" The secret of peace and happiness is found in one's self denials, in emptying oneself and letting everything be filled by God's love(Blessed Ascencion Nicol Goni). There are
People who are searching for their happiness in the material things, such as
money, car, possessions and others things that are not from God. Mother
Ascension gives us the clear answer to happiness. These are to be found only in
God through the discovering of oneself.
Let me share
to you about my experiences of finding true happiness. The stage of postulance
is as a ticket to journey back to my experiences. Such a great time, I discover
that being a postulant it is also a special opportunity for me to reflect
myself, and to find out, WHO WAS I BEFORE, WHO AM I NOW and WHO WILL I BE in
the future.
I found out
that discovering a true happiness is not from what people say but it comes from
within oneself. It is true that experience is the best way to learn. Since, one
year of postulance I actually learned many things through my experiences,
especially in the most difficulties times that I encountered. Therefore, for me
“experience is the best teacher ever” Nelson Mandela. In order to be a great
missionary it is the precious time for me to change and to prepare for the
future. Everybody knows that the future is a mystery, but it is our own duty to
take care because it is in our own hand and we always have freedom to make a
choice. I believe that life is never late to change.
I started my
postulancy on August 15 together with my two companions: Rosalina and Rosita in
St. Rosa de Lima community, P. Noval. Before this stage, we have a retreat with
our provincial Philippines Sr. Virginia Benito. During our retreat I was
inspiring with her powerful messages that “our called is a especial gift from
God.’’ Through this sentence made realized the important of my vocation and
helped me grow a lot in my personal prayer. I am very happy with the sisters in
my community for their helped and supported. Being great missionaries, it is
not easy you can be abandoned, unloved and unwanted. Yet, I have never been
experience these things because I have great sisters who are not only be my
sisters but my parents and best friends who I can share and felt the presence
of God through them. I have owed them much; their love and friendship have made
my vocation grow stronger in God. I discover the love of Christ through them
each day. As a human being I am not perfect, many times I struggle with myself
in order to follow some of their examples and teachings. Sometimes, I found it
hard just to listen to them, I think what I thought is the best, for this
reason I decided to go away from what they wanted to teach me. Since, they did
not see my imperfections and failure they always try to guide me back to God’s
way. Their generous and loving patients have inspired me a lot to follow
Christ. These are not the only things that I learn from them, but I also learn
that being a follower of Christ I should be joyful and loving person as they
are.
This Congregation of Dominican Sisters of the Rosary is following the teaching of Saint Dominic that everyone should study in order to know more about Christ our master. Therefore, with grateful hearts my sisters in this Philippines province especially in my community have decided to send me to study. This place where I study I learnt many things and know more the meaning of someone who is called by God.
After
learning many things in this sojourn classes, I was sent by my professors and had
my exposure in Baseco Tondo and I stayed for nine days with the Urban Poor.
Baseco is
the place where the people of Manila throw the garbage. Therefore it is dirty
and smelly. At the same time, it is a small place which full of populations. Their
daily work is peeling garlic's. Since they do not have work, the governments
make a project for every family. In order to sustain their family, they have to
peel one sack of garlic's and the payment is 100 peso. Besides most of the
children are lack of education and malnourished.
I was
shocked when I arrived in my foster parents’ house, eventually they are very
poor but they are very generous and faithful to each other. It was a first time
for me to stay with some trans Genders, despite of my first prejudice, I was
very happy to stay with them and overcome my feelings because we shared our
life to each other. During my exposure I was helping my foster mother to cook
for the district children and helped in the parish Church.
Religious
life is a beautiful gift for the Church therefore I am challenge to alert,
awake and always be attentive to those who surround me. I try myself not to
harm anyone and not to be selfish. When I concern about others and give myself
to them, then I really discover the great happiness in my heart and it gives me
strength to go beyond. As a saying goes “in order to be happy we should make
others happy.” I am grateful to San Luis Beltran Province, Philippines and
Virgen Fiel community for all the support and prayers.
Everything
is possible for God. Trusting in God is to let oneself be protected by Him. I
am grateful for all his protections throughout my life especially during nine
days of my exposure in Baseco. Once I realized my calling I decided to follow
Christ. In order to be a disciple of Him I entered this Congregation of
Dominican Sisters of the Rosary. Yet, I started my state of life in Postulance
last year which taught me a lot of things that I could never imagine. Being a
missionary I must be an instrument of God to all the peoples. In Particular way
is to bring the good news to the poorest among the poor. The experiences of
being with the poor has made me realized my own life how lucky Am I to be a
religious life. I have enough things for my need, yet many times I still
complaint, by looking at the poor, I questioned myself, as a missionary what
will I do to help them? Can I just concern about myself and leave them alone? When
I am thinking of leaving them alone my heart was not in peace, because I found
Christ in them, I discovered his love through their sufferings and their pains
that I have seen with my own eyes. It is not easy to leave somebody alone in
their times of difficulties. I believe that my calling is for them, but it is
not easy if I am not united with my community. Therefore, as long as I am
united with my community there is nothing difficult and the true happiness can
never be away.
Sara
Mendonca
Novice
Novice
