Home school for a missionary kid by Gabriel Del Castillo

 

 Living in a 3^rd world county can get kinda of tricky sometimes.

Quickly you find out 2 things; one that every moment is an opportunity to learn and secondly finding time for school looks a lot different than the normal US classroom.

The other day I learned an economic lesson as well as what the Catholic Churches calls “social Justice” and the call, we all have to defend the poor. The Church teaches that all people of all nations have the right to the supplies, martials and goods of the earth, not just the educated or the rich. It brings to mind when Jesus says: 

 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal;  but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.  

For where your treasure is, there

 your heart will be also.” Matthew 16: 19-21

Sure, man can own private property and secure and store items for his needs and for his family but that does not exempt him from helping his neighbors and the less fortunate. My mom explained to me that Thomas Aquinas an Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, Catholic priest, and Doctor of the Church taught that though it is not contrary to the natural law for man to possess and own private property and goods, but man should be careful and mindful not possess private property in such a way that hinders others and makes them suffer.

So, in other words he is saying, if man only stores up his riches and does not use his private property (riches) for the good of all man, perhaps he is not acting as Jesus desires of him.

You might ask how this lesson turned in to math and economic class well you see we were on our way from visiting Maritza and her children. Maritza is a single mom, and she is really poor. We try to visit her every week. We bring her food, and we even were able to help build her a house, because she lived in a small bamboo hut with dirt floors and no running water or bathroom. I asked how Maritza makes money, and she said that when she can find work, she works washing other people clothes by hand, or in the corn fields. I was happy to hear that until I found out how much she made.

 Maritza can easily work 9 to 10 hours in the corn fields a day and when she does, she makes 50 soles a day. That is the equivalent of almost $17 USD a day. Quickly I drew a more concern face. I asked my mother what people in the USA made and well she didn’t tell me; she told me to find out on my own. So, I did what I do best, I sent a message to my aunt and bothers and friends back in the states and asked them what they make so I could get an idea.

This is where the math comes in, I had to come up with an average salary between the people I asked from the States. Of course, I was thinking the whole entire time that If she would just let me google the average salary I would be done a lot quicker. But of course, my mom had to turn it into an opportunity to learn. But here are my figures I was given by those in the states of what they made an hour.

So here are my calculations 

$24.00 + $11.00 + $15.00 + $28.00 + $19.00 = $97.00

$97 ÷ 5 = $19.40 on average that is made per hour in the USA.

 That is a huge difference from what Maritza and others here in Peru make in an entire day!

So, after I went back to my mom with the answer to the average hourly wage in the states. She explained to me how as missionaries we are here to preach the Gospel and love people like Jesus would and that includes fighting for social justice for those who have no voice.

So what happen next? You guessed it my next lesson was to find scripture that speaks about the Preferential Option for the Poor and Vulnerable.

 

Here a simple list of the scripture I found that instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first. 

       You shall not oppress the poor or vulnerable.  God will hear their cry. Exodus 22:20-26
         A portion of the harvest is set aside for the poor and the stranger. Leviticus 19:9-10 
         The Lord hears the cry of the poor. Job 34:20-28 
         Speak out in defense of the poor. Proverbs 31:8-9  
        Don’t delay giving to those in need. Sirach 4:1-10  
         God is a refuge for the poor. Isaiah 25:4-5 
         True worship is to work for justice and care for the poor and oppressed. Isaiah 58:5-7
         What you do for the least among you, you do for Jesus. Matthew 25:34-40 

Jesus proclaims his mission: to bring good news to the poor and oppressed. Luke 4:16-21 

Blessed are the poor, theirs is the kingdom of God. Luke 6:20-23
         How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s good and sees one in need and refuses to help? 1 John 3:17-18

 

I guess you can guess what my next subject was that day! Writing and English class. You must already know that by now since you’re reading my latest assignment.

Just for fun, I want to give you all a bit of homework!

What would the world look like if everyone took at least one hour of their salary and used it for the poor?

Do you think that a family in the USA could live, or would they die if they donated an hour of their wages to the poor?

Do you believe if they did, God would reward them for their sacrifice beyond what they sacrificed?

Do you think If man lived today in the way that God created us, that the word “poor” would even exist in our vocabulary today?

