Our Second Morning

We were woken up by the bell (and the roosters) at 5.30am. The brothers let us have an extra 15 minutes sleep... they rise at 5.15am

Chapel started at 6.00am with Mass combined with Morning Prayer. The brothers didn't sing quite as much but still sang more than we would at that time of the morning. After Mass, we spent some time in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The youth responded amazingly well, imho, to the invitation to quiet reflection and, in fact, didn't really begin to speak until at least half way through breakfast. Vanessa is going to try this at home!!!!!

Breakfast was sensational... the brothers are incredible in their hospitality

After a brief visit to the pet monkey cage (one of which took a set against Emma), we began our first visit to the works of the Brothers.

First, we visited their residential home and met the male residents, then the women, then the children. It was a very moving experience. We saw the space which we will be repainting in the next few days.

We then visited the Brothers' kindergarten and were entertained by the children... we sang them the first verse of Advance Australia Fair ((very well too I might add)

Then, we visited the four homes which the Brothers have built over the past year for families with nothing. The conditions in which these people live is unimaginable ... even the new homes are just simple concrete structures, one room only for families with even 8 children.

The food has been great.

The miracle is how the brothers are able to keep their tunics clean... washing by hand... the greater miracle will be watching our own boys wash by hands.