Hi Jean Carlos! Could you please introduce yourself…
My name is Jean Carlos José Páez Pereira, I am 24 years old and I come from Venezuela, precisely from the State of Aragua, from the civil parish of Carmen de Cura.
What inspired you to choose to become a missionary?
God's call is a fundamental requirement of my life, regardless of the state of life. However, becoming a Salesian was a concrete and radical way of following God, and from there the desire to continue responding generously and radically to the missionary experience was born.
Are you happy with where you are going? Do you have any fears or concerns about the new place, culture and people?
Surely, happiness can be interpreted in many ways, based on each person's experience. I can say that during my time in Congo I was not totally happy. And I feel the call and the desire to respond to God with more and more generosity.
How did your family members, friends and confreres react when you told them about your missionary vocation?
People, especially those closest to me, were very sad that they would no longer be close to me, but they all supported me and continue to support me.
What are your plans and dreams for your missionary life?
I am a person who really likes to dream and above all to achieve the things I dream of, because my dreams are usually not ideal, but close to reality. I certainly wish to be happy and able to help all those who need me.
Do you have some great missionary role models in mind whose lifestyle you want to follow?
I do not have a particular person, but I want to mention Don Bosco and his zeal in helping the most needy.
What is your message to young people about missionary choice and vocation?
Dear young people, we will always be afraid to follow God, especially when it comes to a concrete response to the radical following of God, but the generosity of true love is the greatest joy of the heart. Do not be afraid to respond to God while you have time! It is true that it is never too late, but precisely for this reason it is always the right time to respond to God.
