tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23007538076129663122024-10-24T19:02:02.013-07:00Joel S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17343692851802248995noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300753807612966312.post-675808771306792942010-03-29T21:04:00.001-07:002010-03-29T21:04:43.545-07:00

Holy Week, the beautiful week before Christ’s Resurrection is a highlight for many Christians. Especially in the Orthodox traditions, there are numerous services leading up to Good Friday and Pascha/Easter/Pascua (in Spanish). Yesterday we celebrated Palm Sunday with a procession around the grounds with freshly cut palms singing Hosanna, just like those back 2000 years back. Last night, and

Joel S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17343692851802248995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300753807612966312.post-71235621441024026352010-03-19T21:07:00.001-07:002010-03-19T21:07:38.120-07:00

Just wanted to share what’s been happening recently at St. Innocents.The last couple weeks we’ve been doing some roofing on a couple of our buildings. Up in the sun all day, I’ve developed a serious farmer’s tan. As long as I keep my shirt on, you could almost pass for a Mexican! Well… maybe not yet, but working my way towards that!Life for the boys has stayed pretty constant recently. We’ve been

Joel S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17343692851802248995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300753807612966312.post-14366994565712874852010-02-28T12:54:00.003-08:002010-02-28T12:54:34.087-08:00

Yet again, I find myself writing weeks after my last entry. Things have been super busy recently and I’ve found myself having less and less personal time. Which is good, but of course this leaves little time for blog updating.However, I’ll try to bring everything up to date. Since I last wrote…We have a new intern, and I have a new roommate. Tim Morley, he’s taking off a semester from school and

Joel S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17343692851802248995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300753807612966312.post-50049295618382234332010-02-13T20:26:00.000-08:002010-02-13T21:08:54.977-08:00

Hi all,I just wanted to pass along some pictures. Life has been moving along normally. The boys are doing well and we're all excited to be entering the blessed season of Lent.Recently, I've been working with the boys after school. Either with homework, or supervising them afterwards. Thank the Lord my spanish has been able to benefit from this time. It's very exciting, as sentences are really

Joel S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17343692851802248995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300753807612966312.post-62987987975522871122010-02-03T21:45:00.001-08:002010-02-03T21:51:00.581-08:00

Forgive me for not writing much over the last month. There have been some regrettable changes in the organization.As many of you know, due to the economy the directors could not pay Fr. Michael Nasser, and Fr. Michael and his family had to leave a couple weeks back.Secondly, and more recently, our wonderful librarian Karen was fired. I know from personal experience that she was a great blessing

Joel S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17343692851802248995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300753807612966312.post-68662031016938815662010-01-19T19:23:00.001-08:002010-01-19T19:23:57.676-08:00

Forgive me for not writing more frequently. For better or worse, things seem to be becoming more and more routine down here. Day to day the stories I used to find new and different, are becoming more normal. I believe that this is a good thing. However, to anyone reading it’s provides less and less to write about. However, I’ll try to summarize what’s been happening the last couple weeks.The few

Joel S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17343692851802248995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300753807612966312.post-25720101468381215322010-01-09T11:01:00.001-08:002010-01-09T11:01:47.406-08:00

Being back here at St. Innocent’s has been really wonderful. While away in the states I found myself missing my Mexican brothers, and wishing I were back in the desert near the sea. Driving back here to Mexico, it quickly felt like I was driving home. It brought a smile to my face, as a few of the boys ran up to give me a big hug.The day I got home, we had two big soccer games. I was able to play

Joel S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17343692851802248995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300753807612966312.post-2168557891723199392010-01-03T21:37:00.000-08:002010-01-03T21:46:01.458-08:00

I'm home! Happy New Year! Feliz Neuvo Ano! Thanks to the wonderful generosity of my grandparents, I was able to sneak home and surprise my family for New Years Eve. The last few days have been wonderful, catching up with everyone. Today, I went to St. Johns for church, and I was able to see everyone. I spoke a little bit about my time at Project Mexico/St. Innocents. Due to the wonderful

