The fraternal distribution was destined for Caritas – DF, Light-Nuclei and Light-Communities, and will also benefit the indigenous refugees in Brasilia and Roraima.
The plantations of Sacred Kingdoms Light-Nucleus of Figueira in Brasilia (NLSR), affiliated with Fraternity – International Humanitarian Federation (FIHF), although tentatively started in 2020, grew gradually over the months, until in March of 2021, following the first experiment in virgin soil, there was an unexpected abundance of grains.
For the General Manager, Giovane Alves, the challenges to launch an organic grain and production area are enormous. This requires machinery, instruments, tools, supplies, pesticides, labor, technical knowledge and financial resources. The first food harvest in NLSR was only possible thanks to the collaboration and experience of the brothers and sisters from the Planting Sector of Figueira Light-community.
According to Mother Isabel, coordinator of the Nucleus: “the permanent contact with the Kingdoms of Nature makes us realize how the Kingdoms are united by a greater universal power. What makes a vegetable gives itself completely to nourish the human being? That greater power is Love. A love still unknown to humanity, but in nature, that love is something simple, inherent to matter. It is the driving force that generates life. By deepening the relationship with those energies that take care of creation, we discover that when we place a seed in the soil, we are not only sowing on the physical plane, but are also interacting with a vast universe in creation.”
Without looking too hard, we find the reason for such abundance around us. Divine providence has come to meet the current political-social landscape of neighboring Venezuela, whose chaotic situation is motivating a strong migration of its population to the neighboring countries.
Thousands of Venezuelans in need of shelter, food and human dignity traveling on foot to the State of Roraima, are being received in a unique way by Operation Welcome, which forms part of Humanitarian Fraternity (FIHF).
The focus, however, is not restricted to the north of Brazil, as the Venezuelan refugees, both indigenous and non-indigenous, are making their way to various states in the country.
In Brasilia, a group of 97 indigenous people (45 children and adolescents, and 52 adults) camped in the proximity of the Interstate bus station, beside an important commercial complex. That situation caused a stir among the local authorities, and a solution was found with the support of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and Caritas Archdiocesan of Brasilia.
The church was charged with the responsibility of building a Halfway House to receive and accompany indigenous and non-indigenous refugees for six months. It was inaugurated on January 19 of this year. It is a social welfare center, where various activities are offered for the homeless people. The coordination of the Halfway House includes education, health and sports professionals, as well as a psychologist.
Those staying in the House are from two distinct groups of refugees, indigenous families of the Warao tribe and families of Venezuelan civilians. The two groups occupy different spaces, although they share common areas, in particular the community room for events, the men’s and women’s restroom wings, the soccer field and the recreation spaces.
Concerning the initial difficulties of the movement, the coordinator of Caritas DF, Gilberto Fortes de Oliveira, responsible for leading the project, emphasized that it “was through the relationship of trust established throughout the process, that we managed to organize the coexistence between the indigenous families and the non-indigenous Venezuelans, and the acceptance of all to the established rules of the institution.”
The NLSR provided 585 kg of soybeans for those being assisted in the Halfway House of Caritas DF. Using an enclosed truck, the personal coordinator drove himself to the Light-Nucleus to collect the donation. They were kind and grateful for the offer. A small group representing the Madre del Sol Monastery and the Midwest Light Network accompanied him to learn about the institution and the work undertaken there. “We were provided with a special lunch. During the Soybeans delivering trip, we did not have contact with the indigenous people, nor did we get to know the area where they live, as lunchtime is highly respected by the coordination of the House. The Warao people do not welcome interruptions while preparing and carrying out their meals. It is one of the established rules of coexistence.”
Before the donation was given to Caritas DF, the Figueira Light-Community was consulted on the need for this grain in all the Light-Communities and Light-Nuclei. Once the donation was approved and the issue of transportation resolved, 3,200 kg were made available and the cargo was loaded on the enclosed truck, that took in addition to the soybeans, 600 kg of seeds, to be stored in the cold room of the Figuera Planting Sector until the next NLSR planting.
The Fraternity of Aurora Light-Community (Uruguay), the Brotherhood Light-Community (Argentina), and the New Earth Light-Community (Teresópolis – RJ), together with the Belo Horizonte Light-Nucleus, and the São Carlos and São Paulo will be covered by the Figueira Light-Community in the redistribution of the grains. The Flower of the Sacred Tepuí Light-Nucleus,in Roraima, will be taken care of by Humanitarian Fraternity (FIHF), as it is planned to send some shades of soybeans for Operation Welcome, once the transportation offered by the Brazilian Army has been confirmed.
