Jamie Vergara

3/15

Alas the time has finally arrived

I’m on the flight for Houston

Lacrosse Florida this is the team

10 days together were gonna survive

We all met up in Houston as the midpoint and left together on March 16th for Mexico.

You going to colon? is what Pat really had to say

The 20 minute shuttle came so we made our way

Orientation, prayer, mass and friends

We all said yes to serve without any ends

Pat asked two random people who walked out with FOCUS sweaters at the airport if they were coming on the mission trip and they weren’t but he still made them come up to the group to ask where they were going.

3/16

We made it we made it mountains and cacti

We couldn’t hide our excitement even if we tried

The muchachos, tacos, views and the mission

These kids are a witness of God’s vision

Cows, pigs, greatest of all time (goats)

This space is a palace and a petting zoo

The Lord truly provides no matter what we do

 

Fútbol, the Macarena, it’s chilly outside

First day done it’s going to be a fun ride

No habla espanol but he’s from Japan

I’m out of words and phrases

Muchachos have to draw with their hands

We might not connect with words or language

But it’s the Eucharist and Holy Spirit that connect the bridge

One of the male youths, Francisco, made a joke with all of us that he was half Japanese. I also had to use the drawing app on my iPhone because I speak no Spanish, so I used the draw pad to communicate.

3/17

Happy St. Patty’s day and all the people say Amen

Misa in the morning and the community comes to join

Here we are today to pray brethren

Misa is spanish for mass and the muchachas and muchachos were there.

Rehearsal for the skit

We start to practice for a bit

Here’s Filipino Jesus and Natalia

Jesús asks Pat if he could try something like uhhh

We did the Lifehouse Skit for the muchachas and muchachos (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFRYdGihOl4) Josh is a filipino who enacted the role of Jesus and Natalia acted as the broken daughter who Jesus goes to save from emptiness. Pat played the role as ta boyfriend who became the center of the girl’s life. When we were rehearsing, his role included dancing with Natalia, but he started swing dancing instead naively and as Jesús was watching us he asked Patrick to change that.

Two hours of soccer with the kids for a tournament

I barely work out so this will be a competition

But here we all are to have fun and play

Father Jeremy still has the ball skills

Seminary didn’t age him a day

Father Jeremy was a student athlete during his college days at Benedictine College.

Eagles and ospreys we’re out here to soar

Hiking up the mountain to see the reservoir

Colon continues to take out breath away

Constantly taking photos do it for the news letter

these memories will be in our hearts always and forever

The mascots of UWL and UNF are the eagles and ospreys. Santa Maria has a beautiful reservoir. As we prepare to send thank you cards for our mission partners, we always used picture taking as an excuse for the cards.

Off we go for the niños at San Jose

We are ready for what God has in store for us today

The kids in the corner asked Naz and I to play soccer

There were a lot of laughs, love and they touched our hearts for the better

My kick was stronger than I imagined

The niños friend said IT’S OKAY

I laughed so hard they all cringed

Naz and I were playing soccer with the little boys. One kicked me and said “Lo siento” which is sorry in Spanish and I replied “It’s okay.” The entire time we were there, every boy was imitating me. It was like a calling. They would be shouting it as we left or as we entered. As we were playing soccer, I accidentally kicked a boy on the swing with a ball and I said sorry and his friend calls out IT’S OKAY.

Axel, Juan, the twins and the Mario’s

Then there’s Leo, Santi, and little Ricardo

Some of the names of the boys from San Jose

Team Lion with Sergio, Jamie, Rachel, Ricardo, Peyton plus Giovanni

All teams playing had a good trip

Here goes Team Goat with so many slips

3/18

The reservoir then to an altitude so high

Muchachos and  the team boulder to adventure

We’re all the way up we can hear God and the Heavens beyond the sky

Watch your step, cacti awaits

Hiking up without a harness, that’s faith

Chocos, dust, rocks, the giving tree

When we’re this high up there’s so much to see

The clock says 4:30

We’re gonna hike again

God bless the 10 muchachos and the team

The cross is so high up, as close to Heaven

We literally hiked twice in one day. The first hike was not planned it just happened.