Joel S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17343692851802248995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300753807612966312.post-35229485184137411622009-12-26T15:39:00.001-08:002009-12-26T15:39:59.455-08:00

Wow! Christmas in Mexico is quite a beautiful experience. After all the hustle and bustle in the days preceding, everyone gathered in the chapel on Christmas Eve. A quiet, candle light service was held, while boys concealed their excitement. In our humble, yet beautiful chapel in Mexico, one couldn’t help but feel like they were taken back 2,000 years to the cave, the stable, and the manger

Joel S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17343692851802248995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300753807612966312.post-59275347639349759982009-12-22T21:43:00.001-08:002009-12-22T21:55:40.444-08:00

Everything seems to be set, and the countdown is almost complete. Navidad is only three days away and everyone is very excited. The presents are laid underneath the tree, and tomorrow we'll be making tamales together! As I'm sure you all are experiencing at home, it is exciting as every day brings greater anticipation of the best day of the year! It's been really neat getting to see and hear

Joel S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17343692851802248995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300753807612966312.post-80063193488369792252009-12-19T12:39:00.001-08:002009-12-19T12:46:23.996-08:00

Recently, things have really improved in my "living" in mexico. I'm house sitting for a family in the church, so today, I drove over and fed dog, and did a couple other things there. Afterwards, I went down into Rosarito and got a haircut. What Joel? That's not worth mentioning, isn't that normal life? - EXACTLY! Finally, I'm starting to live just a normal life here. The Spanish is not perfect by

Joel S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17343692851802248995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300753807612966312.post-44997240846371678452009-12-15T21:39:00.000-08:002009-12-15T23:26:09.180-08:00

Recently, I’ve been kept really busy, making donation runs and phone calls for Project Mexico. It keeps me moving, and wears me out, but I have to step back and realize that I’m doing this for the boys. With that in mind, everything’s a breeze.Today, I had the pleasure of having one of the older boys, Ricardo, along to help me with donation runs. When you have two or more people in a car, you get

Joel S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17343692851802248995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300753807612966312.post-17981088876928061622009-12-10T12:53:00.001-08:002009-12-10T13:04:25.278-08:00

Hi All,I'm in at the office today and I'm working on making phone calls for our end of the year push. We have donors that together will match all our donations before the end of the year up to $45,000! What a blessing! But we need all the help we can get. If you think you may be able to help in any way $5, $10, $20 dollars is a great help! Yesterday, today and tomorrow,l I am going to be working

Joel S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17343692851802248995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300753807612966312.post-83004804226195049852009-12-08T15:56:00.000-08:002009-12-08T15:58:01.075-08:00

I wrote this yesterday, when the internet was out, and before the power decided to follow in suit. Today, all I have to add is how grateful I was to have a roof over my head last night. No even a mile away there were families try to sleep in boxes, and I was complaining about the cold...---MondayTwo Saturdays ago, I got my first test of life in Mexico with rain. Honestly, it’s quite a mess, the

Joel S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17343692851802248995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300753807612966312.post-83029589718043136462009-12-05T19:32:00.000-08:002009-12-05T19:34:13.109-08:00

Tonight after Vespers, Fr. Michael spoke to the boys about St. Nicholas. Among other things, Fr. Michael focused on pointing out that St. Nicholas did good deeds while people were not looking. He encouraged the boys to remember that. While it is wonderful to do good things any time, it is particularly blessed to do so “en secreto”.As we all exited the chapel, everyone’s shoes that had been laid

Joel S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17343692851802248995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300753807612966312.post-78104984374909453932009-12-01T22:11:00.000-08:002009-12-01T22:17:57.085-08:00

Below, I have my application essay for Biola University. Since it touches upon my time here in Mexico and some of the reasons why I came down here in the first place - I thought I'd pass it along for anyone interested.---ESSAY QUESTION – (working on the essay – planning on sharing how my whole college decisions over the last two-three years, has been a real test of faith but also one of spiritual

Joel S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17343692851802248995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300753807612966312.post-60725818020745079372009-11-29T19:24:00.000-08:002009-11-29T19:38:46.214-08:00

