I often wonder if I have lived
in Peru a bit too long because some of the rarest, most simplest things fill my
heart and make Christ’s presence known in such a real way to me. Perhaps it is
not a bad thing, but I ask this question after spending the day yesterday with
my dear friend Maritza. It was a wonderful day and it even got better right
before we were about to leave. See one of the pigs properly named Negra that we
bought Maritza a few years back was about to give birth to her 4th
set of baby piglets. We had been keeping an eye on her off and on during our
visit and decided to check on her once again before heading out. When we
arrived at her corral, we saw that Negra had already given birth to one baby, but
it had not survived. Maritza tried to save it and she was in tears that the
baby piglet was dead. But her tears turned to joy a few minutes after because
here came the rest of the piglets. One, two, three, I was amazed at how quickly
they were coming, and Maritza so lovingly took each one, removed the protective
sack that they came out in, cleaned them, and returned them to their mother so
they could eat. Negra gave birth to a total of 12 baby piglets. Her body, so perfectly
designed and equipped for the job of motherhood. Maybe it is weird to say but watching
Negra give birth and Maritza take such good care of her and her piglets made my
heart full.
We all know that pigs have a bad reputation and oftentimes
are not the most desirable animal and just the same I find that unwed mothers are
thought of in the same manner. Throughout the Bible, we are given many symbols
of a pig. The Symbol of Uncleanliness, Leviticus
11:7. “And the pig, though it has a divided
hoof, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you. As Symbols of destruction
and punishment, we can find in Psalm 80: 13, “Boars from the forest ravage it and insects from the
fields feed on it.” They are even used as a symbol of rejected worship and
sacrifice as we find in Isaiah 66:3 “whoever makes a grain offering
is like one who presents pig’s blood, and whoever burns memorial incense is
like one who worships an idol. They have chosen their own ways, and they
delight in their abominations.” Pigs are even a symbol of foolishness in Proverbs
11:22 “A beautiful woman who rejects good sense is like a gold ring in a pig’s
snout.” Luke even writes of the prodigal son wherein he writes “So he
went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his
fields to feed pigs.” Luke 15:15
And who can forget the story of Jesus casting
the demons out of the two men and into the herd of pigs found in Matthew 8:28-34
“He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and
the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water.”
As you can see, we can find many associations
in the bible where pigs are not mentioned in a positive light. A quick search
on the internet about pigs and motherhood will give you the sight of a grim
world we live in that believes that cruelty to pigs is allowed and gives us a
snapshot of how pigs are beneath man.
With that said, I find here in Peru and in
my personal experience in the USA as a single mother that often than not unwed
mothers are treated just as harshly. Outcasted, kept at a distance,
undeserving, not equal to, shunned from church communities because their marriage
failed, left to take all the blame, abandoned, and stripped of all dignity, and
the list goes on.
However, on this day I could not help
but notice my dear friend Maritza taking such gentle care of her pig Negra and her
piglets. Maritza made sure her children were by her side, and she carefully explained
and taught them how to care for each piglet upon their arrival into this world.
I also took in the fact that this unwed
mother finds self-worth and dignity in caring for all of her pigs and piglets. This
so-called filthy, unclean animal allows her to provide for her family.
Maritza, an outcast many would say,
treats this unclean pig with the utmost respect and love.
What I feel many people forget about
Pigs and Unwed Mothers is the fact that both are creations made by God. Despite the chocolates and the flowers, we
brought Maritza for Mother’s Day, Jesus gave Maritza possibly the best Mother’s
Day gift ever, 11 piglets, a gift that would allow her to carry her cross of
being a single mother just a little easier.
Yesterday I was delighted at what the Lord
had to show me in Maritza and Negra, two loving Mothers, both deserving of respect,
love, and compassion. Both ready and willing to serve Jesus in the way only
they can fulfill here on earth.
