VIRIDITAS: SOUL GREENING
Interviewed by Sister Mali Dominica Wong, OP
Hawaii Catholic Herald
From being assigned from the Philippines to Kauai to Oahu in the 1970s, to Africa in the 1980s and back and forth between the Philippines, Oahu and San Francisco, returning to Oahu in the years after, I think sometimes that my middle name is “Survivor.” No matter what happens, I just keep holding on to my rosary and Mama Mary. She is always there in whatever difficulties or problems I may encounter.
Each transfer to a different place holds something new. There is always someone there you can ask for help. As long as you try your best and are not afraid to accept that you need help, you will always be OK.
One summer, four sisters responded to the call for volunteers to go to Molokai to help teach CCD during the summer. We stayed on topside around the town of Maunaloa. The place where we were at was very simple and rustic. The priest even did not have enough food just making simple soups with vegetables he planted. As for ourselves, we supplemented the canned goods we brought with hand-squeezed juice from the guavas we picked behind the house.
Out of the four of us, three sisters were licensed to drive. The car given to us was a stick shift. One day, Sister Louise was having more difficulty driving. Sister Bernarda said to her, “Give the wheel to Sister Mark.” “But, I don’t have my license,” I said. Sister Bernarda continued, “Choose. Either we end up off a cliff, or you drive.” I later went to Kaunakakai and officially got my license.
One year, we were asked to help with the census taking. So, we paired up so that each team of sisters had at least one who could speak Tagalog. We were doing fine. At one house, we greeted the man in Tagalog, and he replied in the same. Then we asked him if he was alone. There was no response. We asked again. Frustration began to arise in his face. So, thinking quickly I said in broken pidgin, “Only you stay ova hea?” He responded, “Yeah.” From then on we were able to communicate.
With humor, all hardships, everything is easier. Kenya had its own challenges. As we were only able to obtain rice every three months, we ate a lot of potatoes. One day the other sister complained about only having potatoes. I took some crunchy raw sugar and dipped the potato in it. I gave it to her and said, “Dessert.”
As pioneers in the mission field, we needed to be trained well. I am grateful for my missionary training. My rosary and the prayer to St. Martin de Porres, I always keep in my pocket. St. Martin reminds me to also always stay humble.
Sister Mary Mark Berdin is a Dominican Sister of the Most Holy Rosary of the Philippines. She is professed 55 years. She teaches at St. Joseph School in Waipahu and resides at the Dominican Center Hawaii.
