So we are on the bus to the airport right now, and honestly I am really sad to be leaving.  Saying goodbye to the boys was difficult, especially when the bus started to pull away. This week had an unbelievably inspiring effect on me that I will not forget.  I can only wish that we accomplished more on the new dormitory and that there was more for me to do to help this wonderful place.  I sincerely hope that this is not my last time here because all I have is love for these boys and volunteers and padrinos and I want to help continue the mission of Amigos de Jesus.

Mags

We are on the bus going to the airport right now.  It was incredibly difficult to say goodbye to the boys knowing that I may never be back.  I will always remember Amigos de Jesus and my experiences down here have had a profound impact on my life.  It is an unbelievable place and these boys are capable of more love than I ever could have imagined.  I am thankful that the padrinos, madrinas and the volunteers have given the boys such a great place to live and be loved.  I will miss Amigos de Jesus.

Andy

I can’t even begin to describe my feelings right now as we ride on this bus to the airport.  I had an amazing week—my life was changed and hopefully I changed a few.  I will never forget Amigos de Jesus. The sad yet happy faces of those beautiful boys will never leave my mind. I am so proud to have been a part of the safe haven that is Amigos. All I can do now is hope for the best for those boys.  I am so thankful for my experience, for the permanent volunteers and for all of the boys. They showed me more love this week than most people see in a lifetime…I hope to pass on that unconditional love forever.  

Mia

I’m finding it difficult to explain in a short journal entry my feelings about this week and about Amigos. The boys, volunteers, and staff at Amigos have affected me more than I can say. Our group has had some great reflections at night, and I think everyone found it difficult to leave. I didn’t get as emotional as I thought I might, which means it will probably hit me later. Being able to visit 3 times is truly a gift from God, and I will never forget the experiences. I hope everyone viewing our website feels connected to this special place. I have enjoyed reading the posts throughout the week, and I thank everyone for their support, prayers, words, and donations.

Mucho amor, kel

It is difficult to say what impact our trip will have on the continual growth of Amigos de Jesus.  Despite not being a very religious person myself, I would still ask all of you to pray for the boys and volunteers at Amigos de Jesus.  You can pray to God, Allah, Buddha, who ever you so choose; or you can just keep them in your thoughts.  The internet and cell phones have made the world seem like such a smaller place, and as such we never know how our actions may impact someone we never met.  The support ;you gave us on our trip was great, but the impact your support had on the boys and community of Amigos de Jesus is far greater than you can ever imagine.  All of you who read this or donated money have impacted the life of someone you may never know.  For them I would like to thank you.

Love,

Colin

We just said our goodbyes to the boys at Amigos de Jesus. It was unbelievably difficult. This week has shown me more love then I thought possible to exist in a third world country. The boys have changed my life forever and I am thankful for Amigos de Jesus and the volunteers for creating such a sacred place for these boys to grow up. I will forever keep these boys in my heart.

Kati

Hey everyone thanks for following our trip throughout the week by reading these messages.  Today we left Amigos de Jesus around 9 AM and returned to the US sometime after 8 PM.  Overall the trip was amazing.  I went expecting to contribute to the orphanage by helping to build a new dormitory but it was so much more than that.  I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we made some connections with the boys that we will never forget.  It was an amazing experience and now I am just hoping that I will be able to write to the boys and hopefully visit them again in the future.  The trip really opened my eyes and made me realize how different life can be in a third world country--especially at an orphanage, and I really want to do more to help these children.  For now that's all that I can really say, but I hope that by following our trip on the website you were able to share in the experience. 

Oh, and Grace & Family:  Thanks for all of the messages I enjoyed reading them all!  I can't wait to meet you! 

-Lauren

We are on our way to Airport in San Pedro Sula right now and I am so sad to be leaving.  This has definitely been the most life-changing Spring Break I have ever been on.  I hope more than anything this isn’t my last trip here.  Amigos de Jesus was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, not because of the exotic scenery, or the well constructed buildings, but for what it offers to these wonderful boys.  I will never forget the impact they have had on me.

                                                -Catherine

Love,
Bridget

La realidad es que es imposible de describir el poder que tiene este viaje. Es una experiencia unica en la cual uno se pone en contacto con la naturaleza y las realidades de este mundo aveces injusto que vivimos. Es algo dificil decir adios a unos niños tan especiales como lo son los de Amigos de Jesus, pero ya se nos acabo el tiempo aora solo quedan los recuerdos.

Ramon

Dr. Shawn Gross

In December 1999, Anthony Granese, CEE '90, introduced Amigos de Jesus to two young untenured faculty members.  Dean Lynch told those faculty members to sign up the students and he would pay for everything.  There was no limit on the number of students or the costs; this is a testament to the commitment to service that the College of Engineering maintains.  Two months later, a group of eight students and those naïve faculty members labored for five days to construct a 25' tall reinforced concrete cross that serves as the symbol of hope for a community.  That summer Anthony and his wife Christine heard crying from the corn field.  Upon investigation they found a boy, badly beaten, unable to talk, naked.  They took him in, washed him, fed him, and let him rest.  When he awoke he told them that a man in town told him "follow the cross" and there he would find help. 

We have spent our last 10 spring breaks in the beautiful country of Honduras at our second home, Amigos de Jesus.  We have had 184 students use their design skills to assist the boys at Amigos, over 130 Villanova students and faculty have travelled to the site to meet the boys and work for them, six of our students have fulfilled long term service commitments to live with them, and thousands have watched the experience via the trip websites.  We have seen firsthand the metamorphosis of a piece of open land in one of the poorest countries in the world into an oasis for children in need.  Villanova students have directly contributed to the design and construction of a chapel and volunteer center, an eight building elementary school complex, and a dormitory to house young girls.  We are honored to have been able to assist in the development of the infrastructure over the last ten years. 

With the infrastructure development complete,  these not so young faculty members look forward to watching the next phase of the Amigos de Jesus -Villanova relationship blossom.  The opportunity for water and energy projects will surely put our students to the test.   Thank you to Villanova's administration (Presidents: Dobbin and Donohue, Deans: Lynch, McAssey, Johnson, Gabriele, and Chairmen: Mathers, Chadderton) for all of their support.  We send a special thank you to the students that have poured their hearts and souls, not to mention countless hours of work, into these special designs.  Finally we thank Amigos de Jesus for giving of the privilege of working with them.

Dave and Shawn