A Guatemalan adventure

by Nancy Hanna of Morton, MN

In February, my husband Bob and I were fortunate to be part of a Mission Retreat to our diocese’s Mission parish in San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala. It was a dream come true for me to be able to watch Fr. Greg Schaeffer, pastor of the Mission parish for over 40 years, in action!

There were 32 in our group which was led by Fr. Brian Oestreich, pastor at St Mary’s, Sleepy Eye.

Three men from Sleepy Eye drove a 15-passenger van loaded with donations to San Lucas where they joined us for several days. Our group was able to take two bags to check, plus one carry on. The large suitcases were filled with donations of all sorts including school supplies, medical supplies, tools, clothing, and blankets. On our return trip we brought back 1,275 pounds of Juan Ana Guatemalan coffee.

The two nurses in our group helped out at the clinic and in neighboring villages. Others volunteered at the school; some sorted coffee beans; some worked at the reforestation area sifting dirt and bagging dirt; some helped with construction of several new homes and split rock for landscaping at the park being built for children. We worked with the Guatemalan people, sometimes only communicating with smiles and sign language as they showed us how to keep the plaster from falling down as soon as it was put up or how to shake the screen to sift the dirt into a wheelbarrow!

Guatemala is very beautiful - the fields, the mountains, the churches, the people. One can feel the strong personal relationship they have with God.

Those participating in the Mission Retreat to Guatemala include: Julie Anderson, Sleepy Eye; Andrea Biwer, Eden Prairie; Steve & Linda Braulick, Sleepy Eye; Joe Braulick, Sleepy Eye; Brian Braun, Sleepy Eye; Dan Coudron, Milroy; Greg Fuchs, Sleepy Eye; Karen Gibbs, Kilkenny; Tom & Jo Ann Green, Morgan; Charlie & Carol Guggisberg, New Ulm; Bob & Nancy Hanna, Morton; Brent & Kathy Heiser, Durham, NC; Suzann Hendricks, Bemidji; Madonna Hillesheim, Clements; Brian Mathiowetz, Sleepy Eye; Mike & Cheryl Mathiowetz, Katie Neigebauer, Linda Neigebauer, New Ulm; Brian & Colleen O'Leary, Springfield; Fr. Brian Oestreich, Sleepy Eye; Deb Pearson, Burnsville; Don & Donna Reding, Morgan; Richard Schroepfer, Sleepy Eye; Chuck Spaeth, Sleepy Eye; Dave & Kathy Suker, Sleepy Eye; Elly Trebesch, Sanborn.