Maraming salamat po...

“We have realized that our differences can be a resource to enrich each other…”

Br. Simone

O ne morning of May 2003, our novice master gave the news about our assignment to the international Theologate. When I heard that I had been assigned to the Philippines my first thought was that Filipino people were given to me by God as a gift, and those with whom I was called to share my life and my vocation as a Xaverian missionary.

Before leaving Italy, I had mix feelings of fear and joy. The enthusiasm to know new people, and a new culture, was mixed up with the fear of leaving my country, my family and friends, and the many things to which I was attached. Arriving here in the Philippines those feelings continued but since the beginning Filipino people have showed to me care and affection. It seemed that most of them knew the difficulty of being in a foreign country and of communicating with people of different language. So many times, I have found persons welcoming me with their smiling, helping me to reach a place, offering all they have in order to make me feel comfortable.

When I have felt homesick or my spiritual and human journey was harder, I have met fathers, mothers and youth showing that despite financial problem and hardships, life goes on. Every day they entrust their lives and their families to the Lord because they have to work and earn money. Their faith is an example for me and I could realize that in the time of suffering, I was not alone, and most of all, in those moments there was a Father looking after me and giving the courage and the strength to face the challenges.

“I believe that our faith in God and the love for the people transform our eyes and hearts making us able to feel at home even in foreign countries…”

Besides my Community who cares for and helps me, I felt the desire to have some friends. I thank God for the gift of friendship. Despite the fact that I come from another country with a different socio-cultural background, I was able to find some “Friends” with whom to share my ideas, feelings and experiences. We value the gift of communion, being together, chatting, and singing. We have realized that our differences can be a resource to enrich each other, to grow as better persons rather than to divide us. We felt that we can understand each other despite the barriers of language and culture.

What surprises me and makes me feel well it is the fact that after few years of having being here, people, places, way of behaving are little by little becoming so familiar to me that going home for vacation I had to make an effort to readjust myself to my own environment. I believe that our faith in God and the love for the people transform our eyes and hearts making us able to feel at home even in foreign countries.

Finally I would like to say thank to all the people I met and meet every day. I consider them as companions towards a just and better world and the life that has to come.

Maraming salamat po sa mga Pilipino sa mainit na pagtanggap ninyo.