Columban Lay Missionary in Fiji
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| With children from Navala Community |
After 10 months of
language studies and cultural exposure in the village, I was sent, finally, to
my mission assignment at Christ the King parish, Ba in the western side of
Fiji. It is the hottest part of the island. It takes six to seven hours travel by
bus from Suva, its capital city. The parish is in the middle of the town, close
to the school, market, mosque, establishments and bus station. The Lay
Missionary house is inside the premises of the parish. The parish is divided into 3 different areas
with six communities in the town, another
six in the coastal area and still another six in the highlands. When I started
to visit the communities and villages I could really experience extreme heat that
easily makes me feel weak and tired not to mention the rough and dusty road.
This is the kind of weather that the people endure for a long time which I
heard from them is getting worse every year. The weather is extreme. When it is
hot it is really scorching. When the rain comes it pours causing the river to overflow
which in turn causes soil erosion and flood especially at the lower parts of
the communities.
When I saw some
villages especially in the coastals and highlands, and experienced the kind of
road and transportation going into the place and the kind of life the people live,
I can’t help but really admire the first Columban Missionaries who were able to
reach the village, live with the people, evangelize and put up school and
churches. And to think that during the old times, there were no buses yet nor good
road. They could only use horse as means of transportation. I can only imagine
how hard it was for them but they never gave up.
I came to the parish
last August 4, 2018. After the usual ritual of welcoming and introduction, I
started to get to know the people, make friends and familiarize myself with the
different structures, ministries and organizations in the parish. The biggest
help for me to involve myself at the beginning was the support given to me by
the Columban Companions in Mission in the persons of Vaulina Sakulu, a former
Columban Lay Missionary assigned in Chile for more than 3 years, Miliakare Nawalu, a widow with 3 children, and
Sereana Tobeyaweni, whom I fondly called “nene” which, in my own language, is a
term of endearment meaning mother.
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Planting 100 plants of “VoiVoi” used for mats making at Christ the
King parish compound.
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Last year on September
– a Season of Creation and at the same time a period of centennial celebration
of Columbans, I encouraged the CCIM to do something in connection with these
celebrations. Climate Change or global warming is a reality that we truly
experience. It affects the life of everyone and every creature. It causes
suffering, loss of livelihood, and loss of people’s life and marine life. In February
26, 2016 when Winston, the strongest tropical cyclone, hit the island, many of
the villagers lost their houses. Their crops and livelihood were destroyed. Even
up to now I could still see and feel the aftermath of that event. I thought maybe
whatever small effort we can do would make a difference. Thus, I challenged
myself and the CCIM to come up with something like tree planting to raise an
awareness of the season of creation as well as to celebrate the centennial of
the Columbans. We agreed to plant 100 mangroves, trees and plants in some
villages as a sign of gratitude to the Columban missionaries who came to the
parish to serve. Around the parish we also
planted more than 100 plants which can be used to make mats for the
future livelihood program of the women.
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Vaulina
Sakulu And Miliakare Nawalu, Columban Companions In Mission
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In Fijian culture,
there are many protocols. When you want to do something you have to speak to
the head of the village. But first, the “Sevusevu”
must be offered. Sevusevu is a
ceremony of greeting to welcome guest or visitor followed by drinking kava, a
non- alcoholic drink which is Fiji’s national drink. When we first came to
Navala, a small village located in the interior of the mountain and known for
their strong belief and culture, we followed the usual ceremony. Around the “tanoa”, a bowl used for kava, I
introduced myself as a Columban Lay
Missionary and explained to them about
the season of creation in connection with the centennial celebration of the
Columbans. I felt nervous then because I
was seated in front, surrounded by men from the village whom I only met for the
first time and I was still grappling with the Fijian language. I was a bit
anxious if I could explain well our intention of visiting their village. It was
good thing that Vaulina was there to explain in Fijian what I was trying to
say. Maybe because of my fear and worries how to encourage them to participate
in the Tree Planting, I did not notice anymore how many cups of kava I took
that day. I usually take small amount of kava only to show respect to their
culture because I am not used to drinking.
I was really amazed how
they organized themselves and planned what and where to plant and who will
prepare the food of those who will join the activity. Early in the morning,
during our day of planting, I was
awaken by the voice of spokesperson in
the village or the “Turaga ni koro”
announcing to the whole village about what is going to happen that day. He was
calling the attention of those men assigned to prepare and get seedlings from
the bush and hills and bring them at the side of the river where we are going
to plant because large part of the soil is eroded due to the strong current of
water from the river when Tropical Winston struck the country. Then, I saw some
men going to the farm with their tools. Some men dug the holes and others
including us, helped in the planting.
The kind of grass we planted is good to hold the soil and the same
material they use for making “Bure”,
a Fijian traditional house. We ended with a simple lunch and before we left we
did the “iTatau,” a ceremony to
express our thanksgiving. The plants are
now growing and they will forever remind us not only our responsibility to care
for mother earth nor the work of
Columban Missionaries but the spirit of
community we had shown that day which was
witnessed by the children and others in the village.
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Children From Nawaqarua Helping in the Coastal
Clean Up
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When I saw the men, women,
youth and children planting tress and working
together, it reminded me of what Pope
Francis said, “ Humanity still has the
ability to work together to build our common home.”
This kind of
initiatives opened my eyes into a new light and hope. When your heart’s intention
is good and sincere, you know how to relate with the people, you are
sensitive to their culture and you show great respect, and be authentic you will
also gain their respect and cooperation. Sometimes, I am worried how to deal
with people and communicate properly. I
realized that just simply being me and allowing God to let His shine through
me, then things would be possible. By allowing God to touch my heart with my
daily experience and encounter renews my energy, strengthens and transforms me
slowly as a missionary in a foreign land. I learn to live each day with a
grateful heart and openness for whatever the Lord allows me to experience.
Through the people who accompany and journey with me I discover my own grace and
giftedness. They are like Jesus to me in disguise who journey with me in every
step of the way.
There were only four of
us when we started our planting project but as we continue we were able to
convince more parishioners and even children to participate. I would like to thank Vaulina, Auntie Mili
and Nene and the other Columban Companions in Mission for their continuous
support, love and concern for a missionary like me who is always struggling yet
hoping and believing that God is the purpose, the beginning and the end of
everything. To God be the glory!
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