Thursday, March 8, 2012

Mission Trip Updates - March 2012



1)      URGENT – Please check your PASSPORTS and apply now for them if you need to. Here is a website for more information about how to do that, the application, etc. I will need to supply this information to the travel agent in order to purchase our tickets. http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

2)      VACCINATIONS: To have the most benefit, see a health-care provider at least 4–6 weeks before your trip to allow time for your vaccines to take effect and to start taking medicine to prevent malaria, if you need it. Check with your health care provider to find out what vaccinations you might need. Here is information from the CDC that you can read for yourselves http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/ecuador.aspx

3)      FUNDRAISING – Invite all your friends and family to our Ecuadorian Dinner on March 17th @ Homer Crouse Hall at St. Pius. Tickets are $25 for adults/ or $15 with a donation of new school supplies (see list in next paragraph) or $10 per child. Make your reservation by clicking here.

4)      In 2010, we asked parishioners to donate SOCCER JERSEY’s which we took to Quito with us. Also, Madre Miguel has informed me that there is a great need for SCHOOL SUPPLIES, particularly pencils, pens, scissors, glue sticks and construction paper.  I’d like to do this again. Would someone be willing to coordinate this drive at St. Matthias and/or St. Pius? Call me for more information! St. Matthias’ drive will be over the weekends May 19/20 & 26/27.  We will also be hosting a CAR WASH on May 27th at St. Pius following all their morning Masses (from 7:30-1pm)

5)      SPANISH WORKSHOP/MEETING Many of you know, I have taken over 3 years of Spanish at Cañada College over the past few years.  I can “get by” but am nowhere near being fluent. (Fr. Craig is much more fluent than I!) I do believe that language is one of the primary ways we will be able to connect with the people at the WBC, so thought it would be cool to learn some basics. I have spoken to my Spanish Professor, Dr. Sarah Harmon, PhD who has agreed to partner with me and do a ½ day workshop for our group of conversational Spanish. This workshop will be held on May 5th from 10-2pm at St. Matthias. At the end of the workshop, I will go over all the guidelines, have participants sign Code of Conduct forms, talk about travel requirements, etc. FINAL PAYMENT will be due May 5th as well. I will e-mail forms with the  amounts due the week prior so that you can bring checks with you that day.

6)      BLESSING – at the 10:30 am on June 10th the group will be blessed and commissioned for the trip. Please plan to attend Mass that day to be blessed. We will have a brief meeting after Mass as well to go over any last minute requirements and pack the items that we will be bringing with us.

7)      BLOG – If you are interested in reading about the 2010 trip, you can check out the blog, sabrinaspence.blogspot.com. I will be updating this daily while we are in Ecuador so you can stay up to date with our comings and goings.

--Sabrina Spence

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