By: Emma Pabera

“There’s no place like home.” Yes it’s true. Leaving home and family is not an easy because we Filipinos are known for our close family ties.

Longtime Desire
In December, 1990, I applied to join the Columban Lay Mission Program. For a few years I had work as a member of the pastoral team in the diocese of Bacolod. I was happy in my work, but it had long been my desire to be a lay missionary. When Father Michael Martin, former superior of the Columbans in Negros, now full-time Lay mission Coordinator in Philippines, invited me to join the program, I didn’t hesitate to accept his invitation.

I asked my elder sister for advice and I was overjoyed when she gave me her full support   and understanding. She said, “Go ahead if it is where you’ll be happy, “Go ahead if it is where you’ll be happy.” Happily, there were no objection from my other brothers and sisters.

Look of Sadness
My first concern was for my parents, who are both elderly. Father is 77 and mother is 76 years of age I felt it was my responsibility to support them, because I am the only one in the family who isn’t married. My brothers and sisters assured me they would look after our parents. And when I ask my parents for permission, they respected my decision, though I saw the look of sadness in my mother’s face.

Preparation
There were many reasons for feeling assured about leaving home: the support of my family and of Columban priest and friends, an orientation period that included a short course on Clinical Pastoral Education, with some exposure to tribal Filipinos and the Muslim communities in Southern Philippines, more seminars and finally a directed retreat.
Community participation in the mission –sending ceremonies in my home parish, as well as the one at the Columban House in Manila, gave Pilar, Gloria and me the assurance that we’re really loved and needed. Finally, we gathered inspiration from the six Korean lay missioners in the Philippines.

Landing in Pakistan
Landing in Karachi International Airport on Mission Sunday, October 21st , it felt like homecoming; full of joy, excitement and hope. God is a friend eagerly waiting for me in Pakistan-welcoming me home.

Time Flies
By now, it’s hard to believe we have been in Pakistan for a year. We finished language study in August, and Pilar and I were assigned to Shadbagh, a Columban parish in the old city of Lahore.

Muslim Town
We had hoped to start work in the parish soon after studies, but the house we were to live in wouldn’t be ready until the end of September. In the meantime, we stayed in the Muslim town, at the Columban Center house, Fr. Pat McInerney, the parish priest, plus Pilar and me. They speak Urdu which we don’t understand, because we had studied Punjabi. Fr. Pat patiently translated for us and we had an over view of the parish programs and activities.

How to Dialogue
Later, Fr. Pat introduced a community – building activity to the group. Each one of was given a set of plastic pieces cut in different sizes and each had to form a square of the same sizes as a model. Instruction was given, but no talking was allowed: one could give but could not ask.
I was familiar with the activity, because I done it many times with our Basic Christian Communities in Negros. Forming a square is like building a Christian community: it requires planning and analyzing, communication and dialogue, sharing with cooperation
Reflecting on this activity I see myself in a situation where I am in total control. I feel dependent and helpless, like a child not knowing what to do, where and how to stand in my pastoral work.

Different Language
Language is a problem. I discovered that what I leaned is quite different from the ordinary language of the people. It takes time to get familiar with the words and sounds because people speak fast.
I have been in Shadbagh almost two months now, and I’m slowly settling in. I’m still struggling with the language but somehow I manage to communicate with the people, even with the use of signs language at times.

Only Male Catechists
At present our work is to visit families in different communities, getting to know them and learning a bitn of their culture. A catechist comes with us when we go on visitation (all catechist here are male) but later we’ll be on our own. Most of the people are out working as sweepers during the day. So, our visitation is from 4:00 or 5:00 in the afternoon till 8:00 in the evening. In Pakistan it’s rare to see women out at these hours.
The young and the educated are surprised that we did not study Urdu, the national language of the educated. On the other hand, the old and the uneducated are pleased when we address them in their language. Their joy can be seen on their faces. I feel one with them.
Not Easy For a Woman
Working in Pakistan as a woman is not easy. Yet, to see the many faces of God in the poor Christian minority is, for me life-giving, enriching and challenging.