Signing on: Merida ABST 2016

Hola Familia y Amigos,

       Thank you for stopping by the Merida, Mexico ABST blog page.  For those of you who do not know, our alternative break service trip group will be traveling to Merida, Mexico on the Yucatan Peninsula in hopes of enriching the lives of young girls form the Nueva Vida mission in Merida. The Nueva Vida mission was founded in part by the Catholic Diocese of Erie in the year 1996 and is an orphanage and home for young girls.  

       Our group of eleven members is just in the beginning of forming bonds and relationships that will help us to better serve on our mission trip.  We are all very thrilled and grateful to be going on this life changing experience.  At this stage in our journey we are all researching different topics of life and culture in Merida and each group member will be sharing their findings at our next meeting.  Some of the topics include education, food, festivals, healthcare and religion.  In Mexico, we hope to learn more about the culture and truly engage in the Mexican lifestyle with little to no distraction.  We have a primary goal to give these young girls our undivided attention by being truly there and simplistic in our ways.  With this in mind, the blog will be our way of communicating with family and friends while in Merida.  Please make sure you all check the blog frequently and we will be sure to keep you all notified and up to date as we take on this wonderful adventure!

       If you want to read more about the Nueva Vida, visit http://hnvmerida.blogspot.com/ to find information about the mission and groups who have traveled there in the past.  Also, feel free to look back on this blog to see what other Merida ABST groups have done on their trips. 

Muchos gracias y dios los bendiga! 

The Merida, Mexico ABST group 

Thanks for stopping by!

Thanks for stopping by the Merida, Mexico ABST blog! The 2016 group is still getting to know each other but we'll start sharing our journey together soon. In the mean time, please take some time to read previous trips' blogs to get an idea of what we'll be doing.

Blogging it Up One Last Time

​

Merida will forever hold my heart. I fell in love as soon as we stepped off the plane. I was particularly struck by the cultural differences that are present in the miles between the States and Merida. The people in Merida are so kind, loving, open, thankful, and welcoming.  My heart was reborn by the generosity of the many beautiful people we met. My life was changed by the selfless actions of a man named Ernesto. Ernesto saw us walking down the street and invited us to his home. He offered to show us his cenote (an underground lake system) and a friendship was born. We walked through the village we were in and I was dumbfounded that this was how these joyous people lived. We were invited into the home of Ernesto and greeted with open arms by his wife, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and father-in-law. The women were making tortillas and gave us some to try. Ernesto's sister-in-law said with the utmost sincerity "mi casa es su casa" She explained that her home was ours and if we needed anything while we were in Merida to come find them. My heart was truly melted by her openness to total strangers. Ernesto continued to show us their humble home. He was so proud of what his family had built. There were many animals such as turkeys, chicken, rooster, and some other animals walking around freely in the backyard. There was different fruit trees that helped support his family. The thing that shocked me the most was how highly Ernesto spoke of the bathroom his family was given by the government. The bathroom was new and very nice. Ernesto explained that it took a very long time to get a bathroom because the government helps the rich people first and the poor are normally not helped. This bathroom was the only one in the entire village. We take so much for granted and to see the simplicity of Ernesto and his family, I realized that is a life I want to live. I want to enjoy the blessing of drinkable water, bathrooms, abundant food, equality, and education. I am so blessed to be able to have all that I do. I will forever be changed by the generosity of Ernesto. I think about him often and remember the solidarity I felt in that moment. I want to go back to Merida and continue to learn about the culture and the people. I am so blessed to have been given the opportunity to go to Merida. It is an experience I will never forget. I am also blessed to have made such strong connections with El Gran Ocho. The experience would have been so different if I was not with my Mexican family. I love them all forever and always and I know I will be friends with them forever.

El Gran Ocho forever.

Blogger signing out- Adios!

