MEXICO | TESTIMONIES FROM THE LATIN AMERICAN MISSIONARY ENCOUNTER (EMLA)
Experience at the IX EMLA Honduras 2023
Living this encounter has been a great gift from God and an extraordinary experience in my life. I could not imagine the experiences that awaited me.
When we arrived and met the members of the VMY who had arrived earlier the reception was so warm that from that moment I felt like I was among family. It seemed as if we had known each other for a long time. Being part of the VMY carries the mark of being and feeling part of a family, sharing the same history, the same goal, the same path of faith.
During the week of formative encounters, in addition to maintaining a joyful, creative, and dynamic atmosphere each day, we had the opportunity to engage in various topics which invited us to reflect on our missionary identity, becoming aware that each one of us is a mission. This mission stems from our personal encounter with Jesus and compels us to bear witness to His love.
Naturally, there was great richness in sharing with each of the participants, getting to know their stories, their testimonies, their customs, and the culture of their country.
During the mission week in the community assigned to me, “Cuyamelito/Potrerillos,” I met very valuable people who allowed me to get to know a little about their life stories, their needs, and who showed us their affection even without knowing us. I hold them in my heart, and it would be impossible to fully describe each testimony in this brief text. However, I would like to share the story of Mrs. Bella who was overjoyed by our visit and expressed her great need for confession. Due to her advanced age and lack of interest from her family (whose members are currently Protestant), she was unable to seek that longing. And what can I say about Delvin, a young man who allowed himself to be touched by God while accompanying us on our visits? He could see the deficiencies and pain that others live with, which he was unaware of despite being so close. He was deeply moved, and tears filled his eyes when he shared his experience with others.
This is how our path of faith and holiness requires a relationship with God, ourselves, and others. Each one is called to reflect the loving face of Christ and to strengthen our missionary being through encounters with others.
We are called to “be the present moment of God” which means moving, discovering what He needs from me, being where He needs me. Discovering and working on my limitations, being in tune with the current conditions of the world, my community, and myself. Being an agent of change in my everyday environment.
As Pope Francis has also said, “Feel that you have a mission and fall in love with it.” That love will give us the impulse to pursue what we love. Always remembering that: “Together with Jesus and Mary, our life is mission.”
Beatriz López Flores
VMY Mexico