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

 

 

 

 

The plane that did a TOUCH- AND-GO

 Gabriel’s plane looked a lot like this one

       Gabriel last week was so excited to be able to purchase a little wooden plane for his upcoming birthday. It wasn’t much compared to American standards,  just 10 soles, which is roughly $3 US dollars. I know what you’re thinking $3 dollars is not much. Most people spend that a day on a coffee each morning before work. But on a missionary budget like ours $3 dollars can be a stretch for us. That kind of money can buy the three of us an entire breakfast, and more. Needless to say Gabriel was reluctant to ask for the toy plane but stunned and overjoyed that I said yes. After all his 10^th birthday should be special.


       Gabriel carried that plane with him everywhere. To our home visits with the poor and outside every evening to play in the plaza with his friends. Tuesday we had to go to a larger town to pick up supplies and to make a few copies for our ministries. We were walking through the market and a mother pushing her son in a wheel chair stopped us. They were selling gum and Peruvian candies. The two of them daily wonder up and down the market to sell their treats in hopes to make enough to live for the day. As I was talking to the mother,  I could over hear Gabriel say “here take it”,  when I turned around he was giving his wooden airplane to the little boy in the wheel chair. 

The same kind of wheel chair the little boy was
in which are very common among the poor here

   My heart sank. I selfishly thought, how can I replace that plane! It was for his birthday and he just gave it away! Our missionary budget will not allow for us to purchase another,  I thought quietly. 


    I finished up talking to the boys mother and by that time someone else had come to make a purchase from them. As we went about our errands in the market, Gabriel was so full of joy. I looked in his eyes and told him he was a special young man for giving his plane away. I asked him why he did it; His response was simple, he said “it’s what Jesus would have done.” 


    The little wooden plane you see in the picture is a lot like the plane that Gabriel received for his birthday. That little plane brought a lot of joy to him in the few days of having it; As the plane made a touch and go in our life’s we pray it will bring about the same amount of joy and love to it’s new owner. 


    This act of kindness is an encouragement to each of us to never turn away from the opportunities to give to those in need. To be a bold and courageous witness; Never fearing to give testimony to Jesus’s faithfulness. 

   I would like to honor Gabriel on his 10^th birthday for being in love with the poor and for being faithful enough to serve them. For never hesitating to embrace living in solidarity along with them and for calling me on to sainthood. 

Please pray for Gabriel in a special way today on his birthday!

“God Loves those who find joy in giving”

Pope Saint John Paul II

Karen, Julianna and Gabriel Del Castillo

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

delcastillo.familymissionscompany.com

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To send us your prayer request:

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Settling in

 We are so thankful for you all and feel immense Joy to be apart of your life’s in such a Holy way! We pray this blog finds you well ! In this crazy fast pace world it seems that there is so many negatives and so very few positive things in our day to day life’s. But our hearts are over joyed to be able to pray for each of you every day and to have the confidence that we are not alone here at our new post, because we know you are praying for us. 

 Its December already. Since October we have been settling in to our new mission post. Patiently waiting like a horse chopping at the bit to run out of the gates.  However we knew we needed to know the lay of the land a lot better before we started running straight into ministries.  After a lot of prayer and a heavy dose of patience,  we were able in November to begin our full time ministries.

Warning - Photo overload


Blessings in abundance

We have received so many blessings from our ministries in the alturas (the mountains).  Nestled up high above the town we live in,  is a little pueblo called Buenos Aires. When roads are dry we can make it in a bit over an hour. Each Saturday we play games, volleyball and catechize the children and a few devoted adults. We share fruit with them like mangos watermelons and tamarindo,  a cherished commodity that is unavailable to them in the cooler mountain pueblo. Its so amazing how our world here is not based around money. The fruits we bring are given to us from  the generosity of those we live among here in our home town. It’s not uncommon to  receive a knock on the door of people bringing us fruits, rice or yuca. We receive so much there is no way we can eat it all. So we take it to those who go without.  It’s amazing to see there eyes light up when we bring them such simple gifts of fruits and Jesus. You can tell they feel so much love and amazement that we would take time to visit them. The best part is they have no Idea of the wonderful gift that they give us each Saturday. Our hearts are so filled up from our visits with this simple and loving community.

