LIFE AND DEATH IN GUATEMALA!

FRIENDS AND FAMILY,

The year 2010 is coming to a close. Yesterday, in the local NEWSPAPER, in bold headlines, was a Guatemalan reality, 6,000 asasinations in Guatemala in 2010. This is almost 500 deaths a month through violence! Truly this is great saddness for this beloved country.

Here in the Clinica Maxeña, daily we also deal with LIFE AND DEATH! There are many premature deaths that could and should be prevented. Health Care continues to be BIG BUSINESS and not a HUMAN RIGHT for every human being. Last week we lost a 34 year old mother to advanced tuberculosis. Her two small children were heart broken as well as her devoted husband. One indeed feels helpless. Even in last minutes in advanced stages, I could not obtain the medications I needed from the Ministry of Health. WHY was she not diagnosed earlier by the local Ministry of Health Clinic.

God gives LIFE and also calls home his children. WE are called, each to care for one another. We are blessed here in the Clinica Maxeña also with accompanying others back to health. As the years ends we are happy to report on the progress of our young AIDS patient, Maria, 13 years old, who was sexually abused, raped, by a family member.

Maria weighed 54 pounds when she came to our clinic less than six months ago. Today she weighs 80 pounds and is smiling. She is talented in embroidery and has been producing some beautiful T-Shirts. She is experiencing some side effects of the medications of her treatment, but she is coping well. She and her mom and siblings are living with an Aunt. Our Clinic personell are accompanying her monthly to obtain her antivirals for AIDS to a clinic two hours away and providing her nutrition supplements.

WE ARE ALL THE HANDS AND FEET OF JESUS! YOUR DONATIONS MAKE POSSIBLE OUR WALKING WITH AND HEALING, CHILDREN OF GOD, WHO COME TO OUR CLINIC! THANK YOU!!!

I enclose a photo of Maria when she first came to our clinic and the picture that was on my CHRISTMAS LETTER! Maria has a cross on that I received from an Irish cousin during my recent journey to Ireland. This cross is from Medjugorie. I want a miracle for MARIA! Thank You for your prayers and financial support.

Send donations to: www.diocesehelena.org and mention that it is for the
CLINICA MAXENA! THANK YOU!!!

SHEILA

Santo Tomas celebrates Feast Day!

Friends and Family,
Before one plans Christmas celebration here in our community, one first enjoys the festivities of the Patron Saint of our town and parish, St Thomas, Apostle. Tomorrow is the actual feast day but nine days before there is a novena with prayers daily in the church. Today and tomorrow there is celebration of Mass and tonight the candle light Procession of the image of St Thomas, carried on a decorated platform, by about twelve men, through the streets of town. The streets are crowded with people late into the night just visiting, roaming the booths, eating some food, and enjoying other small purchases. The statue is carried to the center of activities near the Market and the sky lights up with a firework display. All towns and communities of Guatemala celebrate their Patron Saint; protestants enjoy the festivities although they do not celebrate the spiritual traditions. When we came forty years ago Guatemala was more than 90% Catholic but times have changed.

Simultaneously the youth of the parish and the faithful are accompanying the Posada; these are candlelight processions with the images of the Nativity being carried to a different house each night for the nine days before Christmas. There are christmas carols, and music and prayer on the arrival to the host home. After prayer, bread and hot chocalate or tamales are shared with all those in attendance. It is seen as an honor to host the Posada. The youth of the parish put up the Nativity scene in the church. Church elders white wash the outer stone structure and parishioners assist in painting the walls and providing flowers for the interior of the church.

Christmas day, as a Mission team, we will enjoy christmas dinner together.Midnite mass is at 9PM. No snow but a chill in the air in the evening. From all of us a BLESSED CHRISTMAS FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS!

Merry Christmas from Guatemala

Friends and Family,
I decided to share my Christmas appeal on my BLOG as my friends here need your generosity! It is also getting very cold here for affects of Climatic Change and lack of blankies and sweaters make life difficult, so another thought for a christmas gift!

