Who is called to
become a Missionary? Is it for single adults? Can families be Missionaries? How
about children, can they be called to be Missionaries? Many would think that
mission work is only for adults. However, sometimes God calls children to be
missionaries as well. Children are great missionaries; with their eagerness to
please, positive outlook on life, and even more so, with the love they have to
offer they can teach a powerful lesson for such small, young people.
This story is about
my 7 year old son, Gabriel, and how he and his Lego Storm Trooper became
foreign missionaries.
We have made many
trips to Mexico prior to our Spring Break 2017 mission trip with Family
Missions Company to General Cepeda, Mexico. Though we had been to Mexico
plenty, this trip was going to be a bit different from ones we had made in
years past. While we prepared for our trip, I explained to Gabriel that we
would take only our backpacks and that we would not be taking any suitcases. I
explained that this meant we would only be taking the essentials like clothes,
a pair of shoes, rosaries, bibles, and nothing else. While we were packing
Gabriel attempted to convince me that I should allow him to take “just 3 of his
coolest Lego men.” He made it clear that “the men are so small they will not
take up any room and could fit in a pocket” and he added, that he would play
with them during the flight so he would not disturb others that might be on the
plane with us. He assured me that he would be responsible for them and not let
them get in the way of helping out and, of course, he said it with those great
big puppy dog eyes no mom can ever resist. So… How could I resist him? I gave
in and allowed him to take only the top three “coolest Legos men” he owned. He
decided to take two men that were mis-matched and pieced together from pieces
of others, one guys body and arms with another guy’s torso and head, but the
coolest to make the cut was his brand new Storm Trooper. So after he selected
the guys that where going with him on the mission trip he asked, in a worried
way, if the Lego guys would need to have a passport to get on the plane. I
assured him that his men would be able to tag along with him to Mexico without
a passport.
When we arrived we
were assigned teams that would work together during daily chores, work projects,
and for our ministry work of visiting the remote ranchos that surrounded the
beautiful town of General Cepeda. We all had to pull our own weight and chip in,
even Gabriel had to clean bathrooms and wash dishes after meals. He was so busy
he barely even had time to think about the familiar toys he brought with him
from home. When the time came for our first trip into one of the small ranchos
we, as a family, walked from house to house knocking on the doors of strangers
to invite them to join us in the Chapel for praise and worship, as well as, to listen
to our Mission team’s testimonies. To our surprise, all of them were interested
in hearing our team’s personal testimonies.
It was so amazing to see the faithfulness of these families. In the USA,
we sometimes take for granted our Faith, being able to go to Mass, and how easy
it is to ensure our children are educated in our Catholic Faith. It seems as
though, for many parents in the US, it becomes a more pressing concern that we
make sure our children are prepared academically for life rather than spiritually
ready for the battles that they will see in daily life. In visiting this
community, my family and I could see what love the families of the ranchos have
for the Catholic Church and her teachings even though they could never dream of
getting to go to Mass every day or even just once a week, like most of us have the
privilege of doing in the States. The ranchos are a tight knit communities of
families that are lucky to get to participate in Mass once a month due to the
lack of Priests in the area. Since they so rarely get a chance to receive
communion, it is heartwarming that they feel so blessed when they are able to
receive missionaries each week and are given the opportunity to listen to their
testimonies as well as share their own, regarding their walk with the Lord.
While walking door
to door, in this unfamiliar town, we were able to see how humble and poor these
people really live. Their homes are furnished with the bare minimal furniture.
There were not many older teen boys or men around, most were out working the
ranch. We would, at times, come across a few coming back from their work atop
horses and we would stop to talk to them and to invite them to the Chapel.
Gabriel was so excited because there were so many kids his age to play with in
the town. We continued door to door and as we walked away from one home he ask,
if he would be able to play with any of the children before the program begin
that night. I told him we would see when we made it back to the Chapel. It had
been some time since we started our rounds so by the time we walk through the
streets and knocked on every door inviting strangers to the Chapel we finally made
it to the Chapel ourselves just in time. As we got closer, Gabriel’s excitement
grew because he could see that so many kids his age had showed up. The best
part was that there were a few minutes before the program began and he would be
able to play with them some. Although he was excited, he was very nervous to go
to the children to play with them. He lingered some and as I was watching from
a distance, I saw Gabriel reach into his pocket and pull out his prized Lego Storm
Trooper and his two mis-matched Lego men and walk over to a boy sitting down
alone to ask him to play. Although Gabriel’s Spanish was very limited, the
young boy seemed not to mind because Lego’s are a universal language to little boys.
