Lending a helping hand: Marines and Sailors volunteer at local monastery

Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Jessika Alarcon | U.S. Navy Petty Officer Ericke N. Slaughter, the Air Combat Element leading chief petty officer assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Africa, and Sister Clara, a female monk, hug upon the conclusion of a tour at the Spanish Convent Santa Clara as part of a volunteer community relations project in Morón de la Frontera, Spain, Dec. 6, 2016. Over the years Marines and Sailors assigned to the SPMAGTF have helped the sisters of the poor restore and preserve the building’s appearance by tending to the monastery’s garden, cleaning inside and out the building, and assisting with minor wall repairs. The monastery is the oldest church building in Moron to survive the wars in the Andalusian peninsula. U.S. Marines and Sailors assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Africa Command support operations, contingencies and security cooperation in the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jessika Braden)  

MORON DE LA FRONTERA, SPAIN

12.06.2016

Story by Sgt. Jessika Alarcon 

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa     

MORON DE LA FRONTERA, SPAIN (Dec. 6, 2016) -- The Marines and Sailors assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Africa are trained to respond to a broad range of military operations to protect U.S. citizens and interests throughout the African continent.

On Dec 6th, the Marines and Sailors visited the Santa Clara convent in Moron, Spain, allowing the opportunity for them to break away from the normal routine and participate in a community relations project in which they helped clean and preserve the 500 year-old monastery’s splendor. The monastery, the oldest in Spain, serves as a home to a group of female monks who dedicate their lives to adoration, the praising of God, and helping their community.

“Being able to break away from the normal routine and finally go to the monastery in order to help was very inspiring,” said Chief Petty Officer Ericke N. Slaughter, the SPMAGTF’s Air Combat Element leading chief petty officer. “It was a great experience learning how they live and help the community.”

The monastery is the oldest church building in Moron and a survivor of the many wars in the Andalusian peninsula. Over the years Marines and Sailors assigned to the SPMAGTF have helped the Sisters of the Poor restore and preserve the building’s appearance by helping tend to the monastery’s garden, packing baked sweets, cleaning inside and out the building, and assisting with minor repairs.

“It was very intriguing to learn that the monastery was so old, yet beautiful,” Slaughter said. “It allows us to look at life a little differently; seeing how they live and being able to help was a very humbling experience.”

For the Marines and Sailors who visit the monastery during community relations projects, it's more than an opportunity to lend a helping hand, it exposes them to a new culture outside of what they know and becomes an unforgettable learning experience they can take with them and share with others as well.

“I think being there not only to help, but to also learn about the history of the building rather than walking past it and not knowing the significance of it was great,” said Slaughter. “The nuns were really sweet and something about being there just makes you want to come back and help out even more!”

For many years Marines and Sailors with SPMAGTF-CR-AF have participated in community relations projects helping the Sisters of the Poor, and are scheduled to continue working on the monastery’s restorations through this rotation and into the future.

“Being around the nuns, who are so welcoming, and being able to learn from them is such a great experience,” Slaughter mentioned. “The feeling that you get when you go out and help is like no other, you don’t go there and not want to go back.”

• Date Taken: 12.06.2016
• Date Posted: 12.09.2016 15:54
• Story ID: 217095
• Location: MORON DE LA FRONTERA, ES