Dear Friends and Family,
As the spirit of Christmas approaches, lights and small decorations appear in the Market Place and in the homes, plans for Christmas parties are highlighted on agendas, HOPE and PEACE surge in our hearts. The Birth of JESUS at CHRISTMAS reminds us all of HIS presence in our WORLD!

I have just returned from a journey to the homeland of my parents,IRELAND! It was a joyous time for me and also a time of reflection and rest. I could not help to notice the contrast in the environment between Ireland and Guatemala; Ireland with beautiful GREEN trees, clean water in the ocean and rivers, food and laughter in all the homes, no visible garbage on the streets. During 2010, in Guatemala, storm AGATHA brought natural disaster to our surroundings, destroying water sources, highways and some homes. The sea and rivers are contaminated with garbage and the water is murky and overflowing. Hunger and malnnutrition are a daily reality in our clinic. Cupboards are bare, children are ill with respiratory and gastrointestinal disease. There are neither Christmas presents nor trees with ornaments. Guatemala City is in fifth place in the world for VIOLENCE! Many homes suffered loss of family members or grave injustice.

There is still HOPE and JOY in our HEARTS! There are dreams of a better and more just tomorrow. As you celebrate the BIRTH of JESUS, we ask for your prayers. As you make your Christmas List we ask you to give a gift to those with less! We ask you to put the Clinica Maxeña on your Christmas List! I mention some ideas of gifts that would bring joy to those we serve! THANK YOU!

CHRISTMAS JOY FROM THE STAFF OF THE CLINICA MAXEÑA

A CHRISTMAS LIST FROM THE CHRIST CHILD

Consult for Doctor, 10 patients $20.00
1 Ultrasound $40.00
Medicine $100.00
10# of Baby Formula $30.00
ONIL STOVE $100.00
Emergency operation $100.00
Diagnostic tests $20.00
2 wool blankets $30.00

send your gift on line at: www.diocesehelena.org
or send to Diocese of Helena
P:O: Box 1729
Helena, MT
59624
NOTE THAT YOUR DONATION IS FOR THE CLINICA MAXEÑA

Photos included are the Christmas star on top of CLINIC!
A malnourished child before donation of FORMULA
A home with open fire for COOKING
An ONIL STOVE donated to a POOR FAMILY!
THANKS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!
LOVE SHEILA AND ALL FROM THE CLINICA MAXEÑA!

A CHRISTMAS PARTY

Friends and family,
On December 10th, the Clinica Maxeña came together as family to celebrate Christmas with the traditional tamale, our band playing and Singing christmas carols in their native Quiche language, christmas baskets, laughter and christmas HUGS. Most of our clinic workers are on minimal salary, although some have worked more than ten years.
They are all Mayan Indigenous and committed to serve the poor with Joy. They all helped decorate our meeting hall, some bringing branches for the tree, others making decorations from craft paper; the hall with be used by many parish groups for Christmas. Our maintenance crew constructed a beautiful star from pieces of iron, with a DOVE and the words PEACE; it was place on top of the laboratory and can be seen from afar at nite when lit up!

On December 21, our town and also our Parish, will celebrate the Patron Saint, St Thomas Apostle. There will be music, traditional food, booths, fireworks to light up the sky. The huge statue of St Thomas will be dressed in satin attire and carried by forty men through the streets, again with traditional drums and music. The Clinica Maxeña gives the workers two days off to celebrate with family and friends.

I share some photos of our Christmas party! Thank You too for sharing your generosity with our clinic and those we serve.

You can send a donation for our work to www.diocesehelena.org
Note that it is for the Clinica Maxeña!

CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS
Sheila

AND THE RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT!!

