(ANS – Tijuana) – The Mission Animation Office of the United States Western Province organized a short mission trip to Tijuana from December 26 to January 3, 2015. In this experience 25 young people had the opportunity to spend their winter break sharing their gifts with the brothers and sisters of the southern border.

In this trip the young people experienced in a Salesian environment: pastoral work, physical work, community life, communal prayers while intentionally reflecting about God’s call. The normal day includes: morning prayers and breakfast with the Salesian Community, physical work at three different oratories, lunch provided by the local families, visit to the local orphanage, dinner, communal reflection and a Salesian Good Night.

Among all the significant moments, the participants spent New Year’s Eve at the Salesian Shelter where people deported from the United States are living temporarily. The next day early in the morning the young people served breakfast to over 1200 homeless. “This is the way to welcome the New Year” stated Fr. Thomas Thoduculam, SDB, who accompanied the group.

This experience was blessed also with the presence pf Bro. Fabian Cardenas from the Bogota Province. Colombia. Bro Fabian told the group that this trip has strengthened his Salesian vocation to serve young people.

At Don Bosco oratory a group of young people decided to accompany this experience. After a full day of work, at the reflection time, Nacho, a 17 years young boy, shared with the group that “it is nice to see that we can work together, no one is more or less, we all are the same”.

Published 08/01/2015