Several years ago I was part
of a team that sponsored a young adult retreat based on the book “If You Want
To Walk On Water You Have To Get Out Of The Boat.” This idea based on the
scripture where Jesus calls Peter to get out of the boat and walk on water to
him has become a central theme of my life journey. My friends and I are always joking about
where are life is in regards to our boat, which usually means our comfort zone.
When I decided to become a
Maryknoll Lay Missioner in Brazil 2 ½ years ago it surprised a lot of people in
my life including myself. I left my
comfort zone when I sold everything I owned, left my job, my home and most
importantly my family and friends to serve the marginalized in Brazil. These last few years have been amazing and also
very challenging. I have learned so much
about myself and the world as I worked with women in prison, youth who come
from the poorest neighborhoods in Brazil, refugees and so many other groups of
people affected by poverty and violence.
As I was living my life as a
missioner I was pretty sure I was constantly living my life outside my
boat. Doing my best to keep my eyes on
Jesus so I would not lose my way in these precarious waters called mission. Little
did I know I would be called to step outside what has become my comfort zone as
a Lay Missioner to live another reality of mission.
I will be leaving Maryknoll
Lay Missioners which has been a huge support as I began my mission work in
Brazil. Living in Sao Paulo, one of the
biggest cities in the world has been a challenge for me. The commute on very crowded buses and metros
for hours almost every day has been hard on my health. For example I have a lot of back pain and my
blood pressure is high for the first time in my life. For these reasons and a few others I have
decided the best thing is for me to leave Sao Paulo.
In Brazil the Maryknoll Family
works together. We have Lay Missioners,
Sisters, and Priests. The Maryknoll
Sisters have missioners in Sao Paulo and in the north of the country in Joao
Pessoa. I asked to transfer to Joao Pessoa
to live and work with the Sisters because I feel called to continue my work in
Brazil. Unfortunately, the Lay
Missioners were not able to support me in this transfer. So here is my leap of faith, I am going to go
without the support of the Lay Missioners to Joao Pessoa. Although Maryknoll collaborates together all
three entities have different leadership and financial support. The Sisters are welcoming me into their home
and work but there is no money to support me.
I believe this is where
faith and hard work come together. The
Maryknoll Sisters run a holistic health center for women called Afya in Joao
Pessoa. I will write more about it in
the future. It is so amazing to be part
of this organization. The women who are
part of the team there are for the most part from very poor and difficult
backgrounds. Many of them came to Afya
searching for a cure to their health problems.
Over time they have been trained and mentored into becoming health
professionals. Every day they open their doors to mainly women but also men and
children to be part of the process of helping people find natural and holistic
health care. I will write more later
about what I will be doing at Afya.
As I step out into these uncharted
waters I have to say I am again surprised to find myself here. However, I truly feel called to continue my
mission journey. I have worked really
hard to get the skills I have now as a missioner in Brazil. I am not ready to walk away yet. I have never been on this
journey alone and I am trusting Jesus’ call to get out of my boat and I am trying
to keep my eyes focused on him and not all the uncertainty around me.
So now I am trying to put my
life back into the two suitcases I came to Brazil with (not being real
successful with this task). Next Monday
I will return to Oregon until the beginning of June. To work, do some fundraising and to touch
base with my family and other support networks.
