Let us Praise the
Lord! Alleluia, Alleluia
I pray my brothers and sisters
that this letter finds you well. I am sorry it has been a while since our last update.
The ebb and flow of missions oftentimes requires
our full attention on those in front of us in order to serve them well, so I do
pray you understand. With that being
said we are super blessed and grateful to now have a lull in our schedule and
the opportunity to share with you what the Lord has been doing here. I pray that you may have a few minutes to Praise the Lord and all the
good work he has accomplished here with us.The last time I gave an update
was in February so there might be a lot of ground to cover. I will try to hit
the big things and pray that your imagination can fill in all the rest of the wonderful
blessings and things that are happening here, even those we fail to recognize right
now. If you make it to the end, you will be blessed with many opportunities to join the mission here! Enjoy!
The End of Peruvian
MigracionesAt the beginning of March,
Gabriel and I finally became permanent residents of Peru. What does that mean?
Well, it means we will not have to go through the yearly approval process for residency
here. Which in return allows us more
time to focus on the mission Jesus has us on. We will be able to refocus the
efforts we spent each year to move, push, beg, and plead with the migration
office each year on the poor. We will not have to go through any new process
until Gabriel turns 18. Praise the Lord for his hand in the process.
The new school
year
The children of Peru all started school the second week of March and once again we were able to love on many of the children and mothers by purchasing their school supplies, uniforms, and new shoes. Along with a set of new glasses for little Antonio. So, let's Praise the Lord for providing the funds that allowed us to do so.
The women we have served
We have housed in the past month over 5 different single women and their children. All of these were short stays, where they found rest and comfort here at the home while they tried to navigate their next steps. One returned to their prior situation and the others moved to their family's home. Of course, we desire them to stay longer, but we are happy to have had the opportunity to love them like Jesus and we made sure they knew they could come back anytime. Praise the Lord for this home and the never-ending mercy He has for these women and their children.
Meeting with the
Bishop
I had a meeting with Father
Robert, the priest, who walks with me in the Home’s mission and the Bishop in
late March and I was blown away at the reason he wanted to have a meeting with
me. The Bishop’s 1st words to me were “What can I, and the dioceses
do for you and the home”? I was so incredibly humbled that he even thought of
us and the mission here. I quickly thought to myself, that this must mean we
are doing something right! After a rare pat on the back, I finally caught my breath
and told him I need your priests to know we are here to help them in their pastoral
duties. I also told him that somehow, somewhere there needs to be a group on
the other end to help the husbands (fathers), to teach them how to love like Jesus
and how to be a husband and a father. His
reply was he is in the middle of creating a new document and mission statement
for the Dioceses and it marks his desire to educate, serve, and strengthen families
as a whole, he said Santa Maria Magdalena’s home is part of the new mission. The
Bishop then said to me “Thank you, and keep doing what you are doing, the Diocese
needs you”
If
you know me at all, you know that I do not tell you this to toot my own horn.
But to give Praise to the Lord and to ask for your prayers even more,
now than ever. It is a bit scary to be in such a place, with such a responsibility
while still having doubts if this home and its mission will even survive financially.
I must confess, I feel a lot like the disciples when they were in the boat amidst
a storm with Jesus and when they woke him saying, “Lord,
save us! We’re going to drown! “He replied, “You of little faith, why are you
so afraid?” (Mt 8:
23-27) So, I beg you to please lift the home
and its mission and all those it serves up to the Lord. And let's Praise the
Lord for the new Bishop’s docile heart and at the fact that the Diocese of
Chachapoyas Peru desires to transform and strengthen families and desires to
help the most vulnerable members. (All they needed was a bit of inspiration
and hope)
Podcast
Gabriel
and I were asked to do a podcast for Frontiers of Faith episode, hosted by Katie Ruvalcaba
and Fr. Anthony Andreassi. You can listen to it by following the link : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-gets-it-so-right-karen-and-gabriel-in-peru/id1696335589?i=1000649273516
. Even though our internet showed its true color and was very limited on this
day we Praise the Lord for what was salvaged of our interview, and it
served as a great reminder that we are indeed far away, in a remote place that is
not easy to stay connected.
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Holy Week
Holy Week was just a huge blessing. Holy
Thursday the chapel and the home exceeded its limits. So many new faces came,
and though the home and its chapel were bursting at its seams it was such a
blessing to receive so many people. We started with a celebration of the word, and
then everyone who came had their feet washed. Just like Jesus commanded his disciples
at the Last Supper saying, “If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your
feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that
as I have done for you, you should also do”. John
13:14-15. We are honored to say that on Holy Thursday here over 85 people
had their feet washed and then in return washed the feet of others. Indeed,
this is loving like Christ!
We then sat down for a
prayerful dinner as disciples. After dinner, we followed Jesus to the garden, and
we sat with Jesus throughout the night until morning. Awesome enough and to my surprise
most of the community stayed throughout the night.
Let us honor and Praise the
Lord for such a beautiful and intimate Holy week.
Easter Sunday
Gabriel and I were not here at
the home for Easter Sunday nor with the beautiful community that surrounds it, as
we were called down the mountain to lead a celebration in Paraiso and Gabriel
was able to lead the altar servers in Cajaruro for Sunday Mass. It was a
blessing to have the opportunity to serve on such a glorious day, so Praise
the Lord!