May our hearts be moved to compassion
and love for all the unwed single mothers who are hidden in the shadows of the
outcasted, abandoned, and forgotten, who so bravely carry their crosses daily
in hopes to one day hear, “well done good and faithful servant”.
Happy Mother's Day!
Karen and Gabreil Del Castillo
Mission post : Santa Clara, Amazonas, Peru -
Santa Maria Magdalena's Home
Contact us with your prayer intentions, follow our blog, or make a donation at the following links.
Grace to you
and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
May this
Advent season be a season of wonder and awe. A season of rebirth and
restoration within your souls!
This past year has
been amazingly difficult by human standards but delightful in every way as it
has been all the work of the Lord and I am so grateful to have been chosen to
be a part of it along with each of you!!!
As we make a close to the 1st week of
Advent with a desire to prepare our hearts for the Birth of our Lord, I find myself
reflecting on the triumphs and Glory stories of the year past.
For the most
part of the last year has been a WILD RIDE. With
that said a reoccurring whisper that resounded during my prayer time came from
my beloved Jesus whispering “hang on tight my love, or only a bit longer” and that sums it up in a nutshell. So many things have happened and all
of them would not have been impossible without Jesus and all of you.
Our past year in missions closely resembled a battle or war. And perhaps it is best that we do not sugarcoat
it because INDEED IT WAS!
Not a war between men but that of the evil one who
desired and tried so hard to make us give up. Little did the prince of lies and
deceit know the giant and holy army that was behind us. Thanks to all of you,
we fought many battles against Satan. And
it is safe to say he did not win this time and we are going to stay extremely vigilant
of his presence and whereabouts for the next. We are going to make certain we walk in prayer,
and we will be calling on all the angels and saints to walk with us for the
days ahead.
Despite the hardships, struggles,
and toil of this past year, I have never felt so alive and close to Jesus as I
have this year and I found this from Saint Ignatius of Antioch that I would
love to share with you. “Now do
I begin to be a disciple of Christ, and care for nothing in this world, that so
I may find Jesus. Let fire, or the cross, or wild beasts, or the breaking of my
bones, or the cutting of me to pieces, or the shattering of my whole body, yea,
all the tortures of the devil – let them all come upon me, only let me enjoy my
God.”
~ Ignatius of Antioch
Eloquent speaker (I Think Not!)
I must share with you an interview that Gabriel
and I were asked to do for a wonderful series called Mission Connect, produced,
and aired with Shalom World!
I must say I can relate to Moses as he pleaded with
the Lord for him to send someone else because he had never been an eloquent
speaker. Of course, what was asked of me is not anything close to what the Lord
asked of Moses, but in the same sense I can relate to being “slow of speech and
tongue”.
However, I felt I needed to trust the Lord and
rely on him to speak the words he wanted me to speak. So here you have it, our
interview.
I must say
that I am so very moved by the editing and the pictures that Shalom World gathered
from our years in the mission field. So many of the pictures I had forgotten
about or wondered where they got them from.
Gabriel did such a wonderful job of singing at the
end! Praise God. I can only pray that the discomfort I experienced doing this
interview helps lead others to the foot of the Cross. For those of you who have
been there, you will never forget your transformation or how Jesus pierced your
heart! I desire that everyone finds their way to the foot of the cross and that
in some way this interview can aid in that mission!
But Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither
in the past nor even now that you have spoken to your servant; but I am slow of
speech and slow of tongue.”
Exodus 4:10
Santa Maria Magdalena’s Home
It is such an honor to share with you the
following update.
The final touches are being done on the home and
God willing by the first of the calendar year we should be officially living
and serving in our new mission post!
With the 1st phase of the building
project coming to a close we now are looking to furnish the home with 30 bunk
beds, for the upstairs dorms, towels, sheets, and pillows, as well as at least
4 massive tables and chairs for the huge dining hall. Lastly, if you have ever
been to our Mission Base in Louisiana and have experienced praise and worship
nights or morning prayer at the big house we are in need of the same comfy
couches and chairs that invite people to sit and talk, to pray and bond together.
