APU | TESTIMONIES FROM THE LATIN AMERICAN MISSIONARY ENCOUNTER (EMLA)
God was present in every encounter.
The experience in Honduras can be summarized as encounters.
The journey undertaken by our Latin American team, filled with dialogues, nights of hard work, and shared dreams, was a labor of love to make EMLA 2023 a beautiful reality. It was truly worth it.
Our trip, including all the adventures at each immigration checkpoint, added depth and color to our arrival in San Pedro Sula, even on a gray and drizzly day.
Each embrace, every reunion, and every greeting we received in those first hours of our meeting created a familial atmosphere, akin to that of brothers and friends bound by the same association.
During the initial week, we prepared our hearts for the mission through various forms of spiritual formation, prayer, reflection, and sharing.
As the days passed, the mission day finally arrived. I was chosen to share this mission with Mario, a young man from Ecuador. Our destination was two mission centers: Los Encuentros and Jazmines, both under the Parish of Rigores, within the Diocese of Trujillo.
Our initial days were spent visiting Los Encuentros. This place earned its name as it’s the strategic hub for families residing in the higher areas of the hills to come together. Nestled amidst the hills, there stood a simple and beautiful chapel, a place of solace and prayer.
Surprisingly, I hadn’t anticipated that these encounters would hold such profound meaning. In Los Encuentros, we encountered humble people with generous hearts and an ardent desire to pray. On our visitation day, families put aside their work in the fields, eagerly awaiting our arrival. They greeted us with cold lemonade, a welcome relief from the intense heat. What began modestly evolved into an atmosphere of trust and joy with each passing minute. The moment we engaged in the Word through lectio divina left a lasting impression, followed by blessings offered for their homes, families, and crops.
Our day of mission reached a joyful conclusion as we celebrated the Eucharist in the last home we visited. This place became the heart of our gathering, a space for sharing, celebrating life, and strengthening our faith as a community. Everything began and ended with Jesus. Thus, on our final day in Los Encuentros, we all came together once more—this time for a family Eucharist and a delightful dinner. That very night, we set out on our journey to Jazmines.
In Jazmines, we were received with the same warmth and affection. Similar to our experience in Los Encuentros, we encountered many other souls eagerly awaiting our arrival. Reading and sharing the Word provided a platform to unveil challenging stories, yet stories filled with God’s providence and guiding hand. The daily Eucharist marked the close of each day.
In Los Encuentros and Jazmines, we encountered Jesus, while Mary remained a presence in each home, continuing the mission. Today, we persist in our mission, supporting these communities from afar with love and prayer.
Fr. Diego Martinez, CM
VMY APU (Argentina-Paraguay-Uruguay)
