Sr. Mary Jeanette Matela, a Hoy Spirit Sister who works in Papua New Guinea, focuses on a custom degrading to women which she and her community are hoping to change.

Marylyn
On my way to the convent after my 12:30 P.M. class, I met Marylyn.

Pidgin Talk
Have you eaten yet, Marylyn?” I asked her in Pidgin English. “Ya sista, mi kaikai pinis. Lukim!” (Yes, Sister, I have already eaten. Look!) she replied showing her tummy. Nau yu mas slip, malolo liklik na bai yu kamap bikpela meri,” (Now you must sleep, rest a little and you will grow big) I suggested to her. Without hesitation Marylyn replied, “Tiam mi kanap bikpela, daddy bilong mi bai I baim mi.” (When I become ready for marriage my daddy will sell me for my bride –prize)

Buying Wives
I was flabbergasted. In Pidgin English, the word for presenting a bride – prize are “baim meri,” literally, “buying wife”. And Marylyn is only three years! Already she is aware of her problematic status a woman in her society. She comes from Chimbu, one of the highland provinces in Papua New Guinea.

Right to Bash
In my Business Ethics class, I once had a students discuss the pride –price, they would buying their wives and consequently, would own them. They could do anything with them – whatever they liked – including bashing or beating them up. The higher the education of the woman, the higher the bride price. Therefore, most women are not allowed to go for further studies because no man could afford their bride- price.

Women’s Low Status
A study conducted by the Melanesia Institute showed that throughout most of the Melanesia men tend to exercise political control in the public realm, and to take a more central part on the public stage than women. In many of the highland societies, women’s social status is relatively low and they are considered very dangerous and polluting to men. The male-female relationship has been described as antagonistic. In such societies women’s public role in leadership is very limited.

 Change Coming
However, it is already obvious that in the future, Papua New Guinea women’s leadership roles in the public sphere of social life are likely to increase. There two women members of the Parliament. Women’s movements have been strong for some time

Dream for a New World
This is why we the Divine Word Institute have a special interest in providing educational opportunities for women. We encourage women to improve their status in society and to take an active part in the nation’s life and so bring about a community in which justice reigns.

Sr. Cecilia Cuizon, a Filipino Columban Sister who has been on mission in Iquique Chile for several years writes about the street children she accompanies, as one of her ministries

Sister, Can You Help?
One afternoon while I was visiting the different group in our parish of Iquique, Chile, a girl named Ninoska, twenty years old, approached me and said, “Hermana, puede usted ayudarnos?” (Sister, can you help us?) I knew the girl I knew the girl because I had seen her many times with children she was preparing for the first communion. “Que quiere?” (What do you want?) I asked.

Hesitant
Ninoska told me that aside from her first communion group, she was accompanying a group of street children. She belongs to a movement called MOANI (Movimiento Apostolico de Adolescentes y Niños) whose main objective is to make children aware of their basic human rights. Quite interesting. What really impressed me was her preoccupation with helping these children to be persons. She is called to an Apostolate that I know is not easy. She wants to share the good news that she has received, and that she enjoys, with these children. I was hesitant to commit myself for I already had commitments. Still I knew that I would to stop and pray. Where was the Lord leading me?

Broken Families
Iquique is an open port city with many children from broken families. The men have their own organization as well as the women. But the children? Now is the time to accompany them. Ninoska is willing to give her time to orientate young boys and girls who desire to work as team.

Not Leader but Friend
Then why she asked me to help her? She is an educated woman and is most capable. Later on, I found out that what she wanted was not a leader but a friend and a companion in her group’s struggle to be recognized as people. My presence as a religious and a missionary gives her hope that one day the Risen Lord will become real in their lives. What a big challenge for me to leave God’s mandate which says, “Go therefore, and make disciples from all the nations”.

Fear
But fear creeps with in me. I am not able. I am an outsider. Again God’s words to Jeremiah make me aware of His abiding presence wherever I am.
“…I…appointed you a prophet to the nations. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you protect you…”
                                                                                                            (Jer. 1:5, 8)

Trust Prevails
What more I can say? Only to trust Him, the Lord of Love, who has called me to follow Him, to leave my own people and my country and to live and serve Him in a foreign land.

