Misión San Francisco Xavier
Available Ministries
- Catequesis & Retreat
- Education
- Teacher (Primary)
- Teacher (Secondary)
- Healthcare
- Dentist
- Nurse & Nurses Aide
- Physician
- Parish
- Youth Centre
Location
Time Commitment
Opportunities
Current Volunteers
Ministry Background
Volunteers teach English at San Francisco Xavier and we help the English teacher at the “Colegio Boliviano Japonés”. We travel to the communities to teach religion and lead games with the children. We work with the three sponsorship accounts in Okinawa. We also help with First Communion and Confirmation preparation.
Purpose & Objectives
To help the Salesian Sisters of Okinawa by working with the youth. To show the youth of Okinawa the love of Christ and help them grow in knowledge and faith.
Programs, Activities, & Other Projects
Other possible activities include teaching Catechism or a Bible Study, leading a Sports team, starting a club, private tutoring of English, and anything else you can think of. We started a youth group here this year focused on service and topics of social justice, so all of us are involved with that. (i.e. oratory, taking care of water filtration system, etc).
Duties & Responsibilities
Major duties include teaching English and going to the communities to do oratories with the children. One can be as busy as one wants, but on average work is from 7:30 am, a little break at lunch, and then till 9 pm 6 days a week. One sample schedule is as follows: teaching English at San Francisco Xavier and playing/supervising at recess for 11 hours/week. The water filtration system maintenance only requires a couple hours/week. Community visits 3 mornings/week. Some Saturdays people in the padrinos program come to receive school supplies, food, or clothes from 9-12. First Communion classes are from 8-11, followed by lunch with the sisters, followed by Sunday oratory goes from 2pm – 5 followed by confirmation class from 5:00 – 8:30pm. The day usually begins at 7am and ends at 9:30pm but can vary – sometimes longer, sometimes shorter. SLMs also take care of the community truck (i.e. wash and taking in for maintenance).
Practical Qualifications/Skills Needed
A background knowledge of English as a second language would be helpful, but it is not necessary.
Useful Academic Preparation
Working with youth
Special Challenges/Conditions
Very rural, most people are quite poor and live in mud houses. The main concern is just finding work to meet their basic needs.
Involvement with the religous community
Area Information
Very rural, most people are quite poor and live in mud houses. The main concern is just finding work to meet their basic needs.
Involvement with the greater community
This depends on the volunteer. We participate in as much as we can.
Special Challenges & Conditions
The political situation is always changing, but currently things are calm. There has been recent flooding problems but things are starting to be cleared up. There is also always a risk of malaria or dengue fever. The heat and humidity can be very difficult. There is always the risk of various types of skin infections and dengue continues to be a risk.
Housing & Community
Live with Religious
Housing
As of now we have one house across the street from the school.
Room
Daily Eucharist
Bathroom
Launder
Wash it by hand and line dry :)
Access to ATM
Local Diet
Rice and fried things. But if you look you can find fruit. There is soup and vegetables at every lunch.
Local Medical Facilities
The is a Japanese hospital next to our house.