Federico

I discovered the mission by pure “chance”… that year I had decided to turn my life upside down and move to live in Brazil. The same day I arrived in the Carioca country I saw a Brazilian TV report on YouTube that presented the mission of “Saint Michael the Archangel” in Barbacena and… it was love at first sight. I immediately tried to get in touch with them, despite a failed first attempt, I didn’t lose heart and tried again.

The second time the answer arrived, the person who wrote to me was Milena, Marco Roberto’s mother. Those simple and kind words of his written from the heart won me over instantly, I had other ongoing projects for my life that would even have led me to move from Brazil to Peru as a missionary, nevertheless a correspondence continued between us as if I didn’t want to break that “friend” bond that had been created.

Upon my return to Brazil I decided it was time to get to know the mission and I asked a friend of mine if I could go by car to Barbacena, it was a rather long journey, about 900 km, but my determination was stronger than any distance. I still remember the moment when we drove through the large wrought iron gate, I was as excited as a child about to enter one of those magical places that are told in fairy tales. There was a brief meeting between me and Marco Roberto who was leaving for a business trip, however I had the opportunity to visit the entire mission and stop for lunch with the children. We left that same evening… my heart remained in “Saint Michael the Archangel”, I didn’t know if I would have the chance to return to that special place soon, it was obvious that I hoped for it however I once again had other plans for my life.

After a few months Milena wrote to me to inform me that she was coming to Brazil and invited me to participate in the feast of “Saint Michael the Archangel”, I didn’t think twice and left again. This time I stayed there for a couple of days, finally after a long correspondence I associated a face with a person, I also met Simonetta and was able to talk for longer with Marco Roberto. On that second occasion I made a promise to Marco Roberto and myself: that I too would do something in my own small way to contribute to that incredible missionary work, I had no idea how but it was something I felt in my heart and I wanted to do to all costs.