My name is Cristina, I am a lay celibate of the community and I work as a pastoral worker in Germany.
This summer I spent three and a half weeks in Togo on a missionary experience.
I had the opportunity to share with the adult laity and the young people of the community in Lomé about how faith has transformed their lives.
And I was also participating in five days of mission in Dapaong with young people.
Our mission motto was: “The missionary fire burns in my heart.”
That is, also, the fruit of all this time that I spent in Togo.
I have returned renewed, with a new joy and motivation, with great strength. I have recovered the deep meaning of my mission.
In the last year, I think that subtly I had become more preoccupied with the challenges we now have in the Church in Germany, with the negative aspects in my diocese and the climate of division that exists. Seeing the reality and the challenges of the Church in Togo, and the impact of the community's mission in Togo, has changed my perspective on my reality in my diocese and in the Church in Germany. Although the challenges remain, they are no longer the center of my attention. I have recovered the value and the deep meaning of my work with the people in the parishes where I am. That has generated a new joy in me.
After these weeks in Togo, I can also say that the missionary fire burns in my heart.
My desire is that people can deepen their relationship with Jesus and that the Gospel can touch their reality and say something important to their lives.
I am very grateful to Jesus and to the community that it was possible to have this missionary experience in Togo!
Cristina Rizquez SEMD Germany