Arriving to Buenos Aires 

Where the earth reaches the sky

Some of the girls enjoying watermelon

Watermelon and Advent wreaths 

Mangos 

And more mangos 

Tamarindo

Learning about Advent

Young and Old enjoy making an Advent Wreath 

Taking turns reading out of the bible

Games , games and games

The abundance of rain in the mountains creates these little water falls everywhere

There is something magical about balloons here in Peru

Stillness and Silence before the Lord

We have been asked by the priest here in Cajaruro to expose the blessed sacrament each Thursday. We take the task we have been given with great honor and respect.  It’s a very new ministry here among our town and it has indeed had challenges for the first day. Despite explaining to them what adoration is,  the concept has proven a bit difficult for the faithful to understand, and that there is no need to do anything, but sit with Jesus. The silence of adoration has not been very appetizing to them.  Please pray that we can endure the strange looks,  and the confused attitudes of those who attend each week.  It seems my entire time in adoration is spent on my knees begging Jesus to speak to them loud enough for them to hear and to soften their hearts so they may be tender enough for him to reach into the depths of their hearts. 

Come, You Spirit of Quiet.
Guide me into your Stillness that I might hear in myself the Word you speak.
Free me from all Fear hat all which binds me leaves me and leaves me to who I am.
Open as a vast chalice I want Your wonders, Your fullness, Your holy presence gently to seize me. Come You Spirit of Breath, breathe your breath into my thoughts, into my feelings. Come and take your place in me.My Lord and my God, take from me everything that distances me from you. My Lord and my God, give me everything that brings me closer to you.

Amen

The Lord's Supper

Through our training with Family Missions Company in 2017 we were introduced and participated each Saturday night in the Lord's Supper.  An evening filled with Songs, Reading of the Gospel, food and friends. In our old post in the Jungle our community did not partake much in the Saturday night Lords Supper. We were so spread apart from the other missionaries and everybody’s schedule made it difficult to make it happen. However while making our new families schedule both Julianna and Gabriel felt a great desire to open our home each week and invite people in our home to share a meal with them. To break bread with them.  They were truly excited to have it on our schedule. Me however that’s a different story.


I knew Christ was moving us to a new post to teach us something profound and to grow us in Holy  virtues.  To soften our rough edges and make us more into His likeness. Becoming a Betty Crocker here in Peru is not easy and it was not much on my agenda. So you can imagine how God is working on my prideful thinking. Second of all He is working on my humbleness. It has proven to be difficult to keep things simple because I feel I must provide more for our dinner guest. Most days as the locals do we eat rice, bananas and eggs. Of course, inviting others over to your home to eat, I feel it calls one to make something fancier for them. After all in America that’s what we do is make a big Lasagna with a  nice tossed salad and bread sticks or have a BarB-Q of the finest meats or plump juicy burgers, when guest come over. But I have found our two burner camping stove to be a bit limiting.  So it’s been a bitter sweet ministry for us (Pun intended) . Serving a big helping of Eggs, rice and bananas. Along with a side of nervousness because, well I am not the best cook. We open our small one room home each week, pray with those we invite to dinner and share a meal with them in Christian fellowship. The highlight of the night is when we get to invite them to walk to the chapel to attend our pueblos weekly Adoration. Even though  this ministry is not an easy one for me that I tend to dread  while preparing for , it has indeed been very rewarding and fruitful. And more so a chance to grow and become more like Christ. 