Sammy

Merida Raven's Out

​

Merida, Mexico is probably the most beautiful place I have seen. The houses are all different colors and the people are so friendly. But the best part is the memories I have made with my fantastic group. We spent so much time together we most definitely became a family. We battled illness and explored new places together. We made sure the four pillars (Service, Reflection, Solidarity, and Simplicity) where always in the back of mind as we went on our adventures. We also experienced the pure kindness of the people of Merida. My favorite memory is of one our translators name Jose. He drove us around happily while he explained the culture and history of Merida to us. He went out of his way to bring us the different types of fruits and explain the different type’s trees it could come from. Jose also came along to all of our service locations and helped out (we couldn’t have laid a cement floor without his help!). Having someone who was born and raised in Merida; lead to a more well-rounded experience. We weren’t outsiders looking in because of Jose. Also our amazing host Tricia always went out of her way to ensure that everyone was taken care. I admire her so much, the dedication and work she puts into the mission is something that has personally inspired me.  I hope to be able to give back to community in the same way she does in the future. Tricia led a reflection one night that talked about the real meaning of service. It gave me a whole different perspective on what it means to help others. “Service is about learning, growing, and working together to meet genuine needs.” Basically not victimizing or feeling guilty for others but serving them and not expecting anything in return. This is exactly what happened when we went to Nueva Vida. The girls where so open to having us there and didn’t let the difference in language stop of from communicating with each other. With the help of our amazing translators we played tag, went to the park, ate lunch, and learn new ways to play in the sand without missing a beat. At the Nursing home, I got to play to catch with a group of residents. This solidified for me how much I enjoy working with the elderly and that it should be a part of my career path. Just playing a simple game and only knowing a little Spanish would have been a lot more difficult if the resident weren’t so understanding. Some even tried to speak English to us. Many laughs where shared at the home because we all mutually understood and was amused at the efforts both sides gave.  At the daycare, it was proven once again how much fun sand and balloons could be. The energy the kids had always brought a smile to my face. Our group attempted to paint the playground at the daycare but the rain had other ideas. But I still learned how to sand and paint! This ABST has been a very eye opening experience and I’m very blessed to have a group like El Gran Ocho.  

Love,

Raven

Home is Where the Heart is

Merida Post Trip Reflection: by Deacon Steve Washek

As I slowly return to my normal routine while still recovering from illness my thoughts constantly return to my time in Mexico.  Someone asked me to share one story of my trip, and my response was: I am not sure I can say just one story.  For me, the experience was more holistic.  Meaning what I experienced was not a moment, but a culture, a culture where faith, ethnicity, pride, and simplicity were lived out on a daily basis.  Attending church in the early morning I experienced these things all coming together.  The doors of the church were wide open, the church was constructed in such a way that the outside and inside just blended together.  As mass was going on inside the church, life outside was also going on with people walking to work and school, talking or singing, riding bikes.  The noise from outside blended with the chants and prayers inside.  It was not two worlds, but one.  I really felt that their faith was the center of life.  Everywhere you looked you could see the mosaics of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the side of buildings and houses.  Faith was just a part of life.  The churches were open and people and animals, (birds and dogs) walked in and out.  To me, this is how it should be.  The people too, were so generous with smiles, hellos, kisses and sharing.  This is what I take from my trip to Mexico.  I will never forget the hospitality of the people.

 

One step to Forever

 

Since being back at school, not a day has gone by that I don’t think about my week in Mexico.  The experiences that I had have forever left a mark on my heart and a piece of me with always be in Merida. 

 

Going into this trip I really did not know what to expect. This was my first ABST experience and I was going with a group of strangers. Little did I know that this group of strangers would become so important to me in just a week. There was a sense of community that formed even at the airport. We all were going through this experience together and were there to build each other up, support each other, and serve each other. We shared many hilarious momentsas well as shared in each other’s struggles. 

 

This trip blew me away. I went into it unsure of what to expect and was surprised by my love for everything about it. We were able to embrace the culture in many different ways and just share the love of Christ with others. All the kids that we were able to spend time with were too cute for words. Even with the language barrier we were able to share laughs, hugs, and smiles. These moments were so sweet. 

 

I will never forget all the memories that were made throughout this week and the amazing people that I got to share every moment with. Merida will always have a place in my heart and I am totally ready to go back!