Friends and Family,


The Movie, The River Runs Through it! was a very popular movie and was filmed in Montana, my HOME state. As we returned from a march on AIDS, in one of our neighboring townships, we stopped in the home of one of our workers, Manuel. We all had a pop at his small store, in his home. As we approached his home through a back road, we were amazed at a field of green; for me it brought back memories of this movie. We learned that planted in this field is a herb, Berro, that is healthy and a favorite for stews by the Mayan population. This field of green has several owners, as each local owner has a small plot planted. This gorgeous field is irrigated by one of the largest rivers that provides water to the area, the Ixtacapa. What a BLESSING! The owners of this field sell their product in markets of different communities; they also use it in their meals of stew and vegetable patties. This blessing helps prevent hunger in their community and also is healthy to their diet and provides small income for these POOR families.

Many of our workers bought a small bundle of the herb for less than a dollar. It was also an inspiration to our workers for their new clinic project of sustainable agriculture. They saw that it is possible to plant and grow in a small plot, nutritious food for their family consumption, and also make additional profit for their family expenses.

Please stay tuned for more news on OUR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PROJECT OF THE CLINICA MAXEÑA in 2011!! Thanks and Blessings. Sheila

Remember to donate on line at:
www.diocesehelena.org
NOTE THAT IT IS FOR THE CLINICA MAXEÑA

WORLD DAY OF AIDS!

Friends and Family,

Friday all the clinic personell, who are PASTORAL HEALTH FOR OUR PARISH, took the afternoon off to March for education and prevention of AIDS! December 1 was WORLD DAY FOR AIDS,proclaimed by the UNITED NATIONS. We chose to do education and a MARCH in one of our townships, Xejuyup. We went in our jeep, two pickups with posters taped to our vehicles, a Banner of the Bishops Conference for compassion for AIDS victims and band instruments. We were surprised by a spring rain fall as we approached the community but it did not dampen our spirit. Band members jumped out of the trucks in the rain and the music started; the banner was carried by others, and the clinic personell chatted individually with those they encountered on the way.

We all wore the red ribbon, as a reminder of the Day for Prevention of Aids. We also made smaller ribbons to pin on the people, and distributed a prayer for victims of AIDS, composed by a Maryknoll priest, Dan Jensen. THANK YOU DAN! We had the clinic loud speaker roped to the jeep as our AIDS representative, Lyncho gave instruction and information in spanish followed by translation in Mayan Quiche by Manuel, native of XEJUYUP.

Our Clinic Laboratory does do Laboratory testing for HIV and we accompany patients with AIDS to the clinic for meds, especially when they are of low income and need translation to spanish. Medications are provided by the Ministry of Health. Our state of Suchitepequez is in fourth place for AIDS victims, not an honor for sure.

We ask for your prayers and financial support for our Program in AIDS prevention. We do have the support of a Mayan Quiche Psycologist who works with AIDS nationally and comes to our clinic to give individual support. He lives in a neighboring town and is always welcome to our clinic. He also has given talks to our youth in our town of Santo Tomas and also the mountain village through Pastoral for youth of our parish.

Send you donation to www.diocesehelena.org

thanks, SHEILA

Enclosed fotos of the day and the banner that hangs across the entrance of our MISSION:

Dental care for the POOR is minimal!

Family and Friends,

This past week our dental health promotor, Manuel, traveled to Chiapas, Mexico, with 30 other Guatemalan promotors with the Association of Health Promotors in Guatemala, ASECSA. Dental care for the Poor is a luxury. The Poor do not approach a clinic until the dental pain is an issue for them; usually thier teeth are decayed, missing, or infected. Dental care by a professional dentist and materials for dental prophylaxis are not in the budget of the Clinica Maxeña.

Manuel, our Dental health Promotor is able to do extractions, and clean teeth. As mentioned, unfortunately when patients arrive, extraction is the only remedy. If a patient comes with a tooth that can be saved Manuel instructs them to go to a dentist in the next community. Manuel will go again in March for four days for another workshop; this will happen in Guatemala. This last workshop was mostly theory and in March they will receive also practice in dental care.

The Association of Health Promotors is ASECSA. This organization is in existence more than thrity years and the Clinica Maxeña was one of five founding Health Programs. More than sixty health programs in the rural area are now members of this organization; all would have Mayan Indian health promotors serving in their clinics and preventive programs. Many of our workers have received health education, especially in nutrition and agriculture and Medicinal Plants. A Chemical Biologist from this association oversees our Medicinal Plant clinic.

