Listening among the Bororo people

By Cl. Beatus Volkmar Tola, SDB
Indonesian missionary in BCG (Brasil - Campo Grande) province

Mato Grosso, Brasil, 2 January 2018 -- My name is Beatus Volkmar Tola. I am from Indonesia, Flores island and I arrived in Brazil in 2014 at the age of 26 years. My experience of Salesian community and prayer life in Indonesia was very nice. Indeed for me, community life helps me a lot to grow every day through the experience, messages and testimonies of my brothers that I have seen and heard. The community life that I have lived has always led me well until now, supported me when I was not well or I was sad. Another thing is the prayer life. For me, the prayer life is very important, because in the environment of prayer I found my existence as a person who always needs the help of God. Then I realized that God is speaking to me in many ways and does listen to all my lamentations, sorrows and joys. I always remember what our father Don Bosco said often: "Vocations are preserved only with prayer. Those who leave the prayer will surely leave their vocation.

I'm grateful to the Mission sector team, especially Fr Guillermo Basañes and Fr Alfred Maravilla, who worked hard to accompany and direct us during our new missionary course in Rome, November 2014. They helped us to know better about the cultures, the language and the attitudes of the people where we would live and work as a missionary ad gentes. Big thing that I took in my life after I took the course is the biblical word that Father Alfred gave us to reflect on. Exodus 3,5: "Do not approach from here; take off the sandals of your feet, for the place where you stand is a holy land." This verse leads me to understand that all the places where I will go to work are sacred. So I need to leave all the things I had before in my country, such as my culture, so that I can open a new thought and learn about the place with different culture, language and attitudes. More than that, remember that all places are sacred. When we say ‘sacred’ - we believe that in these places always have wonderful things, we need only to pay attention and discover this!

The Brazil I knew before my arrival, was a great country, very famous for football. The first time I arrived in Brazil, I was confused because I did not understand what my Salesian brothers and people were saying around me. I spent my first year of practical training in the Boe-Bororo village Meruri (Mato Gross). The first time I went there, the Bororo people accepted me with great joy, of course they expected I could give them something. So I realized the challenge, because first of all, I still did not know how to speak or understand the Portuguese language. Next, I was with people who have different culture and language than Portuguese. With these limitations, then, I chose to listen, to listen and to act. Listening and acting, I tried to participate in all activities, both those organized by the Salesians and by the indigenous leaders themselves. The other interesting thing was when I participated in the rite of their culture. I remember the day of the Indians, when I and the Bororo people went to the forest to collect various materials (firewood, palm leaf, fruit to paint etc).

During the time I stayed with them, I was able to learn how to work together, respect culture, and understand more deeply that there is hope. When I speak of hope in this context, I think it is a value that will always be a source of strength for young Bororo in the pursuit of their great dreams, meanwhile many people doubt about them. Their reality and their dreams always arouse my faith and hope, that there is always the possibility of a better days ahead.

In the year 2016, I received a new obedience to accompany the Aspirants in the Community of Santo Antônio, Cuiabá (Mato Grosso) and learn the Portuguese language. I have experienced various difficulties, especially when I give a "Good night" or advice to the Aspirants. I do not know if they understood everything. The other interesting thing is that every Saturday, I went with the Aspirants to the Oratory at ‘Pedra 90’ - an association dedicated to serving young people who need help in the form of classes and other activities.

My interest in becoming a missionary began from an article about the adventures and hard work of the Salesians in Sudan who are committed to the oppressed and neglected. I read this news as aspirant. What motivated me to become a missionary is that I have listened and followed my conscience: “Go to that place, do not be afraid, do what you can. The rest, God would complete!

For the young people or the Salesians who wish to follow the missionary call that I am living, I would say: ‘Listen and follow your own conscience and then take it in prayer! When you understand what it is to listen, you know many realities that need your love, especially the reality of the young, of the poor and of the abandoned. They need your love to listen to them. I, you, him and others will always experience times when we feel anxious, fearful and lacking in trust, but I believe God does not close your eyes and we will understand that the miracle happens.

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