Another Island Miracle
A NEW VAN FOR SISTER ZITA'S KIDS
When I asked Sister Zita last January what she needed for her Bread of Life orphanage, she told me she needed a starter for the van. She said that the kids were pushing it to get it started. I was not convinced that was all she needed so I asked her to send pictures of the van. When I saw its condition, I said to her, "You don't need a starter! You need a van! That thing is too dangerous to be driving kids around in! Let me see what I can do!"
I have been working all year, doing priest retreats, dropping hints to friends and leading parish missions. My goal was to get her a new van for Christmas! As it turned out she needed it BEFORE Christmas!
Well, another miracle! I was able to have the new van keys presented to Sister Zita and the kids this week!
Bishop County blessed it and I made sure the kids had a little after-school party to celebrate! The only thing left to do is to put the
CATHOLIC SECOND WIND GUILD logo on the doors and make sure some extra rust proofing is applied underneath. The salt air can eat the bottom of a car out in no time!
I can't thank my friends enough who helped me pull this off!
THE OLD VAN
Rusted out floor in front of the back seats.
Is that a bald tire or what?
IT TOOK ALMOST A YEAR, BUT THE BIG DAY IS HERE!
THE NEW VAN HAS ARRIVED
Bishop County blessed the new van today after school.
Fergal presents the keys to Carmelite
Sister Zita and the Bread of Life Home for Children driver.
Sister Zita, I told you we would have it before Christmas!
God bless you for all you have done to raise these kids!
You have put your heart and soul into this ministry!
Some of the kids, Bishop County, friends, designated driver, staff members and neighbors all gather around to celebrate.
They even had balloons waiting inside the van for the kids.
They waited for the blessing until after the kids got out of school.
I hope he is crying because he's happy!
Maybe his balloon popped?
Little Daniel who captured my attention on my first visit just keeps growing. He wore one of the shirts, the shorts and the running shoes I sent down earlier this year.
This little girl, Kayla, is always happy it seems!
I told Sister that we should have a little party for the kids.
They would be coming from the school and they would be hungry.
What better way to celebrate than a big bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken!
Sister, at least you won't have to cook for the kids when you get home!
We could not have pulled this van project off without the help of volunteer from Ireland, Fergal Redmond. From ordering to delivery to securing insurance, he was on the ball!
School Supplies
IT'S A LONG WAY FROM HERE TO THERE,
BUT OUR BOXES MADE IT!
It is quite an operation to get things from here in Louisville to the kids in the islands. Below is a photo of just the school supplies that we collected. The seven boxes of snacks were still in my garage. I bought most of the snacks/lunch, by the case, from DOLLAR TREE. Many friends found the school supplies on sale at various stores.
I took all the smaller boxes of snacks/lunch and school supplies to S.O.S. to be put into larger boxes.
Below are two volunteers sisters who helped. They were then tapped again, labeled and stacked on a cart to be loaded into a truck.
Tim Tomes, on the left, loaded them into his truck and followed me out to FORWARD AIR on the Outer Loop to be shipped to AMERIJET in Miami, Florida, to then be shipped on by plane to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Here the 13 boxes as they arrived at the Roman Catholic Pastoral Centre of the Diocese of Kingstown to be picked up by Sister Carmen of Saint Mary's School and Sisters Zita and Nyra Anne from Bread of Life Home for Children and Saint Benedict Home for Children.
SCHOOL SNACKS/LUNCH
Oreo cookies, Rice Crispie Treats, Granola Bars, Nut Rolls, Salted Peanuts Packets, Vanilla Cookie Packets, Tuna Fish, Vienna Sausages, Peppermint Candies, Life Savers, Cheese Crackers, Oatmeal Pies, Cracker Jack, and Pop Tarts,
SISTER NYRA ANNE
and one of "her children"
SISTER ZITA
sent her "thank you" and some shots of "her children" trying out the snacks.
Here some of the kids at Bread of Life Home for Children are enjoying some of the snacks - in this case some of the Little Debbie oatmeal pies. I hope they love their new van!
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
FOR SAINT MARY'S SCHOOL
630 kids
Sister Carmen
Just One of the Second Grade Classes
LETTER FROM SISTER CARMEN
Hello Fr. Ron
Thanks very much for the school supplies. Ms. Johnny and I collected the boxes last Monday but did not get a chance to go through them entirely. This was so because all the teachers had Professional Development sessions in preparation for the new school term for the whole of last week.
Tomorrow Wednesday 29th I will be at school so I will check the boxes and organize the stuff for distribution next Monday when school reopens. I will also take with me some of the needed supplies for Srs. Nyra and Zita's children.
Ms. Johnny and I were really excited for the children. Both teachers and students will be happy with what they receive.
I sincerely thank you on behalf of the principal, teachers and students of St. Mary's R. C. School. We do appreciate your hard work and loving kindness. Please extend our sincere gratitude to all those persons who responded and continue to respond so generously to your request in helping us.
God bless you all!
Sister Carmen
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