MISSION TRIP 2010 COMES TO AN END.....'TRAVELING HOME' DAY

(Thank you, Carolyn, for a job well done on the video!!)

As I reflect on Mission Trip 2010, I am ALWAYS amazed how each mission trip year just gets incredibly better and better! I wonder.....how is Joe Farris going to 'top' this one? Each year when I am up in Pittsburgh, I am always reminded of why I go. I am so blessed to be able to capture the laughter, the hard work, the love and sharing of the teens and adults.....the essence of the whole trip.

TEENS, YOU ARE AMAZING!!!

THANK YOU, FR. JUSTIN, for ALL your LOVE AND SUPPORT

of our High School Youth and for being with us again.

THANK YOU, JOE FARRIS, for giving EVERYTHING YOU HAVE to our TEENS and ADULT LEADERS....for allowing God to work through you to give us that,

AND FOR ALWAYS SAYING "YES!" TO HIM.

YOU ARE AMAZING! ~ Colette

Joe closes with prayer......."YES!"

We all met at North Pitt before making our way to St. Peter's; coming

back home the same way we departed: TOGETHER!

Chic Fil-A delivered 148 lunches to us at "Jim Barnett Park" in

Winchester, VA. One last chance to form "community"

before returning home.

Fr. Pat gave us a blessing for safe travels. Thank you Fr. Pat!

FRIDAY: HOLY FAMILY & "THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE"

After the private viewing of the incredible 90 minute documentary

"The Human Experience",

Joe introduced us to 2 of the main 'actors' from the movie. Visit the trailer:

http://www.grassrootsfilms.com/thehumanexperience/

The teens get a chance to meet and speak with Jeff and Mike.

The graduated Seniors' "traditional" going to dinner picture.

In just ONE hour, (145 man hours), our teens and their crew leaders' "YES!"

transformed the grounds of the Monastery.

Joe Hughes helped Fr. Pat put a new "I.N.R.I." plaque

on the main crucifix on the grounds of the Monastery.

Joe Blick heads up to the St. Paul of the Cross Church

to clean up around the cemetery. It was quite a struggle "up the hill"!

Thanks, Joe, for planting the seed to get the teens to give one last hour of service!

After a week of hard work, Joe Blick asked our teens at the

end of the Holy Family day if they would give just one more

hour of work when we got back to the Monastery, to "clean up" on

the grounds: weeding, trimming shrubs, etc. They all shouted "YES!"

Marcus thought Joe ordered him a "yellow" shirt instead of

a red one on purpose, so he was getting him back!

Johanna! You're such a great sport!

Tom finally 'gets it' from A.J.!

Tom, what's the matter? Not as fast as last year? :)

Amanda's 'annual' painting on Art's arm!

A "victim" of the water bucket!

Fr. Justin spending some quiet time at Holy Family. He told the teens he

was available all week long for confession, no matter where he was....."just pull

me aside if you want to talk." He said many of them did just that.

The "traditional" water balloon fights begin, and Tyler was

bold enough to get Fr. Justin!

But then Father gets him back.....

......with a "hot air" balloon!

Madison and Helen Mary spend time with one of the teens from Holy Family.

David explains the difference between what Holy Family gives their

children while they are there, ie., love, education, spiritual guidance, etc.,

as opposed to other agencies where they are "moved, shifted in and out of foster care", like cattle. God is not allowed in most of those. In many cases, they are returned to abusive homes.

Meredith spends time with a child from Holy Family

Tayloe, Caroline, Mary Haven and Eliza chat with a teen from Holy Family

And the fun begins!

David deMichael of Holy Family explains to our teens about

the sacred grounds of Holy Family Institute.

Our Last Morning Rosary Walk...Thanks, Johanna,

for the beautiful job you do leading us each day.

Tyler woke up with the best "bed head" that morning!

So on every mission trip, Friday is spent at the Holy Family Institute, and to me, this day shows what the mission trip is all about. Holy Family is the only place we go to where we are all together and working (or playing) at the same place and toward the same goal. It is amazing to see all of the kids there and how excited they get to have us come and hang out with them for a day and have a picnic. Something that seems so easy to us means so much to them, and at the end of the day it is a powerful experience for everyone involved. ~ Madison Schulte

On the last day of the mission trip before we left the following morning, everybody had the awesome opportunity to watch a film called The Human Experience. This film showed the journey of four young men traveling different parts of the world making a difference every where they went. Two of the men chose to live homeless in New York City for a few weeks so they could experience life in the shoes of people less fortunate than others. The movie was about four young mens' journey to find their purpose in life and to remember what it means to be human. After the film was over, we were surprised by the actual appearance of two of the actors from the film. We had a question and answer session with the two actors, Mike and Jeff. One of the questions asked was how can we experience the same thing that Mike and Jeff experienced and how can we do the things they did. Their response was that we are already doing it; giving up a week of our summer to serve the less fortunate and underserved of Pittsburg. The documentary was very moving, and after the question and answer session we were able to meet Mike and Jeff and talk to them. The Human Experience showed us that if we have God in our lives, we have everything. ~ Thomas Mahar