On Wednesday, we had a little pow-wow with Sr. Mahima, MC (“glory” in Hindi) who has been a Missionary of Charity for 35 years. She reflected so much peace, joy, and freedom; she transmitted Christ! 35 years of service to Christ through the poorest of the poor. She was close to Mother Theresa; she was been around the world, from England, Africa, Middle East to America; and she has been in Haiti since 2010. This nun has seen it all and most importantly has lived it all. From guns pointing at her, civil wars in different countries to working in unsettled, hostile countries and in Muslim territories…and when we asked her what keeps her going, or gets her through her toughest times, she said: “His Presence! It is in the Eucharist where I get all I need!”
She went on and told us that no matter where she goes, no matter what she has lived, the only constant one, that one who never changes and is always there is Christ. Not as a historical figure, not as someone in the past, but as a real person present here and now. She told us “If you want to hold on to God you need to let go of everything else”.
After 17 days here in Haiti I realize that that statement is so true! I even will go on to say that I witnessed that statement become a reality in these past two weeks. 55 missionaries, all ages, giving the 1st week of their summer to serve others, in a foreign country, working and sweating like never before, seeing a misery and a poverty so real and at the same time some unreal; so close to destitution, death and loneliness. No other place or person to turn to but God. A common denominator in their reflection is: “Here in Haiti I encounter God in a very personal and unique way.” Why? They let go of everything else for a week!
The people in Haiti have nothing, and yet you see them happy, joyful, thankful, fighting to keep going. Why? They hold on to God. One of the missionaries said:”I think it’s easier for them since they don’t have a whole a lot to hold on like us. God is all they have, in a sense they have it all.”
So I guess that the answer to true happiness, freedom, joy is to hold on to God! And in order to do that we need to let go of securities, comforts, all the “isms” in our life. To hold on to God and God alone.
Please pray for me since tomorrow I’m going down to Cancun, to serve in a three-week mission trip with another 50 missionaries. I pray and hope that we all learn to hold on to God!
