"What God wants is
not your ability,
but your availability."

When I was sent in the summer of 2004 to St. Petersburgh, Russia to help rescue street children, I knew that this next mission would be the most challenging yet. In the inner-city there survive 15,000 homeless, runaways and orphaned boys and girls from ages 9 to 19. They hide away in the attics and basements of old abandoned houses and flats at the outskirts of the city with no running water, electricity, toilets and heating. But above all, these little ones live without somebody who LOVES them. They are a strong outcry of the suffering Christ in this 21st century.

My name is Andrej. I write you to share the story of how I became a missionary in Miles Jesu to bring hope to thousands of suffering and needy people.

I was born in Slovakia in 1972, at the height of communism. My parents were teachers and I was the oldest of three boys. Despite the strong influence of an atheistic society, the good Lord granted me the wonderful gift of the Catholic faith. I was sometimes privy to the guarded secrets of my grand parents and parents about the crimes of the communists, such as closing down monasteries, putting members of religious orders in the concentration camps and prisons, torturing and killing priests and persecuting active laymen. This exposure to the deeds of an ungodly society made a deep impression upon me.

For first Holy Communion I had to go secretly, otherwise my parents would lose their jobs. Later, for Confirmation, I went to a different region of the country where people did not know my family. Thank God that the strong pressure of communistic society, as well as the temptations of youth, did not destroy my faith.

When I was 17, the idea of becoming a priest came to my mind. I saw that the communistic system did great harm to Church and to society. Young men who wanted to live the consecrated life, could do that only secretly. Communists were doing selection, who could study for priesthood. There was a big need for priests after democracy was established in 1989. Though I felt strong calling of our Lord to follow Him, I didn’t do that. I was not opened to accept celibacy and was attracted by the idea of getting married. I decided that after finishing high school, I would start studies of medicine.

I confess that the God’s calling was accompanying me during my whole university studies, but first 3 years I didn’t want to admit it and think about it. I wanted to stifle these thoughts in my mind and because of that I was often depressed. Only later I started to accept that I should face the truth and do God’s will. I started to look for the way, how to fulfill God’s will in my life. I knew that I should give my life to God, but I didn’t know how to do it. I tried to find out if Our Lord wanted me to join an order such as Franciscans, Norbertines or Hospitaller Brothers, but I was never sure if that was my vocation. So last two years of my university studies I was trying to discern it, but I did not.

After graduating from the university, I started to work as a physician in a hospital. Daily I would take care of 15 to 20 patients and from 6 to 8 times a month I had an all night shift. Checking and treating people and frequently meeting with the death, showed to me the fragility of human life and happiness. I often witnessed, with much worry on my part, that many times young people were suffering without seeing the meaning of it in for their lives. I saw many dying without hope for eternal life. So I would encourage my patients with faith and prayer when it was possible and if they needed to receive sacraments, I called a priest.

While working in the hospital, almost four years went by, I did my specialization exam as a physician and I still did not know what my vocation was. I was not happy. But finally God gave me the grace to attend one very good vocation seminar about how to discern ones vocation. It was organized by a group of young professionals consecrated to God . They were members of Miles Jesu, an international Catholic institute based in Rome. I was captivated by their enthusiasm for Christ, faithfulness to the teachings of the Catholic Church, spirit of joy and the charism of consecrating one’s life to God in one’s profession.

One of the Miles Jesu members was a young physician. He told me that one of the apostolates of Miles Jesu is the medical missions (named Epiphany Medical Missions - EMM) for the poorest people in Ukraine, Nigeria and India. I was inspired by Miles Jesu members very much and to my surprise I found that one of my best friends from the university, also a young medical doctor intended to join this catholic Institute. Reflecting about my past life, signs God gave me and having a strong conviction that I should give my life to God, I realized that this was most likely the way Jesus was calling me to follow Him. In Miles Jesu I could give my life completely to God and continue to work as a medical doctor.

After intensive prayers and making an Ignatian retreat I gained conviction that God wanted me to consecrate my life to Him in Miles Jesu. I could see that Epiphany Medical Missions was striving to provide sound medical care for the needy, based on a Catholic principles and I could do a lot of good there.

So I decided to leave my job, family and friends and follow Our Lord in Miles Jesu. At the beginning I was afraid to do it as it was not easy and painless, but I trusted to Jesus and He gave me courage and all the graces I needed to answer His call.

Praised be Jesus for choosing me to belong completely to Him and to be the son of the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady. I am working as a medical missionary now, helping many needy people worldwide. Life consecrated to God is giving me true interior freedom, joy and happiness as I am receiving many graces and blessings everyday! And I am not depressed any more. Opposite is the truth, I am happy because I know I am following Jesus and enjoying a close friendship with Him.