This association will also give accompaniement and technical advice and some seeds for a sustainable agricultural project we have begun with our workers. The dream is that this project will grow and help bring some solution to Hunger! Thank you for your interest and donations to those we serve.

You can send your donation on line at:
www.diocesehelena.org
Note that it is for the Clinica Maxeña.
Thank YOU!!

Love Sheila
Attatched a picture of Manuel, our Dental Health Promotor performing an extraction of a tooth in our clinic.

WORLD DAY OF DIABETES

Friends and family,
All of us have family members, friends who live with DIABETES! It is a serious disease but one learns to live with. THE UNITED NATIONS HAS DECLARED DIABETES A World Wide EPIDEMIC. World Day of DIABETES was November 14. The CLINICA MAXEÑA commemorated the day today. Diet, Exercise, Medication, are the keys to success and living a healthy life with this disease. Today in the clinic, 65 persons attended the forum where our Doctor EVER, himself a diabetic, presented the theme. Glucometer checks and Blood Pressure checks were also done. Four new Diabetics were diagnosed, including one of our cooks. Several known diabetics, type 2, had glucoses over 300. Our clinic also promotes medicinal plants for Diabetes. These medicinal plants are more acceptable in the MAYAN culture and important to support chemical medicine with our patients. The Ministry of Health provides no medications. The Clinica Maxeña also has a Diabetic Club. We hope in 2011 to have many new members. Our emphasis is on NUTRITION and Exercise. THANK YOU FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT. Patients with Type 1 cannot afford Insulin so most of our patients receiven this medication free of charge and also the syringes. Blood glucose in our laboratory is less than three dollars. PLEASE HELP US in our STRUGGLE TO CONTROL DIABETES. THANK YOU!!!

Enclosed are pictures of WORLD DAY OF DIABETES! including Dr Ever presenting theme.
I also include a picture of THANKSGIVING DINNER; SRS MARY AND ANNA and Father Hazy. I took the picture and our volunteer, Jake Nistler is in language School. So Belated Happy Thanksgiving Day from all of us.

COFFEE HARVEST TIME

Friends and Family,
Yesterday I traveled a bit around the coffee production and sales in our area. Coffee has a good price this year on exportation. Unfortunately it does not have a good harvest for most of the people about us with small plots of coffee bushes. The storm AGATHA destroyed much of the flowering of the coffee trees, resulting with fewer red coffee beans. Pickers, including small children, rise at dawn, crowd into back of local trucks, and head out to pick coffee for the larger land owners. They are paid three dollars to pick 100 pounds of the humid bean, about eight hours in the hot sun. Here in our community the biggest plantation owner, with seven plantations of coffee, is receiving 208. dollars for each 100# of coffee, dried and toasted. His coffee is loaded with chemicals. There are many middle man coffee buyers and as always the POOR are those who recieve little or no profit for all their labor. Most field workers near us would own if any a small plot that would produce only a few hundred pounds of the humid coffee.

A Fair Trade Coffee Cooperative in one of the mountain villages, was founded over forty years ago by a Montana Priest, and continues to produce and export organic coffee. We can purchase this coffee here direct from the Cooperative but we cannot export it. This preparing the coffee for export is a WOMAN´s project and the coffee carries the label "Coffee Feminina". It is indeed a success story for our MISSION!

Remember the little coffee producers in your prayer when you drink your Coffee LATTÉ
each morning. AND BE SURE TO DRINK ONLY ORGANIC, FAIR TRADE COFFEE! THANKS!!

Little Val is now an ANGEL!