I am sure
Jesus has plans to move his funds to us in order to properly furnish the home
and if not, that is ok too, as our plans are not his plans so, we are totally
prepared for whatever it is he desires to supply us with.
Front of the community home/ The small porch you see is almost completed
side view of the home
This is a view of the main dining hall looking towards the back of the home
This is the main meeting hall to be used for fellowship, talks and morning prayer
Laundry and storage room
The Huge Kitchen
Back porch view/ it will have a balcony and a roof that will extend over the porch area
Official Opening of
Santa Maria Magdalena’s Home
Save the Date!
July 22, 2023
It is bold, I know to make such an announcement,
but it comes straight from my heart and is rooted in Prayer. A while back, I
read that the three ingredients to Christian boldness are Spirit-empowered
conviction, courage, and urgency. And well that explains it well.
I have the sufficient conviction
that these women deserve to be restored, to have dignity, and to feel love, and
so do their children. I have the courage
to face all the threats and opposition the devil or any human has to throw at
me in regard to helping these beautiful women and their children. I have more
than a sufficient amount of urgency, there is a fire under my feet and burning
within my heart to be Jesus’s hands and feet! The time is way overdue, and Jesus
wants to restore these women and break the chains of abuse and chains that bind
his creations. So, I ask how else should I act? But with Christian boldness!
Though we do not have any more funds left after
building the community home we are so ever confident that the Lord did not take
us this far up the mountain to desert us. He could not have started this
project and then pull out of it so near to the end! That is not how our Lord
works!
As I have explained before the Second phase of Mary
Magdalena’s home is to build the Chapel and the three smaller homes at the back
of the land. We have the design plans, and we have the estimated cost to build,
however, the challenge is that at this moment we do not have the funds!
We are
ready to get started when we return in 4 weeks, but we need to raise close to 50
thousand US dollars in order to do so.
I have nudged the Lord during my prayer time and
made it known that we have exhausted the funds he allowed for the community house
so, of course, I am confident that he knows. (As if I really needed to explain
it all, but of course, he likes to hear our needs and he loves even more for us
to ask him and call out to him.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, we can find that whatever
we ask for in prayer, we shall receive if you have faith” Matthew 21:22
We are hopeful that the chapel and the small homes
can be completed before the Feast Day of Santa Maria Magdalena as we have a
great desire to invite the bishop to celebrate the inauguration mass in the
Chapel followed by a humble dinner planned for the community in which the home
is surrounded by. Santa Maria Magdalena’s Feast Day is July 22. Hence that is
why I am sending the announcement to all of you as well. We would love to host
you on that date. We would absolutely be honored for whoever desires to make the
journey to come to Santa Maria Magdalena’s home and help us praise our Lord for
all the good he is doing, so please prayerfully consider taking us up on the
offer.
Again,
it is Bold to set the date, but so is our Lord! So, we are praying for yet
again for more miracles! We “with confidence draw near to the throne of grace”
(Hebrews 4:16)who then should we fear (Psalm 27:1)? Jesus did not die on the
cross to have us quivering in a corner because some human being might say
something mean or words of discouragement, or because lack of funds, or
sever a relationship, or even kill us (Luke 12:4). No! For Jesus has ensured
that, “neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor
things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all
creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our
Lord”. (Romans 8:38-39)
What
else can be done? What more can be said?
To love Christ is to live with Boldness! Spirit-empowered
conviction, courage, and urgency! As our dear late director, Mr. Frank Summers
would often say we must preach with Parrhesia!
Pope Francis has on many occasions drawn attention to the importance of
the Greek word, Parrhesia. It is often translated as boldness, frankness, or
courage. The Pope explained that it is Christian courage which drives someone to
speak openly…. For example, in the Acts of the Apostles, it says that Paul and
Barnabas sought to explain the mystery of Christ to the Hebrews with boldness
and preached the Gospel boldly.”
