#CatholicMissions

[wcatradio]

In this episode of Author to Author, Dr. Cynthia Toolin-Wilson interviews Br. Carmel Duca, MC, on his book Redeemed by Beauty: The Life of Brother Andrew (February 22, 2023) Redeemed by Beauty is, in Brother Andrew’s own words, the story of “an unfaithful man used by God.” It is the biography of Ian Travers-Ball who felt called to share his life with the poor. After joining the Jesuit order, as an ordained priest in India, he moved on to co-found – together with Mother Teresa of Calcutta – the Missionaries of Charity Brothers. This book follows Andrew on this path from gambler to troubadour to sannyasi. It is the human struggle for wholeness and holiness through helplessness, powerlessness, fragility and woundedness. Andrew’s hallmark and uniqueness would be his closeness to and identification with the hidden and suffering people. It is the inner journey of a soul in need of redemption. Together with God, Our Lady and the Church, the poor were the main agents of grace in Brother Andrew’s life. Andrew – always the mystic – could experience beauty amidst the suffering and the misery of the poor, and in the ordinariness of his own life. Redeemed by Beauty: The Life of Brother Andrew by Carmel Duca | En Route Books and Media

[genepi]

[lavidavehige]

On Easter Sunday we had caroling angels come to the cottage for a visit. Listen to these angels sing!

[sabridge62]

Mission Concepcion #spanishmission #missions #catholicmissions #iphone6s #iphonephotography #colonialarchitecture #digitalart (at Mission Concepcion)

[findingsally8870]

Sanctuary at Mission San Luis Rey de Francia in Oceanside, CA. Spectacular! Read more about it here: http://Sallyannmiller70.wordpress.com #sanluisreymission #californiamissions #californiahistory #catholic #catholicmissions #oceanside #sanctuary

[lavidavehige]

Traveling on the ferry from Camiguin Island, the island behind us. Camiguin is where Genevieve spent her first two years serving on mission.

[lavidavehige]

It's take off time! We have a 20 hour flight ahead of us with one stop in Taipei, Taiwan. We are traveling with Joshua Seilhan who is going back to the Philippines to visit his sister who is going through chemo. We are excited about our pastoral visit to the Philippines, which one friend coined a "mission of encouragement".

[lavidavehige]

"Entrust your works to The Lord, and your plans will succeed." Proverbs 16:3 I am overwhelmed with The Lords love for Ricky. Ricky's surgery is tomorrow, God planned it all so perfectly. #fmcmissions #catholicmissions #missions #medicalmission (at Maria Reyna Xavier University Hospital)

[lavidavehige]

Today I went to visit Ricky at his house. He has lived with a large mass on his back for 15 years! The surgery will cost $400 & will remove the mass & the pain it causes him. Is God calling you to help provide for his surgery? If so, you can donate at www.genevievereardon.fmcmissions.com #fmcmissions #missionlife #catholicmissions #philippines (at Malaybalay, Bukidnon)

[lavidavehige]

It's a girl! We came to visit my friend who was in labor in the crowded government hospital where moms are literally sharing beds with other moms and dads sleep on cardboard in the hall. When we visited last night I walked through the hospital with my scarf over my head and face as the halls were swarming with flying termites. This hospital is the reality for the poor here. And it's where I find myself today bringing Christ's love and showing His light. Medical ministry is poppin' here and it is only thanks to benefactors back home that I am able to help my friends in need. My mission depends on the generosity of friends, family and strangers! Please consider making a donation to my mission fund today so I can continue to do the Lord's work provide for those in need. www.genevievereardon.fmcmissions.com/ #missionlife #philippines #catholicmissions #catholic (at Bukidnon Provincial Medical Center)

[lavidavehige]

Thank you to everyone who donated to the Give a Backpack campaign! We gave 150 backpacks away to very happy children!

[lavidavehige]

The value of a mother.

Happy Mother’s Day mom. Your great faithfulness and trust in God to provide has instilled in me a great faith and trust in the Lord as well. You made this story possible, thank you for being a courageous mom who never gave up.

