Sumergeme - Jesus Adrian Romero

This year, I had the privilage to live Holy week in a completely different way. The week started off with Pascua Infantil at Oratorio Don Bosco. The volunteers with some jovenes from the oratory developped a 3 day activity with the children of catechism in order for them to understand Easter and come together.

In the afternoons, we went to visit a foster home. 4 nuns own this home and run with lots of love for the 60 boys who presently are living 24 hours / 7 days a week in this home. This was a wonderful oppertunity because we literally just arrived with soccer balls, hoola hoops, one guitar and some milk and cookies and played all afternoon. These boys were very excited to have us around because they spent most of their free time playing outside with each other anyways. With fixed games and activities, the boys easily gained a lot of trust and shared many stories about their own lives and how much they now cared and loved us. We also wrote a song with them! Well, they wrote the song, and we are presently having it recorded and I pray you all get to hear it and understand it very soon. This is something that they did with our help and kind of counts as an anthem for these children who have eachother, and just want to be loved, with the favor of God. During my time with these kids, i saw a lot of very powerful things. It brought me back to

those days that I had the chance to experience in the orphanage of Tijuana. All these kids want is somebody to be their friend and not be dissappointed. Considering they come from messed up backrounds, all they want is for someone to show up and make them smile.This was exactly what we did and there really is not anything greater than just seeing a kid feel happy. Little but fierce boys, coming and hugging the volunteers and just holding hands and wanting to play. We will be keeping in touch with this Casa Hogar and hope to keep this bond for the future because just like the project of LaBrigada, it is very simple to see how present the Salesians can be wherever there are kids. And Don Bosco said over and over again ´´IT is not enough for them to be loved, they need to know that they are loved.´´ When we left, they did not think we would come back, and they expressed their feelings very clearly. So we will be bhack, once we figure out our schedules and we will be playing with these angels. 

I spent Holy Thursday at Don Bosco. Fun fact, you can bring any bread to be blessed on Holy Thursday and their is a time alotted during the mass where the priest walks around with the holy water, blessing the bread inside the bag you brought it in. SUPER COOL! The Ortegas gave me a piece of bread to be blessed, and once mass is over everyone just eats their bread! It tasted delicious, i think because it was holy :) Once mass was over, they used the Circus room as the adoration room.

It was beautifully decorated and the Blessed Sacrement was exposed for 3 hours after mass. Every hour, a group would come and take over the space and lead their own adoration ways. I went with the jovenes to finish off their Pascua Juvenil for the day and we played some games and about a half hour before it was our turn to be resent in adoration, we had a kareoke activity ... WORSHIP SONG KAREOKE! 50 young people, in one room with music and projecting the kareoke version of spanish worship songs was really something unbelievable and powerful. Call me a Jesus freak but I really enjoyed this moment, It was also a very deep and intense moment for the jovenes that were really living this Easter experience together. 

 Good Friday started off with a Via Crucis in the streets of Domingo Savio. This was one of the most beautiful traditions I have ever witnessed. Every year, a group from the oratory will put on the Via Crucis, and walk around the neighborhood. They did it so well, and it was the most perfect way to start off Good Friday - with the Passion of our Lord. Walking in the streets is what really made the difference for me. I got to experience the Passion in a real way. What also amazed me was the amount of people following this pilgramage, as if we were really walking with Jesus through his trial. AFter the Via Crucis, we spent some time with Nallely watching the passion, the way they do it in Mexico. Did you know, the biggest representation of the Passion and Via Crucis is in Mexico City and they make is so real. They actually walk 8 hours to a mountain while really beating and whipping him. They people really sacrifice a lot to feel what Jesus did. Also, there are still parts of the world, such as the Philipines, where some people really are crucified. To feel what Jesus felt, to have the same marks and be one with the Lord through his times of suffering! I didnt know that was possible. The celebration of Good Friday was a beautiful one -once it ended, there

was another walk. This one is called La Marcha en Silencio, The Silent Walk. We walk the streets with the cross and the statue of the Virgin of Sorrows. Literally, not one person peaks during this walk - it is a time to reflect and be with Mary grieving the death of her son. The only sounds you hear was the sound of 3 bass drums that were leading the walk. Everytuime they would beat the drum, you would feel this gut feeling in your chest. Anybody had the chance to carry the cross or the statue, alot of people would take turns. Alma, Nallely and myseklf walked a little

less than the last half with the statue of the Virgin and brought her into the church to end the procession. Once we placed Mother MAry with the cross, the entire congregation stayed present and we said the rosary together. This was a beautiful and powerful moment. The entire church filled with faithful members, praying the rosary. The night ended in silence, a real way to really feel that it was a day of grief. Nallely said something to the young people that really caught my attention, the feeling of the day of Good Friday is not supposed to be a joyful one.

