It is 4:25 and it is time to get up to start the day’s work in the Wasakentsa mission. It's Monday, and I have to waken the 40 boarders to go to study and do their duty. The Salesian community gathers for community prayer at 4:50 and at 5:30 we are ready to begin the celebration of the Eucharist with the community of the Marianist Sisters, who also run a mission among the Achuar.
With the first light of day the boarders get ready and clean the dormitories, until 6:30, at which time the sound of the bell says that it is time for breakfast for the boarders. the volunteers and the Salesians, all in the same refectory. The breakfast is made of the typical drink "chicha" and soon after the 120 students go to their classrooms.
At 13:00 lessons finish. We have lunch and then continue the work of cleaning the drains. Another group takes care of the cleaning and maintenance of the banana trees.
At 19:50 I remember to close my books and go to hear the Salesian "good night", followed by the Our Father and a hymn in the Achuar language to Mary, entitled "Nekas Nunkarure Marí". Then I accompany the boarders to rest and so ends their day.
But my activities as a Salesian in formation does not end until 20:00. I join the community for evening prayer and spiritual reading. Until 21:30 we are in the community library sharing the experiences of the day. At 22:00 we go to rest and recharge our batteries for the next day, certain to follow with the same joy and commitment to the mission to be among the Achuar "signs and bearers of God's love for the young".
