Did you choose the destination or was it assigned to you? Are you happy with it?
The choice is up to the Congregation. We accept the land to which they send us as God's will. I am happy with my destination, and even if there were difficulties with the language or culture, I am sure that the grace of God and the intercession of Our Lady will assist me every day.
How did the people close to you take your missionary choice?
There were not too many complications because my family, friends, my confreres on my choice. We all share the same faith; we are Christians and religious. They all gave me their blessing.
Do you have any doubts or fears about the new culture, the new reality…?
It is not easy to leave your own country. I did have some worries about the language, the welcome of the people, safety etc., But the presence of the confreres, who are already there, gave me the hope of being able to face these anxieties in a tranquil manner.
What projects or dreams do you have for your mission?
I have no other project than to respond every day to the call of the Lord, in obedience to my Superiors and in the service of young people.
Do you have missionary role models that you want to imitate?
My missionary vocation was inspired by the history of the saints, especially the missionaries, and more precisely the person of St. Francis Xavier. But I was also impressed by the testimony of the Church in Madagascar, the enthusiasm of the missionaries who sacrificed and who still today continue to spend their lives for the evangelization and education of the Malagasy people. I too want to be like them!
Missionary life is above all evangelization and pastoral zeal for souls. Do you feel ready in this field?
As a Salesian, my priority is the salvation of souls. And to prepare myself, I have already begun to learn the language to be able to communicate with the people that the Lord will set on my path.
Do you want to send a message to your confreres and the young people?
I would like to tell my confreres that it is a vocation within a vocation. And that all of us are - missionaries "ad extra" or "ad intra" – who try to live the virtues such as charity, humility, discretion, patience, faith, flexibility... to be signs and bearers of the love of God among the poorest young people.
While my message to young people is: “Never be afraid to give your life for others, like Jesus”.
