1999 has been a busy year for Mission of Love volunteers who have travelled to Mexico and Guatemala.

A group of 42 dedicated volunteers made the journey to the Casa Guatemala orphanage at Rio Dulce Guatemala to make roof trusses and to install the roof on the school,make floor joyces and install flooring,pour a cement sidewalk and beautify buildings with much needed paint,all in 5 days.

The volunteers worked long hours to accomplish these goals.Installing the roof on the school was by far the most challenging project.When I arrived at the site I really didn't think we would get all the work done

Prior to the trip,the school was deteriorated and dangerous.The people of that community tore the building down and built a 60 by 20 foot school on the existing pilings and footers.When we arrived,our job was to put the roof on this cement structure.We worked with heavy materials,we had no scaffolding, and we were racing against the clock.

We had a super group of volunteers who knew what to do and how to get it done.Thanks to their dedication the children now have a two story school building that is in full operation.

Our volunteers also painted buildings and put in a sidewalk over muddy areas so the children wouldn't need to walk through the thick mud that is so common to that area.

Our medical staff, Dr.Victoria Codispoti, and nurses Bernadette Bogdas,Marti Wright, and dental hygenist Lori Thomas saw villagers and orphans, which added greatly to our mission.they did a wonderful job.

Thanks to everyone who donated their time and effort.Your help truly made a difference.

In late March, 16 volunteers flew into sunny Cancun to travel into the heart of the Yucatan Peninsula to complete the medical clinic started started last year in the village of Xhualtez.

We were warmly welcomed by the villagers,who knew us well from last years trip.The clinic looked great,The villagers had installed tile floors,improved the windows and doors,and added laundry and storage rooms off to the back of the clinic,which will service 20 Mayan communities.

Our mission was to paint the entire exterior and interior of the clinic. We also installed 18 ceiling fans throughout the clinic and worked on the plumbing.

I have to say that the clinic looked just as clean and functional as any medical center in the United States,which made all of us feel really good.

When we weren't working,we played baseball with the Mayans.Although baseball is their favorite sport,they weren't very good at it a year ago,compared to other village teams in the area.Last year when we came to Xhualtez,we brought donated baseball equipment and uniforms to the struggling team(they were in last place out of all the villages).When we greeted them this year,they walked onto the field in their uniforms and beat us 27 to 7.Over the year the Xhualtez team had improved and had come in first place out of 49 villages.

After Xhualtez, we visited the now functioning Cerebral Palsy clinic in Isla Mujeres.

Thanks to all 16 volunteers for making this trip to Mexico.We worked hard,and we played hard.Let's do it again soon.