Happy Birthday to me! 36! I am in the first of 3 weeks of orientation to missionary life on the campus of MACC (Mexican American Catholic College). I arrived in San Antonio August 2nd after 9 pm fully expecting to take a cab but was instead greeted by the some very enthusiastic faces holding up a piece of notebook paper with my name scribbled on it. It was unprecedented, but the missionaries as a group had taken the community van to the airport to pick up the remaining 2 of 8 missionaries arriving late in the evening. Paula was the last to arrive from the United Kingdom and was clearly moved as I was to see such warm and welcoming faces.

We are a rather congenial group. Each of us have been called by name. It is a vocation. As you read the bios, note the unique gifts and strengths each person brings. Now, I believe introductions are in order:

To be joining 2 existing missionaries @ the Santa Fe, Mexico Mission Site are:

Lisa, 22 from MO went to school in Chicago for Advertising/ Public relations. Avid runner & fellow yoga enthusiast. Also about the same level of Spanish as I (Rosetta Stone I) Very positive, likes to work with kids.

Melissa, 22 also went to school in Chicago with a degree in social work. Loves living in community. Her mother passed away as a child but has been a guiding light through out this process. Dream weaver. Also likes to work with children.

There is a brand new mission site in Monterrey, Mexico. These trail blazers are :

Andrea 22, Biology & Math major - future MD from St. Mary's in Indiana. Loves salsa. Spent last summer in South America. Infectious laugh.

Michael, 24, Biology major also future MD from St. Louis. Has worked a year as a Jesuit Volunteer in OH. Very up to date on scripture and liturgy. He is "the guy" in the group and is frequently told "blessed are you among women."

Paula Clarke, 32, from England, has worked with Latin American refugees in London. Fluent in Spanish. Very agreeable person & my room mate @ the MACC.

Linda , early 50s, local of San Antonio & our wheels for getting around the city. Thanks Linda! Amazing strength. Former reporter and employee of the government. Buried both parents last year, survivor of breast cancer and will return briefly in October for her last check up post chemo. This is a culmination of a 13 year dream.

Joining 3 others in Peruvian house are me & :

Jenn, 22, graduate of SLU International studies and theology. Already spent a semester in El Salvador. Fluent in Spanish (yea) and great source for anything Catholic. Kind. Will be doing parish ministry. Also plays the flute.

Yesterday, in morning prayer we were reminded of St. Teresa of Avila

Christ Has No Body
By St. Teresa of Avila

Christ has no body now on earth but yours,
No hands but yours,
No feet but yours,
Yours are the eyes through which is to look out Christ’s compassion to the world;
Yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good;
Yours are the hands with which he is to bless men now.

We are enjoying this time to relax and prepare for mission life. Please check out the photo link to put some faces to the names you read above.