by Kelsey B., on mission in our Brazilian Heart’s Home village, Fazenda do Natal
The strongest, all enveloping Presence at the Fazenda is the Eucharist. Our beautiful church is at the highest point of the farm and seen first upon arriving. It is also where we start and end our day in prayer, where we have daily Mass, and where we take turns adoring Christ throughout the entire day. In adoration, while we offer our humble prayers to God, Christ gazes upon us with intense love and tenderness, evident by the miracle of rowdy children sitting calmly in his presence for an hour. There is also no place where Didi (our severly-disabled adopted Brazilian brother) is calmer and happier than in front of Christ in the church. The presence of Christ is more than enough for him and sometimes he becomes agitated when it is over. It is beautiful to see his communication with our living God. Indeed, like in any Heart’s Home, our prayer life is what sustains us, and here our mission is especially contemplative. Our contemplative life sweeps out from the church and to each small task of our daily life. Christ is ever present in this school of love.