By Sr. Walfridis, SSpS

Before I posted to Papua New Guinea in 1592, I taught in our college in Manila. When I received my mission appointment, I thought to myself, now I will really taste some bush mission work. But, to my disappointment, I landed in a school catechists the week I arrived.

But Every Thursday morning (our free day instead of Saturday) I went to Kananam, a nearby village, for religious instruction. When the sea was calm, I went by a small canoe and when the sea is rough, by push-bike.

It was a great joy for me to see those kids lining the beach welcome me, many of them in their birthday clothes. The first thing I usually did was to send them for ‘Was Was ‘ in the sea before starting classes in the tiny bush school. This was a great jump down for me from my college classes. Yet, these bush children were also my brothers and sisters. As the weeks went by, and we get to know each other better, I soon realized how simple and lovable they were. I thought to my self, this is surely what Christ meant when He said: ‘Unless you become like little children…’ This was the first and most important lesson I learned from them and this made me feel very small indeed. And what have they learned from me?

Last year, one of my former students, Matthew Landu, was ordained to the priesthood, and his cousin, Allan Apini, is at Bomana seminary in Port Moresby. They, and the many local priests, religious and church leaders in Papua New Guinea today are among the seeds that have fallen on the good soil.

As a missionary Sister, in this particular vineyard of the Lord, I feel that though my work is very significant, still I can say honestly that, somehow, I have contributed a tiny something of myself.