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Hello everyone, Thought I’d send out another quick update. This last month in North Bend has been really awesome. I’ve gotten to know so many wonderful people and be a part of their community. I’ve certainly been active - not one day has been the same as another. I’ve been giving reflections at the Sunday masses, which being my first public speaking was stressful, but I seem to get the knack of it. I’ve been visiting lots of people in their homes and hospitals, giving communion services, attended a teen life mass in Roseburg, played guitar and made tie-dye shirts with kids at vacation bible school, assisted with masses at the local prison and got to know the inmates pretty well, met the local order of sisters who run a retirement home, went to a Filipino house blessing where they had a whole roast pig, and done lots of outings, beach bonfires and stuff with the teen group. On a more recreational side, I went deep sea fishing one weekend and caught a bunch of rock fish. I’ve also done a little bit of traveling around the area to see the coast. These are just a few of the million things I’ve had the opportunity to do. I could write a book on this summer’s experiences and the people I’ve met – but I’ll spare you all. All-in-all an amazing summer and one in which I have learned TONS. This Saturday, 27th, I’ll be driving with a group down to Mexico to help build/repair buildings in a poor area of the Baja. We’ll be driving down in a couple of vans and living as the locals do. I believe we’ll be staying at a monastery, but with no running water, beds, etc. I’ll be gone for the better part of 2 weeks and will be returning around Aug 8th. Obviously I’ll be out of email/phone/mail contact the entire time. Please send me email updates on how you are all doing. I know I’ve been a little out of contact since being down at the parish and want to hear how you’re all doing. I’ll have a week’s vacation when I return on the 8th and hope to get up to Portland and visit some of the locals. J God bless, Matt
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