Friday May 27, 2011, Malvern students in different parts of the world begin packing for the long trip home. They came with a pile of clothes and some are leaving with basically the clothes on their backs having been so moved by the poverty they experienced that they have left their clothing for the people they have encountered. They may be leaving with empty bags but they are filled with new experiences, new friends, and new insights into other cultures, poverty and the life of the poor outside... [More]

Two and a half years ago Brian Strassburger became the first Assistant Mission Director. After having completed a year in the Bronx, NY and a year in South Africa as an Augustinian Volunteer, he accepted the position for a four - five month contract. That relationship continued for an additional two years. During that time Brian has helped to set the course and tone of the Mission Office. Being very skilled in technology he brought the office into the 21st Century by the development of the Mis... [More]

And it rained - AGAIN! This is not really the rainy season in South Africa but you could not tell that by the weather outside the window. It has rained for two days now. What do you do with 14 senior high schools students in the rain? Not let it deter you. We went back to the Molweni Zimele Center for challenged children to say good- bye. They wanted a picture which, took almost 45 minutes to get everyone lined up in just the right way, and yes in the rain (drizzle at that point). Then off to S... [More]

Being in a hot climate a great relief is to go to the beach. The students in Peru just got back from the beach-- it was a great day! Everyone had a good time-- and yes, we all wore sunscreen. It was a well-deserved relaxing day. Tomorrow, we will go to a rural village to play with the kids and do some activities at the schoolhouse. The ride there is interesting-- we will go by mototaxis through the fields. I'm sure it will be another great experience for us. 

After another large breakfast the students climbed into the vans, coolers filled with water and sandwiches for lunch. This morning they were going to split into two groups and then meet up for lunch and move on from there. One group went to the Augustinian mission school of St. Leo's, which serves the Zulu community. The school has an enrollment of some 846 students and has a grade range similar to a grade school in the USA. The school is not built for half that number! Once at the school August... [More]

This afternoon, the group went to Immaculada Concepcion, the village where we built a playground three years ago and visited last year. The people are very poor-- there is one dirt road that leads into the village, and the people live in adobe shacks with dirt floors. There is running water, but the people wash in in, drink from it and wash their clothes in it. There is an open area that is just a rocky, dusty field. The kids all came out to see us. Not only did they remember me from last year... [More]

The students continued their mission experience in South Africa. They spent the day at St. Theresa's Home for African boys outside of Durban, South Africa. The Augustinian Sister’s founded the Home in 1925. The students arrived in the morning and spent a good part of the day painting the exterior walls of the Assembly Hall for the Home. The original plan was to paint just one side of the building but they worked so well that they were able to paint all four sides, something the staff never dre... [More]

After a day of sports and a pizza dinner the Malvern Students spent some time with the three American Augustinian Volunteers serving in South Africa this year. The Volunteers spoke of the particular ministries they were involved in during their time in South Africa. This ranged from teaching at the Augustinian Mission School of St. Leo, tutoring and being present to the boys at St. Theresa's Home founded by the Augustinian Sister's, and the Valley of 1,000 Hills Community Center and the Hill C... [More]

The students had hardly rested up from their long trip form New York before they were up again and out experiencing the wonderful people of South Africa, especially the Zuliu community. Their day began with an orientation at the Hill Crest AIDS Respite Center. During the tour of the facility they received an excellent education into the effects of HIV AIDS in the South African community and into the disease itself. After the orientation they were off to serve the needs of those effected by this... [More]

Into the first week of their vist the Malvern Prep senior students visited CEO Betania, a women's center in Chulucanas.  This oprganization was founded and administered by the American Sister's of Mercy of the Americas, from Merion, PA.  CEO Betania has been instrumental in improving the lives of the women in Chulcuanas by access to health care, education and life skills for women who would not have been given those opportunities otherwise. It's helped women earn money for their famili... [More]