Isabel Martins, Sister Hospitaller in East Timor, tells us how this second Christmas there has been for them.
After this second Christmas in Timor, we already felt like a family, since, in addition to meeting most of the residents of the neighborhood, especially their children, we have experienced a greater closeness between religious, and we are already inserting ourselves in the parish.
We have been able to appreciate that, this year, in the neighborhood to which we belong, there was less external noise. More internalization? Possibly! These people are very religious and, although there are not many cases of covid-19 in Timor-Leste and no one has died from this pandemic yet, most of the people have some relatives in Indonesia and were unable to visit them during these days. We understand that this fact has taken away the desire to celebrate with spirit these days.
Due to the closing of the borders, this year, we have not been able to find in the market “the pampering” that we usually put on the tables on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day. We do not find walnuts, hazelnuts, raisins and so many other things that, in addition to giving beauty to the Christmas dinner table, are always “a good aperitif” and allow us to make special desserts. This absence allowed us to reflect and make the experience of many poor families happier and that they could celebrate, even with little. We believe that God has allowed us to see and touch him, especially in those we have met.
Christmas is the feast of the Child Jesus who is coming for everyone!
The phrases expressed by the ecstatic children in front of the manger, which we made at home, made us experience that the tenderness of God is present in these and other happy children. So we invite you to thank the Child Jesus for wanting to come into the world to make everyone happy.
They also wanted to pray for poor children and those who suffer. We experienced that this helped them to understand that there are children with fewer possibilities than they, and that they themselves could help reduce their suffering if only through prayer. A deep mystery, celebrated with such simplicity. A God who becomes a child for our love.
Merry Christmas in Timor!
On December 24, in Maliana, the Eucharistic celebration began at 10 p.m. and it ended around midnight, the best time to see the fireworks. But what brought us the most joy was the celebration of the Eucharist. It was moving to be in a celebration full of life, because there were many people of all ages, especially many children and young people.
In the afternoon, at 3.30 p.m. We were surprised by Sister Elmer, from the Congregation of the Brothers of the Poor, who, with a group of young people, wanted to accompany us by singing various Christmas carols in English. They weren’t with us for long, but they allowed us to intensify our joy and arouse the curiosity of the neighborhood children who wanted to imitate the group.
They said: “We also want to sing to the Child Jesus and to the sisters. We can?” Yes, we said: “We will meet tomorrow at 4.30 pm”. And we add that to sing to the Child Jesus, it is important to rehearse a little, know well what to sing and that everything comes out well tune. They did not know that in addition to having agreed to spend part of the afternoon with the Sisters of Reparation of Our Lady of Fatima, we also wanted to offer them a snack, after having previously spoken with their parents.
When we went to the Sisters of Repair, we found a difficult path, full of piles of dirt and mixed stones, which forced us to zigzag along a road that for most of its section had small streams on both sides.
For the Repairing Sisters it was a surprise because we only let them know a few minutes before. This quick meeting (with a snack and a little chat) was very enjoyable. We did not want to go out at night on the road and we wanted to pray with a little calm. When we got home at dusk, another surprise! Some of the children we had arranged to sing with on the 26th were already there to sing for the sisters. It was difficult to put off until the next day what they were so happy to do on Christmas Day. First, on their own initiative, they said a little prayer, then they sang some Christmas carols, some in Tetum and some in Portuguese.
We went to get some cakes and juices and ended the party, thinking, “Now the party is over!”
On the morning of the 26th, several children were already waiting for us to take them to mass because they wanted to go “in the sisters’ new car.” It was an immense joy for them, the lights and the movement enchanted them and their laughter caused us to smile. At 4.30 p.m. they appeared again to sing. After all, they hadn’t forgotten that we were meeting that day at that time. Each child brought a plant “from the road.” They plucked or cut them, wrapped them in soil and lots of water.
We put them next to the Bethlehem, which made them very happy, because this was their gift. Present the Child Jesus? Maybe, but they said some were for Sister Mary Joy, some for Sister Andrea, and some for Sister Isabel.
We help them fulfill their wish and after a few songs we offered them a snack again. They wanted to pray before beginning to sing and were full of enthusiasm to be able to do it before the manger.
We conclude that our second Christmas celebrated in Timor-Leste has had nothing special, but a lot of simplicity and charm that, after all, is what strongly characterizes the essence of the Christmas spirit.
Christmas Ksolok!
