1315 A moving letter from the first Pakistani candidate for Salesian life
austraLasia 1315
A moving letter from the first Pakistani candidate
for Salesian life
CEBU: 2nd November 2005 -- Note: what follows is
from a young man who will identify not only himself but what motivates
him, as he unfolds his story, very simply and beautifully. He was
keen for austraLasia to publish it. May it be of some assistance
to others, especially those in formation or perhaps formators
themselves:
"My name is Eric. I am twenty-two years
old. I am from the capital of Pakistan, Islamabad. I came
to the Salesians of Don Bosco in May 2005. I believe that God
brought me there. Now I am in the Philippines, preparing myself
to become a good Salesian for the better future of Pakistan, as all the
missionaries have been doing there. It was always my greatest
wish to become a religious missionary. Pakistan is a mission land
so it will be a great opportunity for me to work in my own country in
the future. I consider myself very lucky because two years ago I
saw the first batch of graduates from Don Bosco Lahore. I saw the
great missionaries at work: Fr Peter Zago, Fr Hans Dopheide and
Fr Miguel Angel. I will never forget them in my whole life and I
wish to become like them one day.
I would like to share my experience when I arrived
here in the Philippines. It was my first time to be in a place
very far from my country and home. After a month of staying here
I got fed up with everything. I was homesick and did not like the
food at all, especially when I got allergic to fish. There was
only one thing in my mind - that I should go back home.
Everything was dark for me and I tried to control myself to cope with
the situation but I could not. So I wrote an email to Fr Miguel
telling him that I could not live here any more, and thought that
nobody could in the future too. I told him that I was coming back.
After sending this email, I went to the chapel and
spent about two hours in front of the Blessed Sacrament and prayed,
"Lord, please help me".
While praying, I came to the point that I was
dialoguing with Jesus and Mary. They asked me: "Why do you want
to go back?" I answered, "I cannot stay here. Everything is
strange here and I cannot adjust with the food and with many other
things". They asked me, "but it was your wish to become a
Salesian. Will you not continue?" At this I became silent
for a while and then replied: "Yes, it is my wish to become a Salesian
but it seems impossible for me now". They said, "but remember you
made five rules of your life: 1) you will not make food your problem;
2) you will not make clothing your problem; 3) you will not make
staying anywhere your problem; 4) you will not make your family a
problem; and 5) you will always ask help from your Mother Mary and
Jesus. Have you forgotten all these?"
At this point I paused for some time again and
remembered the time when I promised all of these five rules of my
life. I thought about my country which needs me for the welfare
of youth to save their souls and give them good education. I
asked pardon from Jesus and Mary and became very peaceful and calm deep
in my heart and soul. I decided not to go back, but be back one
day with success as a Salesian - a good son of Don Bosco.
I sent one email to Fr Miguel with all the promises
above. And now I am fully satisfied of my being here. I am
trying my best day by day to form myself to make Don Bosco alive in
me. I ask all of you for prayer so that I will be able to reach
my destination whatever God has planned for me.
When Don Rua told Don Bosco that he wanted to become
a priest and after him John Cagliero, Don Bosco said, "There are two of
you today; tomorrow, a hundred, later a thousand all working for the
good of the people". I hope that the future of Pakistan will be
the same.
________________________
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