So, needless to say, there was no language barrier as Gabriel had anticipated
and they spent the rest of the free time getting to know each other in the only
way they could, the language of Legos and playing together.
The next day we
walked the streets and knocked on the doors of all who lived in the rancho,
just as we had done the night before. We were headed on foot back to the Chapel
to wait for the people to come for another night of praise, worship, and this
time, during the program, it was Gabriel and his sister’s turn to give their testimonies.
Gabriel’s new friend was there early waiting for us to arrive so they could
play with Legos together. When the church bell rang it was time for us to go inside
to begin the night’s program and for Gabriel to give his testimony. When the
time came for him to stand up in front of the Chapel, I cannot lie, I was a bit
nervous possibly even more than he was. I was not sure what he had planned on
talking about, he’s was only 7. To my astonishment, he began to talk about
Jesus’s temptation in the desert found in the Book of Luke Chapter 4. With the
help of a translator, Gabriel explain to his audience that night that Jesus was
tempted in the desert by the Devil. Gabriel told them that the Devil tempted
him to turn a rock into bread and a jump off the precipice and Angels would save
him and if Jesus would bow down to the Devil than he would be the ruler of all
the kingdoms. Gabriel also explained to them that Jesus told the Devil NO and
that he told the Devil to get behind him.
I can confidently
say that I was amazed he could remember the bible story like he did but I was
knocked to my knees when Gabriel related it to himself. He told his audience
that he is often tempted by the Devil. He shared with them at times he is lazy
and feels like not completing his school work and sometimes he hears a voice
tell him he should not share his toys with others. But that he knows he must be
as brave as Jesus and tell the Devil to get behind him, just like Jesus did in
the dessert. He invited all that were present to tell the Devil the same when
they feel tempted to do bad things.
Gabriel gave his
very 1st testimony that night. You cannot imagine the wonderful feeling God granted
me that night. On the way back to the mission home, Gabriel ask me if it was ok
if he brought a gift for his new friend the next night because it would be the
last night of our teams testimonies in the ranchos. Of course in my mind I was
wondering what we had to give. What did my son think he was going to give to
his new friend? We did not bring much only essential items needed for the trip
and we did not even have much money.
The last day to
visit the ranchos came and went so fast for all of us. It’s amazing how
Missionaries from the USA can go and share among complete strangers in a little
Rancho in Mexico in the middle of nowhere, be complete strangers at first and
after just a few short days feel like family. Gabriel had told me on the way to
the rancho that last day that he planned on letting his new friend pick out one
of his Lego men to keep. When it was time to leave the rancho that night Gabriel
held out his hand with three Lego men in it. His newly found friend pointed to
his prized Storm Trooper Lego. Gabriel picked up his prized Storm Trooper and
gave it a kiss before handing it to his friend.
Almost a year later,
Gabriel and I still pray for those who live in the rancho that we had visited
and we pray that his newly found friend remembers the wonderful time that they spent
together playing. We often pray for Gabriel’s Storm Trooper that he will
continue to spread Love and Joy among the children of the rancho and most
especially for the boy who now carries him in his pocket. We pray that he may
always remember that Jesus loves him as well as with Gabriel. And most of all
that in times of temptation we must tell the Devil to get behind us because when
He is set beside us and we are focused on loving others and following God we
can do many great things in the name of the Lord. We can share Christ’s Love
and Joy to the ends of the earth.
I have seen the Lord
work through the heart and soul of a 7 year little boy. I would have to say, in
my opinion, Christ loves to work through the hands and hearts of little ones.
For them to become His hands and His feet and to spread the Gospel to those who
have the ears to listen to their heart proclaim His God News. I believe it can
definitely be said that children are sometimes the best Missionaries in the
field.
One can find written
in the Catechism of the Catholic Faith. The Life of Man is to Know, to Love, to
Serve, and to Make Him Known.
Perhaps it is
Gabriel that has gained more, by giving of himself and giving up his prized Storm Trooper Lego than the
ones he was serving.
After all, Pope Saint John Paul II wrote in his Encyclical Letter
Mission of the Redeemer, “Faith is strengthened when it is given to others! “
