COLOMBIA | TESTIMONIES FROM THE LATIN AMERICAN MISSIONARY ENCOUNTER (EMLA)
Luisa María Dussan, as the provincial leader of VMY Cali, Colombia, and Sister Liliana Marulanda, as the advisor for VMY, had the grace of participating in EMLA 2023. It was a few days filled with many challenges, trials, and learning experiences: getting to know new cultures, people, and adapting to the cuisine was quite a process, but with God, everything is possible.
On January 13th, we departed for Honduras, with a two-hour and thirty-minute layover in Panama. While waiting for our flight to San Pedro Sula, our final destination, we engaged with a young woman from San Pedro who respectfully offered us some recommendations before entering her country, due to the dangers foreigners could face there.
And then, the most awaited moment arrived … the mission.
The Colombian delegation was sent to the Municipio de Omoa, a place near the Atlantic coast. A twenty-minute drive led us to the village of Corinto, our mission site. There, we were welcomed by delegates of the Word and ministers of the Eucharist who had the program and all the details meticulously planned for our work with children, youth, adults, and visits to every home.
The greatest richness lay in working in a place where Catholics were a minority but truly committed and faithful to their Catholic Church, nurturing children and youth in the love of Jesus Christ and our Mother, the Virgin Mary. The youth testified to the formation they received in their families by actively participating in every celebration and enhancing liturgical events with their songs.
The lovely Santos family awaited us in their humble home, a place filled with God, joy, and hope.
Families opened their doors to us with joy, yet their faces reflected the pain of losing loved ones due to the pandemic, illness, loneliness, and much sorrow in these areas. Nevertheless, they always had God in their hearts, in their lives, and that was what mattered. Thanks to the anointing of the Holy Spirit and the presence of our Mother, the Virgin Mary, we always had words of comfort and motivation so that they would not lose faith amidst this cruel reality.
We walked along trails, crossed rivers, and covered long paths under rain and sun to fulfill our mission. We truly felt happy for the mission accomplished in this beautiful country.
After eight days of evangelization, we gathered again in San Pedro Sula to conclude EMLA 2023. We evaluated every step of the journey and closed it with a beautiful Eucharist. The next day, with hearts full of joy and the satisfaction of a duty fulfilled, we returned to our respective countries.
We extend our gratitude to the organizing committee of Vincentian Marina Youth of Honduras for this wonderful opportunity. Their organization, commitment, and love for the movement were evident in every detail.
You remain in our prayers.
Sister Liliana Marulanda, DC
VMY Colombia
