George Washington's World - Fray Junipero Serra

Fray Junipero liked juniper trees and you could tell his clothes were all old, because they named him Fray.  And he took his wife's name as his last name, Serra.

Okay, not really.

Fray Junipero Serra had a very long voyage to get to Mexico City from Italy. His legs were all swollen under his dusty clothes, but he still limped over to the church and his eyes glowed with pleasure when he saw the golden cross above the church.

When the Abbot of the church said that things were going hard in the territory of the Pames Indians and they needed more believers to teach there, Fray Junipero jumped up and cried, "Send me!  Send me!"

He left at once and it was a long time before he went on another mission trip.  Indeed, it was 16 years before he went on the trip that his name is famous for.  I don't know what that is yet, but he sure sounds famous!