CHILE | TESTIMONIES FROM THE LATIN AMERICAN MISSIONARY ENCOUNTER (EMLA)
When I think about what was lived during those days, I feel that the name of this Encounter makes a lot of sense, the very word says it, we encounter, not being any person, but being VMY, we realize that we are going to encounter something, but it is not anything, because we encounter our family, from different places, but family, after all; some of us knew each other, others did not, or maybe we only knew them by name, but being there is of secondary importance because at the end we are there to live and grow together in this encounter. The week of formation has been a space to be formed, but also to know our realities, the work of each of our countries, to commit ourselves to continue walking together despite the borders, this week has been a great space to feel accompanied and to continue saying yes to this family.
Missionary, ready to participate, we assume the role of missionaries, we go to places we do not know, but we are ready to accompany these communities that often struggle to remain part of the Church. Personally, it has been one of the missions with more personal challenges that I have lived, but even so, I feel that it has been one of the best, to open my mind and heart to know them, to share and learn from them, I believe that I would not trade it for anything. I thank each one of the people I had the opportunity to meet in the community, each one of them is a true reflection of effort, love, and faith.
To be Latin American is to feel the tradition in our blood and pulsate with our customs and roots, to know that we come from several countries with different realities, but we can still be sociable, noisy, funny, extroverted, friendly, and affectionate with each other, that’s the best. I sincerely believe that being able to share with each other and get to know each other’s roots in cultural moments has been beautiful.
And finally VMY these three letters that for many of us mean a lot in our lives, united us in this meeting that we can live every four years, I think one of our biggest challenges is to encourage in our countries that other young people can live this experience, which not only makes you meet other young people, but it shows you that we are not alone in building this big family and that together we can continue working. I remember a cry or motto that we were taught and it said: “In my life Jesus Christ, in my heart to Love and Serve and in my blood VMY”, it is a phrase that makes a lot of sense for me after living my first EMLA, a phrase that as VMY we should make it part of our life to continue being the testimony of a young Christ committed to society and the Church.
To Jesus with Mary!
Daniela Quinchamán
VMY Chile