by Virgilio Martins

I understand that life is a mission. All we have to do is try to live our lives in the light of the Gospel, in the likeness of Christ, and we will be on mission.

Living the Gospel opens us up to our neighbor in the land where we live as well as in other lands in our country or in other countries and cultures.

I decided to spend 15 days of my vacation in the community of the Missionaries of the Most Precious Blood in Bissakel, Guinea-Bissau. I always come with the intention of helping, and I’m the one who comes out helped. I learn to appreciate what I have every day and I drink in the joy of the guinean children who dance to the sound of the drum, run happily after a ball, invent their own toys, enjoy taking photographs… and “help” (work) in the household. I feel the added effort of the adults. The cultural difference questions me, but it makes me feel that we are part of the same humanity, even if in Portugal we live more comfortably.

For me, the Mission is Christ in me; Christ who is brought to others; Christ who is received from those who cross their paths with mine.

Catia, a volunteer, comments as follows: «I am in Guinea Bissau doing volunteer work. The mission is evangelization. Without the Catholic Mission, the number of Christians in Guinea/World would be smaller. An example of this can be found in one of the vocations of this house: he is the first Christian in his family. The mission means education: in faith, in life; in new habits that we believe will be more beneficial to the lives of these people…

What brings me to the mission in a personal way is the knowledge of other cultures and the appreciation of having, being, building… and re-learning how to live in the relationship between the city and nature. Here the power of nature has not been lost with the construction of the houses. You also believe that it can change people’s lives a little. On the other hand, you don’t change the country where you’re on mission, but you are contributing to the slow, steady and real change in some people’s lives. With these people, I relearn the true meaning of resilience». Paulo also underscores: «Mission is to serve».