“I love to serve people, to help, to be part of the community, to share the Word of God,” says Cadet Sandra Herrera. “That’s why I want to become an officer. It’s in me.”

Open Arms

Cadet Herrera was born in Medellin, Colombia. When she and her family arrived in Canada via a stay in the United States, they settled in Quebec, eventually staying in Boucherville, a suburb of Montreal on the St. Lawrence River.

“I loved Boucherville,” she says. “It’s beautiful!”

When they arrived, the first people they met were Captains Ricaurte Velasquez and Vilma Ramos, then the corps officers at The Salvation Army’s Light of Hope (Lumiere D’espoir) Family Church in Brossard, Que.

Learning they were newcomers, the officers directed them to the Army thrift store in Brossard.

“Captain Velasquez helped us,” she says. “As newcomers to Canada, he gave us information and helped us acquire furniture and everything else we needed to start over. He and Captain Ramos wanted to help us in every way.

“We were amazed,” Cadet Herrera continues. “The Salvation Army didn’t know us, yet they opened their arms, received us and loved us.” 

Being Herself

Once they were settled, the officers invited the family to their church, and they readily accepted the invitation that very next Sunday.

“I started going to the church and I loved it!” Cadet Herrera smiles. “It was different.”

As time went on, she wanted to become more involved in the church. As she had been a Sunday school teacher back home, she asked if she could volunteer her services in that capacity.

To her joy, the officers replied, “Of course, you can help.”

From there, she volunteered at the food bank and in family services. Then she became part of the women’s ministry and served in as many ways as she could.

“The Salvation Army let me be myself, helping as I wanted to help. And that for me was amazing,” she says. 

Journey to Officership

When Captain Aida Munoz-Perez took over as corps officer, Cadet Herrera threw herself even more into the life of the church.

“I know you have a calling,” the appreciative pastor told her, “and you need to respond to that calling.”

So, in 2020, Cadet Herrera became a senior soldier.

“I’d decided that the mission of The Salvation Army is in my heart. That was the main thing for me. I studied its mission and I saw the way the Army served the people and the community. The Salvation Army cares about you, about your family, about your needs. I wanted to be a part of this Army and serve with it.”

A little while later, Captain Munoz-Perez asked if Cadet Herrera wanted to be part of the Army’s Ministry Placement Program, and she eagerly accepted.

“In this placement, I could serve with my corps officer,” she says. “We worked together in the church, and I learned so much!” 

Unforgettable

Cadet Herrera is now at the College for Officer Training in Toronto as part of the Proclaimers of Transformation Session, scheduled to be ordained and commissioned next year. She couldn’t be happier.

“It’s a lot of work and it’s really challenging. You learn a lot and you have the opportunity to preach and visit places such as nursing homes, be in the community, help at the food bank, to do a lot of wonderful things. I’m learning how to be an officer, a good officer,” she shares. 

“The Salvation Army is the best place in the whole world for me. They opened their arms to me and my family when we arrived in Canada. And that is forever in my heart. I am never going to forget that,” Cadet Herrera concludes. “I’ve grown as a person and as a woman of God. They let me be me.” 

Photo: Jerimi Jones