Global Charismatic Family: Argie and Rodrigo, a Mexican missionary couple among the Aborigines at Mount Druitt
Argie Hernandez from the Province of Mexico Occidental is married to Rodrigo Gris. The couple has lived for three years in the Lavalla200> community at Mt Druitt in Australia. They took part in the preparation program in 2016 and were appointed to Australia. Later this year they will return to Mexico and Argie, in the text below, tells us of her experience of working with Aboriginal Australians.
The community in Mt Druitt in 2020 is made up of the Mexican couple and three Brothers, Fabricio Basso (Brazil Sul-Amazonia), Jonnel Sisneros (East Asia) and Lawrie McCane (Australia). The community runs the “Marist Learning Zone”, a centre working with children from the outskirts of Sydney who refuse to attend their normal schools.
Whenever they meet a Marist
As we prepare to depart Australia permanently, we are reflecting on the wonderful experiences and opportunities we have had in such a beautiful country. One of many stories is the one with our aboriginal friends from the Mount Druitt community. When we were sent to Mount Druitt, we couldn’t imagine all the humbling mission experiences ahead.
When we arrived in Australia, one of the very first communities we visited was the aboriginal community in Mount Druitt. We were accepted and embraced with so much love that we were overwhelmed, and we could not imagine how much they have been through. The resilience this community has developed is just an example of forgiveness and fraternity.
Brother Lawrie has been a friend of Baabayn since very long time ago, he has been wonderful contact and support for the community. Following his example and our call to mission we began our commitment to support Baabayn in the areas they required.
Among the many opportunities to support there is the Kurung Homework Club where we are so privileged to be assisting kids and teenagers with their school homework and other academic areas.
For two overseas volunteers, attending the Kurung tutoring program has been a great opportunity to develop and strengthen our understanding of the aboriginal culture. We believe the tutoring program is a marvellous opportunity for kids and tutors to develop strong relationships that ultimately ends in the excelling and love of learning.
The Kurung program is a great opportunity for kids to continue their education in personalised tutoring, it is a time when they can relax and ask as many questions as they want. The privilege of being one-on-one is that kids can absolutely feel confident about their learning.
The centre becomes a home, where everyone is welcomed and cared for. When kids arrive to the centre and they are provided with snacks and drinks, they are not just given food for the body but for their souls. It is so rewarding to see them enjoying and learning at the same time, they are like any other kids in the world, lovely, kind and curious.
We are treated as family by the adults working at the centre, we find support from them as well as all the practical tools for the session with the kids.
This homework club is a beautiful testimony of the adults looking after their children, providing better opportunities for them and creating an environment of family and friendship.
We are honoured to be invited to regular events, it means that we are not just volunteers, but we have become members of the “mob”, we no longer feel as volunteers but friends.
The homework club is not the only one thing we share with them, many times we provide transport or any other support for different important events, such as Christmas, end of the year, summer activities, etc.
We are grateful to Baabayn for letting us be part of their community, we have learnt that transport is not just taking a kid from one place to another but it is to have a nice conversation about school and kids’ adventures, we have learnt that in wrapping Christmas gifts we also wrap dreams and hopes, we have learnt that we are not just volunteers but we are part of the Baabayn family, just like being part of the Marist family.
I have personally developed a great affinity with the women’s group as well, we spend some time learning new skills in arts and crafts and recently they have developed a fantastic circle of healing. It is heartbreaking to hear the struggles they have been through but it is also an opportunity to develop our strength as women, offering a shoulder or a hug is always a comforting way to let our sisters know that they matter and they are loved.
This opportunity to share time and activities with them is an opportunity for us as Marists to make Jesus known and loved in the gentle way of Mary. Every time we sit together or play together is a precious moment to let them know that we are Marists and they will know that whenever they meet a Marist they will be loved just as Jesus taught us.
In living our spirituality, we find our thirst quenched at the streams of “living water.” In turn we become “living water” for others (WFR, n14).
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Argie Hernandez – LaValla200> Community Mount Druitt