Gordon Bernardy
JDAM / SDB International Project Manager
Desk: (314) 777-2133
Cell: (314) 308-8106
----- Original Message -----
From: Bernardy, Gordon
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2013 09:11 PM
To: 'jaime.powers.belizemission@' <jaime.powers.belizemission@>
Subject: Farewells on Friday
Otahxa students were so sad to see our teachers go. The families provided lunch for us and showed much appreciation. Judy Derlene Roy and Kathy have great memories to treasure and the students have sock hand puppets as their treasure.
Corozon teachers shared a community meal with Rose Ann Carolyn and Bobby and the children gave wonderful presentations.
San Lucas community came out in full force for Mass with Fr. Don, for a tasty meal of puch and pork ribs. Boeing airplanes were flying all around as the workers completed one door for the school and the windows. Celebrating Esner's bday was a joyous occassion with dancing, singing, coconut crust, and banana pudding. We will forever treasure our memories that we are bringing home. We are sure we have made a difference in the lives of so many; we wonder if our friends in Belize can ever know how we return a changed people because of the difference they have made in our lives.
Gordon Bernardy
JDAM / SDB International Project Manager
Desk: (314) 777-2133
Cell: (314) 308-8106
Friday, January 11, 2013
Thrilling Thurs
Our adventure is coming to an end. We are heading into the villages to minister to our many friends for the last time this trip. San Lucas will be celebrating Mass as a community complete with child led Prayers of tje Faithful and the little ones processing in with banners! Fr. Don is thrilled to be celebrating Eucharist with all the parents, students, and teachers. Corozon teachers are planning to blow up bags with their science experiments. They are looking forward to celebrating this afternoon with the students and teachers they have fallen in love with. Otoxha teachers are going to be very busy writing letters, flying airplanes, singing with puppets, and writing names with playdoh. We are planning on closing our final time by celebrating Esner's 2nd birthday with a party in San Lucas. He is the son of the San Lucas teachers.
We hope all our friends and family are well. May God continue to bless us all.
Gordon Bernardy
JDAM / SDB International Project Manager
Desk: (314) 777-2133
Cell: (314) 308-8106
We hope all our friends and family are well. May God continue to bless us all.
Gordon Bernardy
JDAM / SDB International Project Manager
Desk: (314) 777-2133
Cell: (314) 308-8106
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Wonderful Wednesday
The weather is finally on our side! The team of Annne, Suzanne, Donna and Roy made it to Otoxha to teach health and hygeine to the students. The community had lunch prepared for the team. The San Lucas construction crew is about 80 percent finished with their project. It will be ready for painting when the June group comes down. In appreciation of the hard work the principal and teacher cooked tamales wrapped in wahoo leaves for the group.
Little Flower school is within walking distance of our sleeping quarters. We added the school this year. It was like being in the Catholic schools back home. Judy, Kathy and Derlene brought music, religious education and a Living Roasry led by the students. Many new songs were sang during our prayer. The San Lucas teachers continue to enjoy their time with the students. There was all student participation as Mary, Jill and Fr. Don taught how to make carbon dioxide rocks. All was amazed and excited to be learning hands on science. Rose, Carolyn, Ann and Bobby brought art projects and brought gifts of flip flops, health hygeine to the students. The students were soooo excited to see Bobby and play football with him. The students played with the puppets that Anne's class back home made for them. It is clear by the many words of appreciation how blessed the people feel by the generousity of our many friends back home.
We send our love back home to our families and friends; please continue to keep us in your prayers. May God continue to bless you all.
