We suffer sometimes so that
Gods Glory can be revealed.
(Feeling blessed to have made it back to the FMC retreat and FMC Donors Dinner)
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!
I have overcome the world." John 16:33
This last 4 weeks of our life has been perfectly crazy and designed by the best travel planner that we could ever have had. Finishing up our 1st year in the mission field, the three of us were super excited to have a chance to return to the States to attend a retreat held by FMC and to visit family for a short time, before returning to the mission field for our second year of missions.
To be honest we could not wait to escape the heat, the mosquitos and the lack of water and the consistent power outages that we have had to struggle with while living and serving in Peru. Feeling a bit proud of completing our 1st year in the field and I am ashamed to say an inner feeling of being the privileged ones to be able to escape the poverty for a time to rest.
We embarked on our 3 day journey to return to the states which included two lay overs The 1st layover to take place in Lima which required us to stay overnight at. We embraced this layover with gladness, because it was a chance to take a normal shower with Hot water and may I add, with clean water. Before we begin the second leg of our return through Mexico City. Little did we know that we would not yet be leaving Lima as we had planned. God had designed a travel itinerary better than I could have ever created for us.
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| Lima Airport |
My two children and I were denied permission to leave the country. Sounds scary doesn't it!” Well, I cannot lie indeed it was terrifying for all three of us. You see Peru has a law that if minor children Residents or US citizen are in the country longer than 90 days they must have permission from both parents to fly out of the country which could only be obtained in person by the parents of the minors at a Peruvian notary. It's not like I went into this not knowing this. I had heard of this law but thought that I was safe because I travel with my divorce papers that clearly shows I have sole custody of my children. But the immigration officers would not budge, they were standing their ground and would not let us board the plane. Explaining in their terms over and over again that the only way they would allow me to leave their country was with permission to travel from both parents. Or to hire a Peruvian Lawyer to present my case to the Peruvian Supreme Court and perhaps than after 6 thousand Dollars and 6 months the judge would allow us permission to return to our home country of the United States. They clearly stated that my divorce papers were not of use in their country serval times to us. I begged for a second time to persuade them by explaining to the officials that we only have Religious residency in Peru, were not citizens and surely they noted all the information in your system. I mean obviously we spent a great deal of effort, time and diligence with the Peruvian immigration office to obtain our families Religious visas, as a single mom with sole custody, so that we could stay in the country longer than a tourist to serve their forgotten poor, whom live in the jungles far from the bustling metropolitan city of Lima. It seemed logical to me that the two offices would correspond with one another.
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| (View of our apartment in Lima) |
Confused and feeling defeated, with no place to stay we humbly asked the owners of the place where we had stayed the night before to stay until we could muddle ourselves out of this crushing new problem we were faced with. So lovingly, the owners were compassionate with us, and allowed us to return and stay as long as we needed to. What a loving family they were and clearly we could feel the closeness of God. God was so wonderful to us by preparing a place for us to stay which lightened the load of having to worry about a safe place to stay in Lima. It was his perfect plan and a wonderful blessing for us.
For the first week we could not even breathe. We did not even know where to start. With the help of FMC and a friend back in the states we were trying everything that would come to mind to understand and figure out how to get us out of Peru. From speaking with immigration lawyers both state side and in Peru. The United States Embassy, Peruvian Consulate both in Washington and in Houston all heard about the FMC Missionary family stuck in Peru. All of which could not find a quick solution for this amazing new challenge God allowed. The phone calls and search for the magical help and solution to this unfair law seemed to lead to dead ends. It was a pressing matter because it's not possible to live in the huge city of Lima without money. Rent was expensive, even food and transportation was more than our missionary families budget in the jungle. We had to find a solution quickly before we were out of funds. It was a hard choice to make because we knew we needed to be close to all the Government offices and courts in Lima and if we returned back to the jungle we would not be able to resolve the problem due to the distance. With all that said it was very straining to not be able to exit a foreign country.
By this time the devil was winning. He had made his way into my thoughts. Allowing me to second guess why I became a missionary. How dare I think I was healed and unbroken his whispers became deafening. The Devil had such a great platform to defeat me; my past. If that was not enough a family member even said, I guess I learned my lesson and will not return back to the mission field. Another stated why would you ever become a resident of a third world country, see the problems you have caused. I cannot lie both Julianna and I were wondering if we ever found out a way to leave Peru, if we would ever return.
At the close of the 1st week, Julianna and I realized that the only way we were ever going to withstand this attack is to lay at the foot of the cross and cling to Jesus until the attacked stop. We prayed and ran to Jesus for help. We repented and asked for forgiveness for our delight to be free from the suffering of mission life for the holidays. We asked him to guide us and to make the road clear for us. We did as Jesus did when he prayed to his heavenly Father in the Garden of Gethsemane ; we asked for God to spare us. But if it was Gods will for us to live in Peru and not ever return to the US than we would be faithful to his will. After all he had called us to Foreign missions and to live among the poor. That means to live with them in they're suffering in solidarity with them. After all who did we think we were! Why should we be given a life any different then them. Why is our life more important than theirs? We heard the call to become missionaries over three years ago, to serve the poor and to bring His word to his people in the darkest corners of the earth and if that meant God wanted us never to leave Peru than we must trust in his plan.
After all Jesus died on the Cross for us. Was it to much for God to ask us to live in Peru until my children were all 18 years old. Requiring us to live in the same suffering and discomforts that we were delighted to take a short break from at the start of our journey just one week ago.
