We want to change the world…..therefore, we begin to do it . NOW.

An unforgettable moment for a town in Misiones…..and also for three girls from Germany and Switzerland

Comienzo del trabajo Beginning of the work Die Arbeit beginnt
Todo fue possible gracias al compromiso de tres chicas de Alemania y Suiza All this was posible thanks to the commitment of three girls from Germany and Switzerland Alles nur möglich dank des Einsatzes von drei Jugendlichen aus Deutschland und der Schweiz
Un momento inolvidable An unforgettable moment Das werden die Menschen hier nie vergessen
Chicos de una familia humilde Children of a poor family Kinder in einer der ärmsten Familien
Tanto es posible ... tanto mas puede ser posible... So much is possible... so much more could be possible So viel ist möglich… so viel mehr wäre möglich… Fotos: Bravo/auslandszeit © 2005

ARGENTINA, Guadalupe….. This story occurred in Oberá, the second most important city in the Province of Misiones and in the extreme North East of Argentina. Three girls from the Girls’ Youth from Germany and Switzerland worked there for six months with the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary.

They relate a very specific and very lovely part of the work which they have done within their unforgettable experience.

Oberá, "the one which shines"

Oberá, ( in Guaraní "the one which shines") is a beautiful city situated in the center of the Province Misiones which is one of the most beautiful regions of Argentina: ancient mountains, red earth, jungles, waterfalls, ample plantations of tea and mate herbs….. But as happens in many cities of Latin America, it is surrounded by communities of very poor people. Many of them are indigenous people (Guaraníes). To top it all, they suffer from an extraordinary drought for several years already. Many of them had to walk for two hours or more to obtain water. It was almost impossible for them to cook, to drink water, to wash, to work on the plantations, and to keep their animals alive…..

The Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary have been in Oberá since 1949. They were sent by Father Kentenich and he visited them shortly after establishing themselves there. They built the Marian School which has educated generations of students. Within the school is the Schoenstatt Shrine which will celebrate its golden jubilee in November of 2006. They also developed a wide apostolate not only in the city, but also in the surrounding communities. Some of the Sisters are responsible for tending to the chapels on a weekly basis due to the lack of priests. In addition to taking the Word of God and the Eucharist, they also take care of the human development of the villagers. For example, Sr. M. Josefina, for many years now, tends to several Guaraní families offering them all kinds of assistance and she provides the essential elements for their existence.

Three girl "missionaries": Tanja, Susanne, and Desiree

The three girls who volunteered with the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, visited the families and were very impressed with the poverty in which they lived. They did not even have water and in a subtropical climate! In the suburban area, there is need for a car and you have to walk…..a lot! The girls walked a great deal to visit the families and on one of those walks, they could not get water for several hours: the thirst they experienced made them understand what it means to lack water!

They wanted to do something to solve something so basic as the need to have water. Shortly after, the company where one of the German girls worked donated a certain amount of money for a social service project in Argentina. Immediately, the girls thought of the possibility of digging a well for obtaining water, but they wanted it done in such a way that it would be a permanent solution and not just something temporary.

The need moved the world

They began calling their parishes in Germany and their relatives to obtain more economic resources. In a short time they were able to get what was necessary for their project and within a week they were able to start digging. Immediately, with adequate tools and machinery, they searched for the most appropriate place to dig for a well. When the machinery began to dig, the people from the town surrounded the place with the hope that their dream would come true. They began at six o’clock in the morning and twelve hours later, at a depth of 126 meters, the much desired water appeared…..The people cried tears of joy! Many things would be solved, thanks to that well!.....Neither was it easy to get the connection to the electricity line to make the extractor pump work, but in the end, one of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary managed it.

Everything is possible when not only one but many desire it

The first spurts of water with a little bit of clay were not wasted: the animals were dying of thirst so they were the first to receive the first extraction…..Immediately clean water came forth and it was ready to be used. Joy invaded the people who had gathered to celebrate and to thank the girls for their miraculous help! They had waited for so many years for this dream to come true that little hope was left. In one week, thanks to the help from the three volunteers, to the donations received from their countries, and to the help from the people from the area, the great desire became a reality: to have water! They all gave an immediate response to this reality which could not be put aside. They did not limit themselves to feeling sorry for themselves.

When the obvious ceases to be obvious in necessity

Can you imagine the joy of these people upon obtaining water?.....It would be easier to understand it if one would try to live a day without water…..and not even this way! The poverty in the small communities of the interior of the Province of Misiones is very extreme. There is a lack of water which is most necessary!.....without water there is no life, no vegetation, no animals, and much less human life!.....and perhaps this is the most important necessity that the people suffer in a corner of Argentina.

Many things are "obvious" in daily life: food, a house, a bed, electricity, utensils so the children can go to school, clothing, health care…..what is obvious for some can be an extraordinary gift for others.

One must see the extremes of poverty! To know that what is obvious for some is not obvious for many others. It would be wonderful if many would awaken to something similar as what was done by Tanja Brau, Susanne Leitsch and Desiree…..the three girl "missionaries" close to Oberá. By seriously making an effort to change a situation of extreme necessity….. they brought them water…..they gave life back to them…..

Translation: Carlos Cantú La Feria, Texas USA