 

 

** I really pray the teacher (AKA: mom) gives me an A+ on this assignment. What do you think?

“Therefore, everyone has the right to possess a sufficient amount of the earth’s goods for themselves and their family. This has been the opinion of the Fathers and Doctors of the church, who taught that people are bound to come to the aid of the poor and to do so not merely out of their superfluous goods.

Persons in extreme necessity are entitled to take what they need from the riches of others. Faced with a world today where so many people are suffering from want, the council asks individuals and governments to remember the saying of the Fathers: “Feed the people dying of hunger, because if you do not feed them you are killing them,” and it urges them according to their ability to share and dispose of their goods to help others, above all by giving them aid which will enable them to help and develop themselves.” Gaudium et Spes (Joy and Hope), § 69

Thanks for spending time to find out what its like to be as a missiuonary kid! 

Hugs and Love !!!!!

Gaberial Del Castillo 

Age:  11

Mission Post:  Cajaruro, Amazonas, Peru

 

 

 

 

PROJECT - DIRT TO CONCRETE

 

This week we are starting our 1^st floor project here at our mission post.

Dirt floors are a common feature here for the poor in Peru, as it is in many other developing countries.

It is amazing how the women here can keep them so clean. I cannot imagine what a person would think if they were invited into a home with dirt floors in the United States, much less live in a home with dirt floors.

Since last October we have been invited to many homes where that is just the case. We have been blessed to get to know many people who live with the earth under their feet. When it rains it’s the leaky roof that creates the perfect scenario for mud, if it is not the leaky roof,  than its the poor drainage around the home that soon allows a river to run through the living space.

We also know that dirt floors prove to be ideal carriers of parasites, viruses, and bacterium, which cause diarrheal, skin, and respiratory diseases. These illnesses contribute to anemia, parasitic infestation, and malnutrition. Not to mention we can probably add to the list the deadly COVID – 19 Virus that is now able to breed in this perfect environment.

Through our service over the last past three years with the Medical Mission team here in Peru we know of the intense medical concerns that dirt floors create. However, with that said we also feel like this is an opportunity that Christ desires for us for many other reasons.  To name a few, one is because it gives us the opportunity to love the poor as Christ does. Secondly, it will give us an opportunity to work alongside these families, to bond and unite with them. Lastly, we hope that it creates a burning desire within the hearts of the poor,  that inspires them to know Christ and his immense love, so much, that it propels them to seek Christ and to have a relationship with Him.

With that said we have been moved by the Holy Spirit to turn the dirt floors among us into concrete floors. We have enough funds to complete our 1^st home. The average home here will take 800 soles to transform their dirt floors to concrete. Which is roughly $300.00 US dollars. 

Obviously, we do not know how many homes we can complete. To be honest, that is up to the Holy Spirit. Our hearts have been moved and we desire to be faithful to this special project. We pray the Holy Spirit will find already softened hearts among you that hear the same call to help transform the floors of the poor from dirt to concrete.

 We invite you to please prayerfully consider if this is a project that the Holy Spirit desires you to help with.

If the Holy Spirit stirs in your hearts, please donate to this special project at the following link:

https://www.familymissionscompany.com/project/karen-del-castillo/

In the memo or in the special message box please add: Dirt to Concrete

Or by sending a check to:

Family Missions Company

Attn: Karen Del Castillo

12611 Everglade Road
Abbeville, LA 70510

In the memo write: Dirt to Concrete

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock.  And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!” 

Matthew 7:24-27

The fun part ! Hand mixing cement in the blazing sun.

 Pray for our new volunteers that have agreed to help for free.

Transforming a families life. Dirt to Concrete floor project

Saint medals are almost impossible to come by here and we did not have one medal with the holy family so we used the next best thing which was two medals.

Jesus Mary and Joseph pray for us and for this beautiful family !

After the 1st room was complete we prayed with the family and added the two medals into the concrete.

Perfect families do not exist

  Listening to the homily on the Feast day of the Holy Family the main focus of the homily was of a family that consisted of a Father, Mother and children. And rightfully so. Their example of obedience to God’s will, their unconditional love for God and for each other. Their immense desire to serve God and others before themselves, and their never wavering faith,  are truly saintly examples for families to live by. 


