Greetings from Peru! My heart is on fire, and you
all are in my prayers! I trust that the Lord has been with you in a special way
during this Easter Season! It is hard to believe that we are celebrating the 4
Sunday of Easter today. My apologies for my lack of sharing with you all about
what has been happening on the mission field here. I assure you it was not
because of my lack of love for you. My only explanation for my tardiness is that I have been so honored to be the Lord’s servant and He has given me so many opportunities to strive for holiness as I serve His beloved poor here. You are all so close to my heart and I desire to
share with you all the blessings that have taken place here.
A New Bishop
After 22 years of serving the diocese of
Chachapoya Bishop Emilliano has now been given time to rest after his faithful
leadership and sacrifices he has made while serving the Lord. As sad as it was
to see this change and the leaving of such a Holy Man it also brought us a
great blessing to be asked to represent Family Missions Company at the
ordination of our new Bishop of Chachapoyas Perú Humberto Tapia Diaz. As simple
as it sounds, we were able to bring up offerings that represent our call as
Missionaries during the huge and extraordinary Holy Mass that took place on
April 23. For me it was a surreal feeling to have been able to be in the
company of so many faithful Catholics and to be with our two new missionaries
Mallory and Sarah. The three of us ladies did not plan to dress alike (all in
black) but it made us look like a team needless to say.
Though we looked like a team we did indeed stick
out as all the other gifts were brought up by the locals in their traditional
clothes and they were bringing offerings of Cocoa,
fruits, bananas, rice, beans, and all types of local plants.
Our new Bishop Humberto seems to be a very humble
man and a man that desires to lead with a servant’s heart which in return
inflames my heart in so many ways. He asked for our prayers, and he asked for us
to pray that he will continue to smell like a sheep and that his odor/smell
never changes. He stressed that he wants to stay with his flock and not at the
place of honor at the table. So please pray that he may never change although
he has been called to a new way of serving the Lord.
Uniforms
Since our arrival to Peru, we have strived each
year to help children here purchase school uniforms. Since Covid hit this is
the 1st year they are returning to school. Yelp, as crazy as that
sounds, the children here have gone 2 years with no in person school. We were
honored to help 7 children this year with uniforms. All 7 are dear friends of
ours. We were able to purchase uniforms and school supplies and backpacks for
Snyder, Alondra, and Alex, which are the children of Maritza. Also, two other
single mothers Roxanna and Scarlet were so happy that their children Bryan,
Kendra, and Pedro received uniforms and supplies. Our dear friend Camellia was
not going to go to school this year because she could not afford a uniform but
Praise God that no longer is an issue, she too has her uniform and supplies.
Saint Maria Magdalena's Home
I cannot help but be in awe of the fact that the beautiful Saint Maria Magdalena has become such a wonderful friend to me during my spiritual journey. And it is no wonder that Jesus desired her to be a part of the home in a big way. After all Maria Magdalena was a courageous and faithful woman — she was obviously an important presence in the life of Jesus — and she is certainly a key player in the events on that first Easter. Her encounter with Jesus and experience of His healing power transformed her life and not only did she become one of His devoted followers she bravely stood beneath the cross with Jesus. We mustn’t forget that according to the gospels of Mark and Luke, Jesus had “cleansed” her of “seven demons and against all odds, despite the rumors and talk among everyone she became the “Apostle to the Apostles” testifying of His resurrection, and of His love she experienced personally that changed her life forever.
With that said, as I sit here writing this blog
on the land that our loving Lord picked for the future Home of Maria Magdalena,
that will soon serve and house unwed abused and abandoned mothers and their
children, I am in tears. And rightfully so, for many reasons. One is for the
fact that I can relate to the life of Maria Magdalena, her need to feel loved
and her errors in judgment as she looked for love. Secondly and perhaps one of
the most important reasons that I am in tears as I write this is I am
reflecting on how Jesus loved me and called me to himself in the same way that
he did so many ages ago when he wooed and pursued Maria Magdalena. Also,
because I have encountered so many women and children that are in need of this
home of refuge, a place of healing and encountering our risen Lord. It has been
a little over two weeks since we broke ground on the 1st phase of
the home, and it is incredible how the Lord has handpicked the workers for this
project.
Meet Jose and Joelle, both of these young men have been very moved by this project as they both grew up in broken homes and were left abandoned by their parents when they were young. This home is already giving hope to those who need it. I was so blessed to hear Joelle’s personal testimony of growing up in a broken home which he was prompted to share with me when he discovered why this home was being built.
I have shared with many of you how I feel that
this mission that Jesus gave me is a witness of His love not only for me but
for all mothers. I truly have suffered in my life, and I have fallen so many
times, but here in Peru he is using me and the Home of Maria Magdalena to be
the Hope so many are looking for. The First Letter of Peter reminds us to
“always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for
your hope” (3:15). This was Mary Magdalena’s mission. She journeyed with and supported
Jesus in his ministry and she didn’t hesitate to share with the Eleven what she
experienced in the garden that morning when she heard the Risen Lord call her
name. Her relationship with Jesus changed her life and she didn’t hesitate to
share her Good News. And that is just what I desire to do.
I ask and beg for your prayers!
Construction here in Peru is not easy. But add the fact that we are building on a mountain an hour or more away from civilization it makes it hard to bring materials up here. It is almost always raining or wet because of the low clouds and fog. Not to mention I am pretty positive that Satan is madder than a wet hen (that’s what my great grandmother would have said). He is for sure not happy that he has not succeeded in his mission to stop the goodness that is taking place. He has sabotaged roads with mud slides and has even worked his evil on our equipment. One would hope that he would become frustrated enough with our steadiness and trust in the Lord that he would give up soon. The evil one keeps me on my toes, and I often find myself telling him out loud to get away and ensuring him that he has no place on this land or anywhere within our thoughts and minds. So, your prayers are needed, and I can tell you with confidence that they are heard, and we feel them no matter the distance between us.
I must leave you with a quote from St. Teresa of
Calcutta “What you are doing I cannot do, what I’m doing you cannot do, but
together we are doing something beautiful for God, and this is the greatness of
God’s love for us—to give us the opportunity to become holy through the works
of love that we do because holiness is not the luxury of the few. It is a very
simple duty for you, for me, you in your position, in your work and I and others,
each one of us in the work, in the life that we have given our word of honor to
God. . . . You must put your love for God in a living action. It is not just I
have to do it but I love to do it. And you are sharing through you, through
your hands what God is proving to the world: That he loves the world and
through you he keeps on giving Jesus to the world.”
So together let’s keep bringing and giving Jesus
to these beloved single mothers and their Children. Together let’s make sure
Satan does not win and that this place of refuge, this home, becomes a reality,
a place where these single mothers and their children can meet Christ, in the
very same way that Saint Maria Magdalena did so many ages ago. Lets become Holy Saints together and serve in a radical way that will serve as a testimony of the Lords love for us and others!
If you would like to donate to Saint Maria Magdalena’s home, please follow the link below:
I must also ask you to keep Gabriel in your prayers! His
heart beats solely for the poor and to be a servant. He serves with all his heart,
and I am so honored that he has a desire to serve as he does. Please pray for him
to hear clearly His Vocation call what ever it may be!
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| Good Friday |
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| These are the altar servers that Gabriel has trained. |
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| The procession walk to mass |
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May we honor Christ in all that we do!
Karen and Gabriel Del Castillo
Mission Post : Cajaruro Amazonas Peru
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