After letting go of our plans of escaping the sufferings of mission life for bit of rest and surrendering to God’s will, we were instantly awarded with the wisdom and knowledge on what we had to do to leave the country. For a week I had read and reread the law over and over again. FMC and my friend did the same so did the lawyers and government officials . But this time when I read it. I found the words that were meant for me. How could this be. How could the US Embassy, Lawyers and the Peruvian Consulate miss this. It was clearly in the third paragraph. It states the steps for, me a single mom, with sole custody how to gain permission to leave Peru. In our missionary formation we study and learned about ways the devil attacks but this time he was clever. He muddled and made a mess and he was in control. He was able to take control not only me but all those people whom wanted to help. But when we surrendered to God and renewed our promise to him to follow him to the ends of the earth and handed over all control of our lives to Christ we were able to be free from the attacks of Satan.
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| (Church near Notary, with Soup kitchen) |
So the second week God guided us to through all of the government offices and red tape. He escorted new birth certificates from the United states ,safely making certain they arrived to us in Lima, despite the fact Satan managed to have them thrown in to the trashcan before being mailed to us. He allowed the translator to expedite her work in under a week. Swiftly guided all the paper work through the Ministers of foreign affairs office without delay. The most impressive office was the Notaries office which he led us to. As soon as we walked in we were able to feel His immediate presence among the people. It was like he was there eagerly waiting for us to come in. Christ’s love could be felt among the lawyers and clerks who handled our case. He even allowed us an opportunity to pray with them. Let me not fail to mention the soup kitchen that was next to the translators offices.
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| (Soup Kitchen line next to the church and notary office) |
Along the sidewalk all three times we needed to go to the office we passed the soup kitchen were many of Limas less fortunate were found waiting in line. Which gave us the opportunity to speak to a few of them and hand out holy cards and able to pray with them.
In Gods goodness and many prayers from all of you and our wonderful missionary family He allowed us to obtain the permission to travel and we were only delayed for 2 1/2 weeks in Lima.
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| (a dream and a Prayer answered) |
So new tickets were purchased and we were off to the airport. With a lay over still in Mexico City we were on our way back to the states for a rest. But you know our ways our not always Gods ways. We only thought we would be in Mexico City for 6 hours (a little sad that we could not leave the airport to see the Our Lady of Guadalupe Basilica,) But after are ordeal in Lima we forgot all about our prayers and the prayers of one of our mission partners in Peru that God would allow us to see it someday. But after our 6 hour layover all the passengers and including us were lined up to board the plane when over the loud speaker we heard that our flight has been canceled due to weather. I am not even gonna sugar coat it. We were sad, mad, and all kinds of tired. In disbelief. that we were just stuck in Lima with our problems with immigration and now we are stuck in Mexico City. The quickest they could fly us out was in two days. By the time we regained our luggage and had our new tickets in hand. I turned to Julianna with a smile of delight because I knew the Lord was given us a gift of answered prayers. You see it was not just a delayed flight. It was not meant to be an inconvenience, to us , it was a gift. It was a chance to visit the basilica and to attend mass in one of the most Holiest places on earth.
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| (We attend mass 1st before going behind there altar, the kids were amazed) |
Many see foreign missionaries as people who have everything together. When bad things happen to us many are quick to judge or to make remarks about our lives and how we are being foolish to go out with nothing, to serve people of 3rd world countries. But we must not forget the disciples and all the saints. They too had troubles and tribulation even problems entering and exiting countries. Their lives were far from easy. But the most important thing they all have in common and what makes them good and holy people is that they never stopped serving Christ. They were certain of their mission at hand. Saint John writes in chapter 16 very clearly how Jesus spoke to those who followed him and warned them that they too will be persecuted. John 16:33 says “In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!’
I believe we all could agree that Jesus suffered severely on the cross to save us.
There has been many great saints who have suffered so that God’s Glory could be revealed. We as foreign Missionaries cannot expect any less. We are not somehow free from the suffering. We should embrace the suffering because when we do we are allowing Gods Glory to be revealed.
God was always fighting our fight and always will. We have been very blessed to have served him and pray that he will continue to allow us to serve him in the coming years.
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| (Julianna trying to repackage the donated candle so we can travel back to Peru with it) |
Please pray for us as Satan will find any and all ways to try to stop the work we our doing. I guess you could say he's not very happy. Upon our return this year to the mission field the blessed Sacrament will be presence within our pueblo. We have been blessed by many donations upon our return here to our FMC mission base here in Louisiana. We have been given a Monstrance so we can have holy hour, easter candles for all three of our pueblos and two chalices. We would also like to ask for your prayers since my family has been formally invited to discern opening a new mission post in the northern part of Peru.
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| (More donations given to take back with us to the wonderful people in Peru) |
It is truly impossible to serve Christ and his people in the darkest corners of the earth without your prayers and financial support. Please know we are currently needing more financial support it can be something as little as $10.00 a month. We currently live off of $700.00 per month which includes our family basic needs and Alms giving , but we have lost a few mission partners due to illness. We would like to invite you to pray and consider becoming one of our monthly mission partners.
Lastly please send us your personal prayer intentions. Prayer is so powerful and we would love to pray for your intentions, You can send them at anytime to us via email.
As Christians let us pray that we will always keep Christ 1st and not despair when troubles come our way. We should rejoice in gladness knowing Jesus has already conquered the world for us. We should stay focus on the mission of bringing the Gospel and joy to others whom yet have heard.
We thank you for you prayers and your support.
With out the sacrifices made by each of you this work would be impossible.
Karen, Julianna and Gabriel Del Castillo
FMC Missionares / Serving in Shimbillo Peru
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