Our friend M borrowed money from a cousin, bought a boat ticket and planned to leave her family to work on another island. She has 4 children, her husband is an alcoholic and only works sometimes and gives the family money even less of the time. M is a hard worker and even though she is busy with a house full of 4 children she does what she can to provide for her family. But M grew tired and frustrated of being unable to feed her children, unable to send them to school clean and with the supplies they need. She grew tired of constantly having to ask for help, asking for rice, asking for medicine. Even harder is when she went to her family for help they all were in the same situation as well, and could not help her. So she decided to take matters into her own hands and move away to find work on another island. An employer was expecting her to arrive next week.

She came to our house asking for help to buy her bus fare to the seaport and money for food during her travel. Her plan was to leave her children to different family members, separating all of them because her husband would only take the child who is his by blood.

She explained this all to us and I had to tell her no, we would not help her. In the moment I was overwhelmed. How could I tell this mom no when she is honestly trying to help her family in the best way she sees? I humbly told her we would not give money to separate her family. I told her I cannot even begin to ever know what it is like to watch your children go hungry and be unable to feed them. I was honest and said I truly do not understand how hard that must be for you as a mom. I shared with her what I do know, that our Father in heaven is faithful and will provide for his children’s needs. That she is a child of God and the Bible promises she will be taken care of. That God gave her these children to her to love and protect them in a way only she can as their mother.

Feeling incapable of knowing how to reach M, I asked if we could pray with her. My team and I prayed together for M asking for the Lord to provide and lead her on His right path. While we prayed I could feel the hopelessness that she felt. After we prayed I felt inspired to share about my own mother. I shared that during my parent’s divorce my mom wanted to leave us children with my dad and move away but her sister told her that mothers do not leave their children. That advice meant a lot to my mom and she stayed with us and raised her four daughters. I shared with M that during that time our lives were not always easy. There were many hardships, my mom was unemployed at times, we lost our house to the bank, we had to give away our beloved dogs, many of our possessions, and I had to leave the university I was attending because I could not pay tuition. Even though my family lost so much during this time and it was very hard for us, the one thing I did not lose was my mother and my family. She never abandoned us.

I told M that my life struggles do not compare to hers but that we all face difficulties and a mother’s love is irreplaceable. I had the tragic realization that she felt that her only worth as a mother was in being able to provide food for her children. I told her I saw something more important than food that she provided: it was her motherly love and care for her children. She truly takes care of her children in a way only she can. When she was sick in the hospital for weeks a few months ago, her children would not go to school without their mother there to help them. I told her that no one knows her children like she does, they came from her body. Only she can care for them in the ways they truly need.

My teammate shared Matthew 6 about God’s divine providence in caring for his children. My other teammate shared Jeremiah 31. We sat with her sharing Gods word and encouraging her to see the hope that the Lord promises and the great need her children have for her motherly love.

The Lord truly was amongst us as we shared because M decided to stay with her family, and humbly asked for our help to make it possible. Of course, we agreed happily. Jesus won the victory in keeping this family together!

M needs help sending her children to school. Even though school is free, parents must buy supplies, uniforms, shoes, and miscellaneous expenses requested often by the school. Her youngest son has a learning disability and often does not attend school because there are more random expenses for special education which they cannot afford. We took her oldest son to the pediatrician the other day; he is 8 and cannot read because unbeknownst to anyone he cannot see clearly.

It is truly the Lord who changed M’s heart. I feel the Lord asking us to walk with her family to bring them the hope only Jesus Christ can provide. So many people helped my mom when I was child, providing family vehicles, Christmas presents, clothing, doctors offering appointments free of charge, and schools offering tuition help. That was all the Lord providing for my mom, His daughter. How blessed am I to be an instrument now, helping a mom in need just like my own mom many years ago. I pray the children will grow up and see the hand of God so clearly in their lives.

