I just wanted to wish everyone from SRL a most blessed holiday. I pray our Lord blesses each one of you with a prosperous and healthy New Year! And may each one of you come to know the depth and height of His love.
Christmas here is not as hectic as in the states..quite tranquil actually. We served hot chocolate and panatone (a peruvian fruitcake the children go crazy over as well as the adults) to children in two villages and the church we attend, a total of about 500 children. How humbling to see the gratitude on these little faces for a simple cup of hot chocolate and piece of cake. In Pacchilla the water was brought up on the backs of the villagers from the river so the hot chocolate can be made. We needed to be done before sunset since they have no water or electricity. For many this is the only gift they will receive. The greatest gift we could receive was the smiles on their little faces.
May you experience the simplicity of Christmas in remembering it began with the birth of a child.
God bless you all and please remember the children of Peru in your prayers.
In His Service for His Glory
karen

It would seem some people had a little fun with this topic, engendered by the mention of Peruvian fruitcake, and the thread quickly became a little off-color. Personally I didn't think it was that sacrilegious but out of respect for Karen I have deleted all responses. To those who criticized me for "allowing" them, I am sorry I cannot be glued to my computer 24 hours a day.

Just in passing, I cannot understand how this website is seen by some to have "gone downhill," as some responses asserted. At the end of the day, I see this board as overwhelmingly positve and supportive, despite exceedingly rare lapses -- far fewer than any other board or assemblage of souls I have encountered. But obviously I cannot please everybody, despite my best efforts. Although I started this board, I am not joined at the hip with it and will be happy to turn it over to anyone who feels more able to administer it.

Meanwhile I would urge people to participate other than to criticize something. And if you have publicly pledged to not participate in this website: Consistency is a virtue.

Thanks for your message, Karen. Happy New Year and stay safe.

First I would like to wish everyone a Happy , Healthy and Holy New Year. Let's go into 2004 with good wishes, good friends and good attitudes.

John, I find this message board to be helpful and informative. If someone wants to make a joke - let them. Some days it is the only laugh I get. I check into this website a few times a day and find it entertaining. I enjoy reading what others write even if I don't know them personally. You are the "father" of this website and put alot of time and caring into it. You should be commended over the opportunity you give people to re-connect. It is truly a blessing - not only for us but for the students of St Rose also.

Thanks, Pat. I also appreciate a bit of humor, but I guess that's a subjective thing. And of course you can't please everybody. But I do my best.

John, Hope the Hoilday's turn out right for start...I just like to concur in what you gentleman having been discussing. Keep up the " Good " work. Someday we'll connect at Cryan's.

Reading Karen Jacoby Oyola's story made me stop and acknowledge how fortunate I am to be sitting in this warm house, surrounded by loving family with abundant gift's under a beautifully decorated live pine tree. Karen's story became even more meaningful when my wife entered the room with a pitcher of TAP WATER which she then poured into the tree stand. The TREE “needed a drink.” I thought hard about those children who Karen served that night.

I’m still laughing at Marty’s story, not so much at the other guy’s fruitcake and frog thing but it’s my choice to read them and I don’t want that right removed, just as their right should not be removed to send these stories or messages. Instead of the web master having to cede to demands to expurgate messages, maybe we can make a conscious effort to put our messages in the right places.

John Crowley has an outstanding web site here. I haven’t come across one yet that actually does some good like this one has and will continue to do so. It’s due to this website that so many of you old friends, neighbors, and class mates have reconnected to reminisce, which in itself is wonderful, but in a much greater way to provide aide and encouragement to your old school through the activities you’ve planned throughout the year. Some activities are large, some are small, but none of which outweighs the other in importance. Whether you’ve earned one dollar or one thousand dollars does not matter. It’s all for the cause adopted by the SRLAA which came from the creation of this web site.

Best wishes for a successful new year. Keep up the good work John Crowley and SRLAA!

Dan


[Eph 2:10] For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.

Dan
thank you...I did not expect to cause such a ruckus..the intent was to share a little of what lies on the other side of the equator...
Your comments brought tears to my eyes that someone understood and reflected.

John:
I was a little taken back by the insensitivity but to each his own...this website has been a tremendous blessing to me living here in Peru...to be able to connect with friends I have not thought of in years and from so far away...
thank you

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

john you do a great gob keep up the good work. mike

Thanks, everyone, for the kind words.

Karen, I'm glad this board keeps you in touch with us. That's what it's for. However, when you mention Peruvian fruitcake, you leave the door wide open for jokesters like Marty, Rico and myself. We can't help it! But we'll try harder. Keep up your good work. Can we send you anything to make your job easier?

A little ruckus now and then is good for the pulse rate. But maybe I should've opened with a disclaimer about adult content, like they do on TV: viewer discretion is advised. That way the fainthearted could look elsewhere instead of getting all bent out of shape.
None of what I wrote was a put-down of Karen or anyone else except, well, that peruvian fruitcake.
The placement of my admittedly irreverent comments in close proximity to Karen's beautiful letter made it all the more comical for their stark contrast, one against the other. We don't all share the same sense of humor though; I guess that's why they make vanilla and chocolate. Fruitcake, that is.

Thanks John:
At this time we are fine...God has truly blessed us with faithful supporters...
but if I ever think of anything I will let you know...thank you again...
karen

thank you Dan. There are so many needs here. We are in the process of building an outreach center for the children and their families and a bible training center. Anyone interested can feel free to write us for further information on how to help.Through our missions agency you can also come down for a week or two as part of a team to see and be a part of the work we are doing here first hand. What a treat that would be!
We appreciate your thoughtfulness and consideration.
May our Lord bless you and all our friends from SRL.
love karen and angel

"Can we send you anything to make your job easier?" said John Crowley in response to Karen Jacoby Oyola.

Well, WE can. It might not be directly to Karen's cause but a good one nonetheless. If anyone is interested in a monetary gift to aide the children of Peru you can find a site on the web at www.villalapaz.org which is for a foundation setup by a medical doctor from Atlanta. They state that every dollar is used for medical care and food; no foundation money is used for administrative overhead or expenses.

You can read the doctor's story in this month's edition of 'St. Anthony Messenger' but more than his story, you'll learn something of the problems these children live with.