Friends and Family,
I did mispell my lttle patient´s name in my last blog, if you read it. It is Valitoriano or lit´l VAL. They did not operate the second time on this infant,as mentioned. We opted to send him to city yesterday at dawn to Roosevelt Hospital and I made contact with a good friend and Chief of Pediatric surgery. His health was critical but he appeared stable. Unfortunately VAL died unexpectedly from a respiratory complication, within three hours, though surgery was anticipated.
Unfortunately retrieving him for chrisitan burial is difficult and expensive in Guatemala. It is most important in the Mayan Culture, and in any culture, to be able to bury your own.
One of our workers and the dad, who had gone in the ambulance from one hospital to the other when he went, were in the hospital when he died. Right away the process to bring him home began. We were not anticipating his death so we had not send our worker with sufficient money for this emergency but friends in city responded to our need. The problem began when they made his death, for whatever reason, a legal incident. Unfortunately also was that his final document referred to him as a female, another complication. Funeral Homes somehow got my number from the hospital and I was inudated with phone calls wanting our business. We do our own, THANK YOU! With a few more calls to friends I did get a funeral Home that helps the Pediatric Cancer Hospital at a very reasonalbe rate to help our worker with the very complicated legal process. The fact it was now a legal incident, more paper work, an autopsy, and more money were needed.
We had paid our town ambulance to meet and bring back the infants body and our workers. They finally left the city but without the body, after midnite. The mother has to go in tomorrow! The father has to provide a document that he is married to the mother, of course he was not carrying it, and also her presence required. Today I will get a document from hospital of the birth of Val in the National Hospital since the Father does not yet have a birth certificate. Tomorrow they will go in again, the parents and our worker, CHICO; and hopefully bring him home for burial. Accompanying this family until the burial of their son is important to us as CLINIC and as PASTORAL HEALTH of our church.

Reality is that for most of the people we serve, fear the hospital, especially when they are gravely ill. They prefer to die at home, and with reason. We hope we can get more of our patients to advise us when they send a family member to the hospital so we can accompany them and help them in decisions. This baby should have had emergency surgery at birth for an intestinal obstruction but the parents were
afraid to say yes and especially to send their infant to the city. We did not become aware of his condition until they brought him to the clinic nine days later in crisis.

Yesterday was my birthday! I was busy but perhaps it also made me more aware of the precisous gift of LIFE! I had a good birthday also!

Thank You for accompanying us in care of the Poor we serve in our parish clinic.

Donations to www.diocesehelena.org Mention for the Clinica Maxeña!

THANK YOU!!!

THE GIFT OF LIFE

Friends and family,
I have been very busy since my return from vacation, no time to write, but for me it is important to share the lives of the people we serve.

At the moment we have a two week old infant, clinging to life. As I am writing this, he is entering the operating room for the second time in a week. His name is Vilatoriano, an unusual name in the Mayan culture. This infant was born in the National Hospital. Most babies have midwives and deliver in the community, usually not in the best of conditions. They go to a hospital only with complication or emergency. Vilatorio´s birth was apparently normal, but he had an intestinal obstruction. The parents were afraid to send him to the city at birth as recommended by the Pediatrician. Instead they took him home in their arms. Nine days after birth they arrived at the clinic; he had begun to vomit stool and the little breast milk he was receiving. His little abdomen was distended. We rushed him back to the hospital.

That same evening, he was operated by a qualified Pediatric surgeon, in the same National Hospital where he was born. Ordinarily these cases would be sent to Guatemala City where there are more seasoned specialists, and equipment. The largest government Hospital in the city, THE ROOSEVELT, is again on strike. The first surgery has failed. There is not adequate diagnostic equipment available in this national hospital and they are not really sure of the origin of the obstruction. Please say a prayer for this infant and for his parents for a successful outcome of the second surgery. His mother has found another infant in the community to breast feed. This is important so her milk does not dry and common in the Mayan culture.

Thank You for your support that makes our service possible with the most poor in Guatemala.

Send a donation for the Clinica Maxeña at:
www.diocesehelena.org

Love, Sheila

ALL SAINTS AND ALL SOULS DAY!

Friends and Family,
Back home to another world after a wonderful rest and sharing with relatives in Ireland and England. I am richly blessed!