Steep slopes, boulders, barbed wires, and a cave

Ayude me because there’s no elevator or rails

We were thinking what even is this trail

Ayude me is help me in Spanish. The trail was so tiring and there were so many obstacles: boulders, rocks, barbed wires, animal poop everywhere. There came a point where we reached a cave that we literally had to rock climb through.

Be careful don’t slip is what we desired

7,010 feet above ground and out of breath

We want agua and we’re tired

Shout out to Chubbs, the real MVP

We’re scarred and took some injuries but the view was worth the pain to see

We’re all sore and might feel like jello

My knee could give out

Amanda and Hannah interceding and prayed

For all the pain and my wounds to be casted away

Chubbs is the travel insurance we were all on and we consistently kept using Chubbs as the back up if we were being foolish. My knee at one point after the 7,010 ft hike really did hurt my knee. 

Ricardo, Nick, Lydia, Josh and Leah

Shared who they were to touch the lives of many

Prayer teams assembled like the avengers

To pray for the lives of the muchachos

God please use us as Your messengers

The line became long like a movie or a show

But what we had to offer was prayers for growth

Most intentions were for their family and school bros

It’s amazing how selfless they are

Their love truly shows

Supper comes Becca and I with Alexis, Cesar, Javier and Salvador

Spicy tacos might gotta blast

My digestive system shook to its core

Prayer teams are when we usually have groups of 3-4 people who pray over someone. We had at least one fluent speaker for each group to help translate the children’s intentions.

3/19

Celebrating St. Jospeh on his special day

Coming all together for mass but it’s super freos

Hoodies, Spanish, the community, it’s okay

Abrasos, the children, all come to mingle

The love of this community is what we all desire muchos

Freos is cold and Abrasos is hugs. 

Muchachas and niñas our hearts over flow with love

They braid and did our hair above and beyond

Us girls were so ECSTATIC to be with the the girls for the day. The guys on the team were too. I have nothing against the ninos and muchachos either, it was just a nice break to be sitting, talking, and doing hair as oppose to playing soccer or sports.  

Lunch and socializing with all the mujeres’

According to Kenya, I’m a disaster

I laughed so hard because she’s not  wrong

But she was embarrassed

Mujeres is big girls. One of the middle school girls, Kenya said something in Spanish. I asked another student, Regina who knows a lot of english to translate, because the whole table was laughing. Regina looks at me and says, “She called you a disaster.”

Isabel, Ashira, Fatima, Samantha

The plaza, the toys in the fountain, we got their backs

Helping them bathe and combing their hair

This joy is what our hearts desire and God is truly there

A couple names of the ninas. The first night with them we were helping them get ready for bed, combing their hair, and 2 of us were also giving them shampoo.

Mass with the locals who aren’t as financially blessed

But they’ve got God’s grace with hearts that never rest

No habla espanol I easily panicked

The focus handbook phrases no longer help

If I asked senora how old she is, she might’ve been ticked

There was mass at the muchachas’ home base where the community was welcome to come. Most that came were from low income homes. We were given basic phrases in a handbook, but it no longer was applicable for the elderly we sat with because it asked questions like family questions, age and hobbies which could be used mainly for the kids. Becca told me “we shouldn’t ask them how old they are” and we busted out laughing.

