The missionary experience in the city of Iquitos and the town of Nauta in Peru was truly moving. Before leaving and visiting the places where we were to serve, so many questions came to mind, such as: “What is the environment these people live in like?” “How will I feel during this experience as part of a group?” and above all, “What difference can I make?”
One of the most beautiful moments of this experience was when we saw with our own eyes the conditions of houses in a disastrous and precarious state. Yet, with persistence, courage, and unity among us, after days of work and effort, we managed to build simple wooden homes – modest, but more decent – where families could shelter from the heavy storms that often hit these regions, causing river levels to rise. My greatest satisfaction was seeing the joy and gratitude of the families, visibly moved by what we had accomplished together.
Despite the daily challenges they face, and despite being victims of social injustice by local authorities, these families always welcomed us with love, as if we had known each other for years. This was especially striking when considering the challenge we faced as volunteers in communicating through the local language and dialect.
I firmly believe that the unity of the group is the most important factor. Alone, a person can do little, but together with the support of others, much can be achieved – even in a missionary and volunteer context like the one we lived in Peru. This spirit of unity is made possible thanks to wise preparation before the journey: formation meetings, live-ins, fundraising activities, and other moments that strengthen the bonds within the group. Through these, each person discovers more about themselves, builds on their strengths, and works on their weaknesses.
Although the help we gave was just a drop in the ocean and did not change the entire housing situation in Iquitos – especially in the slum area of Puerto Masusa – the unity among us missionaries and the love we gave, and above all received, brought a ray of light to people less fortunate than us. It reflected the positive impact we were able to leave behind.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Augustinian Secretariat for Missions, who gave me this privilege of being part of the first missionary group in Peru.
Christian Cauchi
AMIGOS
