Week 2: Assumption and Sacred Heart- Tuesday

Today was Migrant immersion day so, we went to Breckenridge blue berries to pick blue berries. It was hard work. We picked blueberries, picked up twigs, and packaged blueberries. At the end we pick 255 pounds of blueberries. We also learned that he smallest accident can lower the pay for a migrant. After that we went to get dinner, which we had to buy with little money. Two groups got four dollars, while another got five dollars, but at the end everyone got food. After that we went to the migrant camps to play with the kids. We had lots of fun and felt sad when we left.

Week 2: Assumption & Sacred Heart- Monday

Today, we tabled in front of grocery stores, and if you don't know tabling then lucky you cause I'm gonna tell you all about it. Tabling is where you give out Agape service project slips that listed an array of items that you, the shopper could buy and donate to our local food bank (Basically a food drive), and the items then would go to our local migrant families in our community. We had a lot of success. After returning back to Sacred Heart and discussing our experiences tabling, we headed out to the migrant camp to hang out and play with the kids. We had so much fun interacting with them and we all got involved playing games and meeting each other. We had a lot of fun playing a game of sprout ball with the kids, in which I got out many times in bitter defeat or shall I think otherwise? The kids were smiling the whole entire time throughout the game while balls were flying through the air and somehow always hitting me, mostly in the head, but it was fun anyways cause the kids were happy and we were happy, that's all that mattered. Upon returning from the camp, we were introduced to another eye opening simulation. We were divided into families and set out to work, picking up beans one by one off the floor. We were faced with financial expenses such as; paying off loans, renting tools, and traveling to new places where better paying jobs were expected. Many of us were split up from our families and faced debt for periods of time. Another struggle was trusting the word of the illegal smuggler who said he would bring us to America, but often left us stranded, with no choice but to return to the original bean-picking fields. Overall, the business in the new place broke down, exploded, gone. Leaving those who traveled with nothing, while some families who stayed in the bean picking fields *cough* Will's family*cough, cough* had money left over from working. It was a tough, not to lie, in both places, but we learned how tough the conditions and the struggles that are faced by migrant families.
                                               Well that sums up all we have to say for now, but stay tuned for there's going to be more to be said,
                                             I'm Will and I'm Dana and this has been today's blog.          

Week 2: Assumption and Sacred Heart- Sunday

First Day Of Agape: During the first day we all meet and became closer to one another. We got settled in our rooms, we prayed, played fun games. So far it looks like it is going to be a very fun and educational week.

-Coleman and Jackson

Week 1: Forest Ridge and Christ the King- Wednesday

Hello Families,

Today was a very busy day! In preparation for the Food/Clothing/Toy Drive that day, we loaded AND unloaded all of our donations in and out of a truck. Our morning started out with a big breakfast and a lot of yawns. Then to the church basement to get all of the donations. A short 30 minutes later and we had arrived at our destination, a small park to set up our mission work. After some unloading of tons, and TONS of donations in the hot weather, we finally began to organize and repackage the donations. Our once piles of boxes were slowly beginning to look like something cool! From falling into a trashcan (Fran), doing people's hair (also Fran, Lilly, Tully and Alejandra), and dropping a bucket of cans on our feet (again, Tully) you can understand why we were wiped out from all our adventures. In between serving people at the main bank, we also managed to run up and down skate ramps. Aside from all of our craziness, we were able to get some actual service in (we know, big surprise). We loved interacting with the migrant families, seeing their smiles and hearing their laughs was so rewarding! Who knew getting a simple "Gracias" would be so meaningful? 

Sincerely, 

Fabulous Fran,

Terrific Tully,

Sensational Sofia,

Ecstatic Elena,

and Interesting Isabella (Brilliant Bubba)

Week 1: Forest Ridge and Christ the King- Tuesday

Hi everyone,
Today we experienced life as a migrant worker. We got up at 5:15 am to work in the fields. Our schools were split up and went to different organic farms. We then weeded the beds, so that plants could thrive in their environment. This took 2 hours in the hot sun. The Forest Ridge School took a tour and saw the cows and calves. Then we planted the potatoes, and weeded the onion beds. Christ the King also took a tour and then we weeded broccoli. They also picked peas and 2 types of beans. Then we all received our "Pay check" which we used later on to buy our dinners. The process on making and buying our dinner was a confusing process.We all received 5 dollars to buy food for all of our "family."  Then we got on buses and went to the migrant camps. We then handed out flyers for our food bank, and got to play with the migrant workers' kids. After that we had circle time and then headed off to bed.
Clara
Zoey
Sravani

