Responding to God's Call - Catholic Mission Trips

'I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35

My husband, Keven, and I had the great joy of doing short term mission work in Kisii, Kenya a couple of years ago. We had a transformative experience and fell in love with the orphan children we worked with. We wanted to stay longer and our hearts still long to go back someday soon.

We learned firsthand (through the example of another couple) that these relationships that are developed between different people and cultures can be so powerful and long lasting. They are a source of great blessing for all involved. A retired couple had been the missionaries in the area before my Keven and I were there. Jim was a deacon and his wife, Henrietta, was a retired nurse. They were in Kenya for 10 years and if you would ask them "they loved every minute of it even when it was very hard".

Everywhere we went we were asked to "greet Deacon Jim and Henrietta". Since our arrival in Kisii, the couple had been gone from the area for some time (ten years), but it was clear that their legacy lived on. We were told wonderful stories of the good work they had done, and also stories of the Jim and Henrietta just making time for people and having cup after cup of chai tea in the homes of different families.

People could not wait to tell us personal stories of children Deacon Jim had baptized, trips he had taken youth on, parishes he has preached at, etc. We heard stories of people whose lives had been saved by Henrietta's nursing skill‚ and just of the loving care she gave her patients. Talk about a lasting impact. This couple truly gave of themselves and poured their lives out for others.

When we asked Jim to tell us the most important thing we needed to know before going to Kenya, he simply said, "Just love the people‚ the rest will take care of itself." Jim and Henrietta loved the people and changed lives.

Pope Francis encourages all of us to share our gifts with the most vulnerable and live out our faith in powerful and concrete ways as a part of the New Evangelization. If you've ever thought of giving of yourself in such a way, CARITAS for Children has opportunities for individuals and couples to participate in mission work (long term and short term).

Both Jim and Henrietta talk about having heard God calling them to serve and then somehow mustering the courage to respond. Have you felt God tugging at your heart to do something more? If so, please consider contacting CARITAS For Children to learn more about the various opportunities available for both short and long term Catholic mission trips. You can reach me by e-mail at: kdwanner@caritas.us or by telephone at 414-771-7030 extension 303.