Peyton and I shared our story

The team then shared the joys from the day

The mujeres’ and niñas gave us laughs and smiles that no one could ever take away

3/20

Bunenas dias it’s mass time with the sisters and father

The gospel rocked my heart

I will remember it forever

It’s okay for our hearts to have desires and wants that don’t rest

But at the end of the day, God knows what’s best

Back to San Jose to spread the good news

Classrooms and children God prepare their ears

So what we have to say will bring them happy cheers

K-6 we on the way

To sing and clap with all our praise

Reflecting and guiding these kids to You

Lord make our hearts anew

The teacher for first grade shared her thanks

For a team unprepared in some spiritual ranks

She said we were the angels God brought here

To lift up all the children’s burdens and fears

Here we are hysterically in tears

Because the next time we get to see them is really unclear

God we accepted this challenge from the start

Let these kids know we’re there for them near or a part

One of the most emotional and heart warming days we experienced as a team. Most teachers would either step to the side or leave the room whenever we did a classroom visit. But the first grade teacher was different. When we started singing she started praying at her desk. At the end of our visit, she started talking to us and to her students. When Carina and Natalia translated her words we all started crying because, she was telling us that we were the kids’ guardian angels and telling her kids to give us hugs because we might not meet again. She said this is the first time in a while that there has been joy and hope for the kids.

We made some jokes that “it’s not okay”

But with God it will be it’s just hard to say

God it’s not fair I’m down to trade lives

Time has gone by since we’ve arrived

How will the kids be after we go

Lord let us trust in you even when it’s hard not to know

Women and men’s night for self discover

Chastity, sobriety, plus love

We’re looking how to be sons and daughters and how to love one another

We had sessions/talks from time to time during this trip by the missionaries as a tool to walk us through how to get us through mission. One night, the men and women separated and we had our own night. 

Two more days of Team Seals and Mexico

Prepare the tissues

There will be water works

God is so good and blessed our trips with spiritual perks

3/21

Sleepily I rise because of an intimate night

Lydia, Becca and I shared our life stories from left to right

Sisterhood is the world’s best thing

Besides of course Jesus, the Savior and King

Father Dan and Father Jeremy celebrate the mass in English and it’s the second week of lent

This season is a time of forgiveness and a time to repent

To the Basilica we take off

It’s a kingdom, palace and a glimpse of glory

Colon sign, tortas and apple soda

We’ve got so many stories

Father Jeremy and Pollo graciously brought us to the Basilica for a fun day. This basilica was beautiful and massive. People from all over the world visit this Basilica in Colon for pilgrimages. Father Jeremy told us on Palm Sunday every year, there are 25 masses at the Basilica starting at 4 A.M. and every mass is a full house. There are 8 priests in this diocese and they all have to help out on this

Off to say farewell to the little niñas

Lord hold my tears before the mujeres’ see us

It’s so hard to say goodbye

I wanna turn around before I start to cry

We also hung out with the elderly

They cried when it was us they got to see

I can barely speak and communicate

It was fun to be in their presence

And I wish we could’ve stayed late

Senorita kissed my hand and I tried to warm hers

Intimacy like this is what I crave for sure

We head back to the mujeres’ for our final night

God let’s do this skit with all Your might

Looking into the crowds and I see some tears

It’s because Jesus was there and near

Prayer team again for help and guidance

God come to our assistance

They’re crying and crying because Your presence has them shook

These are tears of joy and it’s one for the books

Adoration with the girls to worship praise

Up the intentions go to You we raise

These kids don’t know how much they’ve touched our lives

God let your love for them always strive

I reach out my hand for Regina to take

Like a little sister, ambitious, and bonita

With a heart as big as the Great Lakes

She’s 14 with hopes and dreams

God when we go, please give her Your best team

Regina is one of the muchachas who I easily clicked with. She is very smart. Octavia, the volunteer for Santa Maria, was telling us Regina has to be pulled out of some classes to be taught separately because she is very advanced. I told her before we left, she’ll always be my family.

The scorp squad awake past HLGs

Journaling and remembering how the day went

Sharing stuff from our life and all the good things we see

Becca, Lydia, Leah, Rachel and I

Munching on some popcorn

Scorpion runs across

We’re scared to kill it and really torn

HLGs = High Low God Moments. We did it as a team every night where we would go around in a circle and share our favorite moments from the day and when we felt God. After we finished this, a couple of us stayed up later just catching up. All of a sudden, a scorpion runs across the floor as we’re talking and we all freak out. 

