My name is Sarah Serrano and I am from Gilbert, Arizona. I have been a part of this mission trip to Gallup for 3 years. The first year we had 6 girls and got to stay in the cottages here. We had a great experience getting to know the Residents everyday and we really got to interact with them. At one of the morning Masses, I met Jean Nez. It was very exciting to talk to a woman who then had 101 years. Every year I come back I visit her; she is still the same joyous woman.
The second year we came we had grown from 6 to 24. We worked at other places also, but made sure we had time to come here and meet with the Residents. We started a tradition of having a special day with the Residents. I love being able to come here and talk with these people who have seen so much in their years and have lived a really full life.
This year is our third year coming to Little Sisters and I feel like this year we have done so much. We grew again from 24 to 70 kids and 100 people total. We kept the tradition of a special day, doing hand massages and nail painting. This is one of my favorite parts of the trip because we get to listen to the Residents tell their stories and talk about their families. During this time they become real people and not just Residents in a nursing home.
Next year we will come back for our fourth annual mission trip to Gallup and we will continue our journey here getting to know the wonderful Residents of Villa Guadalupe.
