My Experience on First Mission Assignment

By Erl Dylan J. Tabaco

PART ONE

The author is a member of the Missionary Society of St Columban and is currently in Peru on his two-year First Missionary Assignment (FMA) as part of his preparation for the priesthood. He is from Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. He went to Peru in 2014. This is the first part of his article. The second and final part will appear in the November-December issue.

The popular quotation, ‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step’, penetrates into my consciousness when I think of my formation as a Columban since I entered the seminary in June 2007. This is exactly what my journey is all about – from a well-discerned decision to say ‘Yes’ to God’s invitation to the missionary priesthood to a daily commitment to the whole formation process. Those years of self-discovery, self-acceptance and self-giving in the formation program made me firm in my decision to continue and face another stage: my First Missionary Assignment (FMA).

The thought of being sent to another country and experiencing inter-cultural living there lingered in my mind and brought me mixed emotions: excitement, anxiety, joy and anticipation. I was at the same time anxious and lonely at having to leave my family and friends in the Philippines. The inspiring words of my rector, Fr Raymond Husband, and other Columban missionaries in the Philippines helped me to become more prepared for this journey. When I received my appointment to Peru from Fr Kevin O’Neill, our Superior General, I was very happy since this is where I wanted to do my FMA.

Time passed quickly and my preparations were over, from packing to a simple despedida (farewell) party. It was my first time to travel outside the country. A chance to explore the world made me excited all the more. After thirty-six hours of exciting travel our plane finally landed in the third largest country in South America, known for its famous landscapes and the birthplace of the Inca civilization and of St Rose of Lima: Peru. It was a memorable moment for me seeing different magnificent landscapes, meeting different people and reaching this stage of my formation.

After landing at Jorge Chávez International Airport, Lima, I felt anxious, not knowing what to do since everything was in Spanish. I was trying to calm myself while preparing what to say as I approached the immigration officer. With my improvised sign language and little Spanish, I was able to express myself. While waiting in the luggage section for Emmannuel Trocino from Pulupandan, Negros Occidental, my Filipino companion on FMA, my attention was caught by two signs in Spanish, ‘Bienvenido’ (welcome) and ‘Adelante’ (forward). At the time I didn’t know how significant those words would be on my missionary journey in Peru. Maybe they indicated important dispositions that a missionary should have.

Erl Dylan and Emmannuel were four years too late for this flashmob at Lima Airport!

Welcoming us were Fr Anthony Coney, Columban Regional Director in Peru, an Irishman, and Fr John Boles, FMA director, an Englishman, whose reassuring presence at the airport made me feel at home. On our way to the Columban central house I thought of my journey not just in terms of my recent flight but primarily in terms of my vocation to the priesthood. My heart was full of deep joy and gratitude for God’s indwelling presence through my experiences and through the persons I had met along the way.

I had to adjust to a thirteen-hour time difference – behind the Philippines. The winter season was also something new to me. Coming from a tropical country with an average daytime temperature of 31C, often higher, the sudden shift to 15C or so was a big adjustment. But I had brought some winter clothes with me.

As I immersed myself in a new environment, culture, language and lifestyle I was reminded of my years in my local parish in Cagayan de Oro as a youth volunteer working with some Columban priests. Those significant years of parish involvement taught me about kindness and generosity. Through that first-hand experience with those missionaries, their simple ways and dedication to the local Church in the Philippines, I have learned to value my own calling and to relish the missionary spirit within me. It is only in finding my heart’s desire and allowing that desire to grow by touching the lives of other people that I can truly live my life’s purpose. Revisiting my experience in Cagayan de Oro and applying the values I had learned there gave me a fresh mindset and spirit-filled first night in Peru as I looked forward to the coming days.  

Erl and Emman with Columban Missionary Ana Flores

Prior to starting in language school we had an orientation program about Peru in general and the history of Columban mission in the country. It is an indispensable tool for every missionary to learn about and appreciate the ‘new’ country and how the people there live, to learn something of their customs and traditions before even going there. Immersing yourself in another culture is like entering into another’s garden where you will encounter weeds among the wheat. What appears as weed to us may appear as wheat to the local people. I realized then that having cultural sensitivity and awareness of individual differences can somehow mitigate one’s biases and prejudices. We met the rest of our FMA team who were to accompany us throughout our stay in Peru. It gave much assurance to Emmannuel and me that it would be a great experience for both of us.

Pollo a la Brasa [Wikipedia]

Caption: Ceviche [Wikipedia]

We tried two famous Peruvian dishes which Peruvians had told us about, ‘Pollo a la Brasa’ (grilled chicken with French fries) and ‘Ceviche’ (raw fish mixed with lemon juice). We visited colonial churches and mansions, historical and religious statues of two Peruvian saints, St Rose of Lima and St Martin de Porres, and enormous museums which depicted the strong Spanish influence on Peruvian culture and art. This helped me appreciate the uniqueness and grandeur of what Peru can offer to the world.

Cathedral of St John the Evangelist on the Plaza Mayor, Lima [Wikipedia]

Strolling around the Plaza de Armas, now officially known as the Plaza Mayor in the heart of colonial Lima allowed me to appreciate the history of my own country and how the Filipino people struggled under the Spanish regime. Centuries have passed, but memories remain in all of these monuments. What I enjoyed throughout our whole visit was meeting people, though most of the time I struggled with the language. Luckily we had Ana Flores, a Columban Lay Missionary from Peru who is based in Cagayan de Oro, who never tired of explaining everything to us in our own language. Ana has become proficient in both Cebuano and English since coming to the Philippines.

Plaza Mayor (Plaza de Armas), Lima

Having a two-week orientation program and wandering around the beautiful places of Lima helped me relieve my home-sickness. It was a great experience and a good opportunity to regain energy before the mind-boggling language classes started.

‘You cannot give what you do not have’ is a saying that always inspires me in everything that I want to accomplish. To have a fruitful missionary experience is still a work in progress and the outcome of this experience depends on how I give myself totally to this undertaking. [To be continued in the next issue].