Mission Experience of an FMM Sister in Sri Lanka
This is an experience of living among an entirely disadvantaged community - tea pluckers! These families are truly marginalized in many ways! Let me share their history!
They were brought to Sri Lanka by the British over 200 years ago to pluck tea leaves as this was a new trade started by the British who loved tea! The local people at that time didn’t drink tea, and therefore were not interested in such a trade!
The tea-pluckers were paid the bare minimum just enough to buy the essentials they needed for their survival. They were provided with what we call “line houses” - a row of 10 houses with common toilets! They bought their daily provisions within the estates, and not allowed to go out of the estates!
It was in such a context that the FMM Sisters in Sri Lanka opted to live among these people, to serve them in whatever way they could. The sisters did not know where to begin! With their clothing? Or with their shelter? Or with the education of the children? Or ……?
he provincial of that time decided to start in a small way, to bring about small changes, to “uplift” them! At present, we have five communities in different estates: in Nuwara Eliya, Hatton, Madulkelle, Anningkande and in Dehiowita. We are mainly concerned about the education of children, youth and women in order to uplift them! We have Nursery schools, teachers in the government schools, and we conduct private classes in the evening for slow learners. We also have a boarding house in Hatton for students from the estates.
During these past few years, I have served in Dehiowita, Anninkante and Hatton, teaching in the government schools as a voluntary teacher. I worked for the development of these students by organizing different programmes, by networking with the other teachers in the schools, etc. At present I am teaching in the Loyola Campus, to help in whatever I could the students who come from the plantation sector. I am also involved in the parish activities: teaching catechism, member of the church choir, youth ministry, FMM Lay Associates, helping in different societies, and visiting families. I use my gifts, talents and knowledge to improve the quality of life of the people of this area.
My apostolate includes the deepening of the faith of the Christians. The tea-pluckers have also taught me many Gospel values: to be happy with little things, respect for human dignity, and to love nature.
here is so much yet to be done, in spite of all our efforts through formal and non-formal education, programmes and projects! The words of the prophets keep ringing in my ears:
"I hear the people cry …… whom shall I send …"
Sr. Magdalene Lambert, FMM