Gabriel playing a game of Jenga after dinner with Mrs Rosa 

Sunday’s spent in Paradise

We have been spending some time in a Pueblo called Paraíso (Spanish for Paradise) on Sunday mornings. Its about a 20 minute drive from our home. The road is a small two lane road most of the way. Luckily we have been in a bit of a dry season and have not had to much trouble making it down the dirt portion of our travels to them. The community has not had anyone to open the Church and lead Celebrations of the word each Sunday. So we felt called to help them out. It’s a community with not many youth mainly elderly people but they are so loving. The education level of their Catholic faith is the equivalent to a small child with only the basic knowledge of who God is. Many, many of them cannot read. We have been so delighted and blessed to have the opportunity to teach them new and wonderful things about the Catholic faith. Like how to pray and lead the rosary. Or like last Sunday we introduced to them the meaning of Advent and made advent wreaths. I pray fervently that one day God will see our work and teaching worthy and  fitting  enough for us to bring Jesus to them in the Eucharist each week. 

Of the beaten path

We are blessed to have transportation to reach the small town

After a drive through a bit of mud we have arrived

These cuties always are waiting for us

 


Walking into the Darkness

We also visit a nearby Pueblo called Chariaco, that is walking distance from us. It’s a very desolate place. Dry in the Physical sense as well as Spiritual sense, it’s one of the poorest pueblos in which we visit. And is home to a strong spirit of darkness and despair. You could say the majority of the Pueblo do not care for our presence there. We knock on doors and have had quick opportunities to introduce ourselves, with no warm welcome to enter. Despite the reaction of most of the Pueblo we have been grateful for the two homes that have welcomed us. Both very stark in contrast. One home in which we visit each week is the home of three beautiful children. The mother is warm and welcoming but with reservations. The Father is a well-known  medicine man or witch doctor and he leaves eagerly when we arrive. We can feel an evil spirit among the home. However we have been welcomed and we go each week into the field of combat. In our standards we seem not to be making headway. The most we can do is just have pleasant conversations  about the weather or  the children’s school. But never failing to cease the opportunity to pray the rosary with the 8 year old and 15 year old girls who live there. The two,  seem to be more open to us than anyone else in their family. While praying the rosary at their home I often wonder if they know the power of the rosary. The spiritual battles that have been won by faithfully praying the rosary. We offer our silent intentions for this family to come to know and have a relationship with Jesus; for Jesus to open the doors to this pueblo so they may one day come to have a relationship with Christ.  

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.  May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits

 who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.

A typical home in Chariaco

Catholic Church that has been under construction for 4 years.

It now has been a project that has been abandoned

Soccer Fields 

Finding Light in the Darkness

The other home we visit in Chariaco is set apart from the rest of the pueblo. Far enough away that it has not been engulfed by the evil spirit in which lurks and prowls about in the main area of the pueblo. It has been protected in a sense perhaps due to the faithful family who lives there. At first glance of this home you would not ever know of the Joy that lives within its walls made of Bamboo. To be honest when we first found the small bamboo hut we were a bit scared of what we would find. After knocking on doors and having them shut in our face we were not in high hopes that this home would welcome us. However we were greeted with such kindness and love.

In the home lives Milton and his wife with there three children. Faithful and devoted Catholics despite their hardship and poverty.  Doing all they can for others before themselves.

As Marixa stays at home caring for their three children. Milton struggles to find enough work to provide for the needs of his family at times holding down 3 different jobs. If that’s not enough Milton was recently told to leave one of his jobs,  as he confronted his employer and tried to defend the 32 underage children (some as young as 8 years old) working in the factory where he had been working at. Even with the struggles this family has seen financially both Milton and His wife know that they must praise the Lord and to be obedient to Gods will for them. That they must not lose faith.

 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. - John 1:5

A Home for the Poor

Milton and his family  have become such wonderful friends to us.  I am so ashamed to admit that I struggled to see the poverty that they lived in.  After all there is no illness or addictions in the family, there is both dad and mom in the picture and the entire family attends mass every Sunday together. However God insisted that I see them with His eyes. To see their needs and their worth. I am so grateful that God placed such a desire within me that allowed me to see the great need our new friends have.

