Mission - February 2013
I was blessed to join Father Lally and 8 others from the US on my fourth mission trip to the Dominican Republic. Each trip has in different ways transformed me spiritually and personally, which I’m very grateful for. I can only imagine how 50+ trips have impacted Father Lally and all of the others who have selflessly and openly participated in over the years.
This year’s trip consisted primarily of 3 parts:
Construction: This has been my main area of work during my four trips. This year proved to be the most efficient building four houses in four days. Prior to arrival, the Dominican missionaries got a jump start by constructing some of the windows and doors. They were also able to lay the cinder block foundations. It’s impressive to see how selfless and hardworking the Dominican Missionaries are, especially considering the lack of tools and resources. The community was quite welcoming offering us large portions for lunch and great hospitality during the working day.
Medical: We were fortunate for all the people who donated medical supplies here in the US. Each one of us traveling utilized our two carry-ons to pack as many supplies as the weight limit would allow. The medical clinic can be very hectic as the demand for medicine is quite high. The missionaries working in this area are often times extremely exhausted by the end of the day.
Schools: There was a one room school house where we were able to spend time helping the teacher and working with the kids. It’s inspiring to see a one person operation teaching with so much passion and care, while being compensated very little. As usual the kid’s enthusiasm and energy were contagious and a joy to be around. Father Lally helped connect us all with his magic tricks and laughter. It was fun to see the kids eyes light up as he performed the many tricks, including the famous disappearing handkerchief. My Spanish speaking abilities are very poor to say the least. The magic tricks and balloon animals were a great way to get past the language barrier and connect with the kids.
The mission trip also offered a wonderful opportunity to experience a culture and way of living very different from ours. The connections with fellow missionaries and natives have certainly left a lasting impression. However the experience I’m perhaps most thankful for is the introduction to Contemplative Prayer, also called Centering Prayer. Father Lally holds morning Centering Prayer sessions at 7am before the day gets started. This has drastically changed my spiritual life more than words can express. A HUGE thank you to Father Joachim Lally for giving me the greatest gift I’ve ever received!!
-Nolan Miklusicak
This year’s trip consisted primarily of 3 parts:
Construction: This has been my main area of work during my four trips. This year proved to be the most efficient building four houses in four days. Prior to arrival, the Dominican missionaries got a jump start by constructing some of the windows and doors. They were also able to lay the cinder block foundations. It’s impressive to see how selfless and hardworking the Dominican Missionaries are, especially considering the lack of tools and resources. The community was quite welcoming offering us large portions for lunch and great hospitality during the working day.
Medical: We were fortunate for all the people who donated medical supplies here in the US. Each one of us traveling utilized our two carry-ons to pack as many supplies as the weight limit would allow. The medical clinic can be very hectic as the demand for medicine is quite high. The missionaries working in this area are often times extremely exhausted by the end of the day.
Schools: There was a one room school house where we were able to spend time helping the teacher and working with the kids. It’s inspiring to see a one person operation teaching with so much passion and care, while being compensated very little. As usual the kid’s enthusiasm and energy were contagious and a joy to be around. Father Lally helped connect us all with his magic tricks and laughter. It was fun to see the kids eyes light up as he performed the many tricks, including the famous disappearing handkerchief. My Spanish speaking abilities are very poor to say the least. The magic tricks and balloon animals were a great way to get past the language barrier and connect with the kids.
The mission trip also offered a wonderful opportunity to experience a culture and way of living very different from ours. The connections with fellow missionaries and natives have certainly left a lasting impression. However the experience I’m perhaps most thankful for is the introduction to Contemplative Prayer, also called Centering Prayer. Father Lally holds morning Centering Prayer sessions at 7am before the day gets started. This has drastically changed my spiritual life more than words can express. A HUGE thank you to Father Joachim Lally for giving me the greatest gift I’ve ever received!!
-Nolan Miklusicak