Please keep this family in your prayers. Miracles are still needed! If you feel called to help in providing for this family you can make a donation at www.genevievereardon.fmcmissions.com In the notes please write “MothersDay”

Update: We have hired M to work at our house once a week doing laundry as a way to help provide for her family’s needs. We have gone to the pediatrician, eye doctor, and ENT many times to take care of her child’s ruptured eardrum and bad eyesight. By God’s grace we have been able to be a source of support and love for her and her family.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the beautiful moms around the world. Your value is greater than you know. Praise God for mothers.

[lavidavehige]

A life forever changed.

Three years ago, in a little town in the middle of the Mexican desert, my whole life changed. I admitted to God and myself that my life was nothing like I wanted it to be. I made a deal with God - I will follow You unreservedly for a year and a half, and if You can do a better job than I’ve done, then my life is Yours to lead forever. God became the author of my life the moment I gave Him control.

Mexico, the moment I made God the Author of my life.

“It is I, I who announce vindication, I who am mighty to save.” Isaish 63:1

JESUS CHRIST is mighty to save. He saved me! He plucked me out of a life of sin, living in the world, in the rat race -- He plucked me out of that horrible lie and saved me.

“The favors of the Lord I will recall, the glorious deeds of the Lord, Because of all He has done for us...” Isaiah 63:7

He saved me from a life of depression. He took me out of a life without meaning and said “I will give great love to you.” Jesus gave me a heart of service to love His people, taking me out of my little world and bringing me across the world to an island in need. And through all this, He gave me great joy! How glorious is that?! He took me out of my life which lacked any real purpose besides satisfying myself and made me a missionary to change the hearts of MANY. How great is the Lord’s favor to me.

“So He became their Savior in their every affliction... Lifting them and carrying them all the days of old.” Isaiah 63:9

You have led me through this time without stumbling! You lifted me out of my life of sin, a life of darkness and untold shame, guilt, and regret. You LIFTED ME OUT OF DARKNESS and the many sins I hid. And You have carried me on your path, through heartache and loneliness. You have been the answer to every cry, every pain and ache. WHY, LORD? Why should I be so favored? Why do you do such glorious deeds for me, Lord?!

“Thus You led Your people, bringing glory to Your name.” Isaiah 63:13-14

YOU changed my life for your great glory! You gave me purpose and joy so everyone would know it is the LORD that has changed me. The Lord has made me whole.

“No ear has ever heard, no eye ever seen, any God but You doing such deeds for those who wait for him.” Isaiah 64:3

No one but You could have could have done this. IT IS YOU ALONE, LORD! I owe my life to You. Everything good, everything incredible, everything awesome in my life comes from You alone, God! Only You could change a life in such a mighty way, giving me lasting joy and purpose. For the glory of YOUR NAME.

I am overwhelmed by God’s tremendous love for me. I write this to give glory to Him and to encourage you to let God become the Author of your life!

[lavidavehige]

Mature womanhood

I came to the Lord asking about a boy - someone who I could possibly date (speaks English, college-educated, a practicing Catholic who even leads a Bible study) This thought excited me; the past two years I have had no romance in my life. I tell people here when they ask - and they always ask - that I am too busy and boyfriends are a distraction. But in reality I have not met a man here who could even be a real possibility for me. Having a life poured out for the people, I do not even know how I would make time for someone. But after a while you start to feel that romance itch. As I began to make plans to move to a city on another island in the new year, the possibility of dating arose. "Will I meet someone?" This is the question I ask myself too often. I was unsure of how to handle this potential boyfriend. Obviously the thought got me excited and seriously distracted me, so I brought it to prayer. The Lord led me to Ephesians 4. I read the chapter a few times asking the Lord what He was speaking to me. 

Ephesians 4:11-13 some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers...until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ;

When I read "mature manhood," it stood out to me. The Lord wants me to strive and focus on attaining "mature womanhood," gaining faith and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am already a mature woman in the eyes of the world, but God wants me to grow even more - to grow in knowledge of the Catholic Faith and of myself as a woman of God.

