"Hermanamiento in Action"

• AM-Breakfast with host families
• 9 am-All delegates introduced at mass. 1/2 of delegates stay for mass,other 1/2 visit Sunday School, nursery, and Family Mass.Flip flop at 11 am mass
• 10:30 am-Carlos, Sandra, and Hilda meet with SJA youth
• 12:15 pm-Jackie leaves for Decorah, Iowa to meet with new Sister Parish group
• 12:15 pm-Have coffee with the delegates(Eagan Rm.?)
• Afternoon-Time with host families
• 6 pm-Dinner with Guatamalan refugees living in US

A beautiful sunny day greeted the delegates as they attended their first mass at St. Joan of Arc. An overflow crowd, as usual, was introduced to the delegates at both masses. Our friends from Tierra Nueva Dos were impressed with our energy and enthusiasm and the talents of the musicians.
At the 11 o'clock mass TNII delegates Paul(pictured), Aura, Gregorio, and Bernardo helped with the Eucharist. At this time Carlos, Sandra, Hilda, and Jackie were meeting with SJA youth and discussing future plans.
After the 11 o'clock mass, all delegates enjoyed meeting with parishioners in the Eagan Room. Pictured are Paul, Aura, and Gregorio being met by SJA welcomers.
Delegates were also able to visit the Sunday School, the Nursery, and Family Mass. The Sunday School classes were all dyeing Easter eggs, not a tradition in Guatemala. The delegates also were able to participate with some of the students in the creation of pictures and cards.

The afternoon found delegates back with their host families. Host families are doing the more typical "tourist" types of things we all show our guests. Activities include visiting a public library, shopping, the lakes, visiting a host's workplace, etc. This afternoon Jackie, Paul, and Aura traveled to Decorah, Iowa to visit with a church that is interested in starting a Sister Parish relationship with a Guatemalan parish. They were to return late in the evening. Footnote:The Methodist church in Decorah has decided to enter into a hermanamiento with a Methodist church in Chichicastenango, Guatemala. Hooray!

Sunday evening, Louise Bertsch of SJA's committee arranged a dinner at her home with 15 Guatemalan refugees from The Commitee por Culture de Guatemala living in the US. This was an opportunity for our delegates to talk with brothers and sisters about life in both the United States and Guatemala. The delegates traded e-mail addresses in order to continue the relationship.