By Sr. Rosalinda Gonzales, MMM

Sr. Rosalinda first met the Medical Missionaries of Mary when she worked as a lay doctor in Nigeria, West Africa. She is at present the Filipino member of this International missionary congregation founded in Drogheda, Ireland.

Study the Language
I was missioned to Tanzania in 1986. After finishing six months language course I was assigned to work in Makiungo Hospital.

Malaria
Makiungo Hospital is a 140 bed hospital but, at any one time, the actual bed occupancy is a far in excess of this figure. At times the situation is critical. The most notable feature has been the high incident of malaria. There is a peak period of about three months early in the year when the number of inpatients becomes almost unmanageable.

Wretchedly Poor
Makiungo Hospital and similar institutions are not income generating projects. They are essentially voluntary institutions providing health and social welfare services. Further, they are providing those services for the vast majority of people who are poor and many of whom are destitute, lacking of basic necessities of life.

Khwema
Among many patients with burns admitted to Makiungo Hospital throughout the year was Khwema, a woman of great determination and strength of character.

She won’t Live
Someone said: “I don’t think that she will live beyond twenty four hours!” Looking at the frail old lady of sixty years, I was ready to agree with that ominous statement. But as we always do in the face of seeming helpless, wee do our very best in rendering medical and spiritual care, then we really in God’s help of everything beyond our capabilities.
Khwema’s injuries were so extensive that her right arm was disjoined and hanging limp at her side. Her clinical course of treatment was not smooth, but the dedication of our nursing staff, plus her courage and great attitude to life, kept her going. When her condition was that much better, she had wasted limb amputated. She had several appointments in the operating theater for surgical cleaning and skin grafting on her head, shoulders and chest.

 

Flying Doctor
A month late, the general surgeon, a volunteer from the volunteer Flying Doctors Team based in Nairobi, Kenya, who visits different hospitals in East Africa at appointed intervals, did as much ‘trimming’ as he could from what we had already started. After another drafting, no more could be achieved surgically.

No words of Complaint
Through all this harrowing experience, no words of complaint passed her lips. Every little service rendered by us was rewarded with a smile and ‘Asanti’ (Thanks). Her undaunted spirit and sense of hope were an inspiration to all of us. After a stay of less than a year, she was happy to go home to her family.

By Sr. Ching Madduma, ICM

Sr. Ching, a Filipino missionary in India, continues her beautiful story about bringing handicapped people out of the land of shadows. She discovered Kamal, when he was four years old, chained up and almost abandoned. Slowly he began to work with him – removed his chains and introduced him to wonders of water.

Read on:

First Unit
In the same year I met Kamal, I opened the first unit for persons with mental handicaps at Sarnath Normal School compound. Kamal was enrolled in this unit.

With other Children
It was different environment and a great adjustment for him to be with other children. Each day he insisted on coming first to our compound, so that I would take him along to the unit.

Patient Grandmother
Relying on the patience grandmother, who continuously cares for him, Kamal continues as a regular student in my little group.

Alone
He seldom joins the other children in theirs activities in spite of the teacher’s invitation and persuasion. But, though he prefers to be alone, he observes that the other children are doing.

Image in Mirror
Kamal enjoys plucking flowers or uprooting flowering plants; he tears paper into small pieces and lets these fly repeatedly like raindrops. He likes to see himself in the mirror – he smiles and touches his image.

Many Activities
He arranges boxes and bottles in many places and lines them up according to sizes. He enjoys hanging on the wall all types off picture – charts and picture from magazine that he picks up anywhere. All the above activities he does routinely and undisturbed.

Twigs to chart
As Kamal continues to grow, his interests have changed from twigs to colored papers, charts, magazines, boxes and even books. He collects all these things from everywhere – stores, private houses, street garbage.

 

Likes to Scavenge
One time, without the sister’s knowledge, he picked up the bible and some hymn books from our chapel. Kamal seems to enjoy scavenging. Because of this hobbies or obsession of his, some people call him “chor” (thief) and he is disliked by some.

He Understands
Although Kamal cannot talk or write or count, and though he is slow in learning, he understands what is being told him.

