Make My Life a Gift for Others

By Sofia Salcedo, missionary alum and mission staff member 2024-2026. We are grateful for the loving gift of herself to our outreach mission over the past two years and we are excited for her next chapter as starts nursing school!

“…the Christian gesture that in the language of the Church is called offering. In the definitive nature of this gesture, there no longer exists small or great things; rather everything begins to reach its greatness in relationship with Christ.” -Servant of God Luigi Giussani

I am so grateful and humbled by the support and prayers I have received throughout this past year and for some since 2022 when I first embarked on this life-changing journey with Con-solatio in Argentina. From being in a slum in Argentina to being a pilgrim here in the States, the element of surprise I would experience each month in a new place was something I could never logistically plan. It was truly a mercy.

Outreach has not always been easy, but in these past two years when sharing Con-solatio’s mission, I experienced another level of gratuitousness. Having lots of 5-10 minute conversations behind a table or giving a testimony to over 100 students a day, rushing to give those interested a brochure, getting emails, sending emails and hoping and praying that the initial interest will be something that lasts. Many times it felt like was not really knowing what the purpose or result of each encounter would be. The worst (and by worst I mean the best) was spending time or briefly crossing paths with someone whose presence deeply impacted me and not knowing when I would see them again! This mission has made my heart grow. 

It has been an honor to have done outreach these past two years, serving and sharing the mission of Con-solatio. With each tabling events, testimony, meeting, I’m grateful for this mission that has always invited me to make my life a gift for others, and I’m humbled to have been able to share that with others through outreach and invite others to do the same.