Cláudia Maria A. Teixeira Werdine (photo) from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, lives in one of the countries in the Persian Gulf. She is a trained teacher and Education Coordinator of the online Spiritist Study Group A Caminho da Luz (Pathway to the Light). In the following interview, our guest this week speaks about her international experience in the Spiritist Movement, especially in education. 

When and how did you become a Spiritist? 

I was in contact with Spiritism from an early age. My grandmother was a volunteer Spiritist worker and I like to go with her to her Spiritist Centre, to watch the phenomena that happened there during the sessions and to observe her work with so many people in need. When she passed away, I lost contact with Spiritism. But when I was about 20 years old, Spiritism came back into my life. My brother became a Spiritist and I began attending lectures and talks at his Spiritist Centre, but I eventually lost interest and didn’t engage in other activities at the Spiritist Centre. When I was 26, the Spiritual Benefactors decided to give me yet another opportunity. I found my “prince charming,” my husband Humberto, and to make things perfect he was also a Spiritist. From then on, I began a new life. I embraced Spiritism with all my love, commitment and gratitude. 

How has the knowledge of Spiritism helped you through your life?

Little by little, through continued research and hard work, the Spiritist Teachings opened a new horizon in my life, one of rationality, kindness and consolation. It made my approach to life and to the future, mine of other people, change. I feel like I’ve had two incarnations in one: one before and one after embracing Spiritism. But I must stress that knowing the principles of Spiritism only acquires real value when you truly put them inside your heart and live according to the Teachings. Knowledge won’t, by itself, transform you. We need to understand it, to feel it and to put it into practice, helping others with joy in our hearts. 

And how has Spiritism helped shape your view of the world, after living in many different countries?

Without the presence of Spiritism in my life, I think it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to overcome the challenges we faced when we moved to Vienna, Austria. Before going to Europe, I had four young children and was fully dedicated to my volunteer work at the Bezerra de Menezes Foundation in Brazil. It was a great shock when we arrived in Austria but I felt that Jesus and the Spiritual Benefactors had other plans for us. We struggled to settle in Vienna but every moment was worth it and now I understand more clearly God’s plan for me. The experience I’ve had living abroad has made me understand that as Spiritists we need to work very hard to fulfil our duties, which is to be agents of transformation in the construction of the World of Regeneration. It’s a job that we all must do together: those of us who live abroad and getting down to business as well as our fellow Spiritists in Brazil, through their continuous support. 

How do you see the spread of Spiritism in other languages and countries?

As I said before, there is a great deal yet to be done. It’s a slow process, which requires proper planning and effective action. We can no longer restrain ourselves to the “field of ideas,” working on plans that clash with the reality, culture and language of different countries. Each country has their culture, their values and their history and we must find a way of reaching them and winning them over. That should be done with love and it will only work if we lead by example, rather than words. We know that we’re running out of time, that Jesus is urging us to act and we must move forward. So, my friends, let’s get down to work! 

Tell us a bit more about the plans and programmes already introduced in different languages and countries to disseminate Spiritism.

The international bodies that oversee Spiritism across the world have been working on important plans for the dissemination of Spiritism. But there is one, in particular, that is special to me. It’s called Sembradores de Luz, which is Spanish for Sowers of Light. It’s an international support group for Spiritist educators. It’s official name is in Spanish, but all the work is done in four languages: Spanish, English, French and Portuguese. Our goal is to add a new language every two or three years. All the material provided by the Sembradores is created by and/or adapted to the different realities and cultures where it will be used. 

How about the recent expansion of material available online? Do you think it has helped spread Spiritism in other countries?

That is undoubtedly a powerful tool, which, if we know how to use, will be essential for the spread of the Spiritist Teachings to new areas. We must, however, be careful about the true reasons why we are expanding online. Is it because we are trying to promote Spiritism or is it because we are trying to promote ourselves? If we are not careful and we are not fully committed to our educational process, this tool will produce unwanted and disturbing results. 

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I would like to end with a quote by Mother Teresa of Calcutta, for us to consider: "We know only too well that what we are doing is nothing more than a drop in the ocean. But if the drop were not there, the ocean would be missing something."