The Catechism defines the term in this way: “Straightforward simplicity,
filial trust, joyous assurance, humble boldness, the certainty of being loved”
CCC 2778
It is my prayer that we may pray and preach with Parrhesia
so that we may lead these women to know with certainty that they are loved and that
they were created in his image! It is my utmost prayer that this boldness will become
contagious to you all!
May we have the confidence not to quiver in
fear in the corner. May we have the
confidence to be the hands and the feet of Christ to the poor!
If you have an overpowering conviction to help complete
the second phase of Santa Maria Magdalena’s home which consist of building the chapel
and the 3 small one-room homes, please do not be in fear of being bold with the
confidence that the Lord is giving you!
***Please send your donations to finish this
project by following the link provided below. Please add in the project name: Chapel/ small homes
Our goal is $50,000.00 to build the chapel and 3 long-term, small one room homes!
The Truck
You all made it possible to replace our old truck
with a new one. I can not tell you how much our lives have changed since we
purchase the new truck. Our time has increased abundantly; we can move faster
up and down the mountain and our weeks have been free of repair shops. We are
so grateful to all of you who helped make this possible. Thank you so much!
The old truck after prayerfully discerning what to
do with it, we felt that perhaps it could be still of use to someone. We
thought about selling it, but it just felt so wrong to sell it knowing all the issues
that it had. So, with a nudge from the Lord and wonderful mission partners who
made the original donation years back for the purchase of the truck, we are
happy to say the truck has found a new family to serve with.
Meet Jose and Giovanni and their 5 children. They help
Father Robert in and around the large 238 pueblo Parish and have been leading
different ministries for the past few years. The only thing is they never could
serve as a family because they only had a motorcycle. And though Peruvians are conditioned
to carry all sorts of things on a motorcycle and are even very good at fitting
large numbers of people on them it was just not at all possible for all 7 to
fit on one motorcycle.
They are so brave to carry so many things and even large amounts of people on one moto. This picture though I had to share
We are so happy to be able to give them the old truck so
now they can serve as a family. Jose is confident that he can keep up with the truck’s
ongoing problems and we will continue to pray that the truck will be held together
by the Holy Spirit.
We are stateside for 4 weeks!
A Short visit to the states indeed. We arrived a
few days ago for a few different reasons.
One major reason
to make the trip was to be able to attend Family Missions Company’s, Year in
Review! Which is a time of fellowship with other missionaries who serve in different
parts of the world, but also a time to reflect and process the past years in
the mission field. The week and a half are packed full of fun, talks, prayers,
and rest of course. So, we are looking forward to it!
We also are stateside because Gabriel is in need
of major dental work, and he will be having a few different procedures done while
we are here in Louisiana.
Unfortunately, not all of the work can be done at
the same time so we will need to return once again for the last procedure
sometime in the near future.
Our return to the States is something that saddens
me when I think of the poor whom we live among. We will never truly know of their
suffering! We often use the term that we live in solidarity with the poor, and
we do to a certain extent, but it is times like this that makes me ask and
question myself about how much do we really live in solidarity with the poor.
As missionaries, we have the ability to get on a plane to seek rest and medical
care. Making me realize how our two worlds are nothing alike and that we could
really never ever really live in complete solidarity with the poor! I am ashamed
to admit that I can escape such dreadful and hopeless economic conditions and I
desire to live a more humble and poor life and ask all of you to please pray
and intercede for us.
With that said,
I also must remember that God has sent us to journey with our friends in Peru and
they need our help. We have the ability to relieve many of their sufferings and
to help them find comfort in Christ!
I am so thankful for the family who purchased are airfare
back to the states and more than grateful for all the Doctors that are donating
their time and services to help Gabriel! Please keep Gabriel and his medical team
in your prayers for the next few weeks!
