Misión San Carlos
Available Ministries
- Catequesis & Retreat
- Education
- Teacher (Primary)
- Teacher (Secondary)
- Agricultural
- Vocational
- Motorcycle & Auto Repair
- Welding
- Healthcare
- Dentist
- Nurse & Nurses Aide
- Physician
- Parish
- Social Work
- Youth Centre
Current Volunteers
Ministry Background
Adam is a translator in the mornings at the parish offices in Yapacani. He is a translator in the Catholic Canadian sponsorship program called Chalice. He translates budgets, emails, letters between sponsor and sponsor child, etc and occasionally makes home visits with one of the employees. In the afternoons he is an educator and helper at the boarding school in the rural part of yapacani. He helps the teenage kids with their hw, plan events, makes good night presentations, and is simply a brother in Christ to the Kids there. Its important to show the kids that maintaining Christian values in your life, is a fruitful and fun life. Connor works at the Salesian radio station, Ichilo Radio TV. In the morning his work consists of updating the station’s website with international; national; sports and local new articles, as well as writing his own articles on local events in Yapacani. In the afternoons his work varies from shooting commercials for the tv station; assisting the office of chalice with translations; teaching and assisting his co-workers at the station on their assignments; painting murals; assembling lectures on films, or whatever P. Arturo or whoever needs of him. The weekends for him are spent directing a young adults/kids program for the youth of Yapacani; playing music for Mass; and enjoying the company of the friends in Bolivia. Though their work is different and often separated they have the pleasure of teaching a confirmation class together on Thursday nights.
Purpose & Objectives
The purpose and objective of this Ministry is to communicate God’s love to his children that live in Yapacani. As Don Bosco says its not enough that they are loved, but they need to know that they are Loved. Our objective whether we are translating documents, working at the radio station, or teaching catechism is to confidently bring Christ to the people whom we are serving.
Programs, Activities, & Other Projects
One could be a Religion teacher in one of the catholic schools. Once could be a Catechism teacher at the parish for first communion and confirmation. One can go out to rural communities on Tuesdays and Thursdays with Sister Victoria and teach a 20 minute lesson to kids in their small schools. If you can drive stick shift, that would be a big help. One can make visits to the malnourished kids center run by Salesian sisters in San Carlos and help there. One may be able to get involved at a school for kids who have mental illness. One could work with youth at the Salesian radio/ tv station with their projects One could help out at the soup kitchen “el comedor� Once could help out at the elderly home “hogar Don Bosco� One could be an alter server at mass One could play an instrument or sing at mass One can help and lead a group of kids at Saturday Oratory One could offer help with the big Christmas Camp in December and January One could illustrate murals for the various chapels in Yapacani One could lead a chorus for the Masses
Practical Qualifications/Skills Needed
One should have a good back ground in Spanish. If you do not know basic conversational Spanish, it is recommended to take at least a 4 week Spanish module in a school in Cochabamba, Bolivia before you start mission in Bolivia. In addition knowing stick shift.
Useful Academic Preparation
It varies because unlike the sister sites of Bolivia, Yapacani is very open. Whatever skills a missionary will have, they will be found and utilized here. Even if you believe you do not possess any talents, you will learn that you have plenty to offer.
Involvement with the religous community
Involvement with the greater community
On Sundays we are invited to have lunch with the family who runs the elderly home in Yapacani. Sometimes the secretaries will invite us over for dinner at their houses on holidays. The youth in the radio/tv station will invite us out for lunch or dinner. When the kids at the boarding school take part in festivals and dances, the SLMs go over to help and enjoy the festival with them.
Housing & Community
Live with Religious
Housing
The SLMs live across the street from the rectory where the priests live. The rectory where the Salesian priest live is in San Carlos. San Carlos is 15 mins away from the city of Yapacani. There are bedrooms above the parish office that SLMs and other visitors of the parish can sleep in. Each bedroom has its own key to the door with its own private bathroom that includes a hot shower.
Room
Daily Eucharist
Bathroom
Launder
There is a washing machine at the rectory in San Carlos the SLMs use. SLM Adam washes some of his clothes by hand at the boarding school in the country.
Access to ATM
Local Diet
Chicken, beef, vegetables, soup, rice, fish, bread, potatoes, bananas, there are many options. Lots of different kinds of fruit, vegetables, and meat can be bought at the market in the city
Local Medical Facilities
There are many health clinics in Yapacani that are good to go to when you have stomach problems. There is a nice Japanese hospital in San Juan that is a 15 minute car ride from Yapacani. There is a special Japanese hospital in San Juan just for broken bones.