  However I cannot lie, I did feel for a brief moment,  a bit confused of my purpose not as a foreign Catholic lay Missionary but as a single mother. I also felt heartbroken for all those who were in attendance,  that could not for whatever reason  play part in the “perfect role”.  What did they think, what were they feeling? I feared that those who were present felt they fell short of being worthy enough. With a Homily totally and  intentionally directed to intact, whole, perfect families. (the ones which included Father, Mother and children) Again I whole heartily believe that it should have been this way, however perhaps I am struggling with not what was said, but the lack of what was NOT said.  I certainly feel Jesus would not have excluded so many. After all so many people my family serve (and which were attending mass that night ) must have felt a bit unworthy. Towards the end of Mass the only two complete families who were gathered  were invited to receive a special blessing at the front of the church. 


  My heart was struck with sadness as I  looked upon the rest whom were watching. What about the little 9 year old girl who walks her blind grandfather to church each Sunday. What about Jose who is 19  and loves to serve others, and who has lived with his grandparents since he was 10,  after his Mom and Dad separated and chose to abandon him while they pursued other love relationships. Or Milton who desires and prays daily for his wife and him to receive the sacrament of marriage after living 10 years together. What about all the women who attend the church without their husband for whatever reason and who pray for them in such a holy way. Or for the widows who lost their spouse but yet still must endure and press on for their children.  I could not help but to think that these people felt unworthy to be called a family after what they had heard or rather the lack of. After not being invited to the front of the church to receive a special blessing upon their little,  not so perfect,  rendition of a family. 


  I recently took a class over the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Studying and learning the importance of knowing ones audience while teaching the Catholic faith. To be sure that when passing on the “word of Faith” that it’s done in its wholeness.  Learning that it is truly important for one to know and to take in account the needs of those who we are teaching , “our audience”. The General Directory for Catechesis (GDC 145) reminds us of the importance of the principle  “to teach from the Deposit of Faith for any given audience must take into account, not only the amount of time available, but also such factors as age, education, background, and culture.” I could not help to think that It could be a possibility that the homily for the night was a bit misdirected to the wrong type of group and fell short to engage the attending audience.  However despite the shortness of the full truth,  I found wholeness and a since of purpose in our mission we have been set on here at our new post.  A better understanding of the cross I bear as a single mother and why I have been asked to carry into the mission field for everyone to see. There is honestly no way to hide I am a single mother who also has been called to serve Christ as a foreign missionary.  I am not called to carry my cross with a sadden heart, but with a Joyful heart. Walking with a since of completion and fullness, knowing that Jesus is right beside me. 


  It’s our duty as baptized Catholics to pass on the trueness of our Faith. To not water down the teachings of the Catholic Church. However there is a flip side to this. We must not be above others and so caught up in the Hierarchy of the Church, so much that it prevents ourselves from extending love, generosity and forgiveness to those who may fall short of being the living example of the Holy Family.  To exclude the teaching of Jesus’s merciful love and forgiveness,  is not a successful way of discipleship.  After all Jesus healed and  forgave Mary Magdalene, Chose Saint Paul to become a missionary,  despite the fact he persecuted Christians, and  the list does not stop there. Jesus ate with thieves and sinners. Called Zacchaeus down from a tree in order to visit with him in his home. And forgave those who nailed him to the cross. 


  It’s easy to teach from the perspective of Holiness, but from sinner to saint perhaps many of our teachings and Homilies  can fall short throughout the Church. However we must not forget the most fundamental point,  that Jesus came to save. To save the people,  that perhaps have not been born into a life of holiness, or had a loving family to teach them about God or the merciful love of Jesus Christ. He came to save the sinners.

Jesus said to them, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'" Mark 2:17

The feast day of the Holy Family should inspire all of us to become more like them. To be obedient to Gods will, To serve others, to love without conditions and to have a servants heart. That is how all families should live. Perhaps you are a single mother or a single father. Maybe you are a step parent. Or even have adopted a child or been adopted yourself. Maybe your living with your grandparents.  The fact is our families my look a bit different from the Holy Family. But we still can strive to obtain this level of Holiness. We our still worthy to do so. 


