The big news of the week is that Dominic Quinn has arrived in Ecuador to star his missionary journey here. After having spend a couple of weeks in Peru at the Centre House there (getting paperwork sorted) he arrived this afternoon. The welcoming committee was there with its Celtic strip on and, after the initial banners & hugs etc, we went off to have a wee lunch together. Dominic has been appointed to work with Frank Jones in his Parish in a nearby part of the city so we all wish him all the best as he sets out on this journey.
From one Scots missionary to another. Colin MacInnes, my friend and neighbouring parish priest is in hospital. Basically the hip operation in Scotland last year did not set as it should have and, for some time, he was in considerable pain. After a few tests he went in this week to get the procedure corrected. And, when I went in to see him the other day, he was in good form chatting away. And tomorrow he is going off to a rest home in Duran on the other side of the river. It is a place run by nuns and will give Colin a good chance of a recovery away from the hassle of the Parish door bell going every few seconds. A speedy recovery, Colin.
Having been away in Peru last week, it was good to get back and see how the school building programme was going. Two weeks into the project you can now see the three classrooms taking shape – 2 up and one down. I am always amazed at how quickly the initial weeks go – very quickly it all takes shape. And, of course, with our trusted foreman, Manuel, at the helm, it will always be a happy team. Having said that there are a few new faces this time – and a couple of top year students who are doing it as their summer job… it looks like they are good workers too.
I have just had the electrician in for the water pump. Basically the water from the school well is being pumped up to the Nursery and Church, bringing water to two schools on the way. It will be a tremendous bonus to us here as the water that comes in in water tanks is so costly. In any case, it should be flowing within two weeks. Aye right!
I have been out and about this week all over the place on foot, visiting folk in their houses and just generally getting out. As a result, my shoes have been caked in mud. When I was going to get Dominic today I thought maybe I should clean my shoes up and then I thought ‘no, this is how we live here’. It’s like a muddy badge of honour.
I also try to get into the Nursery at least once a week and I was there yesterday. Basically I go from class to class and talk to the weans and get them high. At the moment there are not so many kids as they are on their long holiday. Having said that, it is always great to get in and, as a book on school chaplaincy used to say ’waste time with the kids’.
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