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