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!