They want to receive Jesus and follow Him
On Sunday August 12th of this year, it had held with great joy the baptism of three mothers in Namsot village in Nan province. Namsot is situated in the North Thailand, 103 Km from our house.
Namsot people mostly are Hmong, which are Chinese descendants, observant of ancestors’ religion. However, there is also a small group of Christian among them.
These mothers are married with Christian and they had begun their Christian followership together with other three mothers that had received the baptism last Easter vigil. Feeling not ready at that Easter time, these new baptized had chosen to continue their catechumenate for a while accompanied by our sisters. Make this step now is showing that, they don’t chose the Christian faith just fallowing their husbands according to the tradition, but above all, because they themselves really want to receive Jesus and follow him in their lives.
In order to prepare themselves for the celebration of the sacrament of baptism, they spend five days of retreat in our house. Providentially, we had with us two volunteers Italians girls in the same period; so it was nice opportunity to share their faith experience with the three new christians. In these 5 days of retreat, these women had also a pleasure to enjoy the gift of receiving a new name: Chiara, Edith and Bakhita; that was chosen by sister Teresa Bello according to their personal characteristics and stories.
On Saturday August 25th, with other three newly baptized, Chiara, Edith and Bakhita had received the sacrament of confirmation at Santa Monica parish during the patronal feast celebration. They were present at the celebration the bishop of Chiang Mai and the new bishop of Chiang Rai, the new erected diocese in the last July.
We enjoy the growing up of the faith among this small community. Faithfull prayer for them in order that the faith may take and make strong roots and produce fruits in Jesus Christ. We thank Lord for this gift to the church. For our three mothers, through their daily lives, may they become the messengers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their families, village and among their people.
