By Fr. Bobby Sagra MSP

Mass  under the Trees
I am assigned in one of the out – stations of the Catholic Mission her in Kerema, Papua new Guinea. The area is called Wanto and there are seven clusters of villages in the remote mountain range. The house for the priest is now under construction. There is no church building yet. During great liturgical celebrations like Christmas and Easter, we just hold our Mass right outside in the open air. The people here are called Camias, they speak their own “tok ples” or native language. so far, I can pick up only a few words like “Aoadi” which means “Thank you” “Aoena” means “morning” and Aoamongati” which means “beautiful”, right now it is rainy season here, and being thickly forested, we have rains everyday, especially in the afternoon and in the evening.

Walking in the Mountains
I consider my life here as a journey. First, it is a journey outside to relate to people by visiting their houses and eating with them. I also go on mission patrols to the different villages. The farthest village is Kakiva, and it is about five to six hour and a half walk. Walking to reach another village is not easy. It is sliding up and sown the mountains, tripping on roots of trees and rocks in the river. But not without pauses which refresh,  like swimming in the rivers and showers under small waterfalls.

Adoration
Second, my life there is a journey inside myself, as I go back and spend prayerful moments in my room. Ate Lily, the helper of Munting Bukal, in Tagaytay gave me a monstrance with a wooden stand before I left the Philippines last November 5, 1990. I brought it with me up here in the hidden mountains and spend daily adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in my room, most especially during the night when the stillness is so penetrating. Whatever difficulty I encounter daily, external or internal, I render them to Jesus in time of personal prayer. With Him, always with me, I welcome with joy and gratitude, whatever challenges there are in my missionary life here.

Short-wave Radio
Recreation and creativity in my pilgrim life is indispensable. Every morning before I say my morning prayers, I listen first to the World News from the BBC or Voice of America. My bishop bought me a radio cassette recorder with sensitive radio antenna to pick up many radio stations around the world. I also brought tapes of instrumental and vocal music to fill up my spare moments.

Bark of Trees
I enjoy observing the unfamiliar” life rhythm of our indigenous people here, like their way of cooking in the bark of trees, their kind of food, they way they make their clothes using grass materials and bark of trees. I also do a lot of writing of little poems. Last Christmas, I finished my first volume of poems with 49 pieces. This Easter I am writing my second volume and this morning I just wrote down my 52nd poetic attempt.

Paternalism
In the seminary I lived in the cloud of idealism. Now I am faced with reality. At times, I feel powerless and I grope in the dark when I have an idea I want to express, but I don’t know the local language well enough. As a newcomer I am also extra careful not to hurt the feelings of other people like the middle aged local catechist who has been serving here for the last six years and is recognized as the people’s spiritual leader.

The traditional destructive approach of “Paternalism” or giving some thins big or small to  people for nothing, practiced by the early missionaries here is still in the mentally of the people. As a result, I find it difficult o encourage the people to give their priest some financial help for the running of the mission station during Sunday Mass Collection.

Paying for the Bride
Regarding the use of money, I found out after talking with the Headmaster of the community school here that the people have money but they are keeping it for certain important events in their life according toothier traditional customs. They keep their money for two things: bride price and compensation. Bride price is the amount of money given to the family of the girl whom the man is marrying. Compensation is the amount of money paid for a damage done to one’s village, property, or people. The people use some of their money to buy clothing and food such as tinned fish and salt. If you ask them to contribute something for the mission station, they will take out the least valuable of their coins. If no basket is passed around during the Mass they will not make any move to offer their coins.

First Missionary
I think one of the values that a missionary has to cultivate is tolerance. In John 3:7, Jesus the First Missionary from the Father said to Nicodemus, “Don’t be surprised when I say, you must be born again above”. If a missionary operates only on the level of the “below” which is the complex plain of old structures and values, chances are he will feel frustrated and cannot stay long at his post. But, if he lives with life “from above” which is the life of the Spirit entering the hearts of men and women, children of any place were he is  with tolerance, understanding and compassion, then nobody can prevent his light from shining.

2 Poems
by Father Bobby Sagra, MSP

1. Tryst of Love

Out of darkness
                        ...night
Out of heavy rains
                        ...storm
Out of my little heart
                        ...song
Out to my poor soul
                        ...flower
The gracious God
                        ...paused
He looked at me
                        ...tenderly
I raised my eyes
                        ...hope
One Holy God
                        ...love

2. A Spring in Hidden Valley

Fresh delight flows this morning,
Unstirred by the yawning village folk.
Gentle, sparklesweet crystals waters:
Natural embrace of the living spring.

Here am I, pilgrim, trekking afoot,
Thirsty from mountain climbing, softening the nerves in the hidden valley
Sprinkling my parched throat with the cooling moistures.

Seven handcups of blessed waters
Grace these aching muscles with my new life,
Reviving my strength, my very frame
Readying my spirit to journey on.

A spring in the valley, continual flow,
With me there to pause, freshen,
Bid leave to this wellspring
For another such passersby as I.