Love always,

Abby

Livin the Viva Merida

When I signed up to go on a mission trip to Merida, I wasnt quite sure what to expect. It was my first mission trip and I didn't really know anyone that well so I was kinda nervous. However, going to Merida was one of the best experiences of my life. The sense of community that I felt when I was in Merida is a memory I will treasure forever. The group started off as mostly strangers but, ended the week as a close knit family. The group provided support, love and tons of laughter that I will always be thankful for. Another lesson I learned in Merida was how there is no better gift to give to someone than kindness and a smile. Communication at first was difficult but quickly I learned that the words that were exchanged were not the most important part of the interactions we had with the people of Merida. Simply smiling and showing kindness was all that was needed to share in a connection with others. One thing I learned in Merida that I hope to countiue doing is the importance of really listening to what people are saying to you. Some many people suffer from being lonely and simply listening to what someone is saying can provide so much comfort.  I will forvever be grateful for my experience in Merdia and the people I met there. I am so blessed and am thankful for the support the ABST trip recieved!

Thanks 

Chelsey Butterbaugh

 

 

 

Blessed

The trip we took to Merida this spring has greatly influenced my worldview and altered my perception of the people around me. One of the lessons I learned on the trip was the value of simply attempting to understand someone. Although I am definitely not fluent in Spanish, the fact that I tried, and actively listened to the people I was interacting with, made a visible impact on those that we met.

 

I am seeking to apply this idea to all of my interactions. In my social work classes, communication is stressed--but seeing it in this new light has really opened my eyes to the importance of being an active listener. It is my hope that I can take what I have learned from this trip, and use it to positively influence those that I come into contact with here.

 

 

Gratitude

Where do I begin?  ...I am so grateful to be part of El Gran Ocho, my fun-loving family.  You are such a happy, loving, caring group - ALWAYS having fun and ready to serve with a smile.  Thank you to each and every one of you.  It has been such a wonderful experience getting to know you.

Thank you Kevin and Leah for your strong leadership and inspiring daily reflections.  They added so much to our experience.  And thank you Tricia, I don't know how you manage to arrange so much for us to do in 7 short days.  You are a logistics genius!  The opportunity to visit my sister Eileen's sponsored family and mine twice - it meant so much to me.

Each visit to the Yucatan is such a humbling experience - to be on the receiving end of so much love and eagerness to serve.  Jose, Amelia, Sylvia, Gladys, the girls from Nueva Vida, the small children of the Little Friends Daycare Center... I could go on and on.  Thank you all for again teaching me what is important in life, and thank you God for blessing our never-to-be-forgotten experience in Merida.

Love to you all,

Janet

It Was Too Perfect... Bingo

​For the last 72 hours, I have been back in Erie. While my school work has started back up and I’m looking for the end of the semester, I can’t stop myself from thinking about my week in Merida. I have been on my fair share of service trips, but this one is different. It stands out to me. Before the week started, the eight of us barely knew of each other, some closer than others, but none of us were extremely close. This would change. 

​When we left Merida, we knew that we had developed a bond that was unique. We grew to love each other and to rely on each other as family members. In times of excitement, we congratulated each other. In times of sickness, we served each other. In times of sadness, we embraced each other. We accepted each other wherever we were at. We were “El Gran Ocho.” 

​I feel blessed knowing the people we met and who opened themselves up to me and our entire group. First off, thanks Lea for being a perfect co-leader from start till finish. We did it. I would like to personally the children that showed Christ’s face to me and for ignoring my English-ized Spanish. Thank you Amelia and Jose for driving us and answering our variety of questions. Finally, I want to thank Tricia, the head of the Mission of Friendship. She embraced our group and became apart of it. She showed me that if you love those whom you serve, the energy needed to serve will come. Even in sickness, she did all she could ensure that our group would have the best experience. 

​ As I now readjust to Erie’s weather and my daily routine, I will never forget my experience in Merida. I went not knowing what to expect, but open to all the trip had to offer. I left with a strong of a community and a greater confidence in my faith and myself. It came in hot and was always on point. Bingo.

 

Gracias for your support and God bless, Kevin Holland 

 

Home is Where the Heart is

We will forever be bonded as El Gran Ocho. We are glad to be home, but our hearts will forever be in Merida. One more selfie to finish coming in hot.

Plane Selfie!

Coming Home!

¡Lo ciento! We forgot to post last night! We were too tired. We went to a nursing home and played Bingo. We also tried to paint the daycare equipment  but it rained. We went to Nurva Vida and took the girls to the park. It was a perfect night. We went home and ate pizza as we did our reflections and said goodbye to our friends. We are now boarding our flight to Cleveland. We're missing Merida already and are sad to be away from our friends.

El Gran Ocho's New Album is Coming in Hot to a Country Near You!

