Crossing into Suriname, we began our first round of what is known as “Unsung Heroes”. In these stretches of the race we are the first teams from the world race to serve in these countries. Unsung Heroes involves us going out, without set plans, and allowing God to provide for us. We ask the Lord to guide us and we all came up with audacious prayers, asking a big God for big things. One of my audacious prayers was to stay in a convent or friary but I had no way to see what was coming…
As we waited to board the ferry from Guyana to Suriname, three gray and blue habits caught my eye. I introduced myself to Mother Esperanza, Sister Maria Regina, and Sister Myriam Moshiaj and began explaining what 31 Americans (well… 29 Americans, a Canadian, and a German) were doing in the Guyanese countryside. My fellow Catholic companion, Abby, and I excitedly chatted away with the sisters about the start of the month of the rosary and promised prayers for the vocations crisis in Suriname and Guyana. It turns out, the sisters’ convent was in the capital city where we were headed. They gave us their address and told us to swing by if we had any free time.
Abby and I split off with our respective teams once we arrived in Paramaribo, the city of smiles. My team pulled up to a small hotel that had agreed to give 17 missionaries a discount and take them in on short notice. I glanced up at the street sign as we figured out where to go for dinner. Prinsessestratt. I pulled out my journal and turned to the page where the sisters had written down their address. Prinsessestratt.
Well this was an interesting turn of events.
After a rough night sleep and some less than pleasant experiences at the hotel, we knew God had something better for us. With only 2 hours to find a new place in our tiny missionary budget before we needed to check out, we set out to see if the sisters could help us.
As we turned left onto a small dirt road, we tried to figure out which building was the convent. We wandered through an open gate and I saw a big stone statue of Our Lady behind some buildings. This had to be the right place. We walked further in and heard a woman calling from behind us. Milka introduced herself and we explained to her that we had met Mother Esperanza the sisters the day before and were looking for a place to stay and places to do ministry.
“Let me show you what we’ve got”
She took us to a small cabin with enough bed space for all of us, air conditioning, and a full bathroom. I told her that we had a very small budget and she replied, “It is no problem. You are here for the Church. We will help you.”
In her office Milka told us we would have sheets, towels, coffee, tea, access to the community kitchen and – wait for it – WIFI. (Cue mass fainting of all world racers.) She asked for our budget to which we replied 30 U.S. dollars a night.
“Okay. How about I give it to you for 15?”
Instant tears. My heart was soaring. She set up a meeting with Mother Esperanza so we could talk about ministry AND offered her services in helping arrange our upcoming travel to French Guiana. Talk about a guardian angel!! Plus we still had a full hour to get back to the hotel and pack our things. Milka told us to pack up and call her when we were ready so she could bring a car to carry our bags for us. We half danced back down the street singing praises.
Today, we prayed the rosary and attended mass with the sisters and the local youth before attending and running their youth group for the evening. Tomorrow we will join them for lunch and sports before we move on to French Guiana. I can’t even begin to explain the fullness in my heart.
Pray big prayers. AND allow God the trust and room to answer them. Honestly, I was the first one to say that there was no way we could find a place in time. And as badly as I wanted to stay and work with the sisters I just didn’t believe it would work out. We have received more than we can fathom. And it is because we serve a Good Father that delights in His children and wants to build His kingdom in us. We just need to embrace the opportunities to let Him.
Left to Right: Sr. Myriam Moshiaj, Mother Esperanza, me (obviously), and Sr. Maria Regina
The sisters belong to an order called Servants of the Lord and the Virgen of Matara, also known as the Servidoras. Check them out!!
