By Stephen Stafstrom and Matthew Nguyen
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 18 January 2019 -- The Salesian Lay Missioners of the New Rochelle Province (SUE) had sent missionaries to PNG from way back in 1993 until 2005. Since last year the new PGS Vice-Province (PGS) has sought to revitalise the presence of lay missionaries. This year a lay volunteer from Ecuador and 2 from the USA are coming. Below is the self-presentation of the 2 Salesian Lay Missioners (SLM) who have arrived and recently concluded their initial cultural introduction to their host country, Papua New Guinea.
Stephen Stafstrom
My name is Stephen Stafstrom, 21 years old. I come from Florida, USA. I graduated last May 2018 from University of Central Florida. All my life I have been surrounded with witnesses of “yes” to God’s call in their lives. From my mother’s example as a youth minister at my parish to the name of my parish itself “Annunciation” the theme of choosing God’s will for your life has always been apparent; I have tried to live my life accordingly.
It was only in the Fall of 2017 that the call to spend a year or more of my life in foreign mission crystalised. From there my story is a story of God clearing the way for me to find the Salesians. Briefly, I talked to our campus minister who suggested a few great options (Salesian Lay Missioners [SLM] included). During my research on the Salesians, I was able to speak with a former SLM who served in Ethiopia and Rwanda and our conversation only confirmed the charism I most identified with. Next, I received confirmation from numerous friends and acquaintances along the way. Indeed, the Lord has put me on a journey to mission with the Salesians.
The introductory orientation for 5 days upon our arrival in Port Moresby guided by Fr Alfred Maravilla, Provincial, deepened our understanding of culture and gained us an appreciation for the way of Don Bosco works with local Melanesian traditions and values.
Now that I have arrived in Papua New Guinea God has further confirmed this call to mission through the support, kindness and welcome of the people and the Salesian community. PNG is beautiful and every day I am fascinated anew by something unique and wonderful.
Matthew Nguyen
My name is Matthew Nguyen, 21 years old. I come from Texas, USA. I graduated from St. Matthews University in 2017. My parents immigrated to America during the Vietnam War when they were very young, and consequently, was raised in America, learning English and assimilating into the culture. I speak no Vietnamese and many times would have to learn a little Vietnamese here and there to communicate with some of my peers. This taught me what it means to be unable to communicate efficiently with others, yet I have also learned the joy of being able to communicate at all.
When I went to Saint Matthew’s University I suddenly found myself surrounded by friends who were on fire for spreading the faith, who wanted to do more than just “be holy”. But I started to discern being a missionary only a couple years ago when I met my very devout, very zealous friend at university who was on fire for sharing her faith with others. A few years later she mentioned she was looking into the Salesians among other things. I hadn't heard that name in almost a year and I went back to my texts with my mom only to realise it was the same program she had texted me the year before. Mother knows best, I guess.
I found the introductory orientation like a breath of fresh air giving me life and peace in what will be my home for a while. To be able to just live with my brothers here helped me realise that God was here before me in this place. Now he is just asking me to experience his love and mercy in a new way. These first 5 days I spent eating, learning, walking with the people here has made me fall in the unitive love of the Trinity. My brothers and sisters have welcome me with an open arms. I do not know if I’m ready, but I am not afraid to follow anymore.
If mission is a call, I had the opportunity to answer. Papua New Guinea responded with a resounding ‘Hello!’ I’m extremely excited to continue the conversation with our Lord as I meet him in every person that offers me welcome and love. I know we have much more to learn and are very excited for every opportunity we will have to serve and deepen our own faith this year. I recognise that I may have more to receive than to give. I desire to continue to grow in humility and to understand more intimately the value of community. I hope my missionary service will increase my dependence on God and develop the virtues of charity and love.