At the moment, I'm in the middle of my last couple college applications. I'm applying to Point Loma, Cal Baptist, Biola, Gonzaga, and College of Idaho. Please pray that I can write these last few essays well. In addition if you would keep me in your prayers as I go through all these college decisions. I'd love to go to school down in California, but Gonzaga and College of Idaho are great schools

Joel S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17343692851802248995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300753807612966312.post-61738110047342913392009-11-24T22:27:00.000-08:002009-11-24T22:45:34.675-08:00

Tomorrow, I'll be heading up to San Diego to spend tomorrow and Thanksgiving with my grandparents. Thanksgiving at Papa and Grammys is known for it is wonderful food, and the large gathering at their home out on the ranch. I can't wait to see them and spend Thanksgiving with friends and family!Today, I got to tag along on a trip to some tide pools, a little south of Rosarito. We had to take two

Joel S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17343692851802248995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300753807612966312.post-4440693725268182262009-11-22T21:09:00.000-08:002009-11-22T21:18:30.519-08:00

-Below is a little article I wrote for an annual Cross Road newsletter. Since it was pertaining to my time here in Mexico, I thought I'd pass it along. --- “I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world.” ~ Mother Teresa “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations… teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (

Joel S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17343692851802248995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300753807612966312.post-35020694296269075112009-11-18T22:17:00.000-08:002009-11-19T10:03:28.807-08:00

Since my little bartering adventure, the boys have kept me pretty busy.Saturday, I woke up early and went with the little boys rock climbing. This was a different adventure than when the older boys went. The little boys were a little bit tougher to control. Everyone had to look over the edge down to the rocks far below the cliff. We had a couple boys fall and swing on the rope. It was completely

Joel S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17343692851802248995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300753807612966312.post-46979665057433311882009-11-13T20:09:00.000-08:002009-11-13T20:11:30.889-08:00

A funny thing happened yesterday in the border line. I was driving a visitor back across to the states. For a while, I wanted to buy a blanket from Mexico. I wanted it to be clearly Mexican so that when I came back to life in the states, I could always remember my time in Mexico. Well for months I had waited knowing that eventually one of the shop owners would walk up to the car with the blanket

Joel S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17343692851802248995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300753807612966312.post-75592940354178862172009-11-11T13:43:00.000-08:002009-11-11T13:51:59.521-08:00

I just came from a Mexican staff meeting. At the end of the meeting we all drew names for our Navidad Angels game. All of us are given a person that they are to get small gifts for through the Christmas season. The finale is a Christmas party on the 27th of December. After the couple months of waiting everyone gets to see who their Navidad Angel was! I'm excited, haha it's quite the serious game.

Joel S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17343692851802248995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300753807612966312.post-2102951548290080122009-11-10T20:29:00.000-08:002009-11-10T20:30:36.691-08:00

Today, I was focusing on doing check-ups on the Project Mexico vehicles. I was working on a car that had almost bald tires. The radio was tuned into a country station, the artist singing about, “The Red, White and Blue”. I was using the air compressor to blow out of the vents in the car, because they constantly are getting clogged with Mexico’s dust. As I do so I hear horses, I glance over to the

Joel S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17343692851802248995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300753807612966312.post-40944994188819020602009-11-10T15:28:00.001-08:002009-11-10T15:40:25.883-08:00

Just wanted to pass along the Christmas pictures...

Joel S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17343692851802248995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300753807612966312.post-68739762795673961912009-11-09T22:48:00.000-08:002009-11-09T23:07:21.600-08:00

While, I did have a pretty busy Friday, both Saturday and Sunday, I didn't have to do much. However, I'm feeling a little worn down, and I'm fighting off a cold. (Don't worry mom I'm downing the Emergen-C and fluids as much as I can.)Today, I put some icons up and did some rearranging of items in the chapel. It required a lot of drilling, hammering and tightening. Surprisingly, it ended up taking

Joel S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17343692851802248995noreply@blogger.com0