He was at a prayer meeting when someone asked,
"How many of you believe that when you die you will go straight to Heaven?"
He was one of the two or three people in the room to raise his hand.
He says of this,
"I did not raise my hand because I believe I am better than others, or more holy.
I raised my hand because I believe with all my heart in the mercy of God."
A missionary priest here in Thailand for over 60 years, Father Jaquemin has been the spiritual guide for Heart’s Home Bangkok since the beginning. Every Monday, for the past 20 years, he has been meeting with our house of volunteers to guide us, share about the culture, how to live the compassion, and to offer mass for us.
This past fall, he left for France to have heart surgery for 2 months. At 90 years old, he had his aortic valve replaced and also had a stint inserted. Before leaving, he said he will come back--he will die in Thailand: his home.He left us with a smile, saying he was not scared at all--”If it is time, it’s time.” After the surgery, he was staying in the hospital, when he told the doctor: "Let me go now. I need to go home. Thailand has hospitals."
The doctor finally acquiesced and Fr. Jaquemin returned to us before Christmas! I cannot help but look at this man who has given his life to the Thai people, and to Jesus Christ without my eyes filling with tears of love and respect. He is the most humble man I know, full of joy and love and wisdom.
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| Erika, Marie, Fr. Jaquemin, Thuy, and Natalie |
The heart of God is in Him--visible on his face as he smiles. The humility of his vocation, the sacrifice of his life is all present on the altar as a gift of himself to God during the Sacrifice of the Mass. Each time I see him, each time he celebrates mass for our community, I cannot help but feel the presence of God, undeniably present in this man who has given his life to share that: God is Love.
Many of you have been telling me what a hard decision it is be here, what a sacrifice. I have had a hard time comprehending what you all mean. It didn’t seem so difficult a decision to take, nor did it seem I was missing much.
After almost one year here... Yea, I’m missing a lot! It takes time to recognize the challenges--especially as they come more frequently as time passes.
But here’s the real lesson:
observing those who really sacrifice their lives.
After almost one year here... Yea, I’m missing a lot! It takes time to recognize the challenges--especially as they come more frequently as time passes.
But here’s the real lesson:
observing those who really sacrifice their lives.
There is something that I see in the eyes of the ones who have been here so long... Sister Joan from Australia lives down the street from us, here for 17 years already. Sister Joan is in her early 70s, and lives alone in a house in the slum just down the road.
Her mission is entirely to help children to stay in school. As she was a teacher in Australia, she has contacts with her past students and annually returns home to appeal for funding. She speaks enough Thai, and reads a fair bit to communicate.
She has helped numerous children to continue in school when their parents reach the point of being unable to afford the fees, books, uniforms, shoes, transportation, and food costs. We see her around at mass and in the neighborhood. Because of her, a lot of the children we know are able to stay in school.
Her mission is entirely to help children to stay in school. As she was a teacher in Australia, she has contacts with her past students and annually returns home to appeal for funding. She speaks enough Thai, and reads a fair bit to communicate.
She has helped numerous children to continue in school when their parents reach the point of being unable to afford the fees, books, uniforms, shoes, transportation, and food costs. We see her around at mass and in the neighborhood. Because of her, a lot of the children we know are able to stay in school.
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| Laure, Katie, Marie, Eva, Thuy, Sister Joan and Erika (in May 2011) |
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I never saw this life as a sacrifice until I saw it in the eyes of these "long timers". They have truly left their cultures, languages, families and friends. In a sense, there is a deep vacancy in their lives as we may see it.
I look at these two missionaries: What is it that makes them choose this life? Living so far from their homes for so long?! I chose it just for a short time--and whatever hardships I encounter, I know that I will go home in the end!
The life of a foreigner: we will ALWAYS be a foreigner in this land.
We will never understand another culture, their traditions, their way of thinking.
I will never speak Thai like a native.
There is no “Eureka” moment where it all comes together.
There must be an immense love, a deep motivation that is beyond human strength to keep someone here, so deeply immersed in the culture and life of the Thais,
or of any other culture, any other people.
I can comprehend only a shred of what it means to sacrifice
--it IS a sacrifice--
one’s life to be here.
It is not easy by any means and I don’t think I could ever choose it fully with my own will.
We will never understand another culture, their traditions, their way of thinking.
I will never speak Thai like a native.
There is no “Eureka” moment where it all comes together.
There must be an immense love, a deep motivation that is beyond human strength to keep someone here, so deeply immersed in the culture and life of the Thais,
or of any other culture, any other people.
I can comprehend only a shred of what it means to sacrifice
--it IS a sacrifice--
one’s life to be here.
It is not easy by any means and I don’t think I could ever choose it fully with my own will.
