A service of Love

By Julia Duarte
May 2002

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Julia works in the area of education with indigenous peoples and poor farmers. She also teaches at the diocesan formation centre in Riobamba, Ecuador. Julia works in the area of education with indigenous peoples and poor farmers. She also teaches at the diocesan formation centre in Riobamba, Ecuador.

“For Christians, our identity is found in the future, in uncertainty, in the service of the Reign of God. It is not found in our roots, nor in our past. It is found in the future!”

I heard this at a meeting of pastoral workers in the Diocese of Riobamba, Ecuador. These words left a deep impression on me, telling me clearly why I continue doing what I do. Now I understand that being a missionary is an unfinished business, an endless and demanding call from God to all Christians. How meaningful the words of Jesus: “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15)

In one way or another, all Christians are called to be missionaries. The way we live our lives—no matter how ordinary—our tasks, our relationships with others, everything we do, all these contribute to the Reign of God, to a world of justice, peace and love.

Now I understand more clearly why I continue being a missionary in ‘foreign lands’ (even though at this time it is my fortune to do mission work here in Ecuador, my own country). I recognize that the people of the world are one people, regardless of differences in social or cultural roots.

I believe that sharing the service of love has no frontier. To do so is to touch the hearts of all people. So it is that I dream of opening my eyes to gaze on a new horizon.

When my husband and I began this adventure of responding to the call that we both felt, we made a commitment with no turning back. We always look ahead, to the future. Whether as Scarboro missionaries or outside of Scarboro Missions, our desire is the same. This is where our joys and sorrows have taken us and filled our lives.

Looking ahead is fulfilling and makes sense of our lives. We are still in the process of becoming all that we can be, and this will continue as long as we have life. If you do not believe me, then try it. Take the risk of living this experience.

Scarboro lay missionary Julia Duarte serves in the Diocese of Riobamba, Ecuador, along with her husband, Tom, and their children. This article was translated from Spanish by Scarboro missionary Fr. Joseph Curcio.

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