. Hers is a touching story that is a better read than watching the movie by Ignatius Press. It has a lot of errors. Later that day we were able to visit Bishop Emeritus Pacana. He served as bishop of Malaybalay during the time that FMC's founders were serving here. He is so kind and asked us to come visit him more.

With Bishop Pacana

• Friday we went back to the jail in the morning to watch a dance presentation by the detainees in thanksgiving for Sidney's visit. The bamboo drums and the native chants filled us with energy. We wanted to join in! So touching for them to say "Thank you" in their own way. Later that day we were saddened to hear about the news of one of our friends from Isla Bonita who lost their first baby at 7 months in the womb. This makes the 3rd one from that community in the last month. Stacie is going to start a nutrition awareness class for expectant mothers there and we hope to provide food with enough protein for their growing babies. Their diets consist largely of white rice only. Please join us in praying for the healing of Nelson and Jona and their baby, NikApril.
• Saturday's big highlight was getting Father Oliver to bless the sari-sari of one of our home visits. The family's health had declined and were forced to shut their store down leaving them no income. We received a donation for them to reopen their business and get them back on their feet. We ended the week with a Lord's Day evening meal with Sid, the Leano's and us. It was a good way to sit back and remember in thanks the grace-filled, service-filled week.

Father Oliver at the blessing of the sari-sari

• Sunday was Sid's last day. We took him to the Benedictine Monastery for Mass and he was able to meet some of the priests afterwards. We also visited the gift shop which sells their homegrown and handmade products of the monks. Coffee, peanut brittle, peanut butter, rosaries, etc are a few things that can be found there. Got back home for lunch and Odilio, Maddie, and Meredith headed out to take Sid to Cagayan de Oro for his flight in the evening.

We are now back into our "normal" schedule. We only have a few weeks before we start to prepare for another group coming. Summer School of Missionary Evangelism (SSME) begins June 5th and ends June 27th. We only have a little time to catch our breath and start all over again with the holy craziness! :)

Prayer intentions for our mission:

1. The sale of our home in Kansas
2. The end of our visa fees
3. For our pregnant friends and their babies health
4. Better job opportunities for the men to provide for their families
5. A successful SSME

"So then, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and steady. Keep busy always in your work for the Lord, since you know that nothing you do in the Lord's service is ever useless." 1 Corinthians 15:58