Nun who cares for victims in Spain: God is muddy with every heart that suffers

Where is God in the midst of the tragedy caused by the floods in Spain? The sister Clara Medina Serrawho has been in a devastated area of ​​Valencia for more than 20 days, assures that “God is muddy” with those who suffer and have lost everything.

“If you ask me where he is, God is muddy with every heart that suffers, with every family that cries and hugs, with every family that shares, with every volunteer who gives their time. God is in that person who donates his time, his finances, his resources so that another can flourish. It’s in the streets. God does not hide“God does not remain static,” the Sister of the Salesian Missionaries shared with ACI Prensa this Monday.

On October 29, 2024, Spain suffered a meteorological phenomenon known as High Level Isolated Depression (DANA), which caused torrential rains and flooding in different areas of the country. Until now, the Data Integration Center (CID) has accounted More than 200 dead and dozens missing.

“Today I cried all morning”

In the province of Valencia, one of the areas most affected by the catastrophe, you can see cars dragged through the streets, houses covered in mud and bridges and avenues completely destroyed.

Sister Clara, a 36-year-old Valencian who consecrated her life to God with the Salesian Missionaries 13 years ago, has reported that the current situation is devastating. Many families lost their homes and have not yet been resettled nor do they receive sufficient support from the authorities.

She, along with a team made up of four missionary sisters and priest Alejandro Beltrán of the missionary community of Cristo Pastor (who shares the same charisma and founders), have been serving tirelessly and providing humanitarian aid in Raval for about 20 days, one of the poorest neighborhoods not only in the municipality of Algemesí, but in all of Spain.

“Today, after more than 20 days without electricity, many only have very unstable, minimal water pressure, and no kitchen. You tell me! No beds! Today I cried all morning along with other people when I saw 80-year-old people sleeping on the floor and the house was wet and muddy, with a wall about to fall, without a door,” the nun told ACI Prensa on Monday.

Sister Clara says that people live “trapped in a chain that is difficult to break,” since they have no food or light to cook, nor do they rest because they have nowhere to sleep. Furthermore, no one can leave the town, since there are no cars or trains, which prevents residents from going to work.

The health situation is also serious, with people sick, including diabetics and people in wheelchairs or without legs. “We wouldn’t have known if we hadn’t gone up to the upper floors of the houses and buildings, because the elevators don’t work,” he said.

“An impressive network” of volunteers

In the midst of the difficulties faced by the Salesian Missionaries team, God has been present through the generosity of hundreds of volunteers. The nuns have been joined by young people from the Catholic University of Valencia, from the Alzira headquarters, whom they serve in university ministry.

“More people have joined thanks to the videos we published on social networks, and also thanks to priest friends who were finding out that we were making a very strong presence in the Raval. For example, a priest who works as a chaplain at the university sent 50 kids,” he said.

“Last weekend, we reached 450 volunteers that we ourselves tried to organize. And then volunteers who appeared out of nowhere,” added the nun.

According to the sister, the missionaries and volunteers have managed to divide the city to bring hundreds of hot meals to people who are hungry. “We had a group of about 30 people within the San José Obrero parish ordering the bags of food, and the missionaries who took them to all the streets.”

“We reached 450 volunteers between Saturday and about 200 on Sunday. “It is an impressive network,” he stressed.

“I prefer a hug from you than a plate of food.”

But man does not live by bread alone, the nun recalled, stating that “the Lord speaks above all in what is human, from what we are, from hope”; not only from material aid.

“For example, several ladies who are loving tell me: ‘I prefer a hug from you than a plate of food.’ And I answer: ‘Come on, lady, you’re going to have all the hugs you want and this plate of hot food.’ God is also in that embrace,” he says.

Sister Clara explained that, in addition to continuing to receive donations and looking for more volunteers, they are working to professionalize the service they provide to the community, with the goal of getting to know each person in the neighborhood in depth, identifying their needs and offering them personalized help.

“How long will we continue? Don’t know. We have been here for more than 20 days, but it is impossible to stop going. When you begin to love, it is an experience so human and so divine that it is impossible to abandon it; “It makes you whole,” he said.

God, “the first to get muddy”

The Valencian nun is convinced that ““God is always present and always speaks.” in the midst of suffering.

“The drama of being human is that it is difficult for us to reveal it. But it is there in each of us and it is in complete and suffering reality, because that is what he has promised us. And we believe in that God. In a God who was the first to get muddy and the one who incarnated becoming one of us,” he said.

Sister Clara remembers that when reading the Gospel, there is one constant: Jesus walking to every corner throughout his public life. “Jesus is the first who invites us to go out, to walk, to explore, to knock door to door.”

The mission does not begin without prayer and the Eucharist

In the Raval neighborhood, the local San José Obrero parish has not yet been able to openly celebrate the Eucharist due to cleaning efforts, the sister says.

However, the daily Eucharists have been maintained for a small group of missionaries and volunteers, since the facilities do not allow more than 15 people to be accommodated.

Starting next week, it is expected to be able to offer a more open celebration, while they continue working on the recovery of the parish.

“We do not begin to walk with feet of clay, we do not enter into action without first having had a moment of contemplation. There is not a day that we have not come out of the mud without a little time of prayer, whether communal or personal, and with the Eucharist. And the same at night,” he said.

“I believe in a poor God who is incarnated in the poor”

Originally from Alzira, the sister carries the missionary vocation in her veins. He comes from a family deeply dedicated to missions, with his parents and three brothers equally committed. He affirms that he will continue to bring hope to those most in need, without rest.

“I believe in a poor God who is incarnated in the poor. The situation we are experiencing makes me renew my vow of poverty—right now material, because none spiritual. This experience is renewing my missionary essence, my community and consecrated essence. It continues to reaffirm my vocation to love, because we are called to love”.

Sister Clara says that the people in Raval “help her see God… These people are talking to me about God from their suffering, from their hope, from their impressive faith and from their abandonment to Providence.”

“So where is God? Sorry, you have to be very blind not to see it. It is present more than ever. Because the goodness of the human being is… it is noticeable, and it comes out through the pores.”