By Columban Naw Sang

It is no accident that the author of this article is named Columban. For many years before the war the Columban missionaries worked among the Kachins. Today foreign missions are not welcome but their message has flowered. And so this Kachin Catholic seminarian in Burma feels God spared his life so that he could serve others.

Gunfire Memories

My earliest memories are of war. I am now 23-year-old student for the Catholic priesthood in my native Burma, but I have never ever forgotten those earlier days. When I was only 5 years old, the sudden stuttering of the machine gunfire broke the stillness of our village. Terrified, we fled – my mother leading me and my older sister deep into the surrounding forest. My father and elder brother, working up in our hill fields, heard the gunfire and also fled into the woods. Only when I was older did I realize the fear my mother must have experienced, not knowing if my father and brother were alive or dead.

Jungle Survival

The Kachin Independence Army in those days was locked in fierce struggle with Burmese government troops--fighting, fighting and more fighting-- until peaceful life in the village was changed into the miserable life of refugees. Four years later, in June 1984, an intense battle near our village shattered our lives again. We villagers fled deep into the forest. This time we did not return. Life in the jungle became an 18-month struggle to survive. There was little to eat other than bamboo shoots and yams.

Chased by Death

My family finally decided to settle in the village of Nawng Mi on the Ledo Road. But I was sent to live with my uncle’s family in a town not too far away so that I could begin school. I was 11. One day, as part of my chores, I went into the forest with three friends to collect wood. We didn’t know the Burmese army had a patrol out searching for Kachin soldiers. Maybe they thought we had been helping the soldiers; I don’t know. I just remember the gunfire and two of us running, for the other two had already fallen dead on the ground behind us. We ran and rested, and then ran again until it was dark. For two nights we slept in the forest, much too terrified to try to get back to the village.

Spared by God

Although I was deeply saddened by the death of my two companions, I couldn’t help thinking that God, for some reason, was watching over me and preserving my life. Later, I returned to live with my family, who had moved to the town of Kamaing. I was upset to learn that my mother had been weeping for days, having been told I was one of the two boys killed in the jungle.

Desire for Priesthood

I resumed my schooling and helped my family sell vegetables in the market. In 1991, through the influence of my mother’s younger brother, I entered the Church and became a Catholic. My love for God and my prayer life began quietly growing until I felt a strong desire to become a priest. I entered the minor seminary in 1994 and graduated to the newly established St. Patrick’s Pre-major Seminary in Myitkina last year. There were 21 of us in the first class under the guidance of Father Donal Khawng Lim. My classmates are impressive. Most of us are Kachin, but some are from the Naga people, who have to walked for nine days from their homes near the India and China borders to start and end the school term.

Life at St. Patrick’s

The first year wasn’t very easy.  In addition to our studies, we worked on the construction of our two-storey building. The dormitory and a small room to reserve the Blessed Sacrament are on the top floor. The first floor is where we study, eat, celebrate our liturgies. A shed with an open fire serves as our kitchen. We gather firewood and take turns helping with the cooking.

Most of our time at St. Patrick’s is spent getting a better command of English to prepare us for philosophy and theology studies in the major seminary. This year we were fortunate to have Maryknoll Brother John Beeching and his friend Jim Mulqueen come for two weeks of intensive English practice with us. They are wonderful people, so full of fun. I was also deeply impressed by their witness to love and charity.

Called to Proclaim

Life has not always been easy, and I know there will probably be other challenges before I reach my goal of priesthood. But I have come to know that I am blessed as a disciple of Jesus, called to promote the reign of God among our people here in Burma who have suffered and are suffering so much. If it hasn’t been easy, it has been richly rewarding. Over the years I am slowly learning how to pray, “Thy will be done!”