Improving
He is improving. Kamal has potential on some vocational skills. He can put together in due course, without trial and error, all the jigsaw puzzle in the unit room. He shows good memory traits. He can sort out objects by kinds, size and color. Kamal has learned to eat properly according to local custom – he washed his hands before eating, squats properly, and uses his right hand to feed himself.

Spreads Mats; Pours Water
At mealtime, he is responsible for spreading the mats to sit on, for pouring water in each glass, and for folding back the mats and sweeping the floor after eating.  He washes his own lunch – box and glass. He has been given the responsibility to clean the toilet before class departure.

Bathes by Himself
Occasionally, when he wants to go home, or simply wants to leave the class earlier, he takes the hard broom and the pail of water to clean the toilet. According to local custom, he relieves himself in the open fields and goes to nearby pond wash his bottom. He can bathe himself with occasional direction.

He Recognizes People
He recognizes familiar people and calls their attention by making sounds. He practices the customary way of greeting by folding his hands together with a shy smile. He joins his classmates only during physical exercises and games.

(To be continued)

By Sr. Veronica Origenes
Nairobi, Kenya

Dear, Fr. O’Brien,

Today, the Aguinaldo Masses start in our beloved Philippines. May the timeless message of Christmas (LOVE, JOY, and PEACE) bring you happiness all through the years.

This is a very late response to your appeal. Sorry for the delay: too few workers and the apostolate is vast.

To fill you in: I was in Tacloban City from 1965 to August 1984, working at St. Paul’s Hospital and Divine Word University College of Nursing. Then I was missioned to Kenya.

Since coming to Nairobi, I have worked at Uzima Dispensary which was started by two Filipinos (Sr. Ramira Uy and Sr. Ramira Sulentes) who are now back in the Philippines.

In May 1989, we opened St. Odelias Dispensary here in Kasen where I am in charge. There is nothing spectacular about my work I live faithfully my daily ora et labora among our young African members. I am the oldest Sister here in Nairobi.

It is heartwarming to see the dying child recover and   to see the people coming to us for health care. At this new Dispensary, we strike the bell hourly to remind ourselves that this is God’s work’s that we belong to him and that He is a Divine Healer. We are only His instruments. Of the four Filipinos here, Sr. Fidelis Jardiel is directress of our novice Pacita; Sr. Lourdes Edissa Manrique looks after our two kindergarten schools, I take care of Sr. Odilia’s Dispensary.

To the remark that Nairobi is not a mission area, I counter, “Come and See”.
MISYON is where God sends you and me whether the venue is a big international City or the unblaxed bush areas of Africa.
KARIBUNI!

Sr. Veronica Origenes, OSB

 

 

By Sr. Judith Malon, OSA
A Missionary in Taiwan

Mountain People
The Taiwan aborigines surviving today are generally known as mountain tribespeople, and classified into nine main groups.

Tattoo on the Face
Facial tattooing is a special feature of the Atayal tribe, the mountain people among whom I work here in Chingchuan, the men wear one or more vertical stripes tattooed on the forehead and chin, while the women may wear three or five vertical stripes in the center of forehead, with between one and three short horizontal stripes on either side forming a cross- shaped design. Or they may wear doubled stripes running from the ears to the corners of the mouth, or to the upper chin.

Proud Mark
Many reasons have been advanced to account for this facial tattooing, but its main significance lies in personal adornment. It is also said ward of harm and to enable the wearer to meet his or her kinspersons after death. Basically it is a tribal sign, a mark of village identity, and the mountain people who have these permanent marks on their faces feel proud to be distinguished in this way from the lowlanders.

Sex Appeal
This facial tattooing is also a symbol of adult sex appeal. The boys want to marry the girls with these facial marks and vise versa. They receive the tattoo marks between the ages if twelve and thirteen. Some young people, seeing the horrible sight of their friends’ swollen faces and seeing that they could not eat for days, have refuse to submit to the practice

Still Proud of It.
During the Japanese occupation of Taiwan, the custom was discontinued. But it is still a cause for pride among the tribespeople of Chingchuan. Incidentally, the majority of these are Catholics.