Introducing Intake 2021 // Part 2
We are pleased to introduce you to the missionaries of Intake 2021. They are currently in training at our home base in Louisiana and will be sent to serve in various parts of Latin America in January 2022. We’ve asked them to share some things about themselves so that you can get to know them a little. Please keep these new missionaries in your prayers.
The Peña Family
Emmanuel and Kree, Juan Diego (8), Kolbe (7), Augustino (5), Avila (4), and Teresita (14 months)
From Wichita, Kansas (Emmanuel is originally from New York City)
Their story
Kree: Emmanuel and I met in NYC as domestic missionaries with different organizations—I was with Vagabond Missions, and Emmanuel was with the Culture Project, and our first year of marriage we were a missionary family with the CFRs. Emmanuel was the director of Corazon Puro, a bilingual chastity and leadership group for young people. So we have always had a missionary charism. After 7 years of marriage the Lord placed a burning desire on our hearts to follow Him back onto the mission field as foreign missionaries.
What excites you most about missions?
The call to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth. We really look forward to living daily and walking with those in our mission post, helping them to encounter Jesus and build a relationship with Him. When we served as single missionaries in the past, it was one of the greatest gifts in our lives, so to be able to share this call to mission with our children is truly a joy. We are so excited to be serving as a missionary family.
How has a relationship with Jesus and the Church radically changed your life?
Emmanuel and I are both so grateful to God that we grew up in Catholic homes where the faith was passed on to us. As young people a deep love for Jesus and His Church was enkindled in us, and we sought Christ in our daily lives. We were both very active members in the Church, even though I was in Kansas and he was in New York. We both followed Jesus wherever He took us. Emmanuel discerned priesthood and then went into the mission field. I went to Franciscan University and became a missionary after graduation up until I met Emmanuel. Together we have strived to serve Christ as a couple and now as a family with our 5 beautiful children. We have nothing without Jesus. He is our everything. We live for Him and for His glory. We want to follow Him wherever He takes us and we are so thrilled to be following Him into the mission field again.
Is there a missionary who has had a particular impact on your life? What about them inspired you?
Several years ago we stumbled upon FMC’s “call to mission” videos on Youtube, and we were really blessed by the Kiehl’s testimony. We were so grateful to spend time with them in Ecuador. They are a beautiful missionary family, and we are so grateful for their witness.
Family motto to live by
Emmanuel and I have always lived by 1 John 4:18 — “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.”
Is there a book, podcast, or hobby that you’ve been excited about recently?
We love the Poco a Poco podcast. We are good friends with the CFRs, especially Fr. Pierre Touissant (he’s even shouted us out a few times). Emmanuel was actually in formation with the CFRs and was in the same class as Fr. PT. He was one of our groomsman and has been such a wonderful friend to us, so listening to the podcast has really blessed us. It was actually through the suggestion of another friar that Emmanuel and I met.
We also love making earrings (ok well, more me; Emmanuel and the kids like to do it with me to keep me company). And of course we are a huge board game family. We love our weekly game nights and playing games as a family and as a couple almost daily. Games bring us so much joy and have really been a sign of God’s love for us.
Before being a missionary with FMC, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
Emmanuel was a funeral director, and I was a makeup artist.
Favorite saints?
Kree’s favorite Saint is St. Maximilian Kolbe, and Emmanuel’s are St. Teresa of Avila and St. Philip Neri. Juan Diego’s is St. Padre Pio, Kolbe’s is St. Michael, Augustino’s is St. Francis of Assisi, Avila’s is St. Teresa of Avila, and Teresita’s is St. Therese of Lisieux. As a family we have a big devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Read more about the Peñas on their bio page.
Mallory Champa
From Clearwater, Kansas
Her story
Doing foreign missions in some capacity has been on my heart since college. While teaching the importance of “living completely and totally for Christ” to high school theology students for 5 years I felt a strong call to live that out more deeply in my life. The timing was finally right to enter the foreign mission field.
