The Freedom of Forgiveness

By Sofia S., on mission in Argentina

“If we really want to love we must learn how to forgive.” – Mother Teresa

It’s summer here which means camp!! We were blessed to be able to take the kids from our neighborhood to camp. We spent 4 days, in nature playing games, playing soccer, swimming, roasting marshmallows, and enjoying time together. I felt our friendship with the kids grow, as we learned how to love each other through this time shared.

The first day and a half of girls camp was a little rough. The girls began  dividing themselves in groups, calling each other names, fighting, crying… Girl stuff, but just a tad bit crueler than what I had imagined. Continuously, we asked the girls to stop, and say sorry. Various times I heard, ”Sofia, it’s your first time here, so you don’t know, but we don’t say sorry” or ”We fight every year. This is how it is. I’m not going to say sorry.” There was no freedom for the girls without pardon and forgiveness, a freedom to be kind and be together all in one group. There was a big fight on the second day, and after hearing all the sides to the story with each group, there was refusal to forgive and say sorry.

Feeling very overwhelmed, Karolina, my fellow missionary, and I took some steps away, to discuss a solution. We simply began to pray Hail Mary´s on repeat. Then we gathered all the girls around the table, and gave the girls the opportunity to say sorry to each other. We explained that when they are with us, they must say sorry and ask for forgiveness. Moments later, the first “I’m sorry Maddie for calling you…”, was then followed by many other “sorry’s” for hurtful actions. This was truly a special moment, for the girls to give pardon and receive forgiveness.

After this event the fighting stopped, the groups became one group, the girls were open to being kind to each other. Although these girls may have given me some gray hairs, they gave me so much more; we were gifted with forgiveness and the power and freedom which it gives the heart.