As missionaries, one of the things we look forward to is going on a mission. It is not simply a want but a desire that takes place in the very heart of the person who wants to experience and share God most concretely.
I feel so blessed because, even in my early years as a seminarian, I was able to experience this pastoral year, which is synonymous with being sent on a mission. Although it is just a one-year mission experience, it is an opportunity for me to gain insight into what a mission is. When I heard the news that I’d be assigned to Mindanao, I felt some fear due to the reports I’d heard about the situation there, but at the same time, I was excited to visit this place that I’d never been to before.
Going to Mindanao without any expectations and being open to what the day has to offer is a gamble. Still, it’s worth trying because I realized that with this approach, I was able to move and think freely, trusting that God is always in control of everything I do. Letting God and allowing myself to experience Him day by day through the lives of the people around me is a huge blessing and a great grace.
Learn to be Evangelized
A necessary characteristic of a missionary is openness. Being open is the key to being a good evangelizer. Learning the culture and even the language can be beneficial to those who will be sent on a mission. We could not be effective evangelizers if we hadn’t experienced being evangelized by others.
Before going to Mindanao, I had the opportunity to study a bit of the Cebuano language, also known as Bisaya. It was challenging because it was online, but it was a good decision because I was able to communicate even in short sentences. Arriving in Mindanao with so much enthusiasm for this mission experience, I was replaced by doubts. It was a humbling experience where I struggled to communicate with the people, and many unexpected circumstances added to the doubt about why I was being sent to Mindanao. However, I was able to regain my enthusiasm when I started to unlearn things, realizing I had become too full of myself and hadn’t considered that this place was different from where I used to be. I allow myself to be taught by people by being with them and trying to understand them so that I can enter into their lives. One way I was able to enter into their lives was through Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC). Almost every day, we visit different houses to reflect on the Gospel and share a bit of our life experiences, allowing us to connect the Gospel of that day. The testimonies of the people helped me realize how little my understanding of God was and that God is capable of many things that we couldn’t imagine. This experience helped me realize that if you learn how to live with people, you also learn how to live with God.
Into the heart of God
One of the greatest blessings that this pastoral experience brought to me is the realization of entering into the heart of God. This idea came to me after visiting the Divine Mercy Shrine in Cagayan De Oro. It was a sudden realization that had a profound impact on how I should live during this time of mission. As I walked and gazed at the big statue of the Divine Mercy, I saw a signage saying, “This way to the heart of Jesus.” When I tried to see it in a deeper sense, I understood that we are searching for God; that’s why sometimes we make things easier for ourselves to feel God’s presence concretely by creating tangible things that could lead us to Him.
The signage speaks of what we desire, but as I reached the top and stood before the heart of Jesus, I asked myself: Do I truly experience Him here? Or am I simply convincing myself that my effort and desire are enough to make this moment meaningful? There was certainly a sense of fulfillment, especially for someone yearning to encounter God, but I began to wonder: Can we ever truly reach the heart of God in this world? This question made me realize what this pastoral year is trying to say about this experience. It is the journey into the heart of God that is the people. The words in the Gospel of Matthew 25:35-40:
“For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you welcomed me; I was naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”
These words make it clearer to me the reason why I am in Mindanao: to experience God genuinely. Most of the time, we fail to recognize God’s presence in others due to past negative experiences. I know it is difficult sometimes, but God makes it clear when He says, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” Placing these words in my mind gives me hope that if I learn how to meet people authentically, it will become easier for me to encounter God. This means that being with my brothers and sisters makes it easier for me to reach the heart of God because God is present in every person. It is not an easy path, but it assures me that I will meet God.
The path of the mission
Walking alone can be good sometimes, but walking with others is much more fun and interesting. The word that came to me when I went to Mindanao was loneliness. Being far from my community is challenging, but this is the reality of being a missionary. This experience is the foretaste of what I am striving for. However, this idea of loneliness does not linger with me for long, as I realize that the people around me have become one of the reasons I persevere.
As I embark on my mission experience in Mindanao, I recognize that every encounter holds the potential for something meaningful to emerge. There, I gained more friends who accompany and guide me in every step I take. Meeting people, as well as other religious priests and nuns, adds another element to the mission, where untold stories begin to emerge, and most importantly, the joy of the moment, connection, and presence.
This short journey taught me many things, but one aspect that resonates with me, and I think I should work on, is letting people help me. Being on a mission is not about showcasing our talent or the things we can do, but it is an opportunity to discover our weaknesses and allow people to help us. In doing so, we empower them. I also realize that we undertake a mission not for our own sake but for the benefit of all the people of God.
This pastoral year has been a blessing, and I have come to appreciate the opportunities it presents to me. The idea of a journey into the heart of God as an experience of God’s concrete presence through the lives of people in Mindanao serves not only as an imaginative approach but also as a full reality in which God truly dwells. Mindanao also provides me with a place not only to serve but also to be formed, challenged, and loved.
As I continue on my journey of discovering God in my life, I will carry all the memories and learnings, including the joys and struggles that I’ve experienced. May all of these be a testament that there is always a way to reach the heart of God in this world, which begins in the heart of a person near us.