MONTERREY:
Next 3 months of Relaxing, which included classes in Spanish within a week and going into pastoral visits and seeing parish life in another part of the world. At first we could understand almost nothing but only kept smiling away to glory at every question. It was SPANISH, SPANISH, and SPANISH ALL THE WAY. No English-Wake up but Spanish Music, pray in Spanish, talk in Spanish, eat Spanish food, play football Spanish way—wow that was good as we are ok now in Spanish. We had 3 months of Spanish classes. Our professor talked in 7 languages. We soon took a trip out to the Novitiate for a solemn profession.
Country-side:
It is a tough country-side with the Méxicans living very hard lives and it is hard work for all of us. We are surrounded with mountains as we are in t
he north of México and it is mountainous and a lot of desert area. When we went to the country-side for an experience of our future work we moved about on HORSES, with sometimes the wide brimmed Méxican hat called SOMBRERO as it can be very hot and the hat keeps cool in the heat.
Prepared and sent:
During the first 3 months we had to practice saying Mass and sermons. At first we only did all the readings in Spanish. We had to sweat it out and are still doing so as life is not all rosy over here but it is rewarding, thrilling and interesting. Now the two of us, John (pronounced Huan in Spanish and no more John) and Godwin Vincent (pronounced (hodwin Vicente as G is a mixture of g.strong and a little of k. in it.) are appointed in the Parish of our lady of Guadalupe (a very great devotion to our Lady who appeared to Huan Diego and left her imprint on his mantle). Frayle (Fr.) Godwin is the assistant superior, assistant parish priest. Frayle (Fr.) Huan is the member of the house with Frayle (Fr.) David Beaumont a
s the Parish Priest, Superior and the head of the Mexican Capuchins as it is not yet custody. We are under the American province of LOS ÁNGELES in California.
Friars Working:
There are 4 Americans, 3 Brazilians and 2 Indians. 2 Americans are in the House of Philosophy and theology and the students all Mexicans (from entering at the age of 23 onwards for all the stages of formation, attending the diocesan seminary in Monterrey) for the classes which are a short distance from the friary. 1 American and 2 Brazilians are in the Novitiate called Tres Ojitos( Tres Ohitos). 
It is very cold and snows in the winter. We do have wild wolves and big wild cats in the snowy areas and coyotes or foxes over here at Yécora (Jécora). We are1 American and 2 Indians over here at Yécora.
Life here at Yécora:
It is a lovely place, with peaches, oranges and apples in the higher altitudes. Cool in the plains but practically the whole area in this state of SONORA is mountainous. The Novitiate is in the State of CHIHUAHUA. The Major Study house is in the State of NUEVO LEON. We here attend to PUEBLOS or villages up in the hills. Here any place is never less that an hour and half away from another. Five villages are attended to by Godwin Vicente and five villages are attended to by John. The rest is attended to by the S
uperior or Guardiani as he is called. We also help in the Parish services.
Catholic life:
People are quite cool to spiritual life being badly treated by the first conquering Spaniards and then the revolution that suppressed religion. So it is hard work to inspire confidence in the church. Luckily there are lots of vocations to the Capuchins as we work with the people and it is a sight to see the work done by the American father here among the tribal people who existed here before the Spanish conquest. They adore him as he speaks, prays and sings in their language.