Kevin's 2k15 Church Tour... Coming Soon to a City Near You

There are more, but we feel like this is enough for you. 

Different Places, One Home

Kevin wanted to see the many churches of Merida, so he and Janet went on an expedition to find as many churches as possible. The rest of the group decided to go to the Mayan Ruins. We learned a lot about the culture of the Mayans and how it has changed throughout the years. We took a lot of cute pictures playing on the ancient pyramids and were able to swim in a cenote. A cenote is a sunken lake. In the Yuketan, there are no visible streams or lakes, they are all interconnected underground. It was a very cool experience as it was very hot today. On a whim, we decided to go to the beach which was only 15 minutes away. It was one of the most beautiful places we have ever seen. We were overwhelmed by the kindness of the man who let us use his access to the beach. We headed home and Sammy made the best toast of everyone's lives for dinner. We headed to our friend Amelia's ice cream shop and saw some Yuketecan dancing. We visited another church and learned about St. Lucy. We came home and made team shirts for our trip home. We are sad to leave Merida, but we are excited for our last day! Peace and blessings! 

Always on the Run🏃

The day kept runnin along, but it ended pretty solid. We're keeping our energy up and learning new sides of eachother. Some of our group went to lay a cement floor while others enjoyied the company of a sister parish priest. We're sharing plenty of laughs and we're open to all that this trip has to offer. It was extremely hot here today, good thing we took care of eachother and made it through the day. We went on a cemetery tour this evening and learned a lot about the culture and significance of death in the Yukatecan. The way death was handled changed through Mayan times as the Spanairds came into the Yukatan. It was very interesting to see the many grave stones and learn the history. We are excited for a new day tomorrow and a fresh night's sleep.

It is in Giving that We Recieve

We visited the different parts of the Mission of Friendship today. We met so many beautiful children and adults at the home of Janet's Yukatecan family, the medical dispensary, a sister parish, Los Amiguitos (the day care), and Nueva Vida (an after school program for girls 5-12). We began preparing the daycare equipment which is to be repainted tomorrow. We also had a lesson with Jose about Yukatecan fruit! We are in love with Merida and are eagerly anticipating all of the experiences we will continue to have this week! 

Globos y Burbujas

We traveled to a near by village with a Mayan name we can only spell phonetically. We helped with a clothing drive in a church that was built by donations from the diocese of Erie. We met many new friends, many who were children. We increased our Spanish speaking abilities as we learned new colors of balloons. We also had a lot of fun playing with bubbles and enjoyed the smiles of the children who we encountered.  

We met a man named Ernesto, who invited us into his home. He showed us a cenote. A cenote is an underground water system found here in the Yucatán. We originally thought that we were just going to see this underground water system, but he openly invited us into his home. We met his family, tried the tortillas that his wife and mother-in-law were making, and saw his backyard. He was ecstatic about the bathroom that the Mexican government had given to his family. Many other residents of the village were not fortunate enough to have bathrooms. He also had many turkeys, chickens, and roosters in his backyard. His family also grew many different vegetables such as radishes, squash, peppers, and lemons. He was very kind to us and we appreciated the open hospitality of a man who we met just passing by on the street.

In the afternoon we had the opportunity to go to a Hacienda. A Hacienda is a plantation. The haciendas were established by the Spaniards when they came to Mexico. Many of them tore down the pyramids and the Mayan people suffered as slaves. They worked very hard and were unable to break free of the work in the haciendas, due to the currency they were paid, which was only able to be used in the store is owned by the owner of the Hacienda. Though they environment and buildings were beautiful, it was difficult for us to realize the polar opposite between the poverty of Ernersto and his family compared to the extreme wealth of the man who owns the Hacienda.

We made dinner and are now on our way to a park in the neighborhood. We are excited to see what tonight and tomorrow has to offer. ¡Buenas noches!

Explorers of the World Uknight!

We had so much fun exploring downtown Merida. We went to mass at the cathedral. The church was massive and it was very cool that we were able to follow the mass in all of its parts! We saw the municipal building and went on an adventure through an old mansion. We had our first taste of genuine Mexican cuisine. Yummy! Then we explored the square and did some shopping. Kevin was delighted to have found a familiar piece of home, Dairy Queen. We missed our stop coming home from the city and made new friends. We are off to grocery shop and are excitedly awaiting our night!

