Álvaro and María have six kids. They are from Murcia, Spain, and have been missionaries in Albania for three years. They belong to the Neocatechumenal Way.
ÁLVARO ARNAO
It is an experience one does with a lot of fear, you don't know what you will find, you don't know the language, we didn't know Albanian, but that also helped us to be more humble, to stay in contact with the people. It has been a beautiful experience. An experience where we have seen that the Lord has always gone before us.
Our work is to help the local Church, the Church of Albania, to help the people and be with them.
Even though they felt their call to evangelize was clear, there was no shortage in challenges to pursuing their mission. They had to find work, and eventually decided to launch their own project as a family. It is called “Missionary Weapon,” and they create handmade rosaries and devotional objects which they sell abroad.
ÁLVARO ARNAO
People get very surprised when they learn that some Spaniards are here, because in Albania everyone wants to leave since it is a difficult country.
They are a very lovely people, very close, a people that open you up, and gives you everything, they share everything they have with others.
The Arnao Ortuña family is just one of the many families in the Neocatechumenal Way that have accepted the immense responsability to become modern missionaries.
JM
