Jean Donovan Reflection #4

In just a few weeks, I will be seeing my Aunt Eileen for the first time in four years. I have not been able to see her in person because she is a director of a school in Lima, Peru. Additionally, she is a sister in the order of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. I see many parallels in the lives of my Aunt Eileen and Jean Donovan. Both were actively seeking something to fulfill their lives beyond material goods. They both turned to missionary work. Hearing my Aunt Eileen and Jean Donovan’s reflection upon their experiences in Peru and El Salvador, I can hear the sense of belonging and spiritual connection that comes from living with the poorest of the poor. For my Aunt as well as Jean, the children are the main reason for continuing their mission work. My Aunt is the Director of a school for the local impoverished children. Over the years she has put electricity in the building along with clean running water. Most recently, she is working on raising money for a tile floor. She has devoted so much of her life to the children attending her school. She gave up her comfortable life, complete with family, a secure place to live, and everyday luxuries that we take for granted, to help children living a half a world away. For me, it seems difficult to sacrifice so much for the unknown. Sometimes Aunt Eileen and Jean Donovan’s decision to engage in Missionary work in third world countries is difficult for me to understand. Other times, I am envious of their courage and determination they display when choosing their new life style. My Aunt now calls Peru her home and the United States as her place to visit. I think Jean would have stayed in El Salvador and it would have become her home. Ultimately, I am proud to place my Aunt Eileen in the same category as Jean Donovan and the three other sisters who gave their lives to help the children of El Salvador.