For many years now Venezuela has been going through an unparalleled crisis. Around 80% of its people are living in poverty today. And the less fortunate ones, who don’t have relatives abroad to send money home from time to time, sometimes struggle even to eat.
In the diocese of Carora the sisters of the Missionary Association of Jesus and Mary are bringing help and hope to the poorest. They have given a new home to 30 girls who have been orphaned or abandoned by their parents. Many of them have already experienced domestic violence. The sisters also run a preschool where 80 children are not only brought up and educated in a Christian spirit but provided with meals as well. Coming back to school after the weekend at home, many of these children are simply consumed with hunger, the sisters tell us. For their families often cannot even provide the most basic necessities. But during the week at least, the children can eat as much as they need.
The sisters also care for the sick and elderly, the homeless and the poorest families. Bishop Carlos Enrique Curiel Herrera is most grateful for their precious service. „The sisters have been here for over 50 years now. They do so much good, asking nothing in return and caring for all the needy“, he writes.
But in order to help the people materially – with food, clothing and medicines – the sisters have to drive all the way to the Colombian border, some 460 km (290 miles) away, where they can still obtain these things. For given the disastrous economic situation in Venezuela, it is all but impossible to find such necessities locally, at least in sufficient quantities. And in addition to all this, the sisters travel out to the remote and distant villages in their area, bringing comfort and consolation and the love of Christ. This often involves ferrying the sick in their vehicle. But this old and worn out car was increasingly running into trouble and causing problems. And so they turned to us, asking our help and – thanks to our generous benefactors – we were able to give the 30,500 Euros they needed to buy a robust all-terrain vehicle for their work.
Sister Yamile has written to thank us. „With all our hearts we want to thank you for your prompt and generous support! May God continue to bless all those who are hoping to make your wonderful work of mercy possible. Our special charism is „to imitate the active life of Jesus on earth through works of mercy“, and thanks to your help we can truly fulfil the Lord‘s words in our lives. Thank you for helping the missionaries of Jesus and Mary and for supporting our work of evangelisation, so that the Kingdom of God can be spread throughout the world. May the Lord and the Blessed Virgin abundantly bless all the staff and benefactors of ACN so that, together, we can at least help to ease the sufferings of the people in Venezuela.“
