MISSION AND MIGRATION

By:  Sr. Sabina, OP of  East Timor

I was touched by the content of the module Mission and Migration presented by Sr. Ma. Teresa Mueda, DC.  It basically gave light to my past experience as an immigrant.

I was an immigrant moving from one place to another, moving from East Timor to the Philippines in 1999.

The war broke out in my country when I was moving out in haste with practically nothing on me except the clothes that I wore and a small bag with my prayer book and my Bible. There were three Sisters, two novices, three postulants and five children with me as we were escaping amidst heavy fighting.

My mind was shattered as I now recall the past days when the war was at its highest point. What I can recall vividly is this… I saw many people killed and some of them were killed in front of me like the driver of the vehicle I was riding on. There was no sense of humanity on the part of the ones who were killing him.

Oh, my head aches as I ponder over all that I have seen and experienced. Yet, deep down in my heart I know I will never forget the pain of separation of my family and my home. It was never my will to leave home in that manner. I hate to recall this, but my heart bleeds for those who were being mercilessly killed by the Indonesian troops.

I must confess that I am truly angry or maybe crazy because I could not sleep well or eat well, as my heart kept beating loudly as if someone will shoot me or cut me down with a bush knife or hit me with some object and kill me. Thus, I would scream my head off in the night for some weeks. Fear is ever present in my blood.

Yes, I assure myself to say that I am truly an immigrant like the others who are crossing boarders for varied reasons. This is observed in most of the Asian countries and African countries and some European countries.

I also reflected on the account of the holy family moving away from Herod as refugees to Egypt (Mt 2: 3 – 23). To read and to talk about the departure sounds easy a task. But seriously, discerning about it from deep within is very severe and very painful.

Try to imagine how many things they brought with them when they went down to Egypt. Yes, I truly share their grief for taking that long journey to the country of Egypt. From the known to the unknown!

In spite of this painful experience, I wish to thank God for my vocation for this moment of crisis allowed me to pursue my vocation. This simply means that I remain a religious even if there were other choices I could have made.

As I stand here in silence with my head bowed low, I ponder over the events of war that separated many children from their parents. Some of the children lost both their parents while others lost one of the parents. Then I asked my self, why should we go through such experiences and who is really responsible for such evil……?

To try and do something to help these children may not be possible but it could be possible later when all is settled is East Timor. I would wish to try and employ the concept of seeing, judging, and acting if and when I am given the chance ………..

Finally, I wish to thank God and everyone who have help me to realized my path in life and smile beyond the pain of being an immigrant and to freely assume my call to religious life and  to assist those who may be going through similar experiences.

The module on migration gives me a deeper insight on being an immigrant and it is my prayer that deeper love and care be given to all who are called as immigrants in the world today. May they be accepted and cared for as human being and not as mere animals.