Week 1: Forest Ridge and Christ the King- Monday

Hi Families,
Today was a fun filled and amazing day! First, in the morning, we woke up and had some breakfast. Then we sat in our circle and disussed our day. Then, we split into our groups and we went to different grocery stores to collect donated food for the migrant farm workers. After two to three hours we left and came back to Sacred Heart Parish to have lunch. After lunch we went to the Sunrise Migrant Camp where we played with the kids. We couldn't believe the energy and brightness on their faces. They had such bright smiles and we were really amazed about how quickly we all became friends. These kids were very brave from hitting a head in soccer to sliding down a very scary slide! The sweet kids had such good manners and they were very respectful. We were all very sad that we had to leave, but we were very excited that we get to see them again tomorrow. Later, we came back to the Parish and we enjoyed a fun immigration stimulation. We got to learn how the immigrants came to America and we also learned how hard and frustrated it was. We all thought that it was a lot of work. But we all knew that these things all happen in real life. After the simulation we watched a video of how immigrants come to America and the dangers in the way. We are very excited for what is coming up these next 3 days.
Sincerely,
Bahar, Lucy, and Vicky

Week 1: Sunday Forest Ridge and Christ the King

Hi, it's Lily and Megan. We having been having a great time at Agape so far. Our day started with a long and anxious bus ride. We couldn't wait to to finally arrive at Bellingham, which we had been talking about for almost three months! When we got there, we dropped off our bags and met up with the other school that we were going to work with. We played some icebreakers to get to know the other girls. Our favorite game was a game where we would form groups. Then we were given body parts and the number of them. Only that number of those specific body parts could touch the ground. It was especially fun to see what other creative ways the others teams used to solve each challenge. Then we got into small groups and came up with a name and chant to represent our group. We were the crazy cupcakes. Next, we came together in prayer and learned about the Beatitudes. The one that we focused on today was "Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God." Then we each did a reflection on topics like; why we were at Agape, what we wanted to learn, what some gifts and weaknesses that we would face at Agape were, and what some things were that we had to give up while at Agape. Then we shared what we took away from the reflection with our small groups and next out loud with the entire group. We thought it was interesting that everyone in our group wanted to be open and to connect with the migrant farm workers. We closed our meeting with a prayer and talked about the expectations and rules that we need to follow at Agape. We finally got some cool t-shirts that we would wear throughout the week. Lastly, we got a snack and headed off to bed, excited and ready to take on the next day. Overall, our first day at Agape was fun and exciting, and we can't wait for the rest of the week!

Week 7: St. Joseph's and St. Anthony's-Wednesday

We woke up around 7:40ish to the sound of Diana's IPhone. For breakfast we had an array of delectable delights including off brand fruity bally, crispy ricey, frosty flakey and cheerios. There was also delicious bagels. After that we scrambled into our circles because Luke had warned the previous day about how late we had been. Shame on us. Yet we learned our lesson. We said our prayers of wisdom, which was the theme for today. Wisdom! Then we were given instructions for today. One group was to go to "cash and carry"  and get groceries like rice and flour, eggs, onions, all that good stuff. While everyone else moved the food and school supplies stored under the church, into the moving truck. We went to what looked like a mini park to us. There were many families there already waiting for us. We set up tables and unloaded the truck to set up for the food bank Some youth were assigned school supply sorting. Everyone was assigned a certain box (of crayons, pencils, paper etc.) and they were passing around the many backpacks filling them up for the school aged kids. After we finished setting up, we took a much anticipated lunch break. We had gourmet, handmade, somewhat fresh, cold, sandwiches. Then we chose what stations we wanted to be at. Canned fruit, vegetables, soup, diapers, rice etc. or help pass out school supplies. You could also help families carry their boxes of food.  I took one year of Spanish at school. So i had basic knowledge. I would "Quarto sopas" which meant, "Four soups" or "no limites" meaning "no limit"(get as much as you like) I also shouted to the excited kids "Gusta nuevo mochilla?" meaning "You like your new backpack?" but it could not remember how to conjugate it.... ha ha.... we also said "de nada" when they thanked us. Later, when the rush of families were gone, we took a small snack break. Some dude named Manuel i think had made us some homemade delicious Popsicle. And im not even exaggerating it was good! They had strawberry, mango, chocolate, coconut, raspberry. They had real bits of the fruits in it!  The kids who got their backpacks were super excited! They immediately dug through them like it was Christmas. He was SOOOO happy! It was enlightening to see their happy faces! When it was time to close up, we sorted the cans by expiration date. The ones that were expired we threw away, the ones that would expire this year we gave to another food bank to donate, and the ones that would be saved to next year we kept. Then we put every thing away, and packed up to leave. When we got back we had "Tacos" but in reality they were burritos. Still the best dinner of all week. ACTUAL MEAT YES!!!! The groups did their chores after that. Then we reflected the day in our journals. then me and Amy got together and wrote this post for you.

So that was our day!

-Rubi and Amy