In the course of the year, we had found out Margareta was pregnant. This was her fifth child: one of them miscarried, and the rest have been adopted or are living at the children's home. They are taken from her because she is unable to take care of them with her handicap...
My orientation with Con-solatio got me fired up to go on mission. Of course, I had already committed to leaving for Romania this fall: I had begun my fundraising, been learning Romanian, and had a decent sense of the beauty and purpose of this mission...
During my orientation time I learned that Con-solatio offers a Re-entry weekend after a volunteer comes back from his/her time serving in another country. At that point I thought “what a logical thing to offer; I am sure it is so helpful.” I was not prepared for the reality of the gift of this weekend....
During my time in Ecuador, I have been consistently struck by the freedom our friends have to give. The first example that comes to mind is our friend, Señora José. Señora José has been a friend of our mission for many years now and is very kind as well as famed for her infectious laugh....
During my time in Ecuador, I have been consistently struck by the freedom our friends have to give. The first example that comes to mind is our friend, Señora José. Señora José has been a friend of our mission for many years now and is very kind as well as famed for her infectious laugh....
Walter and Ricardo are dear friends of ours. Walter lives in his workshop where he fixes broken machinery. His home is brimming with old washing machines, wheels, welding equipment, and every bolt and screw you can imagine. But hidden inside this clutter is a precious gem, Ricardo. ...
I always had a sense of what it meant to witness beauty. As the Catechism states, “The beauty of creation reflects the infinite beauty of the Creator” (341). And so, I have recognized these gifts as traces of God in my daily life. ...
Con-solatio Orientation 2025 was a beautifully formative experience, filled with challenges, deep insights, laughter, and, most importantly, prayer. During this time, I learned—through conversations, visits, and the example of others—ways I can best live out my vocation of love as a Con-solatio volunteer in El Salvador. During this time, I learned—through talks, visits, and the example of...
The main thing that is hard for me is having to face my own weaknesses frequently throughout the day. Even though I have had experiences where I live with people whom I do not choose, primarily my family (I did not choose them, but I love them and miss them a lot), living in a...
Every other Wednesday, we visit the local landfill called Mbeubeuss. Here, thousands of people scavenge through trash daily looking for things to repurpose or sell. We have many good friends who work there every day, and others even who live inside of the dump. They have taken tin, wood, old signs, and rugs to construct...