Hi everyone!

I hope you all enjoyed the past two weeks. They sure did fly by rather quickly. I had an amazing time in Jamaica over Spring Break. A group of 15 Mount Aloysius students, faculty and staff traveled to Mandeville, Jamaica to help at an all boys orphanage, St. John Bosco Boys’ Home. We arrived in Kingston Jamaica on Saturday, February 28th. We then went on a two-hour bus ride to the home. We were welcomed by two Sisters of Mercy, Sr. Susan, who has been at the home for over 30 years and Sr. Mimi, who has been there for over 16 years.

The home also houses a school, as well as, different trades for the boys to learn (butchering, catering and farming). The school holds grades pre-K to 5th, which is then followed by ADP (Adolescent Development Program). After the boys are finished with school, they then can go and learn one of the trades. We did a variety of different things at our stay at John Boscos. A few of the things I did were helping attend to the green house, teaching a third grade language class and also teaching physical education to different grades.

However, I had the best time in the play yard, playing with the boys, as did everyone else. We played soccer, basketball and a water bottle game that I taught them (you stand in a circle and throw a water bottle around, but you can only catch it with one hand or you are out). There were a lot of good kids there who just have had bad luck or have made bad decisions in life. A few of the boys that stood out to me and who I developed special bonds with were Fabion, Kamoni and Wayne.

Half of the MAC group was from the club ASL (American Sign Language). In addition to being at the home, they went and helped at an all Deaf school and also visited Deaf Village. The week down there just flew by. Before we all knew it, it was Friday and we had to start our long travel back home. It was difficult to leave the boys and the home. Some of us are going to write to the boys, so we can send them words of courage and optimism to do well in school. I am glad that Mount Aloysius College has this program available for their students. Service work has become a big part of my life and I owe a lot of that to the Mount. The service trip to Jamaica is just one way Mount Aloysius opens the eyes of its students and shows them the need to help others, not just around the United States, but around the world. St. John Boscos will hold a special place in my heart for the rest of my life.

Well, this is all for me this week. I hope you all enjoy the rest of your week....the weather is getting warmer! Until next time....cya later