CLAA Missions

In the fall/winter of 2011, my family will be  returning for an extended stay (up to 3 months) so that I can resume a project with the Missionaries of the Poor.  We ask for your prayers as our family of 10–which will become a family of 11 while we’re there–accepts the invitation to return to Jamaica.

-W. Michael

All the men have arrived safely home from Jamaica and are settling back into the everyday here in the US.  Personally I feel like I’m away from home when I’m in the US after being spiritually spoiled in Jamaica.  We will not be posting for some time so that everyone can settle down and get their “Honey-Do” lists completed. 

Thank you all for following the posts and commenting.

God bless you!

W. Michael

Hello all,

I came back to major snow storms, electricity outages, ice, grumpy people and very grim revenues from our store that has been closed due to weather these past few days. In ordinary times, this is what I would call “stressful”. But after these beautiful days spent in the company of those wonderful brothers and wonderful CLAA dads, it is easy to find solace and refuge by mentally transporting oneself in one of those centers or even imaging oneself during Eucharistic Adoration at the Sacred Heart chapel surrounded by the energy of the brothers and the sound of Carribean hymns. Ad majorem Dei gloriam. Benoit

It was another ideal day in beautiful Jamaica and those of us still here, Chad,Donnie,Jimmie, Andy,Benoit and Mike were ready to take Jamaica by storm!  So we stormed off to Corpus Christi to meet several huge piles of rusty beams that we still needed to help treat(sand and paint). At CC there were 10 workers from that rowdy New Jersey/Atlanta group of 30 and they were having so much fun sanding and painting that we could not help but join the festivities and WORK,WORK,WORK!  We started at 9:00 and several of the crew Chad,Donnie and Jimmie headed to Holy Innocents to rest in the shade and drink pina coladas while the rest of us slaved away in the hot sun and somehow, miraculously finished the last 25 beams. A small footnote we envisioned they were not working as hard as we were BUT we were wrong! They worked those poor boys half to death…Relax wives…they lived!  We got the call around 2:00 that they needed the beams at HI now and so we began the process of loading and transporting all the structural beams to the Holy Innocents center. The only real problem was these structural beams were the heaviest of them all at approximately 1400 lbs apiece and 40 feet long. This may not have posed such a difficulty if the trucks weren’t just 20 ft long…We persevered and Our blessed Mother (that’s Mary for our noncatholic readers) sent many of the angels that behold the Mother of God to assist us…and praise God we were successful! All the necessary support beams were deliverd to Holy Innocents center and the crew from NJ/ATL headed back to their hotel. We however were the Fellowship of the FFFF (Fathers of Faith Formation for our Families) so we went back to the Holy Innocents to assist in getting it done! We knocked off around 6:30 and limped home battered but not broken as we rejoiced in all that God had allowed us to participate in…Benoit did a run in with a 2×4…where he accidentally stuck his head in front of it. He did not do much damage to the board and we were still able to use the board later.(much to our relief!) Oh and we were relieved to see Benoit was okay…we couldn’t bear to lose our best worker! That night we had a wonderful feast of grilled whole red snapper with a brown gravy! If you could look that fish in the eye…you were in for a treat! It was a sad night as we said our goodbyes to 3 of our crew and settled in for a sound nights sleep! (5:30 comes early!) God bless you all and especially my lovely children and the most beautiful woman in the world,Tracy!  Mike

It has really been an eye opener on many levels. I will post longer messages after my return (tomorrow) to the US. For the time being, I am trying to keep up with all the pictures that have been taken by all of us. There is so much we would like to convey to so many of you that we cannot take enough of them. We hope and pray that your hearts will be as blessed as ours have been and continue to be in the presence of the MOP brothers and the people they minister to. Ad majorem Dei gloriam. Benoit