To know that Jesus had it planned for our families to become friends with each other and that he would place a desire within us to try to help them with a home. Giving us, a chance to reflect on all the rich opportunities that we as Americans have. Even as my family lives here in among the poor of Peru, we as Americans, if the struggles become to unbearable we could always return back to are wealthy country. Where I have been guilty of not ever having to worry about the rain storm coming in . Never have I feared that it would soak the dirt floors that lay within my home. Or have been in fear if the storm comes in with a wind that it will soak everything within my home such as the beds, and clothes. I as an American am guilty of being consumed with what I can fill my home with or  what  decorations should I purchase to hang on the wall. Furthermore I have never had to worry a bit about having to cut bamboo to replace the rotted wall before it falls. So I am so grateful for this opportunity to become friends with Milton and his wife because they have become such treasures to us.

A humble area. Clean dry clothes hang on a line, because their is no drawers. A table made of blocks and bamboo.

The children's bed, with sweet little Alondra taking her afternoon nap! 

They have reminded me and my children why we are here. Of the great wonderful opportunity to have been given to know and love such a beautiful family. To see the poor as God sees them, which is VALUABLE. A bit of a oxymoron, if you will, one can not help to think, how can the poor who suffer and go without basic needs be so valuable?

One of their beds, made with blocks and bamboo 

   Pope Francis’s call to all Christians 

to remember the poor “the treasures of the Church”.  Pope Francis asked “ Do I, a Christian have at least one poor person as a friend?”  Pope Francis reminded all, that

 “the poor are valuable in the eyes of God”, that “they need someone to take them by the hand”. 

But more so “the poor remind us how we should live the Gospel: like beggars reaching out to God.”

We have launched a campaigned for them called “A home for the Poor”. For under $5,000.00 we can build them a more suitable home. Made of bricks and with concrete floors. 

If you fill called to help build Milton and his family a home please make a donation at our homepage:
https://www.familymissionscompany.com/p…/karen-del-castillo/



If you have more questions about the Project or feel the Holy Spirit is calling you to come in person to Peru to Help with the Construction please feel free to contact us. 

Karendelcastillo@familymissionscompany.com



Christmas in Solidarity with the poor

We beg for your prayers during this advent and Christmas season. Most missionaries travel back to the States for a time of rest and to visit family during this wonderful season. Although my children and I would love to return this year, it was not in God’s plans for us to. He made it known that he needed us here among the poor this year. To make humble use of our benefactors donations in which were made to us.  We felt a profound call to be  present among the poor of our new mission post. The call we have heard is not an easy call; it’s even harder to be cheerfully obedient to Gods will.

Our homemade tree. Made of wire, garland, and homemade paper ornaments.

Please pray for us as we live in true solidarity with the poor whom we serve this Christmas. Pray we will be strengthen and that Christ fills us with his immense love for us, especially Julianna and Gabriel. Please pray that our presence can be felt and our unity can become true within the Eucharist among our family, friends and benefactors back home as we courageously serve  Christ in ways that sometimes are very difficult for us and our human desires to understand. Pray that this years Christmas may be filled with immense Joy, and Love.

We pray for each of you to be filled with the true Spirit of Christmas. That you will open your hearts to receive your King wrapped in swaddling clothes, whom was humble enough to be born in a stable, poor and lying in a manger. We pray that your heart will rejoice over His birth. 

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel 

The Del Castillo's

Karen, Julianna and Gabriel

Thank you to all who have heard the call to help us bring the Love of Jesus to the poor here in Peru. The mission here would not exist without your generosity and sacrifices. 

If you would like to become a monthly supporter of our mission here please click on the link:   

https://www.familymissionscompany.com/p…/karen-del-castillo/

All donations are tax deductible.  

Your donations make it possible for us to live here among the poor of Peru and allowing us to bring the Gospel to those we live among.