Mission in Preparation for Mission

One day I was at daily Mass in Vancouver, and afterward they exposed the Blessed Sacrament. As I was headed out, I noticed a young man whom I guessed was homeless walking down the center aisle. He went straight up to the front and knelt before the Eucharist. Something in me prompted me to stay and pray for him in the back of the church. He took a few moments and knelt down, bowing his head. It sounded like he was crying. Outside I said hello and asked how he was doing, and he said things were pretty bad. He shared some of his story, how he became homeless, and how he feels like his life isn’t fair. He had a job and a life until he was abandoned by friends and left with nothing. He was trying to do the right thing, and didn’t want to be homeless. I just listened. It amazes me how much some people are willing to share with a complete stranger. How much we need friendship and community. How much we need to know we are loved. I’m glad I could be a small reminder that he is worth listening to, that he matters.

A few weeks ago, my family and I were driving home from Eugene, Oregon. At one of our rest stops, I spotted a woman sitting with a sign. I immediately felt a tug on my heart to go talk to her. I hesitated (it’s still a little nerve racking to go up to a stranger), but eventually walked toward her, crouched down a few feet away and introduced myself. “Hi my name’s Maria. How’s it going?”

“Oh really, that’s my mom’s name! I’m Carrie,” she said.

Her face lit up as soon as I started talking to her. She explained how she was struggling to pay rent for her house, car, and trailer and things were just hard at the moment. Although I couldn’t fix her financial situation I knew I could offer her something better. I asked if I could pray for her right then, and she said yes. I put a hand on her shoulder and prayed for her and thanked God for her.

Afterward I ran back to my car and grabbed some snacks from our road trip to offer as well. She was such a lovely lady. As I was getting ready to leave my mom stopped to say hi as well and Carrie asked me to keep her in her prayers. She’s been in my prayers ever since.

These encounters confirmed me in my call to be a Mercy Missionary and renewed my excitement for the mission. It reminded me I can always love the people around me. It may be as simple as a smile and hello or just being present with them for a moment. Every act of love bears fruit and heals. To choose to love and give of ourselves for others brings so much more joy. Out of all the billions of people in the world, I ran into Carrie and Richard for a reason. I’m glad I said yes to those promptings of the Holy Spirit to talk with them.

These encounters also reminded me of how much I have changed since first going out with the Mercy Missionaries. I am more free to let God guide and use me in spontaneous ways and have a greater capacity to love strangers. I can’t imagine what a year of mission on the streets will do in me, and I am so excited for all God will transform this year.

~Maria Nehnevaj