Sunday was the dessert for a week of work and sharing…It was an amazing day as we had a communal mass at the Bethlehem House.  it was so beautiful to share mass with so many of the youth and adults that we had been with for the last week. All of our friends from the centers were dressed in their Sunday finest and most of the kids that were unable to function on their own were carried over by the Brothers and us. The neighbors came in by the droves and the church was packed! What a lively and lovely mass it was and everyone was beaming from the joy proclaimed and Our Lord joining us together as a true community. We finished mass and headed back for our trip to the mountaintop, Mount Tabor. It took about 50 minutes to drive to Mt Tabor and Br Vincent thrilled us with tales of the heroic virtue that had led to the building of Mt Tabor.  The MOPS had been given this piece of land by a generous benefactor.  There were a few small problems, you could not reach the mountaintop as there were no roads, it was dense jungle terrain and it was a mountain top so you could not build on it. Fr Ho Lung saw these as opportunities to grow in virtue and the Brothers immediately embraced his vision.  One year later the Brothers had built a road up the side of the mountain (at least 2-3 miles long with a brick wall built into the mountain to hold back the earth that would come landsliding down when hurricanes would hit. At some points this wall was 15 feet high!  This was impressive but really nothing at all compared to the Center for disabled boys,The beautiful chapel and the retreat house that they had built. ALL THIS IN ONE YEAR?

Just a reminder that photos from our trip are available at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/turpinb/JamaicaCLAAFebruary09MissionariesOfThePoor#

God bless you all!

W. Michael

Benoit Turpin (NY) helps with the preparation of the steel beams being used for the Holy Innocents center.

In America, the “Pro-Life” movement complains about the existing legality of abortion.  In Jamaica, things are different.  Abortion is not yet legal there…but it soon will be.  To keep abortion out of Jamaica, the Missionaries of the Poor are volunteering to care for the mothers and babies who are considering abortion.  They are building a 200-resident care center called the “Holy Innocents’ Center”.  This will be a ministry that makes almost every reason for abortion unnecessary. 

The CLAA fathers had the privilege of helping with the construction of this facility.  A group of 30 volunteers came from Georgia and New Jersey to get the giant support beams in place for the construction.  Our men were able to help prepare and move the beams during the crew’s visit.  How exciting to think that when we see this ministry flourishing in years to come, we can look back and say, “We had a part in buliding that ministry!”.

After 3 days of loving the people who seemed most in need of love, and receiving much more than we gave. The men were tasked with a new challenge on Saturday.  We were sent to Corpus Christi to help a huge crew (30!!!) from Atlanta & New Jersey that needed a little help with rebuilding a dilapidated building. This new center, The Holy Innocents, will house up to 200 women who are pregnant and considering abortion. We were excited to be part of such a crucial misssion, but when we arrived at CC we found large stacks of huge metal beams that were rusting away in the tropical weather. We were instructed by the crew of 8 that were in charge of steel erection, for the frame of the building, to help move and sort the steal beams. All 16 of us began working together piece by piece to lay out the beams for sanding and painting.  it took several hours to move the beams to working stations where they could be prepared for installation.  At that point our friends with experience in steel work left to move the beams they had prepared the previous 2 days to The Holy Innocents Center.  We began sanding one of the different stacks of steel by hand with wire brushes in preparation for painting. About 2:00 the brothers asked Maurice, Benoit and myself to come to the HIC to help the others begin to erect the beams they had transported.  When we arrived they were delighted to see some help, so we quickly got to work. Benoit and I prepped the massive bolts that had been set into the concrete floor 2 days previous while the gentle giant, Maurice began to assist in placing all the 20 ft tall steel beams in place to be erected by placing them in an upright position on the bolts protruding from the concrete. When everything was prepared, they began setting the beams while Benoit and I finished up the last 2 positions for the beams to be erected. These beams weighed at least 800 lbs apiece, so arranging and erecting them was easier said than done.  When Dennis,the owner of a steel erecting company and Tommy, who worked with him, had everything in place we began to set the posts. All 12 were set within 1 1/2 hrs and then they began leveling them. That was more complicated than setting the posts but these guys were good and we got it done in 30 minutes.  I began helping Pat, who has worked in steel for 30+ years in leveling the beams on the other side of the building with Maurice, while Benoit helped the carpenter crew from NJ repair walls that had been broken down on the inside fo this building. After we had been working at leveling this beam on the opposite wall Maurice noticed the giant steel workers were in need of his big muscles, and so he quickly went to assist. (as he has at every opportunity this week) Pat and I finally got the main support beam and went to help the absolutely crazy steel workers hoist 800+ lb beams 20 ft in the air and affix them between the standing support beams.(that we had recently set) Every beam was an opportunity for sheer disaster, but these amazing men never thought twice but hoisted them one after another (luckily for them they had Maurice, with his big guns helpng!)  They had them all in place within a few hours and we began cleanup work.  We rolled out around 6:30 (most work days end at 3:30 or 4:00) and returned to Corpus Christi to pick up the others. They had sanded and painted 5 of the largest beams (which saved the brothers weeks of work!) and when the brothers returned for us they were effusive in their thanks for all our hard work. We are more than a little humbled by their appreciation for a days hard work when they have given their lives to hard work everyday!  Dinner and rest never felt so good! May god bless and keep you all,  mike