Yesterday I walked through the cemetery in town and visited with many of the people of our community,who sat quietly on graves of their loved ones. November 1st and 2nd; All Saints and All Souls day, in the Catholic Tradition, are celebrated throughout the country. Banks and many businesses are closed for the day. Our clinic also pauses to give opportunity for workers to be present to their families and departed loved ones. Candles glowing, flood the cemetery as people vigil through the night. Live bands go grave to grave, some say it is to wake the dead to be present with them. There are few fancy headstones; rather family members repaint the tombs and put anew the names and day of death on the tomb stone. Flowers are on practically every grave, even the most poor; sometimes flowers are gathered from the roadsides when they cannot be bought.

Guatemala City is recognized as the fifth most violent city in the world, not exactly an honor. Premature death from violence and increased poverty is a sad reality for many families!

Today by 6am all the numbers to see our doctor were gone, even though the clinic officially opens at 8am. Consult is $2.00, for those who can pay. The numbers of sick increases and poverty and hunger are on the rise. Tomorrow one of our female workers of 18 years will have surgery for cervical cancer in a private hospital. We will accompany her every step of the way. Ironically she is the person who performs papanicolau smears in our clinic regularly. Our maintenance person of 15 years is in diabetic crisis. Chico, the worker who accompaniews patients to city hospitals, returned with a patient being treated for sarcoma in the Cancer Hospital. We are grateful for your support and we dare to reach out to ask for your help and support. We who have been given much, much is expected of us!! Blessings and THANK YOU!

Donations can be made on line at: www.diocesehelena.org or send to
Guatemala Mission
Diocese of Helena
P.O. Box 1729
Helena, Montana
59624 NOTE IT IS FOR NURSES FUND!

THANKS AGAIN!
SHEILA

Journey comes to a Happy End!

Friends and family,
I will be back in new York with my sister and family tomorrow night!
My last days have been busy as I met with more cousins and with a special aunt, JOSIE and her husband Fred. I then spent two wonderful days with the CSJP sisters at Sacred Heart Convent. Time really to slow down to give thanks to the Lord for a safe and wonderful time with family and friends.

Since both my parents were immigrants from Ireland, I have few relatives in the United States. It was wonderful to spend time with my cousins and to realize how large our family is and what very special people they are. Josie is our last living AUNT and again a very wonderful, gentle woman. The last evening with cousins we went to an Irish Pub, in England, where they let the doggies come in and feel welcome with a bowl of water and a doggie treat!

In visiting Sacred Heart Convent, I met Sister Brigid, who had just celebrated 100 years of LIFE! She is alert, smiling and very present to those around her. It was a privilege to pose with her.
Next week I will go the CSJP Assembly in New Jersey and then HOME to Guatemala. Thank you for accompanying me on my JOURNEY!

A few more Photos!!

Maureen and Mike with Aunt Josie and her husband Fred
Cousin Lorna and her daughter Hatty
ME and Hebie the Pooch at the PUB!
Sister Brigid, CSJP and myself at Sacred Heart Convent
AMEN!!!

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES!

Friends and family,
I have spent many days in London with family and again joyful times. I have been staying with my cousin Sheila, and was able to celebrate with the family her 80th
birthday; many cousins again present. My travels by plane, train, and bus have fallen in place without a hitch. For mwe this has been such a special journey as we have few relative in the United States. The faith of our relatives run deep and I have felt richly blessed by the heritage of my family, our irish roots.

When I was on the train from Cork back to Dublin, I sat with a delightful gentleman from Belfast, a Presbyterian. I found our chat very informative as I must say I have never understood much about Northern Ireland. He laughed when I referred to Belfast as Ireland. He said I am British and Belfast is part of Northern Ireland, the UNITED KINGDOM!! OHHH! When I asked my cousin in London later if he was Englis or British, without hesitation he said "I AM IRISH"!! London IRISH!!!

I met with some former missionary friends of Guatemala in London and also Donegal. The bond of friendship of missionaries is very profound as we have shared so many realities, good and bad, in Central America, during very difficult times. We share so many common friends and it was wonderful to catch up.