Ephesians 4:22-24 Put off the old man that belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new man, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Photocredit to blog.lifeway.com

Reading more of chapter 4, I was reminded not to give into temptations to my old way of lustful living. (I have had enough boyfriends to last me till I am 40!) Instead, I should have a renewed spirit in my mind, putting on the new creation that God has made me and living in His way of holiness and truth.

Ephesians 4:17-18 So I declare and testify in the Lord that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds; darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God...

It seems like most of this world promotes the idea that you need a boyfriend or girlfriend to be really truly happy, to be complete. I can testify to once believing this lie and being let down by not being truly happy and complete. I have loved the past two years being single and finding my joy and wholeness in my Savior Jesus Christ. Another idea promoted by the world is that you need a rebound to get over an ex boyfriend. Filling an empty, hurting hole with a replacement that will only require another replacement once the first is gone truly makes no sense! Jesus fills my heart and comforts me in my pain. He will never leave me; I have nothing to fear. 

Praise God for always guiding and leading me from His holy word. Invite Jesus into your life to lead and guide you! Cheers to striving for mature womanhood this New Year! 

[lavidavehige]

Ella

I have gone to the same hospital for three days now, visited the same surgery clinic five times, and I cannot get anyone to help me. I am at the public government hospital to schedule surgery for a little girl named Ella who was born with an “imperfect anus.” She is almost 12 years old, and she should have had this surgery when she was two years old.

After getting the runaround for three days, I was totally over it. No one could help me schedule this surgery, the doctor previously assigned to their case was now unavailable, and the right doctor seemed to be a ghost. The most information I received was a cellphone number to schedule surgery with a doctor who had never even met my patient.

Ella has waited too long; I did not want to leave this city without scheduling her surgery. I called Lindsey in Malaybalay -- the missionary who is helping this family -- and told her the situation. She suggested going to another hospital. I thought, “And start all over again?” But Ella’s case was clearly not moving forward at the government hospital.

I took Ella and her mom Grace to buy lunch and asked if they minded if we transferred to a different hospital. Grace said that she could not afford another hospital, so it was my decision. Then she told me that she has been trying to schedule Ella’s surgery for 10 months, and this is her 9th time coming to the hospital, which is 4 hours away from her house! Her daughter had the colonogram ten months ago in February, and surgery should have been scheduled soon afterwards, but every time they visited the hospital, the doctor gave them the runaround and eventually said the surgery schedule was full. I was shocked -- I was over it after only three days, and she has been trying for 10 months.

This past year has been very hard for their family. Ella had to drop out of school because of their regular trips back and forth to the hospital. Tragically, her baby sister April Grace died in June from similar bowel problems; their mother was told to bring the baby to a private hospital, but she did not have the money to do so.

Praying for God’s guidance, we transferred to Maria Reyna, the private Catholic hospital, and within one hour we had seen the doctor and scheduled surgery for the following week. One hour.

The doctor saw our excitement and said, “This is just the first step; don’t be so excited.” I explained to her that this first step has taken the family 10 months. How could we not be excited?

What can I say? There is no justice for the poor. Hundreds of people in the public hospital sweating, listening to babies as they cry, waiting for hours, days, months, and years. Why do these people sweat it out, waiting for so long at this hospital? Because they are poor, and they have no other option.

The surgery and travel expenses for Ella and her family will cost $2,500. The surgery that she has every right to receive. The surgery that will enable her go back to school and feel normal amongst her classmates. The surgery that will change her life.

Although her surgery is relatively inexpensive compared to the U.S., it is an impossible amount of money for this poor family. Please donate to help Ella and her family.

You can donate at www.genevievereardon.fmcmissions.com please put “Ella” in the note.

[findingsally8870]

Breathtaking!! Mission San Luis Rey de Francia in Oceanside, CA. Read more about it here: http://Sallyannmiller70.wordpress.com #sanluisreymission #californiamissions #californiahistory #catholic #catholicmissions #oceanside #roses #rosegardens