By Gloria Canama, Columban Lay Missionary

In Pakistan women are second class citizens in culture, in law, in religion and in many small details of daily life. As a result they have a low self-esteem. Gloria Canama tells us how simple Bible sharing helps build up Pakistani women’s self-worth.

There’s a time for everything. There’s time for planting and a time for harvesting. There’s a time for hello and a time for good bye... after many years in Sheikhupura, Pakistan, the time has finally come for me to say goodbye. I’ve never got used to the pain of saying goodbye. Part of my introvert self just wanted to pack my things and leave quietly. But of course it wouldn’t be right especially to these women I have been working with. Most of them can hardly read and write but they do know how to survive in very little situations. In the beginning, they seemed resigned to their fate or more aptly to what they’d been told to be and do. These women are made to believe that they are nothing, even burden. They themselves have experienced the grief and anger when a girl child is born. They have seen the jubilation of the whole community when a boy child is born.

Dare to Dream

Fortunately, a few of these women dare to dream, to take the first few steps of awakening, of naming, of owning and of believing in their own stories. This was sparked through a Bible sharing.

Sheda

In one of our bible sharings we read twice Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world...” with few moments of silence in between. Then each one was asked to hold the lighted candle and say for everyone to hear, “I am the light of the world. I will let my light shine before others.” Reflection and sharing followed. Sheda, almost in tears, spoke first. She was overwhelmed with the truth that she herself had just spoken. “I am the light of the world. It seemed unbelievable that God loves and trusts me, a woman – poor and illiterate – to be the bearer of God’s light. I have heard this verse many times. And I was conditioned to believe those words were for others, in particular for men. It never dawned on me before that Jesus has meant those words personally for me!” when she reflected at her own life at home and community, she has grown in conviction that has indeed been called to be he light of the world. All the other women in the group identified with Sheda’s insight. They too had long believed of their unworthiness. Not anymore. Now, they’ve chosen to believe and share their light. One concrete way is through education for themselves and their children, girls and boy alike.

Presently, Sheda continues to attend parish meetings and other activities, wasting no time in sharing whatever she has learned at home and at work. She doesn’t know much reading and writing but this doesn’t prevent her from sharing God’s message be it in their community prayer or in her workplace. She knows most of the Bible stories of Naomi and Ruth of Martha and Mary. Sheda and the other women have responded to God’s call to be the light of the world with faithfulness, pride and commitment.

Margaret

Margaret was the youngest mother in the group, She was filled with wonder at the birth of her son. She looked very fragile yet the child was strong and healthy. She couldn’t believe he was coming from within her and was there for nine months. He’s now having a new life of his own and she’s now a mother.  For Margaret, giving birth and motherhood relives Jesus’ words, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” When Margaret held her child for the first time, she had forgotten all the pain and exclaimed, “This is my body, this is my blood.” Deep in silence in reverence to their motherhood, God’s greatest gift to women, letting them share His work as Creator and Life-giver.

These women haven’t studied or read books on theology or feminism. They have asked questions from their own life experiences and from their coming together to pray, reflect and share their stories. It was unimaginable before for a woman to stand in front of the whole community and share her thoughts. They seldom went out except to work. They have often used and come to believe the slogan, “Educate a mother and you educate the whole family”. Many women have certainly grown in self-confidence, in believing in their unique giftedness, wisdom and strength. A number of women in the parish are now Bible leaders already, animators of family life and women’s programs. They are also aware of the continuing hardships as women in a still male-dominated culture.

Goodbye in Harvest Time

Time to say goodbye to my garden, we have gathered the harvest of those planted not only by us but also by many others. We have also gathered seeds for another planting season with hope for a more bountiful harvest in the future. The goodbye turned out to be a feast, a joyful celebration of the harvest of our shared journey. However, it was hard letting go. Plants and flowers became special and dear to me. I tended, watered and even watched them grow all through different seasons. They gave me energy, joy and have given me wisdom in life. I was in tears when I left the Philippines for Pakistan. I was still in tears when I left Pakistan. I was still in tears of the pain of goodbye but they were also tears of joy and gratitude.