VIRIDITAS: SOUL GREENING
Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Missionaries adapt to wherever they are sent. It can be a challenge. But at the same time it is an enriching experience for all as we grow with each other spiritually, emotionally, psychologically and culturally. Imagine two people walking together along the same road and ending in the same place. When the final destination is reached, they celebrate because by the time they have reached the end they have been transformed anew.
When I came to Hawaii 11 years ago, I came as a caterpillar. Now, I am a butterfly. I became a different person from the one that first arrived here. As I look back on my mission here, there were many experiences that cannot be measured. There was much to be learned and people to get to know. We laughed together and cried together; we grew together.
There were many challenges, such as how to keep the school going, how to increase the enrollment, how to do things orderly and well. But because of human elements, even if you wish things to be really good, they will not all be that good. So at the end of the day I just say, “Tomorrow will be another day.” Tomorrow has its own problems. Thus, what I need to do today, I just do it knowing that it is God who is strengthening me.
And when I feel like giving up, I know the feeling will pass because I do not really want to give up. Every day has its own problems and its own solutions. And so at night I pray, “Thank you, Lord that I survived the day. Please give me your strength to go on again.”
The Scripture that keeps me grounded is “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13) It is my mantra all the time. I also have my religious community. When there are multiple issues to attend to, I tell them about it. They only need to listen to me as I need to figure out how to do things right. That is the beauty of religious life, you have your community as your back up, your strength, your post to lean on. You cannot be limping all the time. If I lose a leg, I still have three to support me in my community of four.
One thing good about struggles, however, is that they draw you closer to God. Under trials, you can always feel the presence of God. Human help, people, are there. But it is God who puts a period to the statement, who answers the question and who laughs at the exclamation point. If I am surprised every day, God is even more surprised every day. His answers may not be the ones I want, but they are good answers, that keep me saying, “Good, it is done.” Tomorrow is another day.
I am not the kind of person who looks back at the problems of the past. The past is done. It is a burden to have a lot of baggage. It is difficult to walk if you have a lot of baggage. When I travel, I travel light.
Sister Victoria Lavente is a Sister of St. Paul of Chartres based in the Philippines. She arrived in Honolulu in 2007 to be principal of St. Anthony School in Kalihi. The school closes at the end of this school year. Her next mission is in Dubai.