Magally
This incredible mother and daughter of God passed away last week. Magally suffered so much in her life and she lived in an abusive situation and with a disease that was beyond what any of us could have ever imagine living through. From my 1st months in missions here in Peru the Holy Spirit had led me to her, this woman is the reason for Santa Maria Magdalenas's home. My 1st encounter with her I knew that I was to fight for women like her. I have shared much of her situation with you over the years and have brought many of you to her home to meet her and to encounter Jesus in her. I honestly feel I failed her at being a good friend as I wanted to bring her to Santa Maria Magdalena's home but did not have permission from her father-in-law to do so. However, at the same time feel grateful I am very confident that she is with Jesus and will never ever be abused or feel pain again. Only JOY!!!! Please pray for her children whom she leaves behind! Let's praise the Lord for his love and his mercy for Magally and all those who serve like her.
Gelber
Praise the Lord, Gelber was able to get to his appointment and pay
for his operation in Lima. The doctor said he is confident he got everything and
wants him to return for chemo in 5 weeks. It feels so amazing to love on this
man and his family in this way. It is amazing how loving like Christ can change
and transform people. Let's praise the Lord for the opportunity to love
on him and for the financial support he has received also for the second chance
he has to become the man Jesus desires him to be to his wife and children.
Needs of Santa Maria Magdalena's Home
We always want to be upfront with
the needs of the home. Because this mission would not exist without faithful
people like you. We pray that sharing
with you the needs of the home also is an opportunity to praise the Lord
for all he has done thus far. He has done amazing things for so many people through
the ministries this home provides.
The home's 3 most immediate
needs
1.) The home's monthly operating cost is set at 3,000.00
a month. With your help and the special help of one of our amazing mission partners
who took on our burden and began to spread the mission of the home and the
needs to his community, we have almost reached this goal and are just shy of
$1500.00 a month to reach this goal. So, let's praise the Lord together
for this and pray for opportunities to share the home's mission and invite others
to become mission partners, with the Lord here. Praise the Lord with me that
all we need is 15 more people to partner with us at 100.00 a month to reach
the home’s monthly operational goal.
Please consider spreading the news
of the mission of Santa Maria Magdalena’s home to your family, friends, and church
community. Perhaps you can invite others
to be a part of the mission here in Peru.
2.) The priest retreat is coming up on the 1st
of August. For the last 2 years, Praise
the Lord, together we have been able to gather all priests of the diocese and
host a retreat for them. This year we desire to do the same. Historically the
retreat has cost $5,000.00 and we expect it to be the same again this year. This
allows 33 Priests to attend, pays for lodging at a local hotel, feeds them 3
meals a day, and pays for a guest Priest/ speaker to lead the retreat for 5
days. It has been a huge blessing for these priests who each, serve over 150 to
250 pueblos with some of them being a day's drive away, and who rarely have
time to be filled up and spiritually replenished. If you feel called to help, please make a note
in the donation comment tab: Priest retreat.
3.) Gelber’s ongoing cancer treatment: We are trying to
raise 1500.00 for his chemo treatment which will take place in Lima after he has
recovered from his surgery. He is traveling back to Lima in May and will stay
until he finishes the treatment, praise God we were able to get him plane
tickets for this next trip, we now just need to reach the funds needed for the
treatments. If you feel called to help, please make a note in the donation
comment tab: Gelber. Praise the Lord for opportunities to serve him through
his beloved poor!
Let us Praise the Lord! Alleluia, Alleluia
O Lord, the God of our fathers,
and glorious is your name forever.
27 For you have shown justice in all you have done for us;
all your deeds are true, all your ways are right,
and all your judgments are correct.
28 You have made proper judgments
in all that you have brought upon us
and upon Jerusalem, the holy city of our ancestors.
By a judgment, you have done all this
because of our sins.
29 “For we have sinned and broken your law
in our rebellion against you;
we have fallen short in every way.
30 We have neglected to obey your commandments
and have failed to do what you commanded for our own good.
31 Therefore, in all the misfortunes you have inflicted upon us,
in all you have done to us,
you have executed proper judgments.
32 You have handed us over to our enemies,
lawless and godless rebels,
and to a wicked king, the most evil in the entire world.
33 “Now we cannot open our mouths;
we, your servants who worship you,
have become a cause of shame and dishonor.
34 For your name’s sake, do not abandon us forever
or renounce your covenant.
35 Do not withdraw your mercy from us
for the love of Abraham, your friend,
Isaac, your servant, and Israel, your holy one,
36 to whom you spoke, promising to make their descendants
as numerous as the stars in the heavens
and the grains of sand on the seashore.
37 “For we, O Lord, have become the least of all nations,
humiliated throughout the world in our day
because of our sins.
38 We now have no ruler, no prophet, no leader,
no burnt offering or sacrifice or oblation of incense,
no place to make an offering before you and to find mercy.
39 But may we be accepted by you
as we approach you with a contrite heart
and with a submissive spirit.
40 As though we were presenting burnt offerings of rams and bulls
or thousands of fat lambs,
so may our sacrifice be in your presence today
as we follow you unreservedly,
for those who trust in you will never be put to shame.
41 “And now with all our heart we shall follow you;
even though we fear you, we seek your face.
42 Do not let us be put to shame,
but deal with us in your patience
and in your great mercy.
43 Deliver us by your wonderful deeds,
and let your name be glorified, O Lord.
44 Let those who harm your servants be brought low;
let them be put to shame and rendered powerless,
and may their strength be crushed.
45 Let them know that you alone are the Lord God,
glorious throughout the whole world.”
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