LETTERSPAGE (March-April 2009)

In this issue, we feature an exchange of emails between Columban lay missionary, Marife Padao and one of our readers, Lucille Arcedas. May their sharing encourage you, our beloved readers, to keep in touch with our missionaries, and most of all pray for them as they work in God’s vineyard. We featured Marife’s article in our January-February issue. You can also find a reflection by Lucille in Your Turn in this issue.

 
 
Hi, Fe! Thanks for your sharing in Misyon. It's great that you have experienced the fullness of life as a missionary. The world needs people like you who have the courage, openness and humility to follow God's will and to offer life in service to God through the Church.
 
May you have the perseverance, strength and good health to go on. GOD BLESS!
 
In Jesus and Mary,
Lucille S. Arcedas
 

---

Hi Lucille,
 
Greetings from Ireland!!
Apologies for the delayed reply. I don’t have my own computer and I need to be patient in waiting for the vacant one or to be in Dalgan (the Columban headquarters in Ireland) just like now and I can then use the internet.  Anyway, thank you so much for your letter, which meant so much to me. It gave me strength to do more in mission work and to be more kind to myself as I live in a culture which is very different from our own.
 
As of now, I’ve been here in Ireland for 10 months and I have adjust a bit regarding the weather and the accent of the Irish English as well. Our American English is very much different. There are terminologies that really differ and this gives me the time to listen and digest what they are just to understand. Sometimes, you know I’m not getting any younger, I forgot some of the terminologies, but the number one key is prayer, then patience and just to be kind to ourselves. I mean, be kind because I need to stretch my patience just to learn. Now, I am working with the travelling people's playschool and the children’s' tutorial after class as well. (Editor’s note: The Travelling People are a nomadic group in Ireland. You can learn more at the website  of the Pavee Point Travellers Centre.)

It’s very much opposite to what I did in the Philippines when I was working with elderly people.
 
One time I was in the playschool assisting a child in identifying colors and numbers and I yawned and know what? The child asked me ‘Do you want to sleep?’ I was so embarrassed with myself. Hehehe, I know that it was a part of my adjustment.
 
Anyway, my team will be going home to the Philippines in 2011 and I hope to meet you in person. From what place are you?
 
Once again, thank you so much for writing me.
 
With prayers,
Epie
 

---

Dear Epie,

 Thanks for the reply and for another inspiring Misyon story. I'm a native of Kabankalan, Negros Occidental. I can consider myself as a Columban baby because they were our priests until my elementary years. I constantly communicate with some of them as they are very much loved. I'm planning to visit Fr Michael Martin and I might see Fr Seán personally this summer. Fr Brian Gore is staying in our city. 
 
God bless you in your journey of faith. Adjustments will be over soon and when you have fully embraced their culture, you've got to come home.   More power and God bless.
 
In Christ's love,
Lucille
 

---

Good morning Lucille,
 
Give my kiss to Fr Mickey Martin and my best regards to all and a warm hug to Fr Brian.  Do they have a dog now as a replacement for Lucy (a dog we loved in Singalong)? (Editor’s note: Yes, there’s a new dog, ‘Leila’, a female boxer that is even more friendly than Lucy!)


I think Father Brian is now enjoying his time now in Kabankalan. Regards to Fr  Seán as well.
 
I would love to visit Negros as I never have since my area for fieldtrips before in the Visayas was Iloilo. I’ve been in there several times.  Hopefully I can go to your place after my term.
 
Okay, stress-free week ahead!
 
With prayers,
Epie