Church Events
Suzanne and Kelly Witkowski have spent a portion of the Summer of 2004 on a missionary trip to Guatemala. It was the first such visit to Guatemala for Suzanne. Her sister Kelly was making her second trip to Guatemala in as many years. Last year, she had the company of her twin sister Kristy and their mother Susan. Suzanne and Kelly have brought back to us the following photo report. In their own words, the Witkowskis describe the photos which they took while on their mission: "We recently spent a very rewarding two weeks at Hogar Rafael Ayau in Guatemala City, Guatemala. We worked mostly with the 2 and 3 year olds throughout the day, but also spent lots of time with the other children. It was a very enriching mission trip. It was inspiring to see how the nuns and children live so close to God."
You may click on the photo below left to view an enlargement.
"The Church is the center of life at the orphanage. The children go to Matins every morning and Vespers every evening. Divine Liturgy is held on Wednesdays and Sundays, and all the children dress up in their very best to attend Liturgy (photo below left). Since last year, the Church was expanded and bells were added outside. All the children love it when it is their turn to ring them. Here, several boys from Hogar San Miguel take their turn ringing the bells (photo below right). The boys from there come to Hogar Rafael Ayau for all Liturgies."
"The photo below show us with Father Emmanuel, the only Orthodox priest in Guatemala." You may click on the photos above left and immediately below to view an enlargement.
"When they have breaks from school, the children love to be outside. During these times, missionaries can read to the children (or be read to), play soccer, ride bikes, and play all sorts of other games (photos below)."
"Kelly with the new Church under construction (photo above right) at Monastario Larva Mambre, where all the nuns live except Madre Ivonne, who lives at the orphanage."
"Mother Ines showing the missionaries (photo above left) the site of the new older boys' orphanage, to be constructed this year next to the monastery, complete with a chapel, school, and housing for the boys. Photo above right shows Hogar San Miguel, where the older boys currently live."
"Suzanne at a local market in Antigua (photo above left). On their day off, the missionaries visited the monastery Hogar San Miguel and Antigua, the old capital of Guatemala. After dinner, the children would sometimes be allowed to play soccer in the gym. Girls and boys each got to play for half an hour. In photo below right, Suzanne is surrounded by her team."
"The children go to school right at the Hogar (photos above left and below). Every day, the children also do Neuro-net, activities designed to help with their neuro-muscular coordination." You may click on the photo above right to view an enlargement.
Copyright © 2004, Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, South River, NJ
