Archive | January, 2015

Note to Parents of College Travelers

20 Jan

Hi Parent,

This note is for parents of college students who might have heard about this trip from one of their friends. The friend most likely has been on the trip before and wants to bring your daughter! If you live near enough to Bloomington, you are welcome to come to our meetings, even if you daughter cannot. They’re usually pretty busy but pitch in with planning once they’re home from school.

The About section of the blog has a bunch of helpful links to the posts that will help you and your daughter decide on and prepare for the trip.

Please contact me through this blog if your daughter is interested or if you have questions. Also, consider contacting your daughter’s friends’ mom who probably came on the trip herself.

If you and/or your daughter are interested in coming, please let me know with e-mail addresses and contact information so I can keep you updated with the other potential travelers. Everyone is a “potential” traveler until they buy their plane ticket which will be in April or May.

Peace,

Ann

Campamento Schedule Jan-Sept

20 Jan

Our yearly schedule goes roughly like this:

January and February: (2016: January 25, February 22 or 23 tbd)

  • Recruiting Travelers (in the past we’ve had about 50-50 new and returning travelers)

March – April:

  • Set the dates (usually the first full week after July 4 and the next one, two groups: each go for one week)
  • Select the Women of the Bible for the VBS program
  • Plan the standard activities like Bible study, Math, English, and Crafts.
  • Plan activities based on traveler’s interests and skills: yoga, dancing, science

April-May

  • Buy the plan tickets, get passports, make appointment with Travel Clinic and other items on the traveler prep post
  • Each traveler plans/practices her activity
  • Set the crafts

May

  • Cutting/Kitting Night (yes, it’s as fun as it sounds! Bring a friend.)
  • Go to Travel Clinic
  • Publicize Donation Requests

June

  • Packing night (each brings two suitcases: one large plus 1/2 checkable for donations/supplies and 1/2 of one small for your own things)

July

  • Campamento is typically the first full week following July 4 plus the following week.

September

  • Publicize Trip Report

 

2015 Campamento Kick-Off Meeting Tuesday, March 24, 7-9 PM

13 Jan

Sister Parish Mission Trip Kick-Off Meeting Tuesday, March 24, 7-9 PM, Church of Saint Edward Auditorium The Sister Parish Committee is planning our eleventh two-week long “Summer Camp” at the Hogar Teresa Toda, a girls’ home, in Azua, Dominican Republic in July 2015. This trip is for women over 18 and mother-daughter pairs for daughters over 15. We have openings for July 4-12 and July 11-19 for travelers interested in sharing a spiritual experience with young women and girls from another country. The format is similar to our own Vacation Bible School. We do skits, music, crafts, and other activities. We pray, exchange stories, share love, and spend time with the girls. Through the activities they learn English, enjoy crafts, and build self-esteem. This year for the first time, we have special plans for the girls ages 14-18. Each trip is deeply touching and spiritual. Special gifts you may share are Spanish skills, crafting and beading talents, or your professional experience (esp. healthcare, tourism, retail, scientists, government, education, and other industries). If you are interested in traveling with us this summer or helping out from Minnesota, please contact Ann McGuire to RSVP to our kick-off meeting. Ann and past travelers will be there to give an overview and answer questions.

Link to corruption perception map

13 Jan

This map shows perceived corruption in countries around the world.

http://media.transparency.org/maps/cpi2014-940.html

This graphic compares the Americas. Check out Dominican Republic, but also Nicaragua where we have a Sister Parish. Hondurus, Guatemala, and Haiti where we have friends, too.

http://www.transparency.org/cpi2014/infographic/regional/americas

 

Ann