Sorry about the photo quality but ... here are the eight Hermanas Franciscanas who we at Patzun when we last visited. They are wearing aprons made for them by Lenny Abbadini's wife Lou Ann.

There have been other Sisters at Patzun over the years. Among the ones we miss the most are Rita, Reyna and Gloria. There are many stories and much love has been shared.
The Franciscan Sisters operate the orphanage, the orphanage clinic and the nearby Colegio San Bernadino. They are dedicated to poverty, chastity and obedience. There is a knot for each of the three vowes in the ropes they wear for belts. The started in Patzun the first year I participated in the mission trip. Their work has been splendid, with visible evidence everywhere.
Madre Carmen is the leader. She is pictured here with me the day we learned to use the digital camera donated by Father Al. Madre is as brave and tough and faithful to Christ as anyone I have met. She is also as tender a mama cat with newborn kittens and gentle as a summer breeze. Over the years she has come to trust me so I know more and more of her extraordinary life. I'll write some of the parts I can tell when I get time. Among my most prized possessions is my Spanish Litergy of the Hours. It had been Madre's p[ersonal prayer book and was given to me in 1996.

Hermana Marica, by way of contrast, is impish and playful. Although she speaks essentially no Englsih and most St. Ann Missionaries speak little or no Spanish everyone just loves Sister Marcia becasue Sister Marcia loves everyone. She accepts you just as you are. I love sitting talking faith, churhc and history with Madre and Marcia. Once I asked about Sor Juana Inez de la Cruz. The next day I found myself with Marcia pouring through a dusty volume of poetry by the great woman.

Marcia heads the Colegio and is doing splendid work. A CFCA sponsirship program allows children to attend who would otherwise be excluded. It is tough for Marcia to face the challenges at El Colegio now that Padre Justiniano has passed away.

 
A new addition to Las Hermanas is Sor Bilvy from El Salvador. Althoug she is quite an intellectual she gets right into the thick of things. The large red-haired dreature in the center is the fiesta's pinata. Steve and Alicia are partially pictured. Bonnie Romanosky, healthy and lovely after her three year battle with breast and ovarian cancer, is holding the camera in the background. The shot includes a lovely view of the back of Jaidi's head. Estella, more than 10 years old but dwarfed due to near-death malnutricion, is standing just in front of Bonnie.

Below is Sor Marina pictured at the fiesta. She is a real favorite. Also pictued are Kara, a bit of Tilly and some of the kids.