Interview with Liliana Radi

Liliana Radi is a missionary on the South America (SAM) Region. She works in the regional office as legal representative of the Church of the Nazarene in Argentina and as regional Nazarene Missions International coordinator. Her late husband, Bruno Radi, was director of the SAM Region. She has four children, Alejandra, Carlos, Johanna, and Keila, and six grandchildren.

Where were you born and raised?
In Pergamino, a small town near Buenos Aires, Argentina.

What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
That I play the piano. Nobody believes that I can, because they haven't seen me do so. But 25 years ago I played on the worship team in my home church.

If you could change careers, what interests you?
I like family counseling. I'm very concerned with people's needs and wish I were more academically prepared to help.

Least favorite chore?
Cleaning my daughters' dresser drawers . . . because they keep too much trash!

What character in history would you like to have met and why?
John Wesley's mother, Susanna, because her discipline and strength in raising her children inspires me.

How have you handled life's recent adjustments since your husband died in 2005?
These past months have been the hardest ones in my life. However, it has been the time when I most learned to value and understand that God's grace is enough day by day-He is the medicine that I need to not feel so much pain.

What has grief taught you?
It taught me that keeping my faith involves hard work and responsibility. Daily, I must work in adding to my faith each ingredient that 2 Peter teaches.

What brings you joy?
What brings me joy is to see my children love and serve God and be faithful to Him in spite of going through this difficult time.

What do you fear?
That one of my children or grandchildren might leave the Lord's way.

Who has had the greatest influence on your life?
In my spiritual life, my parents were my greatest influence, because of their humility and commitment in serving the Lord.

What is the best advice you ever received?
I will always remember-and still try to practice-a principle my dad gave me when I was a child: 'If you are going to do something, do it with excellence.'

Do you have a personal motto or phrase by which you live?
I live by the verse: 'I am with you always, to the very end of the age' (Matthew 28:20). This encourages me to go on, knowing and trusting that the Lord is with me always.

What habit would you like to change?
I am very strict with time and punctuality, and I would like to be more flexible in this area.

What is the most important thing you learned from Bruno?
One of the characteristics about Bruno that impressed me from the day I met him was how holy he was in his thoughts and emotions. I had never thought about this. I always just thought about living and acting in a holy way. Holiness in our minds is the toughest kind of holiness, because only we know our deepest thoughts. But he was holy in every aspect of his life.

What do you feel is your legacy-what are you passing on to future generations?
My first concern is to pass on to my children and grandchildren a heritage of faithfulness and holiness, and the sense of giving their lives for the cause of Jesus.

Please note: All facts, figures, and titles were accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of original publication but may have since changed.