A day in a life of… A Salesian Volunteer

My name is Linda Vanessa Zalapa Rojes. I am 20 years old and from Downey, California but am currently a volunteer at Oratorio Don Bosco in Tijuana, Mexico. This here is what I do on a daily basis.

At 7 am we have morning prayer where all the community comes together to begin our day with God and each other.

Following morning prayer we all come together for breakfast which is one of the most important meals of the day.

After breakfast Father Miguel and I head to Oratory Don Bosco which is approximately 30 minutes away. Once we arrive the students are usually in their classes so we make sure everything is done in the office.

At 10am the kids are on break time so I go outside and participate in their playing, we play many things such as soccer, football, basketball, or maybe sometimes just sit and talk with the kids. They love to ask me how to say words in English and it also helps me practice my Spanish. After a half hour break time is over and the kids go into their classrooms again.

At noon all the kids and teachers come together for prayer and then Father Miguel also spends some time talking to the kids about upcoming events or other announcements. Then the kids head off to different extra-curricular activities. I myself am in charge of juegos (games) so depending on the grade we might play basketball, football, or even just tag. Whatever it is we play they all love to be next to me.

School is over at 2pm, so that is when we have dinner. Father Miguel and I often visit the homes of families in the parish and we have dinner with them. I always love this time of the day because it’s so much fun to be able to get to know adults in the parish.

After dinner we get ready to celebrate Mass in the neighborhoods. This I love doing, even though sometimes the walk is killer! We walk through the streets saying the rosary and then stop at a family’s home to have Mass there.
 

Next we head back to Castillo where we will and have evening prayer and spend time together with all the other volunteers and fathers, and get our rest for the next day. And that wraps up an ordinary day here in Tijuana!

Click here to learn more about Salesian Volunteers!

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