Jubilee of Hope Missionary Camp 2025 in Metlatónoc, Mexico

Beatriz Sánchez writes: «It was an experience of hope for us. The people in the different areas of the parish where we worked received us very well, perhaps because it was the first time they had met the LMCs. At first, everything seemed complicated. Soon, however, things changed and the experience turned out to be fruitful and a great lesson for all. We shared our faith from our own experience, even with the difficulty and limitation of not knowing the local language and customs. The Christians opened their hearts to us, paying attention and participating actively. They also expressed their gratitude to each of us at different times.”

“There were many obstacles encountered, chief among which were the difficulty of communicating as we would have liked and the lack of knowledge of customs and culture. Some of us even fell ill. Fortunately, there was something that united us: the Faith in Jesus Christ lived and celebrated during Holy Week in this Jubilee year 2025, also through processions, moments of prayer and Eucharistic celebrations.”

“We have learnt that we must know how to listen, get to know people without judging, learn from the people who welcome us, respect the values in which they believe, grasp and appreciate the much richness in them, be willing to accept the ‘new’, pay due respect to local leaders, live the mission according to the Comboni charism, that is, evangelising the poorest and most abandoned, accepting the crosses we encounter without becoming discouraged, and always remembering that we are here for Christ, whom we love, serve and to whom we want to give glory.”

Beatriz Sánchez, with Tadeo, Felisa and Mariana (Mexican), and Carol (Costa Rican)