Brenda’s testimony A magnificent encounter with Pacifica

On my way to the November IVI itinerance in Ibarra, Ecuador, I experienced a lovely encounter.

After finding my reserved seat on the Olón bus to travel 3 plus hours to Guayaquil, a woman boarded the bus and claimed her seat beside me, our eyes met politely, and we nodded.

Reclining my chair back and settling into a comfortable posture, with my blue rosary in hand, I began to pray. Moments passed, I glanced at my neighbor's hands, and she too was holding her blue rosary in prayer. We focused on each other with widening smiles, as we let our rosaries touch to celebrate a toast, acknowledging we have something in common.

We prayed quietly.

Later, we began to communicate slowly, with my limited Spanish and Pacifica's limited English we used our cell phone translators to assist us. Pacifica shared her trip plans, she was going to the city to visit her daughter and grandson for a few days. I told her I was going to a prayer group meeting in Ibarra, the northeastern area of Ecuador. She asked me to pray for her, I said yes, I will, that I would take her with me.

We exchanged names, phone numbers, and established that we lived in the same town, in fact, we are neighbors, living only one street apart. Yes, we agreed to meet up to pray together after our travels.

I felt promise and joy in meeting Pacifica. I looked forward to having someone to pray with. (My husband and I had moved from Dallas, Texas 15 months ago to live “our beach dream” in Olón Ecuador).

Our Bus ride to Guayaquil passed quickly, I had forgotten that I might have to rush to catch a taxi from the Bus Terminal, to the airport. I checked in for my domestic flight exactly one hour before take off to Quito, then a 2 plus hours taxi ride to Ibarra.

I let God carry me through the travels, I felt at ease.

Ibarra was a beautiful reunion filled with love! I was very touched to meet my sisters and brothers of IVI Ecuador and Colombia, and the team from the House of Santa Maria de los Angeles Norte. I felt welcomed and well nourished! I am grateful for all that we lived together.

Filled with excitement, and a new energy I returned home.

Oh nooooo....

I couldn't find Pacifica 's contact information or cell number. Two weeks passed, and finally I saw her at the community center watching the Soccer World Cup.

Yay! We planned to meet at my house the next day to pray.

Lighting a candle, we prayed one rosary together in Spanish, and when complete we sat in silence.

I had a Pilgrim's guide book from the North American Seminar 2022 New Mexico sitting on the table. Pacifica picked it up, while looking at the cover, I pointed out Saint George, Saint Luke, and Our Lady Of Guadalupe, who she adores. I mentioned the theme of our event was Universal Love, that we have prayer groups all over the world. She said this reminded her of a prayer group she was in with a French woman.

Pacifica softly says....YVONNE, I think she said Trubert too. I said yes. Holding her palms upward, she said, "She gave me a gift, I felt it".

I quickly retrieved a photo of Yvonne, she said yes, that they were in a monastery in the Valley of Chillos, near Quito, Ecuador maybe 20 years ago where Yvonne held a meeting. Pacifica was in the IVI group in Guayaquil.

We were stunned! Our eyes were filled with tears.

We recognized the magnitude of this gift, of this moment, of our meeting on the Bus. We were placed together on the Bus!

We sat in silence, as our souls conversed.

Once again with our phone translators in hand, we were asking and answering each others' questions.

Pacifica asked me if I was harmonizing, I said yes!

She returned to my home the next day to receive a harmonization, and a second one a few days later. We are meeting again to pray, we feel very grateful for this gift, we are happy for what we are living.

Thank you God.

Thank you Yvonne for bringing us together.

In Joy, Brenda Campbell
Vice-President of IVI US
Member of IVI Ecuador