My parents moved into a shack... literally.

As many of you know, my family has been involved in a sister relationship through our Church with the community of Haciendita Uno (HU) in El Salvador. I have been blessed to be able to spend time in this community on two different occasions in the past two years.

One of the committments we have made to the community of HU is to support the education of their young people. For almost five years we have funded the elementary, middle and high school educations of their children by providing books, uniforms and school supplies. The children, in return, have studied very hard and done remarkably well!

Licho (red shirt) and Wardo (blue), my host brothers.

Now, many of these children are old enough and elidgible to attend college. Almost all of these children will be the first to attend college in their families. Our parish has pledged to help make their dream of a college education a reality.

It costs $13,200 to send one Salvadoran student through college (a six-year program). Our parish has currently pledged to pay for five students to attend and are trying to raise the remaining $33,000 needed to do so!

To raise awareness and help with fundraising, my parents have moved into a Salvadoran-style make shift house on the property of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Plymouth, MI. The house has no heat, no running water (hence no shower) and no electricity. They are living like our friends in El Salvador and have pledged to continue doing so until all of the money has been raised.

The makeshift house.

If you are interested in learning more about this project, or even helping to fundraise, please visit my dad's blog at deacondonleach.blogspot.com.

Peace and all good, Turtles!

Packrat

I moved into a new apartment over the weekend. I was done with dorm living and jumped on the opportunity to rent a beautiful five-bedroom apartment with three of my friends.

The problem with moving is... packing. I had twice as much stuff as I thought. I'm not talking trash either, I am just talking about those everyday things (dishes, fans, bedding clothes, etc) that we accumulate to help us limp through life.

The Gospel today is quite challenging for packrats. Jesus says to give up "everything" to follow him.

I understand that when Jesus says "everything" he really means "everything." Jesus is asking his disciples to give up their posessions, relationships, desires and plans for the future. But this is a very tall order.

A more contemplative friend once explained to me the importance of detaching yourself from small things, like physical posessions, before attempting to detach from larger things. After looking at my things all packed in boxes... I need to start immediately!

I am leaving to follow Jesus.... should I take my extra coffee pot?

Peace Turtles!