A time to breathe and refresh

Hearts connected and concerns we say

Hoping to take away each one our pains

We have throughout our days

3/22

Naz and Carina shared their touching stories

God transformed their lives with His infinite glory

Back to the classrooms for the middle and high schoolers

Final goodbyes, last songs and exchanges of letters together

Here I go to do reflections

When I’m still in tears and I can’t pay attention

Our classroom visits for each school went like this: Start off singing Come to the Altar, read a passage from the Bible, do a reflection based on the passage, then conclude by singing How Great is our God. Both songs were sung in Spanish. 

These classrooms are nice they’ve got some aesthetics

They can see the mountains from their seats and that’s not a classic

Our voices start to strain as we sing

But it’s all for God and we don’t regret one thing

After our school Visit we took a breath and a moment

Farewell to fearless Octavia you are God sent

Here you are giving the kids a piece of your heart

Your mission and dedication is a work of God’s art

Octavia is a Vanderbilt alumni who has decided to volunteer at Santa Maria for a year. She was active with FOCUS during college. She works primarily with the muchachas and lives with the ninas. 

One last goodbye to the all big girls

I’d give them my all and the entire world

As I cry they wipe my tears away

I wish our time in Colon was a longer stay

They told me disaster you can’t be crying

But it wounded my heart and I don’t wanna be lying

Hugging Regina, Kenya, and all the girls was surreal

So many emotions flow I couldn’t even deal

I take amigas hand and hand so she can get on the bus

My heart desires to come back and I know I must

They wave a final time to say goodbye

Here I stand with tears left to dry

I walked out Octavia to say goodbye and I knew that meant I would see the mujeres’ again, because they had to leave to eat lunch back at their house. This day was an emotional roller coaster with the amount of goodbyes we had to say at separate times. 

Now it’s time to see the niños those little angles

They’re adorable and sweet and deserve golden medals

Little Santiago sits next to me as we sit in silence and peace

I told him he’s my family and he seemed at ease

I take a look as we spend our final few minutes

Soccer, Jesús’ music lesson, shoulder rides

Thank You for this time even if this is it

Santiago was one of the ninos I was really close to. Him and Axel were the first boys who asked Naz and I to play soccer when we first met. I bought a bunch of prayer cards of Our Lady of Guadaloupe and the Holy Family. I had Santiago read the Holy Family card to me since it was in Spanish, and after he read it, I told him you are my little brother and keep the card. On this day, I sat down with Becca and Rachel and we were just watching everyone play because it was a beautiful sight to see how far we’ve come with the kids. Santi sits next to me and I have never felt more loved. 

The sun sets so final adoration and prayer groups

We sing Cristo Vive in multiple loops

Father Jeremy said thanks for changing hearts and bringing joy

We are always going to keep in our hearts this mission with all the girls and the boys

This was the first time FOCUS has worked in Colon, Mexico. Father Jeremy told us he has been trying to get FOCUS to come for some time now, and it finally happened. On our last night, he told us our group was special. There are some volunteers that come through, but he said in our short time we changed so many lives. And it is because we invested in their hearts and friendship. It’s funny because as I was sharing with others that as soon as I get a big girl job I want to be a donor, the money is generous, but presence is priceless. 

All the children stirred our hearts and minds

Even when they have a broken past

But community and God’s light is what keeps them all kind

These kids are amazing, may this always last

The kids and elderly at Santa Maria have experienced  , difficult family situations, abuse, or neglect and typically come from low income background. Santa Maria works with families to provide the most integral and necessary care for each person.

The niños, niñas, SOLT, the true definition of joy

One community, one heart, one Lord

The trip showed us that when doing mission we could never be bored

Thank You Lord for everything and for all of it together

May You keep our hearts on fire, always and forever

We were asked by Fr. Jeremy to not take photos of the kids as a safety protocol and just so it allows us to be fully present during mission. Below are some of the photos from the trip. As I said, thank you all for your support and for reading my story. Mucho amor. Jesus te ama.