Pope Francis said that “We are all called to be saints; we must remember that holiness is a gift from God- Not something we can achieve on our own. Holiness is not granted only to those who have the opportunity to break away from ordinary task, to devote themselves to prayer. Rather, everyone is called to holiness in their own state of life. It’s by living with love and offering Christian witness in our daily task that we are called to become saints… Always and everywhere you can become a saint, that is, by being receptive to the grace that is working in us and leads us to holiness.” 


He also said at his address to Families on Sept. 27, 2015 

 “Perfect families do not exist. This must not discourage us. Quite the opposite. Love is something we learn; love is something we live; love grows as it is 'forged' by the concrete situations which each particular family experiences. Love is born and constantly develops amid lights and shadows. Love can flourish in men and women who try not to make conflict the last word, but rather a new opportunity. An opportunity to seek help, an opportunity to question how we need to improve, an opportunity to discover the God Who is with us and never abandons us. This is a great legacy that we can give to our children, a very good lesson: we make mistakes, yes; we have problems, yes. But we know that that is not really what counts. We know that mistakes, problems and conflicts are an opportunity to draw closer to others, to draw closer to God.”

   My prayer for this blog is to entice all types of families to call upon The Holy Family to intercede for them. For all families whatever they consist of , or made up of, to seek the Holy Family as a role model and as an example of how a family should live. For those who may be a single parent, my prayer for you is that The Holy Family might join you in your day to day task as you play both roles, Father and Mother to your children. For your children to not feel abandon or alone, that they have a since of a complete family. For your children to see an authentic witness in you;  of your willingness to be guided by our heavenly Father, to willing receive the Love of His Mother, Mary and to have the  obedience of Joseph to follow God’s will.

Please pray for my family. That we may be a family to all those we serve here, who do not know the true meaning of a family. We desire to bring them the knowledge and experience of what it is to have unconditional love, generosity, forgiveness and desire to follow Christ. We pray that through seeing Christ in us,  that they may have a desire to know and become more like the Holy Family – Jesus , Mary and Joseph. 

   Holy Family of Jesus Mary and Joseph pray for us!

Karen, Julianna and Gabriel Del Castillo

To make a special donation or become a monthly mission partner follow the link :

delcastillo.familymissionscompany.com

To follow us on Facebook: @UNBROKENAREWE

To send us your prayer request:  karendelcastillo@familymissionscompany.com

From Jungles of Peru to the Heart of the Amazon

It’s been almost 2 weeks since our move to our new mission post. From the Jungles of Peru to the heart of the Amazon.  as it’s known by its inhabitants. It was a 10 hour drive through Peru and its mighty mountains, where on the other side lay await our new home,  sight unseen.

We arrived safely with the belongings that we were able to fit in our truck. Reluctant to give away what we had accumulated over the past 2 years, we found ourselves trying as hard as we could to tie and strap everything as tight as we could. I can freely say that we looked a lot like the 1970 TV series the Beverly Hillbillies.  We soon realized that not everything was meant to make the move with us. God had other plans for some of the things he so carefully provided for us while we served in the Jungle, such as our stove,  chairs and our very important baldes (plastic buckets) to hold and collect water. With a quick prayer we were given the graces which allowed us to unclutched our tight grip of these material things and walked them to our sweet neighbor, Juanita knowing that she would put them to good use in her own home. It felt good not to worry and to trust completely that God would provide exactly what we would need, again in our new mission post as we meditated on the Bible verse found in the book of Mathew 6:25-34

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

I often tell others there is no other place I rather be than in the mission field, because here you must rely on God and it is amazing to see him at work and to be close enough to Jesus to feel his breath. Upon our arrival,  we were welcomed with such love and anticipation it was like it was Jesus himself welcoming us, we have not experience this kind of love anywhere else but among the poor. Within moments we were handed a small, 2 burner stove top and three chairs and trashcans full of water in which someone had already thoughtfully collected for us. If all of those gifts were not enough 30 mins after our arrival a lady was at the door with a small fold out bed. She had said she heard we only had two small twin beds. I said yes that’s all we have used for two years. The three of us just sleep on two beds or we would rotate sleeping on the floor or with each other. She hastily (with a purpose) left the bed and ran off saying she was going to find us a mattress and would be back later. We were beyond blessed by Gods gifts for us. It’s not easy for us to receives gift.   It’s much easier to give than receive. However I can hear Mr. Andy a fellow missionary saying“ just let God Love you”!!!!!! With a smile we did just that!  

