Department of Missions and Social Development

“What is taught in university classrooms runs the risk of becoming purely theoretical knowledge; I wanted my students to put into practice what they had learned in my classes. It was of no use to me for them to know the statistics or data on poverty, health, or education worldwide if that was just a number they had memorized. I wanted to show them those faces; I wanted them to understand that behind each piece of data there are human beings, pain, and suffering—and I wanted that experience to inspire them to get involved and become agents of change. I always return from these trips feeling wounded, but that pain doesn’t make me lose faith in people—quite the opposite. Every day, I believe in them even more: in their greatness, in their ability to start over, in their strength, and in their courage.”

“Many people dream of going on a mission, but only those who feel a deep calling take that step. That happened to me in Argentina: I realized that we weren’t going to “save” anyone, but rather to let ourselves be transformed. There I discovered that the mission lies in the simple things: being there for others, listening, and making them smile. In the shantytowns, thanks to Mónica, I learned that happiness comes from accepting pain and choosing what is good. I also experienced a more authentic faith as I saw how those who had the least trusted God the most. That experience ignited in me a lasting desire to keep going out and giving of myself. ”

“Ever since I was a child, I felt the call to missionary work: I collected newspapers to support the missions, and later I volunteered in hospitals, villages, and social projects. Today, at UFV, I am a mentor in the Motril mission. That sense of wonder I saw in the people who opened their doors to us is what I now strive to awaken in my students. I deeply believe in the educational value of missions: they transform one’s perspective, one’s heart, and the way one engages with the world. That is why I guide students so that what they experience does not remain merely a memory, but rather becomes a source of personal growth. Being a trainer and a missionary is an honor. Missions are difficult, but through them we discover our fragility, our strength, and the joy of serving.”

“In my junior year, I had the opportunity to go on a mission, and I’ve been returning every year since then. I truly believe that during college, the heart cries out and longs for this experience. I always find that the mission makes me more human. It means entering each home—which is, in and of itself, sacred ground—with my heart kneeling before the intimacy of the other, an intimacy that is often entrusted to me and must be guarded deep within my heart. In prison, amid the most brutal overcrowding and poverty, amidst the most palpable suffering and loneliness, I discovered a silent, suffering, and loving presence of God. And how comforting it is to listen. Ultimately, mission means putting oneself on the line and loving so many—mothers, the sick, prisoners, children, the elderly… so many faces and gazes in which I also encounter Another—God—who dwells in each one.”

“I’ve been fortunate enough to experience mission work in two very different parts of the world. And in both places, I discovered that what is truly transformative lies in the small things. Experiencing mission work in the Villas of Argentina meant coming face-to-face with a reality that cannot be understood from a distance. Poverty there is found in real faces, in personal stories, in open homes, and at shared tables. It meant learning to listen without rushing, to truly see, and to let each person show me a little of their life, their wounds, and their heart. And, amid so many difficulties, I discovered a strength, a generosity, and a joy that deeply moved me. In Uganda, I learned that sometimes the most important things are found in the simple acts: sharing time, listening, playing, being there for others, and staying close. It’s not about arriving thinking you’re going to change the world, but about understanding that the key lies in giving of yourself to others from the heart. Once you’ve experienced it, something inside you changes forever.”