Bro. Martin's missionary experience

My Missionary Experience in Africa

In 1984 the General Superior of Brothers FIC and his vicar visited my community in Central Java, Indonesia. They asked me whether I would be willing to go to Zambia, Africa. I had mixed feelings; in fact it was good news that I would go to Africa, but, I also felt sad as I had just started teaching for ten months at Teacher Training College run by Brothers FIC. This was after my four-year University studies at Catholic Institute run by the Jesuits. I had a degree in Religious Studies and felt very happy to teach Religious Education and Music at the College

In those days, Religious Education was a dead subject in Java. To my surprise, I managed to transform it a lively subject. The students were very enthusiastic and they liked the subject. So did I. Religious Education was simply "alive" and sounded very meaningful. I felt honored by the students and respected by principal and fellow tutors

I said "yes" to the offer but at the same time I felt sorry to leave the school that had stirred in me enthusiasm for teaching Religious Education and Music. I thought I would never again get the same degree of deep happiness as was the case in this school. Despite my misgivings, I left the place and went to Philippines to take course in Human Formation as a preparation for the mission work in Zambia. From Manila I proceed to London to learn English. Finally, on a Friday, January 31, 1986 I arrived in Mansa, Zambia.

I was assigned to teach at St. Clemet Secondary School, a mission school run by Brothers FIC, and a doubled as part time teacher at Mansa Teacher Training College (Government's school). At the same time I was a member of Vocation Promotion Team of the Diocese of Mansa. It was a very good experience as I got opportunities to travel to Schools to participate in recollections and meetings with Catholic students. Unfortunately, Mansa was a breeding place of mosquitoes and in 1989 I got severe malaria. I returned to Indonesia for treatment and after recovering, I left Zambia for Malawi.

During my home-leave I applied to the Ministry of Education in Malawi. My application was honored and I was posted at Monfort Teacher Training College. When I reported, the principal of the college, Mr. Nakoma, asked me to teach Creative Arts. Although I have no qualification to handle this subject, I accepted it and in the course of time, I managed to "enliven" this subject.

In 2006, Montfort College was turned into Catholic University. I applied for a transfer to the Ministry of Education. My application was granted and on the posting list issued on October 2006, I was on the transfer list, it was a transfer from Montfort College to Blantyre Teacher Training College, teaching Expressive Arts. I started teaching at BTTC on January 2007. By this time ( 2010) I have been teaching Creative Arts/Expressive Arts at Teacher Training College for twenty years.

What is the work of a Missionary Brother? As a religious person, I regard the work (such as teaching, and others tasks within congregation), not just a mere work to be done. It is an apostolic work. This foundation is stated in the Constitutions of Brothers FIC no. 20.

It reads: "Apostolate is more than mere working; it is richer and deeper. Work can turn into apostolate by the devotion and love which it is done and by the fundamentally religious attitude which underlies it. Our ideal is that our whole lives are imbued with an apostolic spirit"

In regard to the work of teaching and learning at the College, my task is to accompany learners, to encourage learners to experience the "joy of working" (learning), to realize that work is a good thing, not because it is useful and enjoyable, but also because it expresses and increases the human dignity.

Through our work we not only transform the world, we are also transformed ourselves, becoming "evermore human beings". In the formation I learnt that the goal of life is; "to be myself, meaning that I have to actualize the potentialities of my being and at the same time to accomplish that for which I am meant." In the Constitutions of Brothers FIC article no 1, says: "Being truly human, that how we see the mission of our lives. We want to take this seriously"

Every year I collect the beautiful works made by learners. Whenever I display their works, students are usually amazed at the beauty of their own works. Then I usually conclude with the remarks like: Beautiful? Yes! These works are an expression of you. Beautiful people produce these beautiful things! You are beautiful, you are talented. It is your job to explore the talents God has given you. When you teach the children in the class, your job is to explore the talents of the children. These talents are gifts from God. In this case, your work as a teacher in fact is to take part in nurturing the gift of God in every human being (child).

Do you recall of the time when created these beautiful artifacts? How much time did you spend producing these items? Do you regret and feel that you wasted the time? How do you feel when your work is displayed? Proud? Esteemed? Once for sure, now you have a desire to do even better! This is the nature of human being to do more and more, to produce more and more, to feel better and better, to be happier and happier.

During these memorable years of living in Africa, daily I have had the opportunity to fulfill my dream of contributing towards the creation of places where people can live and work together in love, serving the needs of others, especially the needy. In doing so, I have been learning and in the process been enriched by the people. I don't take everything for granted. These experiences are gifts from God.

Bro. Martin Dariyo