 The faithful women of Cajaruro (the little town we live in) are so delightful and full of Joy. Last year they raised funds to build a small one bedroom home behind the church. They explained to us that they had really no idea why they had all of a sudden decided to build a home behind the church after all these years, after all no one had told them to do it,  they just felt that it was something that they were supposed to do.  However they were quick to say “sometimes you just have to trust in God”.  They did just that, together they worked faithfully and did as God asked of them and they called on neighbors, friends and even the town’s mayor for donations and materials for the home. Little did they know that they were building the home for a missionary family! We are so grateful for their faithfulness and obedience to Gods plan. I can not help to think that they might have felt a lot like Noah as he was building the Arc, as others watch and criticized his faithfulness. 

We have not yet started any active ministries, per say. We are spending the rest of the month of October getting acquainted to our new town and its beautiful people.  We ask for your prayers for patience and for a spirit of docility , we trust that the Holy Spirit wants to leads us to those he has sent us too, we just need to be patient and allow him to guide us. We have already seen so many needs here and have had many ministries placed on our hearts and we pray that we will receive confirmation soon on the work that God is asking of us. But until than we continue to meet with our new neighbors and community. We have enjoyed playing with the children and participating in the youth group,  which currently has no one to lead them.  The entire month of October the town’s faithful pray the rosary each evening as the image of the Señor de los Milagros (The Lord of Miracles also known as "Christ of Miracles) travels throughout different homes here in Cajaruro,  it was such perfect timing for us to arrive this month, it’s created the perfect opportunity for us to join our new community each evening. It has been nothing short of Gods mighty hand in it all.   

Our new mission field is very different from our past mission post in the Jungle. In many ways, but for starters,  we have water that comes in every day for an hour. A huge change from the last two years of collecting rain water and hauling water from the river. Now when it rains in the middle of the night we just enjoy listening to the rain instead of sitting straight up from a dead sleep to run outside to collect water.  Or when we walk by the river we do not become overwhelmed by the trash dumped in it or fixated on the cow that is being butchered next to it for easy clean up,  wondering if we will get sick from using the water. Mosquitos do exist here but they do not desire to eat people alive. Our home is made of cinder block walls which have been covered in plaster with a beautiful new fresh coat of paint. I haven’t had to have Julianna chase out not even one Lizard, wasp or cockroach yet. The children and I have even learned to live with the two huge iguana lizards who lurk high above us as we walk about the hallway between the church and our tiny home. The 4 resident bats have adapted to us living here as well.  The climate is a bit cooler and most days we are greeted with a nice breeze. Further up in the mountains of course it’s much cooler. 

Our 1^st days here It was hard not to feel guilty, It seemed like we were far away from the poverty and the harsh conditions we have lived in for our 1^st two years of missions. Since our arrival  to our new post we have awed and marveled at the fact that clear water comes into our home through our pipes each day all though not drinking quality for us and our American immune system,  but it’s visibly crystal clear and no need to remove bugs or trash as we have had to do since our time here in Peru. It’s feels like we have the pinch me syndrome,  were perhaps we should pinch each other to make sure we are not dreaming as we find ourselves admiring the pretty plaza and the cleanliness of the church. However after nearly two weeks of living here we have begun to see the different kind of poverty that we live in now. We have been warned about traveling alone and have even been offered a police escort after the locals heard we made our way by ourselves up the mountains as we followed a prompting of the Holy Spirit in search of the pueblo that had been praying for us. As a mother I do not take these warnings lightly. I knew a bit of the violent history if the area before we came. However it is harder to digest when you find out the little girl next door, Maricielo who is 9 years old (the same age as Gabriel) is now living with her grandmother,  because her mom was killed and left dead in a rice field down the road, just 7 months ago. 

 Maricielo lost her mom less than a year ago.

 The fear that most of the locals have regarding the violence and robberies have been issued and passed on to us too serve as a warning. In response to these warnings we must faithfully and fervently pray and we must lay our lives in the hands of God. Knowing he will protect us in the same way he protecting  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego when they were placed in the fiery Furnace (Daniel 1-3). Along with these warnings given to us we can see just a glimpse of what poverty the locals live in. Many without a strong relationship with Jesus which can create a great deal of fear among them.     

