Dear Family and Friends,
I hope that upon reading this post, you find yourselves in good health and high spirits.
I returned from Italy on February 9, grateful that I had the opportunity to go. Fausto and his family were very gracious hosts showing me the spectacular beauty of Northern Italy and the warmth particular to Italians. We saw Luca several times and did a mission presentation together at a middle school in Luca's home town. We also visited Rome to meet with Sr. Pat, the VOICA director. This time in Italy helped me bring closure to my mission experience in Congo.
I have still been keeping in touch with Liz in Aru, though. She said that they are building a new wall and rearranging the computer center to make room for the library books, so the people there will have access to both books and computers in the same place. She thinks that this will be up and running within about a month. I've asked her to send pictures so that we can see what it's like. Please keep Liz and Kyle and the Sisters in Aru in your prayers. They are faced with many challenges.
When I returned to Colorado from Congo, I was contacted by the directors of the Mission of Friendship (Merida, Yucatan, Mexico) where I served as a volunteer for a year and a half in 1995-1996. We have kept in touch over the years and I have returned to visit the mission several times. They invited me to return as a volunteer for a few months during this time of transition. After returning from Italy, I agreed to go to Merida. I plan to help out at the mission there from the beginning of March through the beginning of July. I think this will be a way for me to finish out my "mission commitment", sort out my life a bit and remember my Spanish. I am grateful for this opportunity and for the enduring faith and friendship of Cari and Marilyn, the mission directors.
I'll let you know how things are going in Merida. Thank you again for your prayers, concern and kindness.
Tricia