Gordon Bernardy
JDAM / SDB International Project Manager
Desk: (314) 777-2133
Cell: (314) 308-8106
Little Flower school is within walking distance of our sleeping quarters. We added the school this year. It was like being in the Catholic schools back home. Judy, Kathy and Derlene brought music, religious education and a Living Roasry led by the students. Many new songs were sang during our prayer. The San Lucas teachers continue to enjoy their time with the students. There was all student participation as Mary, Jill and Fr. Don taught how to make carbon dioxide rocks. All was amazed and excited to be learning hands on science. Rose, Carolyn, Ann and Bobby brought art projects and brought gifts of flip flops, health hygeine to the students. The students were soooo excited to see Bobby and play football with him. The students played with the puppets that Anne's class back home made for them. It is clear by the many words of appreciation how blessed the people feel by the generousity of our many friends back home.
We send our love back home to our families and friends; please continue to keep us in your prayers. May God continue to bless you all.
Gordon Bernardy
JDAM / SDB International Project Manager
Desk: (314) 777-2133
Cell: (314) 308-8106
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Tuesday Adventures
Hello friends in the States!
We have had a wonderful day with only spotty showers in all of the villages.....so beautiful sunshine mixed with some showers creates lots of mud and humidity.
We had some great experiences today, with a sad note that we did not make it to the Otaxha village due to flooded roads. We are very hopeful that the water will recede and will be able to go tomorrow.
Workers at San Lucas school finished the ceiling and began working on the walls to the school. Before you know it the school will be finished and our teachers will be ready to work with students in the new classrooms and not in the church and community center.
From Ants in Your Pants to Angels of Mercy.... now that covers a lot of challenges.
It was not the students who had Ants in their pants, but it was Donna....stepping on a mound to avoid mud puddles she discovered it was a fire ant hill. Oh my!
Fr. Don began as a teacher today but quickly became an Angel of Mercy for the villagers. He transported a very sick child to the hospital, assisted a man who needed medical attention with an infected leg from stepping on something a few weeks ago; and a pregnant women was experiencing difficulties but was seen by the doctors. We were so pleased to be able to provide transportation into town.( a 1.5 hour drive)
Our team in Corazon had a marvelous experience with a living rosary that connected them to students at Assumption Church in O'Fallon MO.
For the first time we sent a group to Little Flower School, which is on the grounds of the convent campus. There are 217 children in the school and all of them received an art lesson today as well as math or science activities.
Tonight we will be hosting the two Jesuit priests for dinner and look forward to sharing our St. Louis connections.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Monday adventures
Our group of twenty are safe but a bit soaked. It has rained at least three inches each day.
Seeing mayan ruins through the rain added a unique dimension to the jungle.
We are experiencing great commraderie in planning and packing at the convent as well as working with villagers in corazon and san lucas.
"Dem bones" was a big hit during health lessons, especially with jill's skeletons from halloween.
Judy's recording the children singing "rain down" added a little humor but the real fun came when they watched themselves on the IPad afterwards. There were lots of proud moms watching the video at the community luncheon. Santiago hosted a caulda tortilla lunch. Hope to share some pics soon.
Due to the rain the men in san lucas were not working the field so there were 18 men replacing the ceiling at the school.
Miss ann wants to share that concepcion and felix have named their son justin after justyin bieber :)
Hope and Peace.
Gordon Bernardy
JDAM / SDB International Project Manager
Desk: (314) 777-2133
Cell: (314) 308-8106
Seeing mayan ruins through the rain added a unique dimension to the jungle.
We are experiencing great commraderie in planning and packing at the convent as well as working with villagers in corazon and san lucas.
"Dem bones" was a big hit during health lessons, especially with jill's skeletons from halloween.
Judy's recording the children singing "rain down" added a little humor but the real fun came when they watched themselves on the IPad afterwards. There were lots of proud moms watching the video at the community luncheon. Santiago hosted a caulda tortilla lunch. Hope to share some pics soon.
Due to the rain the men in san lucas were not working the field so there were 18 men replacing the ceiling at the school.
Miss ann wants to share that concepcion and felix have named their son justin after justyin bieber :)
Hope and Peace.
Gordon Bernardy
JDAM / SDB International Project Manager
Desk: (314) 777-2133
Cell: (314) 308-8106
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