 On our way up the mountain

Amazing group of Catholics living on the mountain

The mountains in the background, home to our new mission field

As many of you may have heard Pope Francis has called together an Amazon Synod to discuss and advocate for the rights of indigenous people and their land in the Amazon region. With debates about land rights, protecting water, to protecting children from sex traffickers and slavery to the super-hot steamy topic of married Priest and the role of women within the Catholic Church in the Amazon region. Giving many laity an opportunity to have their own debates on social media and on the news about the Amazon Synod. I can tell you I have not followed the Amazon Synod as I should, the irony of it all, is as a single Catholic missionary mom living in solidarity with the poor, I just do not have the time nor the internet connection to be able to follow this amazing meeting of such Spirit led and Godly people; Whom with much prayer and desire wants to help the indigenous people and longs to find a modern way to bring the Catholic Church to them.

A lot of our work in the jungle apart from meeting material needs and just living in solidarity with the poor, was finishing the education and formation of the poor which had been started by former Priest, Religious Sisters and Missionaries who served before us. Although there were other dominations of churches they had a very small number of faithful. The Catholic faith was the dominant faith in the Jungle. For two years my children and I worked under two great missionary Priest from Spain whom had huge missionary hearts.

 My children and I now serve under two Peruvian Priest all though loving and wonderful they are a bit overwhelmed with the over 200 pueblos between the two of them. As they serve with very few religious sisters whom live in the area. The Catholic church is here but it has very much forgotten its missionary heart. It seems to be that there are cells of faithful men and women mostly in their 70 and late 80 who try to keep the religion alive but it’s just not enough. The Catholic faithful here are disappearing. The other churches in the town are filled with the towns children who eagerly and devoutly attend on Friday, Saturday and Sunday  afternoons as each of the children are assigned a sponsor from the USA which faithfully sends them material goods or money biweekly, which motivates the attendance levels. An approach that seems to be working for the leaders of the church but very much a contradiction to the saying,  Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.

Earlier this week I was sitting with a group of school kids in front of the church. All of them full of questions for my children and I. As we sat playing the 50 questions in a minute game. I heard one of the older girls who was very polite but very assertive with all her questions she had for us, say to the group “they are Catholic, they believe Christ is dead, that’s why they have Jesus nailed to the cross”.  I honestly could not catch my breath. I am not one to debate religions. I, being a convert to the Catholic Church as an adult, raised with the concept that we do not need a “church to believe in God”. I never had the knowledge of the Holy Trinity or the understanding of the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.  I owe a huge gratitude to my grandmother (a devout Catholic) in which undoubtedly prayed and petitioned the saints and angels for help,  that her granddaughter would one day enter into the fullness of the church. So hearing the young girl say that Catholics believed that Christ was dead really drove my heart to proclaim my passionate love for the Holy Eucharist and the understanding and the belief the church has of the Holy Trinity. I of all people began to defend my faith. Not merely preaching it or teaching it to those who desired to know more which I have done for over 2 decades or more,  but I was in a middle of a war with a young girl who had been obviously taught to disregard the teachings of the Catholic church; to become in a sense an enemy of the Catholic Church. She could not have been more than 10 or 11 years old, but she could recite the bible like an adult, at least better than most Catholics. I could not just let her profess lies about our faith and as much as I did not want too,  I engaged in the battle. I simply asked her if she had ever heard of the last supper and the institution of the eucharist and the words that Jesus spoke to his Disciples. As I was trembling with fear of the battle I began with the words from Matthew 26:26 “Jesus took bread and said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” I paused, and asked her if she had ever heard that part of the bible. To my confusion she said yes and then she began to recite the rest of the bible verse saying “Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins.” I explained to her that very same supper that Jesus had with his disciples, we as Catholics get to partake in that very same banquet every time the Priest comes to celebrate mass with us. Than it dawned on me, that this is part of why Jesus sent my children and I here. Why the Holy spirit went before us to open the doors to this diocese that has never had fulltime lay Catholic missionaries living within its territories. It’s why the holy spirit  inflamed the hearts of the small number of faithful Catholics to build a house for us and why He spoke to each one of you to help us obtain the funds for a truck so that we can reach the further lying pueblos up in the mountains, who have already pleaded desperately for my children and I to return weekly to help teach them and their children learn about our Catholic faith. He sent us here to be a witness to so many who have been kept from the temple because of man’s deceitful lies and twisted words. To re- ignite the flame to those who have remained faithful both to the hierarchy of the church and to the true presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.

