The Opening of Our Lady of Hope Community
Some time later, we had our first American to come for an interview. We
had him enter pretty soon, but he was very isolated and lonely, and
it was very difficult for us too. We were not ready to welcome people
yet, yet the main the reason because we were here was to help the
young Americans, so this was another conflict. I tell you this just to give an idea of
our beginnings and what everyone sees now.
About the other guys, Max is still in Community, in a mission in Baja Brazil, and just this morning I had a wonderful conversation with him remembering our struggles, but what a joy to see what is happening now. He was telling me how it is poor there, how much people do just trying to put a dish on the table. A lot do not have electricity or running water at all. Speaking with him make me almost mad to see how much our guys do not understand what they have and do not appreciate. In their house, they are happy when they can eat a dish of pasta instead of rice and beans and mandioca.
With him are five of our Sisters who take care of the little girls 10 and 3 other guys who with Max are taking care of 10 kids age 7 to 10 years old. This Mission has been open only a year ago!
Another member of our early expedition was Gilberto, now already in
heaven. He was a little bit older than I, and was one of my best friends. He
died of Liver cancer 5 years ago. He was a great musicians and when he
got back from Florida, he did his first year of theology. He always said that
he wonted to become a priest for the Community. He did not make it, but he
is praying for us from heaven.
Paolo M. stayed in Community for a long time ending up to open the Mission in Mexico. He is married with a little boy. He is still very involved with the Mission and helping young Mexican to enter the Community.
Antonio R. completed the community and relapsed. After he came back, and spent a lot of time in the missions of Brazil and Mexico. He is out of the Community now and doing fine.
Francesco B. is out of the Community doing well, married with 2 kids in Northern Italy. Battistelli -- I have lost track of him and I do not know much about him. This is the story of our beginning -- in a short way for sure, but even with great difficulties we have lived, we knew that God had a plan for our Community in America and we trusted to this day, and more and more our Community is becoming a little light shining in this country. Ciao!