Happy Surprise!

Today my friend called me and said that one of my all time favorite priests, Fr. John, was here from Mexico. I was SO excited! I got the kids ready and rushed over. I went to down to Tijuana almost every summer from 1996 - 2005. We stayed with the Sisters - the Missionaries of the Cross, and just do whatever they need. I've done everything from putting a roof on a house, tiling a floor in the school, sorting clothes, visiting families to ask why their kids weren't coming to school, painting classrooms, and I was usually the unofficial translator. I loved this job (back when I was good at Spanish) because I got to go everywhere with everyone. Those summer mission trips are some of my best memories. Fr. John is the closest to a living saint I've ever met. He has worn the same sweater, shirt, pants and shoes ever since I met him. Whenever anyone gives him anything at all, he gives it away. He lives among the poorest of the poor. I want to be like him when I grow up.

He's also in the best shape of any 70 year old man I've ever seen. He plays basketball twice a week and can keep up with the best of the best. He is seriously talented. So one year we all pooled our money and bought him a really nice pair of basketball shoes. I knew he had never had anything like that, at least since he became a missionary priest. He was so excited when he opened it. I thought maybe he would give those away, so we told him we had bought them just for him. And he used them every year I went back :) I will never forget his face when he saw them.

So the last year I went there, 2005, Madre Maria told me that within one year, I'd have a baby. She was right. So I haven't seen Fr. John since he came to Indiana in 2006.

Today he got to meet my kids for the first time. He also blessed our whole family. He looks exactly the same and it was so wonderful to see him.

Quit whining Buddy, don't you know who is holding you?? ;)

God Bless Fr. John!!