Led by the spirit and high in the mountains found a town who not only welcomed us but was praying for someone from the church to come help.

We as baptized Catholic have a duty to go out and Proclaim the Gospel. To become disciples and to win souls for Christ. I understand that it would not be wise for everyone to go out and sell all their belongings and set off for a new land to proclaim the Gospel. That’s not what God wants. Not everyone was meant to sell everything included their only place to lay their heads, their beds and hit the road to a unknown land with what only fits in a suitcase like my children and I did. However I encourage each of you to pray fervently and ask yourself,  in what way does God want you to partake in this mission mandate. If He is not asking of your own life to enter into foreign missions, perhaps God is asking you to be a supporter with a sacrifice of your prayers or by supporting our families mission financially. For the love of the Catholic faith and the Mother Church, I beg you all to continue to pray for us and for the Amazon Synod. More so for an increase in priestly vocations even for my own young son Gabriel and his discernment. For our new mission post, and for my family to have strength, courage and wisdom to bring people back to Jesus and His Church. Lastly, I plead for your prayers for protection for whatever evil spirit which lurks about that wishes to harm us here at our new post.

The Church needs everyone of us to take part in the Mission Mandate. I only share this with each of you out of the extreme need of the Catholic Church and for our love of the Church and our love of the Eucharist. I beg of you to prayerfully ask yourself what it is Jesus is asking of you.

I also humbly invite you to partake in a short term mission trip to anyone of FMC’s mission posts to see what we as full time missionary do and what we are up against as we try to win souls for Christ. If you would like to visit our mission post here in Peru with my family and I for a week or two let me know, I can get you connected to those who can help you state side make a mission trip a reality for you and your family.  There is no better way to understand the great need of missionaries in this vast world we live in than to walk side by side with us in the field. Which would allow you a chance to see into the eyes of the poor and feel their heart proclaim their desires for the Catholic Church and its sacraments.

To our family, friends benefactors and prayer warriors, every step we make, we make with you in our hearts and in our prayers! We love you all and thank you for Loving the Lord as you do!

Karen, Julianna and Gabriel Del Castillo   

Walking around the top of the mountain smell better than walking into STARBUCKS, coffee plants are everywhere

 Mountain Top View with a cute little Donkey

Laying hands on a Van

Laying hands on a Van

 

My family were able to enjoy the FMC community retreat in Moyobamba Peru in the heart of the Prelatura that we serve in. It was a chance to get to know the new missionaries who just arrived in the country, a time for rest, and a beautiful chance to attend daily mass at the cathedral, and we even had time for some FUN!

The last day of the retreat we as a community were ready to ventured off to a swimming hole about 45 mins north of Moyobamba.  Since most of us missionaries do not own a vehicle, the single girls team and my family needed to find our way to the swimming hole.

We decided to take a taxi. Once we arrived at the taxi terminal we were able to fit the single girls team and my family all in to one van, which was a relief because traveling to an unknown place in a foreign country isn’t always the same as in America . We were quickly on our way for a day of fun. I somehow ended up sitting in the front with the driver with Julianna and Gabriel in the back with the girls team.  Our driver was a young gentleman named Nelson in his mid to late 20’s, wearing shades and dress in a nicely pressed taxi uniform. Windows down and his radio playing a mix of Peruvian and American music from the 80’s.  He was curious to know what country we were from and how long we would be visiting Peru, I explained we were all from the United States and that we were Catholic missionaries and that we live about 3 hours south of Moyobamba serving in small pueblos not to far from one another . About that time one of my single missionary sisters asked me in English if we would like to pray the rosary. So all 7 of us began to pray the rosary; It took a minute for Nelson to realize that we were praying because we were praying in English. I felt a bit upset at my self that I did not explain to him before hand that we were going to pray the rosary and  a bit shy to ask him to turn down his music. (Even though one of the songs that came on during the rosary was BELIEVER from imagine Dragon.)  However the Lord used my shyness and the awkwardness to begin a beautiful conversation with Nelson after we were finished praying.  Once we made the sign of the cross Nelson immediately asked if we had been praying I said “yes we were praying the rosary, asking for Mother Mary to intercede for us and for others”.  It was a perfect chance for me to ask Nelson if he was Catholic. He replied that he has not been to church in a very long time. That he is not Catholic nor any other religion.  The rest of the ride consisted of us talking about the United States and different Languages, and his desire to learn English.  Soon we arrived at the swimming area, I noticed that there were no taxi’s waiting to return with swimmers, so I asked Nelson how we would be able to get back to Moyobamba from here. (After all it wasn’t in my plans that day to be stranded in the middle of NO WHERE.) He was nice enough to give us his cell number and he told us to call him an hour before we were ready to leave and he would pick us back up. What a relief that was!  

