Tetere, Solomon Islands, 30 June 2016 -- During my stay in Korea I spend good time with my parents and Salesians. This 'vacation' time was a good chance to reflect on the role of the missionary in his mission place as well in his home land and home province.
I'm very grateful for all who support me with their prayers, for all who listen to my missionary sharing.
Before any material help we feel the support of many faithful prayer benefactors. Thanks to their sacrifice and prayers we are able to go ahead in the not-so-easy environment of the Pacific. In the same time I am more aware about the impact of my happy missionary life witness on the Catholic community and Salesians in Korea. Yes, mission is not done by some individuals, it is a work of the Church community.
I'm also happy to share with the Korean Salesian Family members and AustraLasia readers our Tetere story in Solomon Islands:
In Don Bosco Tetere Community, we have two main works; one is parish which has 16 centers - communities, and the other one is Don Bosco Rural Training Center (RTC).
Don Bosco Rural Training Center is for the young who live in very isolated place, or for the poor young who are not able to continue to regular education. Almost all of them come from far places and islands, so all of them are boarders. Here, they get agricultural training; rice, root crop, cash crop, vegetable, livestock, natural farm, basic carpentry, and like skills in the Preventive System Spirituality. Unfortunately, many of them seriously need literacy and numeracy lessons. So every evening, after praying rosary all together, they have extra classes – literacy and numeracy. They are eager to learn.
It is not easy to work here because of lack of confreres. We are only three, one is rector and the parish priest, the other one is the principal and boarding house in charge, and the last one is a practical trainee. However, thanks be to God, the teachers and our lay mission partners are happy to join our mission. They are willing to sacrifice themselves for the young in RTC. For instance, they generously take extra works, after class time, like literacy and numeracy program, boarding house assistance, etc., without asking any compensation. It would be unusual in the Melanesian context. We, therefore, are able to create collaborating atmosphere together with the teachers based on trust.
In this Don Bosco’s House, study, work, prayer, and play are equally emphasized. All the students are invited to join all the schedules joyfully. We provide a lot of opportunities to develop their talents like music, sports, art etc which they have not know until they came to this school, even though we are lacking in materials.
Many students are not able to complete their school fee. Yet we never send them home due to school fee problem. We used to say “ we never send you home because of school fee, but, if you are not happy in this Don Bosco’s house, you would go home”. From time to time they create many problems as usual. Sometimes I would say, it would be better for you to transfer the other rural training center. In hearing this word, they become so sad and sorry, immediately they would ask to give one more chance. They really like and love this school. They would know that this Don Bosco’s house is the right place to stay. They have trust toward the Salesians and the teachers.
To pray together, to work together, to eat together and to play together is what Don Bosco wanted us to do; and we are doing it everyday here, DBRTC, another Valdocco in Solomon Islands. Come, Help us!