Visiting Lotus House
On our way in from Peru, we were blessed to visit
and learn from a huge and outstanding woman’s shelter in Miami Florida called
the Lotus house. Walking the halls and listening to the list of endless possibilities
for all the women and their children who seek refuge within the home, gave me
an immense feeling of affirmation and confidence that Jesus desires the same in
Peru for his beloved women there. The abundance
of blessings such as food and funds, clothes, and donated services such as
tutors, social workers, counselors, and Doctors seemed to be so plentiful at
the home. It was a true sign of God’s
love and mercy.
Maritza’s Court dates
You must all remember Maritza. I am so blessed and
honored to say that we have leaped a huge hurdle this year. Though it has been
slow and a bit painful we have officially been able to work the slow and red
tape riddle path to her applying for child support. Unfortunately, we have only
managed to get it for one child, and it is our plan that we start for her
second oldest child upon my return. It is a process that makes little to no
sense to me whatsoever. I must say my American brain does get in the way 100%.
I cannot understand why we must apply separately for all her children in which
will take years to complete. But with the help of God, we will succeed through
it all.
I indeed realized that I struck a nerve with the
father and his extended family when they found out we prevailed and won the
court case. It was a bit of an uneasy feeling knowing they were talking about
me and the times they were brave enough to confront me about my involvement.
However, I quickly gained my confidence, and words were provided to me by Jesus.
All I could say to them is I came to serve the women and their sweet children.
I was sent to help them find dignity and love which is found in the Lord! I am
here and I am not going to go away! If it makes you mad, then perhaps you need
to reflect on your own assault and abuse towards the women I am here to help! Jesus
loves them and they have a right to be loved and that is all I am doing and so
should you!
Online court appearances! Thanks to COVID
Fully Alive
It is always a blessing to call Father Robert or
Father Einer out to one of the Pueblos we serve in order to celebrate Sacraments.
Though this year the Lord asked me to step aside from teaching and preparing the
youth and adults for sacraments. He made sure I was included, and he filled my
heart with two new God Daughters.
Mallory and
Sarah did an outstanding job leading the hand full of children in Cajaruro and
we had just three in Paraiso that received baptism and one that received her
first communion. It is always such a
gift to see the pueblos come alive through the sacraments!
Saint Irenaeus said that “The glory of God is man fully alive.”Saint Irenaeus said that “The glory of God is man fully alive”. I feel
it is obvious to see this transformation when reflecting on these photos of my
new Godchildren and their families!
Antonella, my new Goddaughter, her mother on the left and her grandparents
The group of children who received 1st communion this year in Cajaruro
Antonella's baptism
Baby Jaritza Baptism and her mother. Baby Jaritza's parents
just received the sacrament of marriage last year!
Gabriel and Father Einer
Thank you for taking time out of your day to read our humble but glorious update!
I pray
that during this Advent season we can find time to take a step back from the
noise of the world to reflect on how we together can be instruments of peace,
love, and healing. And may our hearts desire to love like Christ! Amen
With Love
Karen and Gabriel Del Castillo
Please pray about if Jesus is asking you to partner with us to help complete the second phase of Santa Maria Magdalena’s home
We desire to build a chapel and the 3 small one-room homes.
***Please send your donations to finish this project by following the link provided below. Please add in the project name: Chapel/ small homes
I trust that you are well and remain blessed by the
Lord. I wanted to write to you and give you a report of the amazing
transformations that have been taking place here at our mission post, and to
honor you for your faithfulness and steadfast love for the Lord as we approach
this Sunday, which has been marked as World Mission Sunday!
September
marked another year for us serving as foreign missionaries here in Peru. During
the months leading up to September, it was made very clear that Jesus still
desires us to live, to cry and to share His love with the poor here. However
little our YES to the Lord feels, he is capable of transforming it in to so
much more. With that said we can not welcome this new season without honoring
all of the HUGE things that has transpired here just in the last few months. I
invite you to take a moment, get a cup of coffee and learn of the amazing
things that Christ has done and desires still to do.
