Before joining the Comboni Sisters, I lived and worked with the Raramuri, an indigenous group from Chihuahua, Mexico. I learned from them that God listens to every people regardless of their religion and beliefs. An afternoon, returning to my place after participating in a rain ceremony, I asked God if S/He had listened to the way of praying of the Raramuri, quite different from mine. Then, it started to rain. That was God’s answer to my prayer and theirs.
After joining the Comboni Sisters, I was sent to Brazil to proclaim the Gospel to the indigenous people. I worked with the Guarani Mbya and Tupinikim in the southeast and with the Tenharim, Parintintim, and Djahoi in the Amazon region. I read that the Word seeds were already in their cultures, and I realized that they were already making the Word flesh in their life. They experience the Word in their interconnectedness with the whole Creation. Through them, I learned that God talks to us in many ways. I have never seen differences in our daily life, and Mother Earth is our common home to be loved.
All the indigenous people I worked with are interconnected through the language and relationship; they call each other “relatives”. Their understanding of the multiple connections they have makes them capable of thinking holistically and having a strong sense of community, which includes their ancestors and future generations, other peoples, Mother Earth, the universe, and God. Jesus also understood these connections and prayed for his disciples to experience oneness with the Father (Jn 17,21). I have the same prayer for the indigenous people. While working with the indigenous people, I realized that they have a deep spirituality and relationship with God in their daily life and special celebrations. I was amazed to see the Guarani praying by singing and dancing in the Opy Guaçu (prayer house) and opening their windows and doors of their homes every morning to receive the Ñanderú ‘s (God’s) blessings.
In Amazon, the Mboatava, a Tenharim ritual, was a space to initiate girls and boys, get married, grow as community, and receive God’s blessings. Going to the jungle with the indigenous was a spiritual experience; before entering it, they would ask for permission to the forest to hunt, fish, or walk. They were sure that God would protect them while being in the forest. If they were in danger, God would send His messengers to warn them.
Sharing the Good News is also to listen and welcome the Gospel already written in the cultural diversity. The indigenous people taught me to see Mother Earth as our common home and territory, a space to take care of and live as His beloved daughter. The Guarani call their territory “Tekoa,” which means a place with the conditions needed to fulfill the way of being Guarani, where there is forest, water, hunting, fishing, and land for all. This belief is part of the “Yvy Marã e’I” (land without evil), a Guarani cosmo vision that thoroughly permeates their lifestyle. I believe that God wants this land without evil here and now for everybody. So, I made the indigenous’ fight for their land my struggle. The indigenous people have permeated my spirituality and way of seeing the world. Dialogue is built up through sharing beliefs, hopes, and dreams. I tried to announce the Gospel, but I realized that they had made the Word flesh in their cultures. May God help us make the Word flesh in our lives and build up “good living” for all peoples and the Creation.
Olga Estela Sanchez Caro, cms
Missionary in USA
Mbotava Feast
