LIVING SPIRITUAL WEALTH IN MATERIAL POVERTY

The Lord's call is exceptional. Each one calls us in a special and unique way. He gives us different charisms, and a mission in our life. He calls us all in love, so that we can be happy, and we can also radiate that light of hope in the environment.

Sister María Teresa Cuervo Buitrago, has been a sister of poverty. She responded to the call of God, serving the poor. Although they have spent so many years, she knows that she deserves to spend her life in it.

She belongs to the religious Congregation "Carmelitas de la Caridad de Vedruna". She is the second of 8 brothers. She grew up in a home as she says, "traditionalist faith". His Father on Saturdays explained to the children ingeniously through games the liturgy of Sunday, and sacred history. This was recorded in the hearts of his children, and especially in the little Maria Teresa, because as she expresses it: "it was enriching and feeding something that you know that is inside of you". It was prayed as a family, and shared very well.

Her parents Jorge, and Marujita taught their children popular religiosity. At age 5, one of her favorite pastimes was playing at being a nun. When she was 15 years old, she felt that the lord was calling her, and she began to meditate on her vocation. Think that the vocation is a call of love and a response of love.

She studied with the Salesianas. Between 16 and 17 years of age, she already practiced as a catechist. She had an adolescent relationship, but states that "the vocation is to discover a greater love, which makes you renounce any other love".

When she was 18 years old, she worked as a teacher in the community school to which she belongs. The school was closed, to dedicate itself to working with the poorest of the poor. And she went on to work with the school Nuestra Señora de la Enseñanza, of María's company. Later, Maria Teresa takes the final step and enters the "Carmelitas de la charidad de Vedruna". She says that "the poor generally teach, and are in solidarity."

When I ask her what she is doing now, she responds modestly, which provides the service of coordinating and encouraging life on mission, of the Vedruna sisters in America, together with 2 other sisters. That is to say, to the date, the Little Sister María T. She is the Provincial for the American Continent, of her Community. They are in 12 countries.

At this moment it is located in Lima (Peru). I met her in Bogotá on January 8 and her testimony I received from her on January 17, 2019.

Among her memories she kept one very clear from when she was in Bogotá, and they called the Conference of Religious of Colombia "CRC" to support Armero, at the moment when at the time the tragedy happened. The Communities that signed up, took turns, to provide the service permanently. A fundamental work in those moments, that of "LISTENING". It was a very hard reality.

Of the things that impacted her as she expresses it: "it was the strong context of death and the permanent and penetrating smell of plastic tents". She says that a mother who had lost her son, daily sat near the ditch that divided the two groups of tents, with the illusion of seeing her son in the water.

Another of the memories, which she keeps in her heart, is when she was the Director of the Fe y Alegría school, in the La Libertad neighborhood in Medllín. She met Johan, a boy about 10 years old, very intelligent, hyperactive and mischievous. It fed on garbage. The little sister, Maria T., when the child went to the dining rooms, made sure they gave her a double ration. The boy had a special affection for her and she loved him too. He gave her gifts that he took out of the garbage, and he carefully cleaned them and took them with all affection. On one occasion he wore a very beautiful belt, on another, hooks and other details. She tried continuously, to accept him at school, and made him promise that he would be wise. The boy got it for some time, but then again the teachers' complaints came and they took him out of the classes. Finally, Johan was suspended, and he was left without study.

After this, the boy looked for her, but she did not take care of him, told her that she was upset with him. One afternoon he spoke to her from the door saying: "Little sister, you have always taught us that Jesus forgives everything, but you are not forgiving me". She ran out and they embraced.

Later, on one of her trips, when she was in Rome, in the general team, she received an email informing her that the child had died of an infection. Johan was then 17 years old.

Sister Maria Teresa, says that she is happy in what she does, and feels fulfilled in many aspects. Understand that every day it is necessary to nourish the vocation, with the Eucharist, prayer, the word of God, service to the people, community relations, and participation in the life of the Christian Community.

Finally, it is important to understand that in the response to the call of love, our greatest effort consists only in making the decision to remain in Him. If we do not separate ourselves from the love of God in the way of life, his strong and powerful, will sustain us always. Until the last step on earth, and in the first to eternity. God never fails.