Volunteering in Peru – A moving emotive testimony

Hello, my name is Noemi Adrover Clar. I’m 20 years old and I’m from Mallorca, Spain.

For a month I have had the opportunity to go on mission to Peru, specifically in Santa Faustina center with the Congregation of Claretian Missionary sisters .

Many of you will wonder how I have felt  the need and had the strength that this mission requires at such a young age. And why on my holidays, instead of wanting to enjoy them in my country, I went go to the other side of the world… Well, it is becoming more and more clear to me.

Since I was very young I wanted to help people who need it most, but until now I did not know why I really had this interest inside me, until I thought and thought…

I discovered that I wanted and I want to help children in order to give back to life what I have received. When I was a child my parents adopted me and from minute zero until today (and more) they have given their lives so that I can be the best I can be. The 0-5 years stage of life is where affection and accompaniment is essential and even if it is only for a month, a lot is achieved, even more than we can imagine.

During this month I have taken with me in my backpack much more than I could have left. I have gotten something from each day, whether it’s a smile, a learning experience, hard moments, but always looking forward to what will happen the next day.

For me it has been a unique experience that I would definitely repeat, in fact, I would not leave. I won’t lie to you either, there are days that are very hard because you put yourself in the children’s shoes, a totally different culture to mine, far from home… But if you put it on the scales, it’s definitely worth doing it.

As for the welcome, it has been very pleasant from the first minute and I have felt at home. Estela, Beatriz and Mirian who are in charge are very, very attentive to the work and you can see that they do it with a lot of love and dedication. I couldn’t have  better company.

Thank you very much because without you this experience would have been very different.

Keep striving day by day that everything will be fine. Everything happens for a reason and things that don’t seem to be going the way you would like them to, often open other doors.