Solo estar*

Quick, hurried steps, light laughter and "Bueno! Nos vemos!"** said in Spanish with a strong italian accent are sounds that over and over again resounds in the walls of an old Catholic Convent of Mision Tacaagle. The locals - young and old pass through the Convent.

Mision Tacaagle is a little, rugged town in the North of Argentina only about 10km away from Paraguay border.
A place with a slow rhythm of life and heat. A place where indigenous Toba communities live few kilometers from white man. A place of amazingly rich and good soil. A place where one can observe machoism and can begin to wonder how much of horrifying statistics of domestic violence, sexual abuse and poverty of the North of Argentina are made up here. A place of needs. This place has become a home for a 32 year young italian nun Irene.

Irene saying good-bye to another visitor

Irene's presence makes you feel as if there was a light, warm and gentle wind. With an unarmed eye one can see - she is a soul of this 108 year old Convent, which has become a place of refuge, counsel, trust and restoration as for indigenous people of the area as for argentines and paraguayans who live in this town.

Warm hearted italian laughs as she tells her story of coming here. "When I came to live here first my italian lineage and rebellious nature was boldly obvious to everyone - I wanted to make a revolution here. So for a little while I was banging my head against the wall from a huge desire to see things changed. Only with time did I learn - that I have to listen, observe and sometimes just simply be. Relationships and trust grow little by little. People here don't rush neither with work or life, neither with truly entrusting someone. But now after while there are many who come to talk, share their heart, seek counsel, comfort or practical help as there are not many places to go in town, no social services, no assistance. Sometimes it seems like the Convent is like a social agency of the town."

Catholic Convent in Mision Tacaagle

Irene's days are never the same. Studying stories of God with children, a quiet conversation with toba woman while looking at her crafts, chatting and counseling with a local family. Going on her bicycle to visit someone in need of love and affection in faraway place of town. Being with Angelica, a 16 year old girl who lives with her in the Convent. Spending time in prayer. She just is. She recognizes that her purpose of being there is just to be and to give others affection, love, touch, listening ear and understanding when needed. And she lives it out so naturally and lightly. Somehow her presence puts you in an ease, makes you feel a valuable person, born with a purpose and destiny. And you realize - I know someone else, someone up there who is very much in to this kind of thing.

*Solo estar (Esp.) - Just to be
**Bueno! Nos vemos! (Esp.) - Good! See you!