Exactly nine months ago, I was on the plane from Manila to Jakarta. I listened to the language so foreign that I could not comprehend a single word. Then, I was confronted by my anxieties for this mission immersion in Sumba like not learning the language and getting sick. But, I found myself to put my faith in the Spirit and to trust the Lord to teach me in His ways through this foreign immersion.
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A pose with the local
people in a traditional village
of West Sumba together with the parish youth
and members of the mission team, Fr. Willy, CSsR and myself.
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This has helped me to realize and understand that being a missionary is not easy. There are many challenges like personal issues and cultural baggage that I have to face. The baggage that I possess like my tendency to look what is comfortable and easy rather than taking what is more demanding and the tendency to think that my culture is superior to the local culture are my struggles, yet, these did not prevent me to fully participate in this immersion experience. These tendencies did not stop me to identify myself among the people and to dialogue also with their stories, culture and experience of God. In the process these tendencies have become instruments to make myself fully aware of my own weaknesses. Moreover, I was given help so that my immersion will be filled with learnings that I could bring with me. One of these is my relationship among my confreres here and the people that I encounter every day. I have seen it as an opportunity for me to have a wider experience of God. And this is through the experiences of God by the people here in Sumba both the young and old imbibed in their shared stories and culture. Indeed, this is an opportunity for me to allow my heart to be open to their stories and to the culture that they possess. Like St. Alphonsus also, he was taught by the poor and the most abandoned in Naples and Scala to see God’s compassion and mercy. This also is my hope.
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Fr. Pole, CSsR and Bro. Piet, CSsR giving catechesis
to the local youth in a Church station in Sumba Barat Daya |
As I slowly entered into this beautiful culture of the Sumbanese by observing and enquiring about their practices and their meaning at least in this initial encounter with the people. And as I had conversations with them, it was easy to approach the people since they are welcoming and hospitable. I am aware that I would receive some kind of special treatment from the people since I am a foreign visitor and as well as a seminarian. As I have hoped the people have become more acquainted with me and I have become more comfortable with them and their local culture. Then, I hope that I won’t be any more a mere outsider but someone who is among and one with the people. Yet, I am also mindful that one year of mission immersion in Sumba would be not enough as well. However, I pray and wish.
My experiences when I was in the parishes in Central and West Sumba and currently together with the mission team of the province, have given me the experiences to preach and to be preached. In those parishes, my visits in the villages and church stations have given me concrete experiences about the life of the local community in Sumba. It is also an opportunity for me to see their situation and to listen to their stories. And I thank those families because I have found friends and a new family here in Sumba. Though I am a foreigner who just look like an Indonesian also, yet, I was accepted like a son, a brother and a friend. Moreover, my presence in Sumba as a young Redemptorist in formation has challenged me to always open my eyes and heart to those stories sacredly shared to me, experiences of the Sumbanese culture and as well as to the local faith of the people. And with full of hope, I pray that this opportunity of mine would be meaningful and wonderful as well as reflective and discerning in the hope that I may truly discover and recognize the face of God as experienced by the Sumbanese people. And also that the passion of Alphonsus for the people may always be imprinted in my identity as a person and as young Redemptorist through this opportunity of being among the people of Sumba.