A theme that resounds in our hearts, that propels us
forward and that we strive to live out each day, are just what Pope Francis used
to mark this Sunday, World Missions Sunday, October 24, 2021 with as he
selected the theme “We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard”
Acts 4:20 . The Holy Spirit has used these words in so many ways to advance
the Gospel Message and to open doors and opportunities for us to enter into the
lives of those we have been called to serve. In each opportunity it looks very
different for us. Each day is a new and exciting day, as we discover what
medium the Holy Spirit chooses for us to use that day, so that we can reach the
hearts of the lonely and broken. Like an artist He is, He can choose clay,
paint, or broken crayons like us, to create His art. And that is exactly what
he has done here, from Pig Pens to Weddings and everything in between. Jesus
the artist, has created the following opportunities for us to reach his beloved
poor so we can love them just as he has loved us, and we are compelled to share
it with you.
Maritza’s Pig Pens
Our goal has
been to help Maritza obtain income and financial support. We have been blessed
to be able to walk with her and navigate through the government offices here,
which is a very intimidating and lonely task when going alone. Our desire was
for her to not only obtain government support but to help her also to apply for
child support from the father of her children. Which we are happy to share that
she now is receiving support from both the government and child support. We have also bought her 2 female and 2 male
pigs, and well they are doing well and reproducing which is all part of Gods
Plan and the plan to help Maritza earn money by raising them and selling them.
With that said all of these new baby piglets need a secure and safe place to
live in grow. So together we our building pig pens, doing the work ourselves to
not only save money but more importantly because it allows us to spend time
together. We have three more pens to build, and we desire to build a chicken
coop for her chickens as well, so if you feel the Holy Spirit nudging and
calling you to support this project he probably is. Each Pig Pen cost about
$200.00 to build. You can follow the Link below to make a donation. 👇
You may remember our friend named Camila, who instead
of worrying about school at her age sells candy on the streets of a neighboring
town. We are so excited to share with you that she was able to receive a huge
blessing. Little did I know that when I shared a small story about her a few
months ago Jesus was able to create even more beautiful art, as a wonderful
family from the states contacted me as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit to
help her. Often times, as full-time missionaries we work as liaisons, as a connection
between those of you in America who have the funds and financial means to help
those here. As missionaries we are here full time and it is without a doubt
that we get to know the people, their stories of hardship and suffering as we
grow in friendship. With that said often we feel the only tool we have to help
is prayer. In the silence of our heart Jesus heard our prayers and as a good
Father he provided for the needs of this lovely little girl. With the help of
this generous family, together we were able to help Camila set up in her small
one bedroom home a store called a bodega. Funds were provided to buy her
a refrigerator, products to sell such as cokes, waters, chips, and candy. We
were also able to purchase tables and chairs so that Camila and her mom can
sell chicken on a stick, called anticuchos, at night. With this donation
Camila will now be able to stay at home and make money instead of walking the
streets all day and all night to sell candy.
Camila and her mother
Jesus was not done creating his masterpiece with Camila,
we were able to help Maritza with the same opportunity to set up a small bodega
to help her earn extra income as well. Maritza is such a hard worker but
she can not afford daycare, so often she has to leave her children behind when
she goes to work in the corn and rice fields, our desire is that this extra
income will help her be able to stay with her children. Instead of tables and
chairs we bought her a huge pan so she can make a drink called chicha morada
which is made from purple corn, cinnamon, and cloves. After she brews it, she
will pour it in to recycled plastic coke and water bottles which she has found
and cleaned in order to sell them.
These crazy kids
More Missionaries
Many of you have heard our request for prayers and
have joined us in praying for more missionaries to be sent to our mission post
over the last year or more. We could not be more delighted to share the good
news that in February our mission post will receive two new missionaries. Their
names are Sarah and Mallory, they are currently in formation at FMC’s mission
base, located in Abbeville Louisiana. I beg of you to please continue to pray
for my family and the missionaries that will be joining us. Please pray that
the lies of the devil do not overshadow the truth and the goodness of our Lord.