 First lets clear things up…I was not giving that resident a squiggley octopus tattoo…It was a very happy sun that the resident requested!  He was happy and so was I…Yesterday’s trip to Good Shepherd center was an opportunity to really come to the realization that every man is a conduit of grace. Each of these men so wounded and needy has so many needs and desires…When we step  up and feed these hungry men, though it is sometimes a great sacrifice to help those who cannot help themselves, we feel the graces that flow… At the center we met many fascinating men, like Keith Ferguson, an 88 yr old fisherman with one leg. He regled me with tales of fishing exploits,like catching a 150 lb kingfish on a fishing rod in his 12 ft boat. (I think it pulled him halfway to America before he reeled it in.) Or Trevor, the semiretarded man with a faith that can move mountains!  He preached the Truth of Jesus and how he died for my sins…The saddest part of the day was Andrew, a 22 yr old man who was paralyzed in a gunfight that left him crippled from the chest down. His misfortune did not wound me, but his resistance to the love that God has for him was just not something he wanted to embrace or believe…Pray for our friend…It’s late and old guys don’t do late very well…so God bless all my 8 beautiful children and I will see you in a week.   mikeh

On Sunday, the CLAA fathers will have a blessed day of worship and rest after a week of hard work and service. 

We will be attending morning Mass at Bethlehem Chapel and then heading up to the mountaintop for a quiet day and fellowship and prayer.  I am sure you will hear more about these two visits on Sunday than you’ve heard about anything so far, so stay tuned.

As for me, I’ve been teaching the brothers each day and working on the formation program back at the monastery.  Some exciting news is that the MOPs have agreed to participate in the CLAA’s annual family conferences!  That will be fantastic..raises things to a whole new level.  We’ve also been given a new challenge from the MOPs that I will be making known shortly.  Thank the Lord for the opportunities He is giving us to serve Him.  It is not common what we’re doing here and I’m aware of what a privilige we have, as well as afraid of the consequences:  “To whom much is given, much is expected.”  I want the Lord to know know He can give me/us gifts and opportunities and He’ll receive them back with a hundredfold increase.  Too exciting.

W. Michael

Day 2 (Wednesday) We began our whirlwind tour of all the centers for the poor and disabled.  We envisioned all the poor disabled needy folks that we would need to care for…we could not have been any more wrong! I can only imagine how many of the CLAA students are laughing at this attempt at grammar. Nevertheless, at each of the centers we attended we were greeted with such love and affection that we felt like royalty. On Thursday, we went to The Bethlehem House where all the children are housed. These are not your average run of the mill children, for each of them has crippling or disfiguring disabilities.  Words cannot describe the conflicting emotions that flew through my mind as I held a child whose limbs were like those of the holocaust victims,due to some undiagnosed mystery disease. She was beautiful yet delicate and feeding and caring for her gave more joy than any act of charity you can imagine. Spending a day caring for these permanently disabled children who have been abandoned by the world, filled me with tenderness and love.  This made me reflect on how our  Father feels as He tenderly caresses the most hideously deformed of His children…of course those children are all that choose sin and selfishness for He sees  what matters…our eternal souls.  Here in beautiful Jamaica, You see how God has blessed this land with His finest gifts and Satan has attacked His Gifts by twisting the hearts of those who live here. The sin and death cannot penetrate the pure hearts of those we share our days with, and slowly we begin to see who is really benefitting from this mission trip to Jamaica. Tomorrow, I will share the joys of The Faith Center…God bless and sleep well!  Mike Hardin (and no I am still not a doctor!)