¡En Vivo from Merida!

We made it!

¡Bienvenidos! We had a lot of fun traveling to Merida. We parted ways with the L'Arche Mexico group in the Houston airport. Upon our arrival to Merida, we went to an outdoor music festival. We explored downtown and got our first taste of the Mexican Culture. We saw traditional dances of the states of Mexico and many street vendors. We have had a wonderful day full of adventure and are ready for the week to come! 

Family bonding☀️💛🌞

Going for a surf!

We made it to the Lone Star State!

We spy warmer weather!

And We're Off!

We are finally on our way to Mexico! Before we get there, we wanted to tell you a little about ourselves! 

My name is Abigail Jebaratnam. I am from Midland, Michigan. I am a Physician Assistant major. Some of my likes include watching tv, hanging out with my friends and going on adventures :) I dislike birds and cats. I wanted to go to Mexico because I am interested in specializing in women's health so I would love experience working specifically with girls.  

Name: Leah Johnson

Hometown: Jamestown, NY

Major: Social Work

Likes: Superhero movies, black coffee, and puppies

Dislikes: Horror movies, spilled coffee, and wasps

Why Mexico: When I was applying to be a leader, I was drawn to the idea of working with children in my ABST experience. I am so excited to be part of this trip, as I think that it will give me wonderful experience, both as a person, and as a social worker.

Name: Kevin Holland 

Hometown: Erie, PA 

Major: History, Third Year Seminarian for the Diocese of Erie 

Likes/ Dislikes: I love just staying active with different things around campus like Ichthi, Model UN, and whatever activities Mission and Ministry are offering. When I'm doing campus activities, I enjoy just hanging out with friends, playing sports especially basketball, and traveling to somewhere new. On the other side of the spectrum, I don't like things that having my glasses break (it has happened twice) and peanut butter&jelly sandwiches. Other than that, life's pretty good. 

Reason to go to Mexico: I have been interested in going on this trip since my freshman year at Gannon. For the last two spring breaks, I went to Newland, NC and Detroit. So that the fact, the weather could be in the 90s makes me extremely excited.  Plus we are going to work in an area that the Diocese of Erie has directly impacted. As a seminarian for the Diocese of Erie, I can wait to see how we have a connection to somewhere so far away. 

​

Deacon Steve Washek from Erie, PA

I have been ordained a Permanent Deacon for the Diocese of Erie for 10 years.  I am the Director of Campus Ministry at Gannon University

I am hating the snow and cold weather,  I love dogs, and the day after I get back from Mexico I am getting a new  Golden Retriever puppy.  I love tinkering around with the piano also.

I want to go to Mexico because of the relationship Merida has with our Erie Diocese.   I am also very excited about the warm weather.

I'm the Employment Coordinator in the Career Development Office here at Gannon, and an alumnus of the University.  I'm married to Jack, have two adult sons (Joe & John) and one grandson (Camden), who just turned 4 years old!  ....and I have one sassy little dog named Jessie!  I've lived in Erie all my life.  This will be my third trip to the Yucatan as part of the Mission of Friendship, and I'm really looking forward to share the experience with our group  - and I can't wait to see my sponsored family again!!  

My name is Raven Saunders. I am currently a Social Work student here at Gannon. I love helping people and bringing smiles to everyone faces. I enjoy playing the clarinet and participating in band. I don't enjoy walking to class in snow. But the view of the snow covered trees are beautiful and make it worth it. I chose to go to Mexico because I think the Mission of Friendship is a amazing program, and I hope I can share and learn as much as possible from the girls. And I am beyond grateful for this opportunity!

My name is Chelsey Butterbaugh and I am from Loretto PA! I am a Social Work Major. I love to travel and I love to read  I am so excited to go to Meixco and cant wait to serve the people in Merida!

 

Name: Sammy Taylor

Hometown: Erie, PA

Major: Nursing with a Psychology minor

Likes: Netflix, sleeping, mac n'cheese, pizza, and knitting 

Dislikes: being cold, dark green, and vacuuming

Why did I choose Mexico: I love kids. I think they have such a unique insight to the world that is truly beautiful. I am excited to go help out in any way we can. I can't wait to see what this experience holds for me. I am also excited for warmer weather and a sunnier environment!