I can tell you the devil is super mad right now, and he is waging his war in
protest that the Lord answered our prayers. And the spiritual attacks have
begun, his lies have all but told me that we are not good enough to receive
missionaries, “how stupid does that sound now that its typed”. Another huge lie
is that our mission post is not good enough, pretty enough and too secluded for
the new missionaries, “I don’t know, that might even sound worse.”Lastly please pray that the Lord provides the
perfect housing for them. We are super excited to receive such a gift from the
Lord and can not wait to see all the good things he has planned for us as these
two wonderful ladies join us here to serve for the next two years.
Mallory and Sarah
Saint Magdalene’s home
Since arriving on the mission field the Holy Spirit
has been very intentional in His ways and by no mistake, He has directed us to
His desire to share Christ’s love with single mothers and their children. He
has taken our brokenness and heart ache and mended and fashioned it for his own
creation and goodness. For over a year I have heard the whispers and faint
nudges during prayer and have seen 1st hand the need of a home for
single mothers. With that we invited Father Robert who I serve under here and
FMC’s leadership to discern and join in prayer about the possibility of
building a home for mothers. We all have been given such peace with the idea of
the project and we all confirm that it is a desire that is of the Lord.
Through a director’s appeal and other private donations,
we have over a short period of time raised $49,000.00 for the home. With that
said we desire before beginning construction to meet the total needed amount to
make this home possible. We are almost halfway to reaching the goal of
$100,000.00. Which is truly amazing, and I have no doubt that Jesus will soften
the hearts of those he is calling to support this project. I invite you today
to take this project of the Lord’s to prayer and ask if it is a project that
burns within your heart. If it does, please pray about how you can help with
this huge project. Is the Lord calling you to make a donation or share the
project with others that may desire to help?
Saint Magdalene’s home that will consist of several small family homes
for single mothers and their children to live in, along with a community house
where we can come together in prayer, and to share meals together. Our goal is
to share our lives with them and create an opportunity to walk with them and disciple
each of these beautiful families while prayerfully providing opportunities that
will allow them to heal and discover the love Jesus has for each of them. To donate click the link below. 👇
One of the ministries that I find that satisfies my
heart is teaching others about the beautiful Catholic faith, and helping, not
only children, but couples as well to receive the sacraments. Which is why I am
sharing with you about the growth and the bond that has been made between these
two couples pictured here, which tells the amazing truth of Jesus’s love. For
over a year we have met each week in search of a deeper understanding of the
sacrament of marriage, the mystery of the Eucharist and the purpose of man’s
life here on earth. And Last Saturday I am so honored to share with you that
the Holy Spirit was Alive and Present in a little old mud brick chapel as these
two couples received for the 1st time in their lives the body and
blood of Jesus Christ and the sacrament of Marriage. There is no denying the
beauty that has been joined together with the joining of these two couples as
they invited Christ the Bridegroom into their relationships.
Elever and Iris / Elmer and Sandra
May we pray that they always will strive to live as witnesses
of a faithful Christian family, and may they grow in their vocation not only to
serve each other as spouses and parents but as they learn to serve their
community around them as they live the fullness of their Marriage vocation.
Iris and Elever walking to the Church
Sandra walking with her family to the Church
Sandra
Iris
Pope
Francis writes, “The theme of this year's World Mission Sunday -- "We
cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:20),
is a summons to each of us to 'own' and to bring to others what we bear in our hearts.
This mission has always been the hallmark of the Church, for 'she exists to
evangelize” (Saint Paul VI, EN14).
We cannot think you enough for your steadfast
faithfulness and your love for the poor. Because of you we are able to live
among these beautiful people and we are grateful for the opportunity to evangelize
so many who have yet heard the Good News preached. May this year be more
blessed than the last and may we welcome the sacrifices and hardships that come
with serving the Lord and proclaiming His message in every dark corner of the
world!
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