Sr. Rosita Mazon

I heard somebody open the door slowly. A man with a lighted flashlight was walking towards my bed. I got scared, but had a courage to say gently, ‘who are you? What are you looking for? What do you want?’ there was no response from the man, so I got all the more scared. Then I composed myself and prayed to God for help. When the man was about to grab me I gave him a very forceful kick, which knocked him down. I’m sure he was hurt. He then pulled me from the bed and started hitting me with his strong fist. My face and neck swelled up like a balloon. He punch my mouth and a number of my teeth fell out. Later I discovered that he had fractured my left jaw. He then stabbed me with a knife and wounded me at the side of my face and slightly at the back. I cried and shouted out for help and it was only then the intruder left me, soaked in blood and struggling in pain.

While we were on our way to the hospital, I struggled so much not only because of the pain, but because I wanted to live. I was holding on to my life. Then graced moment came to me. I remembered the Crucified Lord, then I prayed ‘ life is in your hands, O Lord. You have given it to me, you may take it anytime.’ Suddenly it dawned on me what it means to be a missionary. A missionary is one who is sent not only to work with or for the people. Being a missionary also means experiencing, or being victimized by the evil thing that is going on in the country, which you are sent. It means being ready to give up one’s life.

While I was in the hospital, religious and lay missionaries as well as Filipino workers in the country came for a visit. Some of them consoled me and others discouraged me - suggesting that I leave the country for good. I know it was out of concern for me, but I said to them ‘Give me time to reflect on this, and let us all hope that the Lord’s will may be done.’

All through my stay in the hospital (about two months) the two national nurses, Mary and Cathy would come and visit me after their duties. One afternoon, while both of them were sitting by my bed, Mary said, ‘Sorry sister for what our “wantok” (kababayan) did to you. Violence is really getting worse in our country. I hope you will not give up. Papua New Guinea needs daring missionaries.’ Cathy said, ‘ that’s true, sister’. Then both of them held my hands tightly and said again, ’Sorry, Sister’. I was touched by their compassion and smiled at them before they released my hands. That smile was an expression of my Yes.

Yes, I felt that the Lord wanted me to stay in Papua New Guinea as a missionary. More than that, the Lord wanted me to forgive and to bring peace even if it hurt.

I thanked God for Mary and Cathy who paved the way for me to remain faithful to my missionary call. So here I am, still in Papua New Guinea, teaching a catholic agency high school. Deep in my heart I say, ‘come what may, my life is in your hands, O Lord. May my being here bear fruit in plenty’.

Sr. Rosita Mazon is a Holy Spirit Sister from the Philippines working in Papua New Guinea.