Sr. Cecilia Cuizon, a Filipino Columban Sister who has been on mission in Iquique Chile for several years writes about the street children she accompanies, as one of her ministries

Sister, Can You Help?
One afternoon while I was visiting the different group in our parish of Iquique, Chile, a girl named Ninoska, twenty years old, approached me and said, “Hermana, puede usted ayudarnos?” (Sister, can you help us?) I knew the girl I knew the girl because I had seen her many times with children she was preparing for the first communion. “Que quiere?” (What do you want?) I asked.

Hesitant
Ninoska told me that aside from her first communion group, she was accompanying a group of street children. She belongs to a movement called MOANI (Movimiento Apostolico de Adolescentes y Niños) whose main objective is to make children aware of their basic human rights. Quite interesting. What really impressed me was her preoccupation with helping these children to be persons. She is called to an Apostolate that I know is not easy. She wants to share the good news that she has received, and that she enjoys, with these children. I was hesitant to commit myself for I already had commitments. Still I knew that I would to stop and pray. Where was the Lord leading me?

Broken Families
Iquique is an open port city with many children from broken families. The men have their own organization as well as the women. But the children? Now is the time to accompany them. Ninoska is willing to give her time to orientate young boys and girls who desire to work as team.

Not Leader but Friend
Then why she asked me to help her? She is an educated woman and is most capable. Later on, I found out that what she wanted was not a leader but a friend and a companion in her group’s struggle to be recognized as people. My presence as a religious and a missionary gives her hope that one day the Risen Lord will become real in their lives. What a big challenge for me to leave God’s mandate which says, “Go therefore, and make disciples from all the nations”.

Fear
But fear creeps with in me. I am not able. I am an outsider. Again God’s words to Jeremiah make me aware of His abiding presence wherever I am.
“…I…appointed you a prophet to the nations. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you protect you…”
                                                                                                            (Jer. 1:5, 8)

Trust Prevails
What more I can say? Only to trust Him, the Lord of Love, who has called me to follow Him, to leave my own people and my country and to live and serve Him in a foreign land.