Big sister Nallely 

She straight up just told them ´´ today your brother died, he was nailed to a cross - they killed him... why are you smiling.´´ When i heard that I kind of just stood there in awe for a second, and it is true. I feel like through these days and through these faithful people, I have learnt so much of what I thought I already knew. But it is true, it is a day of grieving for not only a King, but our own brother died for us. That is pretty intense.  The next day, bright and early, I went on another pilgramage. This time, longer and way more intense than the two from yesterday. We walked up tot he highest mountain where there is really big cross. It was literally walking in a dessert (i do live in a dessert but walking in a mountain that did not have trees or anything but the sun just hitting you really is walking through the real desert). Once we got up to the top, we spoke about Mother Mary and her role in Easter and we took the time to share our time and reflections with the others. I walked back with Nallely who had been living with us all weekto live out a week of service as well. If you haven´t heard me speak about Nallely yet, let me tell you how beautiful this person is. I am so blessed and grateful to have met her and gotten to know her. She has been my big sister here, taking care of me from the very begining and she is someone I will be keeping in my heart literally for the rest of time. You know how Don Bosco says ´ Give me souls, take away the rest.´ Well Nallely is a soul seeker and saver, shes saving mine. This walk was a good relaxing little trip (even though we walked for 3 hours).

Can almost touch heaven

 

Taking the time to reflect on the last few days, and how tongiht was going to be the biggest mass of all the masses in the whole entire world where Jesus resurrects for us. Overall, it was beyond amazing. I am really grateful to have lived this Holy Week in Juarez. The different culture made a big difference but what amazed me more was the willingness and faith of the people that were coing tot he services and activities. The oratory was full - there were more than 30 people in Adoration until 12 am. Theres are people of great faith, really living out their faith.

Testify To Love - Wyonna Judd

CANADIANS VISIT CIUDAD JUAREZ.

On April 1st, 2014 - after trying to understand what Idali was trying to keep from me, i came come and Padre Quirarte told me to get my passport and accompany him to the airport in El Paso. Stuck in traffic for an hour and being super annoying we finally got the airport where the flight was delayed an hour. -_- Cat, still not know who would be arriving through the doors of the aiport, was super impatient and imagined every single Canadian i knew coming to visit me. Literally - I pictured every single person I knew.
After an hour, I see my colorful back pack all the way across the room and look at Quirarte AND REALIZE MY LITTLE SISTER IS IN THIS AIRPORT BECAUSE SHE HAS MY SCHOOL BACK!

I welcomed Claudia, Mary, my mommy and my little sister Bruna into my home
in Ciudad Juarez. A whole week with Bruna aaksjdfasjkdfjkasdf. Can you imagine how exciting this was?

They got to participate in Brigadas at the three oratories in with us, got to live in community with the Salesians and other volunteers and over all I am really happy they got to meet Daniela, my little Mexican sister. She was supposed to leave the same day they arrived but didn´t end up leaving. Little Canadian sister met her little Mexican sister.The fact that my real blood family got to meet my real missionary family was a blessing and I am thankful for this oppertunity because both sides represent a very big part of me. A big opart of the way i work and the way I am because of the way I was raised. 

Cho and Alma being all Canadian 

My mommy brought us real Canadian Maple Syrop. The community ended up finishing my bottle in 4 days (thank you CHO) The volunteers and many children were really happy to receive gifts from my country. Remember, I am the first and only Canadian to come through the organization and live in this house, in my opinion this was very exciting to have more Canadians sharing our pride.

Bruna got to eat real tacos finally! The thing with Bruna, that most of you don´t know, is that she actually thinks the only thing Mexicans eat are tacos. the number of snapchats and comments I have recieved from her about tacos is ridiculous. Obviously we brought her to eat some real, mouth watering mmmm I want more tacos. Now you can go and fly little birdy, tell all your friends you have eaten tacos along with many other things throughout the week and stop being racist towards my people.

The children of the oratories during the Brigadas were excited to see new faces present with us throughout our projects. Althought they did not speak the same language, they got by with their Italian and speaking some English. It was really moving to see how quick the kids connected to the four without hesitation. That was one of the reasons I felt so comfortable in the oratories and so quickly when I arrived. These children and the young people seek affection and want to be loved, regardless of the language, as Jesus showed us, we can all speak in the same language of love. Little acts of kindness and giving your full attention to each and every child is what makes them smile and trust. I have learnt this and I am really happy that I got to witness others learning this so quickly.

Family going ziplining en el Oratorio Domingo Savio

As I mentioned to my Canadians, it is all about being a witness. Their visit to Ciudad Juarez was only a week, but in one week they saw, felt and got to experience so many good things that I pray they can bring back and share with others. About how this city is not broken, but it is so beautiful. And knowing the work I am doing, the Salesians are doing and the Salesian community in general is doing is really for the gr

eater glory. It is not based of selfish acts, or because I want to give what I have – it is really because God calls us all to go and serve. He calls us to be friends of the young and the poor and what better way of doing all this than with joy in the same way Don Bosco taught us though his own missionary experience.

Juabn Carlos, my director and a very good friend also took this week to come and visit and work with us throughout the week. I miss him and am super excited for his own missionary experience that he will be taking. I ask you to pray for him, for the month of May especially as God continues to use him as an instrument of his love. The same way he sends us to be missionaries and does all this great work for the young people - it is his turn!

My people :D

Thank you so much for coming and surprising me with your presence in my home. I know I extended my time in Mexico but now you understand why. The people and the work in this city is amazing and I pray you can continue spreading the word for me, let more people know how beautiful Ciudad Juarez is. I love you.  

Hands made by JP2 kids in MTL and being shared with the catechism kids in Ciudad Juarez.