Thank you all for your prayers! Week #1 of the oratory was amazing! We had nearly 6o kids every single day–even some kids that the sisters said they had never seen before. We filled the two hours the kids have after school and before they need to walk home before dark with:
Games: Simon Says, jumprope, 10 passes, frisbee, and anything else we can think of off the top of our heads!
Songs: This Little Light of Mine, Awesome God and My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean. Their clear favorite was the Hokey Pokey! Hilarious!
Activities: making Lenten Calendars, “Good Things” cards, skits and Saint banners
In addition to these fun things, each day we had a short talk and time for prayer in the Chapel. The kids loved learning about their new heroes St. Ignatius and St. Maria Goretti, and about how much God loves them and what they need to do to be with Him forever (in heaven!). It was so beautiful seeing the kids praying a decade of the Rosary in front of the Blessed Sacrament each day. Just thinking of all their little prayers going up to heaven makes us smile!
In addition to the oratory, this week we have been assisting the sisters in visiting family homes and the hospital. The two of us are still learning that God’s plan often overrides whatever is scheduled for the day! On Tuesday, Allie and Sr. Paciencia were driving to the hospital to pray with the sick and dying. On their way, their was a little Granny walking along the side of the road all alone. They stopped the car to see if she was ok. She told them she was walking to the hospital (which was a 20 minute drive up the road). They got her into the car and continued up the road. The hospital was incredible. Sick people were everywhere–from the registration desk to the front entrance and everywhere in between. Without their persistence, the little granny would never have even been noticed. It took over two hours before a doctor saw her–which is unbelievably quick for Guyana! During this time, they realized that she hadn’t eaten anything since the day before. So, they got her some something to eat, got her prescriptions and took her home–which was quite an adventure because she didn’t remember where she lived!
Today before Mass, God gave us a beautiful gift. As we were standing outside the Church to greet the people, we saw in the sky a full rainbow with all of the colors. We enjoyed the sight and commented on the goodness of God. Later in Mass, we realized all the more how good God is when the first reading was the story of Noah and the sign of God’s covenant with His people–the rainbow!
We look forward to this week’s adventures. Please pray for the oratory in Henrietta that begins tomorrow!
God bless you,
Allie and Sandy
PS: Check out who’s on the front page of the Servidoras website: http://www.ssvmusa.org/
Allie and Sandy,
Wonderful to hear of the the great work you are doing and that both you and the children (and granny) are benefitting from the experience.
Love,
Angela
By: Angela Pachucki on March 2, 2009
at 2:01 pm
Allie and Sany, What terrific fun and blessed work. Thanks for sharing and making us part of it with our support and prayers. My new favorite prayer as Our Lord’s Providence unfolds is “Remember that I belong to Thee.” Love, Aunt Luc
By: Aunt Luc on March 2, 2009
at 2:37 pm
Sandy and Allie, thank you for sharing this update. We can feel like we are a part of this wonderful and Christ-ceentered work-fun and spiritual. We will pray earnestly for all of you, the children, those in the hospital and Granny. How special she must have felt to have her needs met. Our God Is An Awesome God.
Love, Mom C.
By: kathy chamberlin on March 2, 2009
at 4:11 pm
Dear Alice & Sandy,
We just had a snow storm last night and we got about 7in of snow(I think you know who, is talking to you). But it didn’t get me out of school because I already have a day off today!!! If only it snowed yesterday. But also I had to do some hard, tough, manual labor by:1. wipe off FOUR cars with my HANDS 2. Shovle the snow off the driveway (while Micael got the big shovle and I had the little one) 3. Have fun. But I haven’t quite gotten to #3 yet. So tennis tryouts start tomorrow but I doubt that will happen which is good because now I have more time to practice and I’m going over Dad’s house this weekend and mabey he will hit the ball around with me. Well there’s not much more to say but wait let me think…no, nothing more but hope your having fun.
God Bless,
Josh (Yeshua)
P.S. I hope granny’s doing ok.
By: Annie Thomas on March 2, 2009
at 4:50 pm
My Sweet Girls,
Every day I consider what a beautiful blessing your two magnificent smiles are to the children/people with whom you come into contact. I love your stories and know there’s so much more you couldn’t possible write down.
Much love,
Mom/Annie
By: Annie Thomas on March 2, 2009
at 5:08 pm
This sounds sooo amazing! You girls are so incredibly blessed and these people are so blessed for you to be amongst them! Sandy, I am so happy that you’ve finally been able to go to Guyana!!! Keep in touch and we will definitely catch up when you return!
Love,
Meg
By: Megan Burgess on March 2, 2009
at 7:13 pm
Sounds like you are doing exactly what the Lord is asking….I got goose bumps when reading of the magnificent rainbow you were blessed with…a sure sign of God’s approval and covenant! Thanks for sharing and caring.
Prayers and Love,
Chris
By: chris ambrogio on March 3, 2009
at 2:02 am
Sandy and Allie,
We are happy for the work that you are doing. We hope that God gives you the wisdom for the next project that He wants you to do in life to help the most needy and to love Him in that way. Enjoy Guyana! We saw your flip flops on the Servants website! We love you!
Wilfredo (and Jeanne)
By: Wilfredo on March 4, 2009
at 4:21 pm
Sandy and to her new friend Allie,
Checked out your website and the order of Sisters you are working w/ today- looks like you two are having too much fun- ha ha. And the rainbow story is awesome!
Keep up the good work and I pray that God will bless you and that this Lent would be the most fruitful Lent for both of you.
Eddie
By: Edward on March 5, 2009
at 8:41 pm
I love the pictures. Never thought I would see you smiling when a rat was nearby! All that greenery on the streets resembles pictures that Mallary sent from Hawaii…maybe. The weather looks better there than it is here, although it was pretty nice today. You should see A. Lucy’s new house. It is precious! (and no rats!). Keep up the smiles. Love, A.E.
By: Aunt Eileen on March 6, 2009
at 11:27 pm