We woke up in El Centro Capuchino to many reports of “best sleep yet”. During breakfast, our host Brother Gabriel spoke to us about his journey into Christianity, sharing insight to how he lives his life as a monk.
After breakfast, we had to sadly say goodbye to one of our members, Lauren, as she goes to attend Governor’s school for vocal music. We loved having her on the trip!
Next, our trusty 15-passenger van, driven fearlessly by veteran Boston driver Father Jon, took us to the rainforest El Yunque. Driving views of flora and fauna and waterfalls, we set out to hike to the Torre Mount Britton. The tower was closed at the top, but we enjoyed views of the surrounding mountains and could even see the ocean.
After the hike, it was time for adventure park zip lining. 8 zip lines, with the finale being at 2600’ line through the forest.
As we had a quick turnaround from hiking to zip lining, we were scared we’d have to go hungry until Mateo selflessly fed everyone with granola bars and crackers, giving a much needed boost.
For our celebration dinner, we had a rooftop dinner at The Cannon Club, which was spectacular. We shared appetizers of chorizo potatoes, hummus and pita, and coconut shrimp, followed by entrees of veggie paella, chicken, and ravioli. The only thing better than the atmosphere of the restaurant was the food! The shrimp was so good even the tails were eaten.
As we reflect on our trip, we’d love to extend a huge thank you to all of the parishioners of Holy Comforter who have supported this mission, from donating and attending fundraisers to praying for us while out here. We are so grateful for the opportunity to serve, and look forward to continually incorporating the lessons learned into our lives back home.
Speaking of home, it’s almost time to go! See you at DCA shortly!
– Kelly