Tonj, South Sudan (AFE), 10 May 2016 - In the footsteps of the late Fr. John Lee (1962-2010), another Korean missionary reached Tonj, South Sudan. Fr. Raphael Lee (57) does honestly confess: ‘during past one year I felt a lot my human limits. In this climate I lost during past 10 months more than 30 kilogram.
Fr. Lee is the third Korean Salesian who reached Tonj, Fr. John Lee left in 2009 and two years later Fr. Henry Woo worked there for one year. Four years later former Korean novice master was sent here on three year agreement between the AFE-Sudan Delegate and KOR provincial.
For Fr. Raphael missionary life was a life-long dream. Already before his priestly ordination did asked his superiors to be sent to the missions, but only at the age of 56 his dream was accomplished. Two years ago a South Sudan missionary Bro. Jim Comino invited him: "If you still think about the missions, come to Tonj!" And now he is a member of 4 Salesian priest strong community (Rector Fr. John Peter). Main mission of his community is the Sacred Heart parish with 8 sub-stations spread in a large territory and responsible also for many education institutions.
What is the most challenging experience in Tonj? The poor living conditions of Tonj mission are not the main obstacle. Fr. Lee was born in the rural zone, soon after the Korean war. He could adjust himself to the difficult living conditions. However a series of cultural shocks was for him the main challenge: children who are stealing with any remorse of conscience the goods from the Salesian house, students who are making continuous noise during his catechism class and similar attitudes not easy compatible with his Korean cultural experience.
Fr. Lee shares: "In the first time I thought they will change their attitude after few kind reminders and I cherished a lot of hope. But later went just the feeling ‘I can’t understand – it’s hopelss!’" At the end those experiences brought him to the truly missionary mentality – "We are here to saw the seeds and somebody else will harvest few years later. Let’s entrust all these headaches to the Lord!" In this way the new-old missionary does slowly discover the necessary missionary spirituality and get closer to God in prayer.
Living for one year in the place of late Fr John Lee he does confess: "I feel that I’m living here as not-so-well-prepared missionary. When are coming some new difficulties, I’m just gazing at John Lee’s photo on the wall and thinking: '15 years ago in this place there were almost nothing, now at least are good infrastructures and the previous missionaries did face much more difficult situation than our community does now.'"
"I have thought already few times about return to Korea, but every time I get this temptation, I face it with the following reflection: ‘Would Jesus just leave this place or stay here?’"
Fr. Raphael dedicates his ‘free time’ to the small vegetable garden behind the Salesian house. Thanks to the seeds sent from benefctors he does grow Tomato, Chili, Cabbage and other useful vegetables. It keeps him busy working and harvesting. "When watching a slow growth of these vegetables, I understand that as a missionary I need a lot of patience to become a small seed in this South Sudan mission of Tonj. God is a farmer and ‘Raphael Lee’ is among his seeds. One day some other Salesian will be able to harvest the fruits!"
We pray that also today many more young Salesians will be able to leave their comfort zone and give their contribution to the oversea missions, like this in South Sudan. Although the material situation is very poor, they would experience the deepest joy that any disciple of Jesus – to share his Gospel at the peripheries. Let’s remember Fr. Lee and hundreds other Salesian Family missionaries working in 43 African countries also today!
with inevitable malaria
1 year ago when just before he left Seoul for Tonj
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