A missionary family encounters Christ in serving those in need

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ — Matthew 25:35-40

Donna Garrett is a missionary.

She also is wife, mother of four, nurse and lay member of the Regnum Christi Territorial Committee. Since she joined Regnum Christi in 1999, the movement has shaped her life – and her family.

“All my children have been on missions – three of them in Haiti,” Donna said. “My husband, Jeff, has been to Haiti twice.” (Photo above: (L-R) Aly, Donna (mom) and Katie Garrett on mission in Haiti.)

Donna went on her first mission to Haiti in 2013, through Mission Youth, a Regnum Christi program. She has returned five times. After being involved with local missions in the Midwest for the previous 10 years, she says she has most dramatically encountered Christ in the poor of Haiti.

“The young adults we take on mission to Haiti encounter Christ in a powerful way,” Donna says. “We put ourselves at the service of the local church, working side-by-side with the Missionaries of Charity, local pastors and local schools. We share the greatest gift we have: unconditional love.”

Donna said her experience as a nurse is helpful in mission work because she can deal with the trauma of seeing people who are sick, even dying. For most of the young people going on Haiti missions, they experience abject poverty for the first time; they meet people in need who have no expectations and are grateful for anything they receive.

“Regnum Christi was the best training for mission work,” Donna said. “It encourages you to step out of your comfort zone.”

More than 450 missionaries will be part of Mission Youth during 2015. Visit the website to learn more and decide if you, too, might be a missionary.

View a video about the Garrets involvement in Regnum Christi here.