July 20th-30th, 2007

Saturday, July 28th- More Learning and Fun

As the days wind down for our Guatemalan Delegates visit, the time continues to be full of many activities.

Saturday morning started off with a Sister Parish business meeting. Before and during the meeting, each person contributed to making of a Native American healing blanket. Fringe is cut on all outer portions of the blanket, and each individual knots pieces of the fringe while saying a prayer for the person in pain. The blanket is for Estella in Guatemala. Two years ago Estella’s husband died of cancer. Her husband, Efrin, had been a delegate to SJA several years ago. Most recently Estella’s 24 year old daughter also died of cancer, leaving behind a nine month old child and a new husband. The committee wanted to embrace Estella with their love and caring. With the finished product held in their hands, Padre Juan Rene gave a blessing while everyone said another prayer. The delegates will take the blanket to Estella on their return. The hope is that Estella will feel our love and as she feels better will pass it to someone else in pain, and our love and caring will move on.

Planning the homily for Sunday consumed the remaining part of the time.

A quick lunch was consumed in Rita and Jeff Nohner’s backyard in Robinsdale. During lunch, a video the Nohners had shot on Thursday while the delegates visited their cabin was viewed. While at the cabin they tried waterskiing and being pulled on inner tubes behind the boat. Alba stated it was “a day of laughs”. Off to North Minneapolis for the Art Crawl was next on the agenda. Time was moving too quickly, so they had time only to make a button for themselves, using a stamp of an African symbol and coloring it. The delegates conversed with an art teacher from Rudy Perpich’s School of Arts. The Art Crawl is sharing through art and even though their time was short the delegates seemed to understand the meaning.

Dinner was planned at the Blue Nile Restaurant on Franklin Avenue for delegates, host families, and Sister Parish Committee members. It is an Ethiopian restaurant. This was chosen as the committee wanted to have them eat something completely different. The evening was dubbed “The Last Supper” and Ross Starkson and Alejandro were sitting at the heads of the table, the two leaders from each of the communities.  Lots of laughter and fun surrounded the group and everyone enjoyed their evening. It was the end of another beautiful day sharing and being together.

Afterwards, when asked if they liked the Ethiopian food, their quick reply was, “it was different”!

and

Nancy Lynch says, "Joy is being a wife, Mom of fourteen, eight with varying disabilities and living at home, Grandma of thirteen, and Great Grandma of three. Serenity is listening and watching the ocean, alone, at our home on Maui. Passion is friends, photography, reading, swimming and children." Nancy can be reached at nalynch@aol.com.