What more should I do?

An “insane decision” changed her life

by Mónica Santos

I once thought it would be fun to spend part of my summer in a mission working with children in the Dominican Republic. It ended up being much more than a diversion or doing something good during the summer.

Although I had always been involved in school-related activities, constant questions lingered within me: What more is there to do? What more does God want from me? My summer “adventure” with Amor en Acción (Love in Action)—the missionary arm of the Archdiocese of Miami in the Dominican Republic and Haiti—completely changed my life.

I saw young people directing their communities in ways I could never imagine. For them just surviving presented grave problems; even then they were totally committed and assumed their service with utmost responsibility.

My priorities were turned upside down and inside out. Upon my return to Miami, there was not a single thing that did not remind me of the children and youth in the Dominican Republic. What could I do? What did God want from me? Was I doing with my life what God wanted? Was it enough just to spend two weeks in a barrio?

God was calling me to do more and I needed to change my life. Through lots of prayer and spiritual guidance, the response became very clear. It required a radical change, what my parents and friends called an “insane decision.”

I sold my business and followed God’s call to serve his people. Amor en Acción became my ministry and passion. Now I am dedicated to helping coordinate volunteers, missions, getting funds, the formation of members, and organizing missionary journeys, as well as forming and informing the faithful of the Archdiocese of Miami regarding their sister dioceses. I have the need to continue hearing the call of God: What more should I do?