We had a wonderful time at the swimming area and enjoyed wonderful community time with all the FMC missionaries. We were ready to head back around 2pm, so decided we should call for Nelson to come and pick us up.

After about an hour wait, just as he had promised, We could hear Nelson coming down the road to pick us up. The music setting the tempo for Gabriel and the single team to practice on their dance moves before Nelson came to a complete stop. The young man was so professional and wanting to offer his best. He jumps out of the van and opens the doors and we all piled in, this time one of the single girls jumped up front. We were all loaded, doors closed and ready to go. After adjusting the volume of the radio our driver Nelson started to turn the van around in the middle of the road and once he put it in gear the van would not move. We were cross ways in the middle of the rode. Nelson tried many times to get the transmission to go into gear. The mood in the van got a bit quite, those whom were not paying attention , now were attentive to the fact the van was not moving and that we were stuck in the middle of the road. Nelson again adjusted the volume of the radio but this time he turned it down right before jumping out of the van and crawling up underneath the van. All at the same time he had pulled is phone out of his pocket to make a call. At that time I mentioned  to everyone we should say a prayer for the van. As we were sitting in the van we all placed both of our hands on the van. Gabriel grabbed the window, I placed both my hands on the roof and between all 7 missionaries in the van we had it pretty well covered. While we began to pray and we begged Christ to  send down his angels to help. We asked that any evil spirits be gone from the van and that we, with Christ help make it back to Moyobamba. You could still hear Nelson trying to make a call from under the van at the same time we were praying. Nelson finally came around to the drivers side; and the person on the other end finally answered. Nelson was explaining that the van would not go in gear, he  sounded a bit nervous, and embarrassed, explaining that the van was full of passengers. Nelson showed is concern about how we were going to make it back. Meanwhile with the looks he gave us when he returned to see us with our hands strategically placed on his van, I am more than positive that this young man, at this time was thinking we were all a bit strange; he just could not say anything to us because he was still on the phone. And on his behalf when he returned   from underneath the van, he came back to the drivers side to see seven missionaries laying their hands on the roof of his van, on the seats, on the windows, and you can bet that our feet were doing some pretty silent work of their own, all as we prayed for Gods help. By the end of Nelsons conversation with the gentleman on the phone he sat down in the drivers seat;  we at this point were praying the Our Father, and about to wrapped up our prayer for help when he tried to put the van in gear again.

It was a prayer answered, the van went into gear! You could hear Nelson, tell the man on the other end “NEVER MIND”, the van went into gear were on our way.  Nelson hung up the phone and told us the van must have been possessed with brujas (witches). Sitting from the back I replied to his comment, no worries we just prayed for your van, and we will make it back to Moyobamba. We did in fact make the 45 minute trip back to Moyobamba . We pulled to the back of the taxi terminal,  and we were just feet away from entering into the terminal when the van would not make it any further. Praise God for answered prayers.

Since my time here in Peru, as a foreign missionary,  I have learned that there are so many ways that we can evangelize those God has sent us to,  and sometimes he just wants us to have faith in Him, and lay hands on a van. I cannot help but pray that next time Nelson’s van is not working that instead of making a phone call, he would remember the small miracle that God preformed, and that he would choose to just lay his hand on his van and call on Christ for His help !

#LayingHandsOnAVan   #DrivingOutDemons   #InTheNameOfJesusWeCastOutEvil

 #GodHearsOurPrayers

#MissionLifeInPeru   #UnBrokenAreWe

Karen Del Castillo

Catholic Missionary

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