It's been a while, I know. Life has been quite full these past 3 weeks with the main event making it so being the dedication of Casa Guadalupe, Daniel's project. See here for some more pictures and a bit from one of the friars. Notice my brother Fr. Brian in the top photo. My immediate family and a friend of Fr. Brian's came down for the weekend of the dedication. But the Tuesday before, some Associates (friends) of the Friars from New York came down to help prepare the building for the event. There were 8 of them along with two extra friars and two sisters (Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal). I volunteered to cook for the 8 Associates and the Friar in charge of them since my family would be coming in a few days and I would be cooking for them, too. It was a bit of work and planning but was a lot of fun. Daniel was extremely busy with getting the building's electrical to a certain point so that we'd have the lights for the chapel and some other areas ready for the dedication and surrounding events. He also had the job of directing all the helpers in finding work to do and such. Though my family got to work cleaning and setting up and helping with electrical (ceiling fans and lights), we also made it around the town and up in the mountains a bit.
Here's my dad in the market, always a must see when visiting. Can't beat cheap fresh fruits and veggies. As you can tell by the faces of the vendors, we were a site to see for them...a truck full of nine adult "gringos" and two young "gringitos."
Even Juan Pablo "helped" and really enjoyed having lots of extra people with whom to play. Emmanuel is walking in the background.
This is the chapel set up for Mass the morning of the dedication. Daniel is the one sitting in the chair. At that point, he said he had done all he could do. Everything else would be finished after.
Fr. Brian in his work clothes cleaning screens.
Brent poses in front of a truckload of mattresses which he helped unload. Those were used the next weekend for the Youth 2000 retreat (called "Pan de Vida" here) at which there were about 200 kids.
Bradley wires in lights in the entryway.
Joe (Fr. Brian's friend) and Melanie put together ceiling fans. Their makeshift workspace is one of the two large dining rooms.
Mom cleans and helps keep up with the boys at the same time. She's in one of the dining rooms by the dish washing sinks.
Family photo up out of the city a bit.
Associates gardening in the green space behind the chapel.
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