I have one more very special missionary to connect with, a special aunt and a few more cousins. My journey here not over yet as I will also go to the Convent of the CSJP Congregation, of which I am an associate, in Rearsby England, and then back to New York.

Included a picture with former volunteers, Anne and Madge in Downtown London!
My cousin Sheila, on her 80th Birthday
SHEILA WITH HER SONS, Joe and Brenda, their wives, Gillian and Sunita and all the grandchildren!

THE BEAUTY OF IRELAND!

FRIENDS AND FAMILY,
My days and nights in Ireland have gone so fast. From Dublin, to Donegal, to the shores of County Cork. I am tired but happy. It has been wonderful to be with cousins and share stories of our parents.
That generation is now in the HEAVENS with our GOD. Mom and dad were both born near the sea; both grandfathers were well known fishermen in the area. My dad, the only son sent to America, worked hard in the Butte Mines and died there so many years ago. He never was able to return home and could afford to send little money to his family, living difficult times in Ireland. There was no pot of gold for the immigrants then and that is still a reality for immigrants today. I brought mom home to IRELAND forty years ago and we were able to visit her siblings and families and also my dads so this is my second visit with most of my cousins. I had vowed to keep a diary of my days but that seemed impossible to slow and at the end of day I slept peacefully in the cool breeze and drizzle of rain on the window pane. I am off to London to visit more cousins and a few missionaries from Guatemala. Also a JOY for me. We have much to share and celebrate.
Yesterday, with a cousin on my moms side, we walked three miles on an almost deserted island where our family home still stands. Today I am in a small restaurant on a fishermans pier, waiting for the boat to come in, and back to Castletown Bere, County Cork, Ireland!

I miss dear friends in Guatemala and my cute little doggie, COCO.
I will be back with them soon. Pray for them as the rain pounds down and landslides continue to bring suffering in that part of the world.

Attatched; Photo of my cousin Mary Teresa of Castletown Bere, CORK in her kitchen,
Me and my cousin Nora in Pub in Carrick, DONEGAL
Picture of my moms home in Dursey Island, CORK and my Dads home in
Carrick, DONEGAL IRELAND!

DUBLIN, IRELAND

Friends and Family,
It has been more than thrity years since I was in Ireland, so it is lovely. I am with my cousin, Michael, from England. Today, despite a wee tired from all night journey, I walked along the IRISH SEA and had a lovely lunch with Michael and another cousin, Seamus.

Tonight we stayed with our Dublin cousins, enjoyed a lovely curry dinner and talked past midnight of the lives of our parents. Mary, wife of Seamus, Michael and myself are all from the McShane clan of Donegal. Tomorrow Michael and I will head off to Donegal by car.

I enclose my first few fotos.
Myself by the Irish sea in Dublin
Myself with cousins Michael and Mary

On Vacation in New York

Friends and Family,
I was dismayed how one must walk in airports from one flight to another. I was rather exhausted when I finally arrived. My vacation has begun. I am in New York and it is wonderful to have computer access as it is impossible to leave it all behind. I know their are hurricaines brewing and stirring in the Atlantic and Pacific and it is good to be able to follow the happenings through the internett and Guatemalan papers and know friends are safe.

Yesterday I went to a parish picnic, here in Rochester NY with my sister's family, which was fun. Interestingly for me, her parish is named for the patron saint, ST THOMAS THE APOSTLE, the same as our parish in Guatemala. I was able to sell a few crafts for support of the Clinica Maxena en Guatemala and I am happy that my family has an interest in my mission vocation.

Tomorrow I leave for Ireland and I will be met by one of my cousins at the Dublin airport; we will travel together the first week as are off to Donegal, Ireland, the birthplace of my dad and his mom. I will also go to County Cork where my mom was born. I hope to have yas travel along with me and I will write and send some pictures.

Blessings, Sheila
Attatched Photo at St Thomas Apostle Parish in Rochester NY with my Niece Judy helping to sell Guatemala Crafts for Clinic.
Beautiful Rainbow from GOD at Niagra Falls.

Donations can be sent to www.diocesehelena.org note it is for the Clinica Maxena