What excites you most about being a missionary?
Learning simplicity, humility, and poverty of spirit from the poor.
Is there a particular message you cannot wait to share with those you will serve?
“You are infinitely loved by Christ and there is nothing you can do to change that.”
How has a relationship with Jesus and/or the Church radically changed your life?
Through study and learning how to pray better; I’ve encountered a genuine invitation to a life of freedom only Christ and his Church can offer. When I began to see the Church “rules” as rules for true joy and freedom, it changed my life forever.
Is there a missionary who has had a particular impact on your life? What about them inspired you?
One of the first people I met here at Big Woods last year was Natalia Schumann. I love Natalia’s radical and unapologetic faith. She’s always striving to learn and grow by learning new methods of prayer or reading a new spiritual author. She welcomed me with completely open arms, walked with me in some of my difficulties, and made me feel at home. I knew I wanted to be as welcoming as her as a missionary to strangers
Personal motto to live by
Right now in my life, for many reasons, my motto is: Poco a Poco.
Is there a book, podcast, or hobby that you’ve been excited about recently?
I’m lifting weights again with a fellow Intaker, so I’m pretty excited about that. Plus I’m tapping back into my Ignatian Spirituality roots and listening to Fr. Timothy Gallagher’s podcast “Discerning Hearts: Setting the Captives Free – the 14 rules of discernment by St. Ignatius of Loyola.”
What was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
I worked at a speciality running shoe store in Wichita for about a year and was able to share my passion for running with the local community. (Fun fact: I worked with Kree Peña’s father before I met Kree)
Who is your hero? Your favorite saint?
To be cliché, my dad is probably my hero. But my favorite Saint is either St. Ignatius of Loyola or Bl. Chiara “Luce” Badano.
Read more about Mallory on her bio page.
Ben Buening
From West Central Ohio
His story
I went on my first mission trip in 2013 in Guatemala and discovered not only a love for missions, but a renewed love of Christ. Throughout my faith journey, Christ has constantly pursued me with His relentless love and mercy. It’s because of this gift of love and mercy, that I cannot but go to the ends of the world telling others about Jesus.
What about the missionary vocation excites you the most?
Creating authentic interpersonal relationships with others while serving them, and most of all journeying with them into a deeper relationship with Jesus.
Is there a particular message you cannot wait to share with those you will serve?
The indescribable freedom that comes with an intimate relationship with Jesus.
How has a relationship with Jesus and/or the Church radically changed your life?
A relationship with Jesus has radically changed my life in many ways, but particularly being able to drop my baggage at the foot of His Cross and be my authentic self living in freedom.
Is there a missionary who has had a particular impact on your life?
My friend Linda Thieman who has been to Haiti over 100 times. Her love for and connection with the people inspired me the most.
Personal motto to live by
“Droppin’ my Jars”—See John 4:28
Who is your hero?
My late Grandma Muhlenkamp…the first witness of Jesus to me (my first Saint).
Read more about Ben on his bio page.
Brianna Larnard
From Scituate Massachusetts
Her story
I felt called to be a missionary after going on a short-term mission trip to Haiti in 2017. The Lord set a fire in my heart to love His poor, and so I decided to join FMC!
What about the missionary vocation excites you the most?
I am excited to build relationships with the poor and to share Jesus’s love with them
Is there a particular message you cannot wait to share with those you will serve?
“You are seen and loved by God.”
How has a relationship with Jesus and/or the Church radically changed your life?
My growing relationship with Jesus has shown me that He is all I need. Materialistic things of this world will never satisfy—only His love will truly fulfill me.
Do you have a favorite saint?
My favorite saint is Saint Faustina.
Read more about Brianna on her bio page.
You can also read about the Jansen family and Alexis Young on their bio pages. Thank you for continuing to keep these new missionaries in your prayers!
Comments are closed
