By Violeta V. ‘Villaraiz
The author is a Columban lay missionary from Manila working in Korea. She spent some time before in Cameroon as an Assumption Volunteer and first appeared in Misyon while there.
“…each of the four seasons is a growing season of the heart. If you sink your roots deeply into the soil of each season’s truth, it can become your mentor.” (Macrina Wiederkehr OSB)
Trying to write something about my missionary journey of almost two years here in Korea as a Columban Lay Missionary is like my first experience of the four seasons, spring, summer, autumn and winter.
SPRING - season of Rebirth
Coming here in April 2007 from the Philippine summer was a sudden change of climate for us. The cold was around us, but we were warmly welcomed by our Columban family here. We started our language study immediately, awed at first at the big compound of Korea University, with great enthusiasm. The spring flowers and fresh green leaves around us refreshed my mind after four hours a day for five days of language studies each week. Our meals included spicy Korean dishes. I like spicy food so this was a new treat.
Seoul Metro Rail: ‘Wow!’ I exclaimed during our first ride, another new experience. How convenient and fast - yes I’m comparing it with our terrible traffic jams in Manila - and to be surprised by Korean commuters, who always seem to be in a hurry, bumping into me while saying ‘Go fast! Fast!( 빨리! 빨리! ), a Korean expression I memorized very quickly. I was also impressed by the discipline of Koreans in following traffic rules. A red light really means ‘stop’ and a green light ‘Go’ - one thing I had to adjust to, for I wasn’t used to obeying traffic lights. I am learning to be a good citizen again here. . .
SUMMER - season of Fruitfulness
After almost a year of language study we start our ministry. I chose the Urban Poor Ministry at Dongnimmun(독립문.) My very first work is to assist Father Francis in his summer catechesis; I started to play the guitar again while learning some Korean songs. Music, as they say, is a universal language and this is very true as I share music with the children, even my singing and guitar-playing aren’t that good.
I also started my work at Kungbupang (공부방)where I have English classes. The children and I were both teachers and students - I teaching them English and they s my most patient teachers of Korean. I also have music with them once week, something I’m very much at home with. I remembered my work in the parish in the Philippines as a Pastoral Catechist. That time I had a struggle to learn to play the guitar and my singing wasn’t good. But with children you can’t go wrong. Now I found my self-confidence growing as again I was playing music, the language through which I could communicate. I loved it when we were singing together, the music coming from hearts full of love, full of life, full of fun for the children as they waited for me to sing a Korean children’s song, laughing while correcting my pronunciation.
In the parish I usually attended the daily Mass with the grandmothers, usually not more than six of them. I remembered that also in the Philippines, it’s usually older people who attend weekdays Masses. I remembered my late ‘Dada’, my grandmother, one of those who my desire to attend Mass every day. The Mass, she often said, is our food for the soul and as I joined the Mass with the grandmothers here I was reminded to ask always for the grace of faith to do God’s will here in the community to which I had been sent.
AUTUMN – season of surrender
Letting go of what the familiar was something thing I had to learn the hard way through living with a Korean lady in the house in 독립문 provided by the diocese for those working on mission. We were so different from each other in culture, personality and character. But we were both learning to accept and respect each other’s difference. There were times when we just couldn’t ‘meet in the middle’. I could only say that this was part of the experience of being a foreign missionary here.
But that wasn’t the whole of autumn for me, I had the consolation of enjoying the beauty of the change of the colors of the leaves and their soft and gentle falling, bringing me to a stillness and wonder, grateful to the God of creation for letting me feel that all was going to pass through this cycle of transformation in order for new life to arise. For me it was more a spiritual journey of letting go and dying . . . like the slow falling of the leaves I was to some extent experiencing the falling of my preconceived ideas of being a missionary and a witness here and letting those leaves of mine die and be buried in the sacred ground of the people I was with here in the community.
WINTER – season of Waiting
I felt some excitement during my first winter here, looking forward to at last experiencing a ‘White Christmas’. Unfortunately we didn’t have much snow in Seoul, and the freezing cold really got to me. We often joked that we were in a large freezer and about how heavy we were because of the many clothes we had to wear. My first experience of snow was on 19 November 2007, the first death anniversary of my father. When the snow started and when the first snow rains here, together with Maira San Juan, another Columban lays missionary from the Philippines, and I went outside and played like children, even tasting the snow. And the long cold nights of winter had now arrived.
The Christian season of Advent has as its central theme the coming of the Christ- Star into the world. It is a time to remember how God’s Beloved came to restore from shining through all beings. The Christ-Star, this Irresistible Love in us, this Radiant Goodness, is at the core of our souls. Advent reminds us that each of us has the light of this Shining Star within us. This special season assures us that we can radiate love and goodness to others.
Just as a star led the Magi to the Christ Child, so we are meant to be stars leading to others to the Divine Love. Others are also stars for us, leading us to Divine Love. In each of us, the manifestation of Divine Love is a magnificent gift of hope and encouragement. (from The Circle of Life, by Joyce Rupp OSM and Macrina Wiederkehr OSB).
I also kept the season of waiting with great trust and hope, as every season’s entrance and departure is part of the great turning of the circle of life. I thank all I have met who in their own way, be it good or bad, are the stars who lead me to our Divine love... we are meant to be stars leading others to the Divine Love. Others are also stars for us, leading us to Divine Love. In each of us, the manifestation of Divine Love is a magnificent gift of hope and encouragement.
With a grateful heart... MARAMING SALAMAT! 감사합니다. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
And yes, the journey still continues, the circle of the life, the four seasons will be with us...
A reflection by:
Violeta V. ‘Villaraiz “라보라”
RP 16
Columban Lay Missionary
Seoul, South Korea
You may write Violeta at 229-1 3Ka, TONG-SON-DONG, SONG BUK KU, SEOUL 136-053 KOREA.