Just a reminder that photos from our trip are available at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/turpinb/JamaicaCLAAFebruary09#5439693537318021666

God bless you all!

W. Michaek

I just returned from touring the centers served by the M.O.P’s! How blessed I was today!

The first center we visited was a womans home.  These women had physical and mental disabilities.  When we entered the facility many the women walked up to us with smiles and hugs.  Some of these women are crippled, some have mental issues, and some have physical deformities and yet they all smile. 

The second and third centers we went to were men’s home.  The men have disabilities and deformities similar to the women’s center.  These men also have the same attitude as their sisters.

The last center we visited wast the home for babies with disabilities and deformities.  In another home across the building was the HIV center and elderly women.

At Mass during the homily, Fr. spoke that lent is a season of grace….and later I received Jesus in his holy Eucharist. I did not realize how visibly present Jesus would be to me throughout this entire day.

In each center Jesus was present in the poor we saw and served.  He was present in the brothers assisting them and the locals who volunteer their time.  Jesus was present in all the Dad’s I saw hug these women, hold these babies, and speak to all the poor.  I took pictures of all the Dad’s providing all types of services to the poor.  I saw their compassion, love and attention they gave to these people even when they may have been uncomfortable.

I truly felt like Mother Teresa the first time she was in the streets of Calcutta among the poor. One of the brothers said something similar to, “are we not created in the image of God? So are these disabled and deformed men, women and children…and we are to love them… the money and items sent to us are great, but what greater love you show when you are here to serve them.  The people, the poor were abandoned by their family….whenever visitors come and help, the poor see them as their family. Their hearts our happy and for us (brothers) it inspires us to continue our missionary work.”

This small temporary sacrifice of simple living in the monastery, does not compare to the lifelong sacrifice these brothers have made to the poorest people in Jamaica.  Today I got a chance to experience the joys and struggles the brothers experience on a daily basis.  I am humbled to be in the presence of obedient men.

I’m blessed to see God’s work and the faith of his religious in this way.  I’m still at a loss for words to what I’ve been shown….

Maurice

Welcome CLAA faithful…This is Mike Hardin weighing in with my version of the story.  It was quite a different experience landing in Jamaica, you are definitely in a different culture here.  When we landed we were astounded at the beautiful beaches,  friendly people and exquisite weather.  Imagine my surprise when we left the airport and began our taxi ride to the monastery…and BLAM! Poverty hit us in the face like a sledge hammer! It is amazing that a land with so many natural gifts can be plagued by such poverty and destitution. We were taxied to the monastery in a luxury box truck with metal mesh around the back to keep us from pitching into the street when we hit those infamous potholes…When we reached the monastery it was like a walled fortress with very high , thick concrete walls and solid metal doors. It seemed like a needed protection from the cruel elements created by the greed and hatred that have swept this former tropical paradise. When the gates swung open our senses were embraced by the warm and loving brothers of the Missionaries of the Poor and the lush grounds so lovingly nurtured by their daily care. The next day we were treated to a grand tour of all the centers where the poor and disabled are so lovingly cared for each day by the MOP brothers. Oh how heart breaking it was to see the horribly disfigured people as they swarmed towards us at each stop. Imagine my surprise when I realized these poor beaten people were filled with love and gratitude towards me for coming to see them in their home! Even as they lived in the poorest conditions imaginable (I am sure not a one of them would be alive without the MOPs) they were gushing with love and admiration for their new friends. Tomorrow I will share the joy that these people who have nothing but joy have blessed me already in my first 3 days. God bless you all and study hard because Mr Michael is watching!!!  Mike Hardin

Same album…more pictures.  (Warning:  Some of these pictures may be rough to look at, but you’ll be seeing what the men are.)

http://picasaweb.google.com/turpinb/JamaicaCLAAFebruary09#5439692076117480434

Enjoy.