Mission of Love Photo Gallery

Greetings,

On September 12, 1999, Garry and Kathy Rowland made contact with Kathleen Price and three representatives of the Mission of Love Foundation. We discussed the condtions of poverty, hopelessness, and despair in our community. The group agreed to provide us with humanitarian aid and communications began from there.

One week later the organization sent us a new fax machine with a copier. On October 10th a large truck loaded with building materials, blankets, food and clothing arrived in Wounded Knee. On October 11th the group from Youngstown Ohio arrived in Wounded Knee. The community welcomed them with a turkey dinner and honoring songs and round dance. It was a very happy and exciting occasion for the community.

The group started the work on the building the next day and worked over 12 hour days enduring the wind and the cold. The Mission of Love Foundation provided everything needed for the project including money for gas to the volunteers. It was a real dissapointment for me to see only a handful of our people helping out. This is only the beginning and we beleive that we must be guided by the spirit of Crazy Horse and we must be strong.

The Mission of Love volunteers really worked hard and they are dedicated toward their mission to help those in need. The group worked through Sunday October 17th and completed the roof, doors, windows, and the painting of the walls. They also provided a propane heating furnace. They leased a 1000 gallon propane tank with all the parts including gas.

A lot has been accomplished and it is the beginning for our people towards the advancement in their quality of life. The scope of the project is to provide a visitor and information center for people from all over the world. It will enhance and give the potential for doing many worthwhile projects for ourselves as well as the children.

We greatly appreciate the Mission of Love Foundation for reaching out to the hands of our Lakota people. We have established a friendship of people working together. I would like to thank all of the supporters and remind them that charity begins at home.

In the name of the Canupa Wakan, the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe Woman! Mitakuye Oyasin.

Garry Rowland

Project coordinator
P.O.Box 208
Wounded Knee, S.D. 57794

June 19,1999

Dearest Kathy,

I hope that this letter finds you well in the company of your family and friends of the Mission of Love.

For me it has been a little difficult to once again live the life of a housewife but little by little I am adapting, combining a lot of rest and the work of "the little school".(Centro de Apoyo Psicopedagogico).

Addy had to return to Merida to live, but now we have two new persons who are specialists in in the problems of learning the knowledge of letters and therapy of languages, and who have been able to make progress working with the children.

Although progress is not really as fast as we wish, now we count on a group of young women who are interested in raising funds to continue construction on our second and third school rooms.Little by little we are progressing. Each day the children feel more confident and content in the school, specially since they have seen and learned to use the computers, which is something very new to them, almost impossible to get for official schools or for their families.

Our children will be incorporated little by litle into the XXI century with the technical knowledge that is most advanced for them. Thank you Kathy for your help to make this dream that was impossible, come true. Everything you have sent us has been used and is being used. We are very careful to take care of and preserve them for many years into the future. We know that for you it is not always easy to get things for us or send us these donations.

Today I will travel to Merida to receive what you have sent us, thanking you in advance from our hearts in the name of all the island children, whom we hope you will always have in your mind and in your heart.

We will waiting for you here in Isla Mujeres and wish for you and your family that God blesses you and all forever.

Your friend,

Betty

We are in November, one month before the new millenium, FOUR years working together! So Much Grace!

The Mission of Love Foundation has been as a caress, as a smile of the soul to the Mayan communities of Yucatan Mexico.

• Volunteers for construction, painting and anything that was needed for the
  Mayan House of Health in Xhualtez, Espita, which will benefit 37 indigenous communities.
  
• What a beautiful ambulance to provide transportation for the sick people.
  
• Two gigantic airlifts full of furnishings for the clinic, clothing, shoes, medicine and items for first aid.
  
• Cash to buy building materials
  
• Sports items for the baseball and basketball teams (most of the people stopped drinking and became the CHAMPIONS among 49 other teams in the area).
  
• Doctors and nurses that have given their time and help treating the sick and serving those in need.

Finally, we will be able to open the clinic, hopefully this year.This is the first place in all of Mexico that offers
both academic and traditional Mayan medicine.

One more step in our daily walking. Do you know what my friend? I think work can be love turned visible!

In the name of the Mayan communities and myself we wish you and the brothers and sisters of the Mission of Love, a very happy life.

describes the Hurricane Mitch
disaster in Hondurus.After you read her article you can just follow the links back to the Mission of Love Homepage, or you can use the back button on your browser to return here.