Comboni Machinery?

A month ago, I came back from my holidays, and here I am, moving up and down in the mission. While I was moving in many different places in the Philippines and the United Kingdom, I developed the admiration for nature, for people and friendships, for so many other things, which were truly pleasurable.

Now in the mission, I am ruminating, like a cow, constantly chewing the grass even in its resting mood. As I have said, I was constantly struggling in my first two weeks, though it was winter, I was struggling of the heat during the day and coldness in the night, I had fever and flu always. I just described it as “psychological fever.”

I am back to myself! I engaged myself into works a commitments. Last week (August 9th-14th) was really tiring. The Youth Rally 2011 drained my energy, taking care of almost 200 young people, organizing programs etc. But it has a reward, my inner joy and satisfaction. I promised to myself that I would never get angry even when things would go wrong. My silence really helped me, to stay calm and serene.

I love our simple prayers, very spontaneous. With little bit of creativity on our adoration time, we managed to stay in real silence, challenging them to pray. I love the end of our prayer rally. We sat down all together in the hall. I asked them to spread their “chitenjis”, a traditional piece of cloth (2meters), which they normally used to cover themselves. In the centre, I laid a big cloth; put a big crucifix, red stole (martyrdom), Comboni scarf, chalice and paten, Bible and many pictures of realities in the world. I also lit a lot of candles. We had our prayer together sitting around. Then there was complete silence!

We put our right hand on the shoulder to the person at the right, then to the left. Then we raised our hands to pray for each other. Another complete silence! Then I presented to them the reality - many of them are results of broken families, fathers left them for another woman, or mothers for another husband. Many of them grew in the hands of very old, sickly and vulnerable grandparents. We prayed for each one of them, especially for members who died because of other illnesses as HIV AIDs or TB etc.

Since we are celebrating the Year of the Family- Year of the Youth, all our themes are for these. I looked deeply of their facial expressions during their prayers just candidly with the light of the candles. I felt such a pity, touched by their family backgrounds and difficulties in life because of poverty.

We had a great celebration the following day, Sunday, as we celebrated a day for Mary. We have a life-size statue of Mary; we had procession and rosary, then the Mass. There was rejoicing and dancing! The most awaited one was the awarding of prizes for the sports competitions, Bible drills, Preaching, Poems, Bible Quiz, traditional dances and many more. The trophies were the season’s delights, which they have never experienced in their lives. The winners kissed the trophies as if they won the World Cup! We then shared food on the table (as we prepared as youth), pork, chicken, vegetables and beans, maize porridge, traditional maize drink. I bought some drinks and juices. It was really fun. I enjoyed a lot. I had a great time with the young people. I made me feel young again, hahahahaha!

As people were going home, I was drove to bring some to the villages. Suddenly, I felt this inner emptiness, for reasons that I couldn’t explain. My heart was really bleeding, because behind my joy and smiles was sadness. I was on the road ‘till 9:30PM, busy for the whole week and even at nights, no proper rest and timetable for eating. Probably, I was just so exhausted physically and mentally, and I still have many things to do, unaccomplished! I went straight to bed when I arrived.

Now I am very ok, 15th of August. Very early morning, I started working on the financial report of the parish ready for the meeting tomorrow. Then I had my students who are doing piece works and of course, my garden. I am very happy with all these movements anyway.

Life in the mission is like this, at times could become really demanding. But I always see to it that I won’t fall into “activism”, becoming a Comboni Machinery instead of being a Comboni Missionary.

I am making you bored maybe with my scattered thoughts, so I will end here for the moment. Talk to you soon in my next article. Keep me always in your prayers as I do for you.

Parish Youth Rally

As of this writing, I am doing a Parish Youth Rally in the mission, which is so far, attended by 130 youth in the official list. There are more youth coming, and we are expecting more than two hundred young people for this gathering. It is a week of teaching in the morning. I am greatly helped by our two Comboni Postulants who are in community exposure. They are also for another month of parish exposure, staying in the villages, giving some lessons.

In the afternoons of the rally, we have sports competitions by zones, which are always very much participated, football, netball and volleyball. Then we have the mass daily after they have prepared themselves.

The evenings are set for another competitions such as Bible Preaching, Bible Drills, Memory Verses, Poems, Traditional Dances, Miming, Modern Dances and the highlight is the search for Mr. And Miss Youth Chikowa, taken from the name of our mission. They are so clever in so many ways, very alive and full of energy. These activities are really good diversions, making them busy and focused.

Another highlight is the Choir and Youth Song Festival, which is set on the last Day, Saturday. This is the major competition that really makes them so very preoccupied during their free time. A big Cup (Trophy) is waiting for them. Minor competitions will also receive small trophies, all courtesy from few friends who helped me and encouraged me in this formation of our youth. I am more than happy for their help and concern.

Soon, I will start the workshop again for the youth leaders. Few years ago, I formed a Facilitators Guild, especially on HIV-AIDS, so that they can become teachers to their fellow youth in the villages and nearby outstations. I was so preoccupied for other things that I missed to make a follow up. I will try my very best to make up things. I invited speakers from town or from Non-Government Organizations to help me in this matter.

Another thing that keeps me busy this week is the presence of students whom we are helping for school fees. It is tiring at times because I have to work with them, often in the sun, administer some other works etc. But I love the work too. I really wish them to be educated, the only key to get out from poverty.

I am feeling a little bit tired and drained because of the heat and too much movement. Last week, I had severe headache and a little fever inside me, coughing and colds (flu) probably nostalgia as I was adjusting so much coming from my holiday (joke): “psychological fever” hahahaha. I think i put myself right away busy, moving up and down. But I am very okay, soon things will be alright.

I ask you to keep me and my mission in your prayers as I will do for you always