| Day 6-8 (Thurs, Mar 6 to Sat, Mar 8, 2008) - Marilynn's Trip Wrap-Up |
A shot of some of our mission trip crew: Dave, Bishop Delgado, Fr. Ralph, Rudy, Teresa, Marilynn, Laura and Karen.
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Dear Ones,
We have completed a wonderful week with our friends in Mexico. We have experienced all the gifts that our
trips have come to offer: fellowship with the trippers, fellowship with the Diocesan Team (Bishop Delgado,
Rudolfo and Teresa), the satisfaction of hard work and long days, perfect weather (eat your heart out),
excellent cultural experiences, excellent worship, great food (!), great sleep and a blessed retreat
from our crazy lives. This trip, whose theme was simplicity, has given us much time (mucho tiempo) to consider
what we have in our lives that weighs us down and asks why we continue to accumulate those things (cosas) that
add to our frenzy.
We have come to know one another and ourselves better and I wonder if this is the real gift of these retreats...
nurturing the fellowship to which we are called. We have also spent meaningful time with Bishop Delgado.
He has shared his struggles and his joy as he completes his 5th year in this role. On occasion, he shows signs
of strain, but he remains, overall, a man of great faith, excellent humor and strength of character. I am so
very thankful that he shares a part of my journey and that we have succeeded in sharing this story with the
congregation of St. Dunstan’s (and a handful of other churches). Each time I am here, I am affirmed so
powerfully that this ministry and this friendship is God’s will. I must share the Bishop’s closing words from
our talk yesterday; he said that “..The most important thing is that we see the face of Jesus Christ in each
person. Then ones heart and mind will be changed…” He sends his greetings and his thanks to all at St.
Dunstan’s for making this trip possible and has extended a warm invitation to us for next year.
Karen and Marilynn enjoy a cafe for lunch in Tepozlan.
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Today, we visit Tepozlan: last year’s discovery and my now - favorite cultural experience. It will be a long day,
as this village is about one hour drive from Cuernavaca. We will visit the pyramid, the local ancient church,
wander through the market, and of course, EAT LUNCH!
My thanks to each of you who made this trip possible; our families, who get rid of us…err, I mean, who allow
us to be absent from our commitments for so many, many, days, Fr. Rob, who has continued to support this
ministry, our congregation and prayer partners, who pray for us, those who purchase our fundraising items,
our employers who allow us the time off and especially my friend, Fr. Bob Morris, who had the vision and
the faith to begin this mission and dragged me kicking and screaming into it which helped me see Jesus
Christ in the eyes and the very souls of the Mexican people. I would also like to thank my mother, my
booking agent and my staff of writers and editors: Dave Helmick.
Much love, see you tomorrow!!!!
Marilynn Patterson
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Click here for more great photos from the mission trip to Cuernavaca.
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On to Our Day 8 Farewell to Cuernavaca...
Back to Main Mission 2008 Page
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