SMD 2017 Focus on America: from the EAO perspective (II)
By Cl. José Phan Anh Tuan, SDB
Missionary in the Amazon, Venezuela from Vietnam
Caracas, Venezuela, 22 July 2017 -- My missionary religious life ad gentes started in a similar way to the call of God made to Samuel. With the advice of Eli, the child Samuel has recognized God’s call to him: “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening” (1Sam3,9). Since childhood, I recognized a particular call, but did not know who is calling me and to what I am called to. During the years of the aspirantate, the pre-novitiate, novitiate and post-novitiate, I had many opportunities to hear news about the missionary life of Salesian missionaries and I was wondering if one day I could be a Salesian missionary, too. In the novitiate, I expressed my missionary desire to the Novice Master, and then, during my three years of philosophy, I always spoke with the Rector about this desire to be a missionary ad gentes, and he guided me and accompanied to discern my Salesian missionary vocation.
In 2012, the Rector Major sent me to Venezuela and after 6 months of the studying Spanish, I was sent to the Amazon and there I worked for two years as a practical trainee. My life among indigenous peoples was marked by one surprise after another because of the difference in food, the language, the things of ordinary daily life, in a word, because of the cultural difference. I experienced culture shock during my first months living in the new culture, things have happened in a way that I have never imagined in my life
Before going to the Amazon, many people have advised me not to be scared of culture shock, but when I experienced it, it caused me a lot of stress due to difficulties in speaking, in talking, in communicating ... in the new language. Day after day, with the help and the animation of the Salesian confreres, with the closeness and welcome on the part of the people in the Amazon, I made the effort to deal with this shock and, above all, I re-read my diary which I wrote during the course for new missionaries in Rome in September 2011. I went through it again, reflected and shared my experiences and my reflections. These have helped me to stay calm in difficult moments.
Gradually I was able to calmly deal with culture shock and clearly recognize the infinite grace of God for me; He is always with me in all situations and circumstances. I am convinced that the life of prayer and union with God are really important because they are the sources of the motivations that help us through the difficult moments of our lives. I feel happy and satisfied as a missionary amongst the Piarora and Jiva: the indigenous peoples in the Amazon. “The Salesian missionary takes on the values of these people and share their hopes and anxieties” (Const. 30). I recognize that the culture of these people is a rich and impressive. They have been a part of my missionary life. As I journey with them I also discover more and more the call of God for me.
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