Dear Friends greetings in the Lord Jesus and Mary. I always look forward to sharing these communications with you all. The summer finds me preaching each weekend for Hand of Help and our mission of mentoring young adults for missionary service. Out of these faith experiences I find energy to share. Thanks to many of you who have sent your comments and blessings. You all mean a lot to me. One of the ways I prepare for preaching is being in touch with the events of the day. Last week a story in USA Today almost leapt off the page. The story powerful and dramatic recounted the journey of our brothers and sisters from Mexico across the summer inferno of the remote desert of southern Arizona. Reading the story I kept thinking of the words of Jesus about giving the "cup of cold water in His name." The story recounted the many deaths due to heart stroke, the lack of cold water and the search for a better life. After reading the story I was brought back not so much to the political questions but to a personal question: "What can Fred Buerman due to help in the context of my life and possibilities? "

Taking time in God's presence for reflection I feel first the call for quiet and prayer mourning the death of sisters and brothers in Christ from the heat. In this Spirit of prayer I am gently reminded of other brothers and sisters more directly involved in help and assistance. I am led to think of two people from our community of Living Stones at Holy Trinity Monastery who seek to understand and share the challenges, dynamics and possibilities of our southern border. They are both people of faith, filled with the passion of the Gospel. Yet they are also aware of legal, social and other boundaries that exist. Further reflection takes me to a relative of the current governor of Colorado who is involved in a clean water projects effecting the border at El Paso with Mexico. These people of hope I must talk to in the next week and further enter into their wisdom shared in the Spirit. Based in the Spirit of prayer perhaps I will be led to see how I and Hand of Help might be of further help to my sisters and brothers plagued by the vicious heat of the desert yet seeking a better life.

I also take hope in the words of Pope Benedict XVI at the Youth Rally last week. Addressing the hearts of a new generation Pope Benedict offers words in Christ for all of us who struggle with the Gospel in our lives: "Open wide your hearts to God, Let yourselves be surprised by Christ!"

Friends many blessings from all of us at Hand of Help. Take a look at our web site and that of our spiritual base Holy Trinity Monastery: www.handofhelp.info and www. holy trinity monastery.org. Blessings and peace on your week from Brother Fred Buerman ob.OSB, Mary McCarthy ob.OSB, Gabriel Hulsey, President of Hand of Help Advisory Board, Josef Jordan, Jr. and Victor Valdez, Communications Team and Father Henri Capdeville OSB and the community of Hand of Help at Holy Trinity Monastery.

Dear Friends, greetings again this day of Our Lord August the Fifth. Summer goes quickly for me. Hope your summer is renewing and restful. Yet the world we live in does not seem to wish to slow down. War, famine and dangerous events are the reports of news day in and day out. In this highly charged atmosphere one of my most consoling and favorite spiritual readings occurs this weekend in the midst of driven times. The reading is from the "First Book of Kings: 19:9a, 11-13." In the background to the reading we see Elijah the prophet under great stress and feeling abandoned by God in terms of both his life and mission: "Elijah came to a cave where he took shelter..." The Lord tells the weary holy man to stand out side on the mountain because the Lord will be passing by. In the scene which rivals Hollywood special effects there occur: wind, fire and earth quake. Yet the Lord is no where to be found. Finally when Elijah is at the end of his ability to wait and endure the writer takes both Elijah and you and I into Holy Mystery: "After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound. When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and stood at the entrance of the cave." God finally comes in the gentle splendid silence.

Friends this same God bids us come out of the caves of our lives and wait in silence for the Lord who comes in the "tiny whispering sounds" around, within and among us. Preparing to preach this text for mission appeal this weekend I reflect on the tiny whispering sounds in my life rather than the wind, fire and earthquakes. My thoughts take me to many people of incredible wisdom and beauty. Of the many people I would like to recall just one to share with you: Felmar Holt of St. Louis. Ms Holt was a member of St. Bridget of Erin Church in inner city St. Louis where I had the honor and joy of living for 5 years. Working till she was 81 Felmar held down two jobs, took care of many people and lived a vital church life in Christ. Exhausted at 81 Felmar began a graced retirement which lasted for about 8 years until God called her home. Her humor and passion for life made me look forward to bring her communion or picking her up for Sunday liturgy. Felmar became a Catholic because she felt so welcome and wanted at St. Bridget of Erin. As our friendship developed she recounted years of faith in Christian churches throughout St. Louis. One final story I recall is Felmar's memory of an Easter celebration at a Baptist church 40 years ago. The minister asked all in the church who had song birds to bring them in their cages for Easter. At a certain point he asked for the members to walk up the aisle and place the cages in the sanctuary. Then he asked everyone to get quiet and listen to the birds sing Easter praise to God. As Felmar told the story I cried tears of joy and remembrance with her. Felmar Holt graced woman of God thank you for being one of the tiny whispering voices of God in the pilgrimage of my life.

Friends may all of us take time this week to listen to the tiny whispering voices of God in the people we meet, the world around and within us. Many blessings!

Friends I ask some special prayers this week for our web master Josef JordanJr., who travels to Germany with other students for the World Youth Day with Pope Benedict XVI. I am asking Josef to share pictures and words with us on his return. Also the pictures of the week this week on the web site are those of our Advisory Board President, Gabriel Hulsey and his wife Becky visiting Hand of Help advisory board member David Howenstein in Japan. David directs Jumbo a center for voluntarism, ecology and community home based in Tokyo and affiliated with Hand of Help. In the fall I am asking David to share a spiritual email with you along with more pictures.

Blessings to all of you from the community of Hand of Help at Holy Trinity Monastery, Father Henri Capdeville OSB, Prior, Brother Fred Buerman ob.OSB, Mrs. Mary McCarthy ob.OSB administrative associate, Gabriel Hulsey, President Advisory Board, Josef Jordan Jr.and Victor Valdez, Communications Team.