Unbound Mission Trips: Pandemic Changes Plans, But Not Impact Of Mission’s Efforts

The pandemic has curtailed travel plans for Deacon Bruce and Gail Geyer’s Unbound Mission Trip in November to Cuernavaca, Mexico, as well as a trip to San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala last March. But despite the change in plans, they are staying in touch through letters with young people that they sponsor, and continue to learn how important faith is in the lives of the Hispanic culture.

During past trips to Mexico and to Guatemala, the Geyers have come to appreciate the importance of building relationships. Through correspondence, they have built relationships with the young woman they sponsor, and the two youths that St. Mary’s parish sponsors. Some twenty years ago Deacon Bruce began making the trips, but after retirement, Gail was able to travel with him.

Sofia — the young woman the Geyers have been sponsoring — is studying for her nursing degree.

“She shares about her life, about school, her grades,” Gail says. “She’s always very grateful and she prays for us, and we for her.”

Gail also writes to the two youngsters that St. Mary’s sponsors, although she does not know them as well at this time.

“I tell them what life is like in Minnesota, and we talk about snow, and different holidays we celebrate,” she says.

Through their trips to the area, the Geyers have learned extensively about the Mexican culture. For example, the oldest daughter is the significant person in the family. She assumes the role of “mother” over time. If she steps out of the home to accomplish a goal, this has a great impact on the family.

“The young woman we sponsor, we asked for an oldest daughter who’s a good student and serious about her academic work,” Deacon Bruce says. “Sofia is who we sponsor.”

“They talk about the activities they do around their faith and family — mostly around their life and what’s going on,” Gail says.

“Faith for them is integrated into their lives,” Deacon Bruce adds. “Their culture and faith are very integrated. Many things they do are done through the prism of the Catholic faith.”

During their past trips, not only have the Geyers been able to share their faith and lives with those they meet, but they also have experienced an awakening of how our Catholic faith serves to connect with Mexican families who have moved here.

“For me, I want them to have the life they dream of,” Deacon Bruce says. “I don’t know what it is, but we need to listen to them. They don’t have the same experiences we do. We need to understand what they desire. When they talk, they talk from a framework of faith. Our world is more separated in faith. To them, the worlds of faith and civil society are more integrated. I’m more convinced the Catholic faith is hugely important for the future in the ordinary living of our lives.”

Besides having their own significant experiences, the Geyers also hope their trips enable them to bring back to our parish the idea of what others are trying to do with their lives. “It’s not what we think they need,” Bruce says. “The trips are awareness trips,” Gail says. “You bring back the humanity of people who live very differently than you do. After the last trip to

Guatemala, I took extensive notes about what we saw and took lots of photos. I wrote up a presentation, which I gave to a Deacon Wives group and to a retired teacher group. I put a pictorial presentation together to show people the humanity of people — about how we live different lives, but we’re the same, and how some have to struggle with their lives, about things we take for granted here.”

The couple’s experiences have given them a deep perspective on the issue of immigration.

“When you think about immigration, they don’t come here because they want to live in a different place,” Bruce says. “They cross the border to survive. They live in a nice place as far as the weather, for example, but there are lots of issues about the economies and violence. They cross because they have to, do it out of necessity. Our ancestors did the same. Almost all of us are the children and grandchildren of immigrants.”

If you would like more information about the Unbound Mission Trip, please contact Deacon Bruce at 320-616-1213.

The priest who traveled with the Geyers hears confession in San Rafael, Mexico.

The faithful crowd the church for Mass at San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala.