My first encounter with Sra. Lili was impactful to say the least. Still adapting to life on mission, I entered her home with two of the other missionaries. The odor of putrid urine hit me like a wall; the darkness of the room alone was despairing. This was the first experience I remember having here...
One of the most striking things for me from the start has been the incredible hospitality of our friends. As I have slowly learned the mission and come to know each friend, I have been so welcomed and have experienced the true gratuitousness of hospitality. With each encounter, I have come to see the incredible...
Despite this mission being incredible in many ways, it’s also been one of the most challenging years of my life. I realized I was missing hope. At first, I didn’t quite understand what that meant. I thought to myself, what is hope? ...
I had a realization the other day: I’ve been straining to meet God where He is instead of letting Him reach me where I am. Maybe it was obvious all along, but the only true manner to connect with God is to nuzzle my nose deeper into the dust of the earth and assume the...
Far from home, our missionaries discover their American roots with new eyes as they dive into their country of mission and share life with a culturally diverse team. Thanksgiving is one beautiful tradition that our missionaries enjoy sharing...
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. ...
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...
That day, Lucy and I went on visits together. We had an idea of the people we wanted to visit but the Holy Spirit had other plans. We knocked on several friends’ houses but they were either not there or just about to go out. After a while, I felt like we both surrendered to...
Blanca is one of the few people (excluding kids) who comes to the house almost daily. The first time I met her was on the street. We were on our way back home when Karo and Elo saw her and called out her name. Even though she cannot see very well, the sound of their...