Called to be

Walking gently with the people of Bolivia and Ecuador

By Micheline Karvonen
October 2002

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It has been my observation that when we re-visit a place years later, we may find that it is not as we remember it. Having lived in Bolivia before, I feared that a close scrutiny the second time would shatter my fond memories of the country.

However, since my return to Cochabamba in May, my earlier impressions of Andean society have been reinforced. Overall, my understanding of Bolivia will help me adjust to Ecuadorian culture, the next step of my mission journey.

Becoming a Scarboro lay missioner involves a long period of preparation. First, formation, which provided me with an in-depth exposure to many aspects of self-knowledge, spirituality, and life in third world countries. Then, studies in Cochabamba, Bolivia, to update my knowledge of the language and renew my acquaintance with the culture of the Andes. With this behind me, I am now at the junction between the preparation and the action modes.

Not that these activities do not overlap. Indeed, it is a fine line that divides receiving and giving, and I know that 'he who gives receives.' I have experienced this while volunteering with homeless adults during formation, and then with homeless boys (ages six to 11) during language training in Bolivia. I also know, in retrospect, that my whole life has been preparation for mission.

My call to mission did not happen out of the blue. Rather, it gelled as the culmination of months of discernment, followed by a long process of application, screening and testing. Before that, my path had been a convoluted one. I had had a first short career as a nutritionist and a longer one in the business world (after a Master's degree in Business Administration) before I returned to the Church and studied theology. Only then, with increased spiritual resources, was I able to focus on what was most important to me.

But I am now still in a discerning mode as I look ahead to what my work will be. Fortunately, I can rely on meditation and prayer for guidance. I visualize a placement where my skills will contribute to a community, and I visualize challenging work that broadens my understanding and compassion.

Meditation is the means whereby the Spirit will enlighten my choice and help me remain open to God. Meditation is the means to maintaining equilibrium in my life, for without the direction that it gives, I know that my activities will not be fruitful.

As regards those activities, I may be called to be more than to do; that is, to give testimony as a Christian, and to accompany people in their daily life. But whatever I get involved in, I must strive to let go of the need to see success in terms of tangible, quantifiable results.

In the business world, success is measured mostly in numbers (of products sold and profits earned). Here in mission I must learn to be satisfied with the knowledge that, having done my best, the Spirit is going to work with grace through me in those activities that God has guided me to undertake.

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