Faith and Selfless Dedication
Elements of a Successful Marriage
by Kimberly Ewertz , photos by Tony Scotino
A successful marriage isn ’ t about grand or romantic gestures , but the simple acts of caring and selflessness shared between two people who love each other , no matter what .
These three local couples are perfect examples of just that .
Raul and Janice Felipa
The Amazon Jungle is hardly the place for romance , but for Raul Felipa , a medical student from Peru , and Janice Wilson , a head nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital with a desire to see other cultures , it turned out to be perfect . Although neither spoke the other ’ s language at the time , that didn ’ t stand in the way of their attraction for one another .
“ When you ’ re working in a hospital like that … you get to know each other very well ,” Janice said .
Raul still recalls the pink dress Janice wore at a village dance not long after she arrived . “ And how beautiful she looked ,” he said .
The couple married on June 19th , 1966 , in Pucallpa , a city on the Ucayali River in the Amazonian rainforest of eastern Peru . Fifty-five years later , their love grows for each other , their children , Maria , Raul Frederick , Natalie , Elena , nine grandchildren , and their great grandchild , as does their dedication to helping others . “ She likes to help the needy , and so do I ,” Raul said .
Fifteen years ago , when an opportunity to join a mission in the Peruvian Jungle , Selva in Action , ( SIA ), came up , the couple was all in . “ We said that ’ s us , this is us ,” Janice said . But the main constant in their lives is the couple ’ s love for one another . “ Around five o ’ clock it ’ s happy hour , we quit whatever we are doing , and we sit outside with a glass of wine , and we talk about our youth and our plans for the future ,” Raul said , with a smile .
“... we talk about our youth and our plans for the future .”
32 WINTER 2022 gmhTODAY Magazine gmhtoday . com