By the end of the second semester of the school year 2007-2008, some scholastics immediately prepared for their Foreign Mission Exposure Program (FMEP). The main purpose of this program is to help the scholastic develop the Jesuit character of being available "to be sent anywhere in the world." The program allows a kind of "dreaming experience" where one experiences what it feels like to be sent to a place with a different culture, language, political situation, and to work with other Jesuits and their colleagues. Another purpose is for exposure to the East Asia and Oceania Assistancy, to its diverse works and cultures.
Ling Khui Shing and Lin Yaw Mana, both from Myanmar, were in Thailand from April 11 – May 19. They went to Nan Soi Karenni refugee camp, near a Thailand-Burma border town called Mae Hong Son. The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Director, Fr Bernard Arputhasamy (MAS), is the coordinator for the mission. Lin Yaw worked with some high school teachers running the summer school while Khui Shing and Ulysses "Ogie" Cabayao, a Filipino Jesuit Scholastic in Theology, taught conversational English to a group of teachers. They experienced the sufferings of their fellow-Burmese. It hurt them so much to know that these refugees are homeless, hungry, discriminated, taken for granted and have lost their hope and identity. Getting the chance to know the JRS staff was one of the greatest graces they continue to relish at the end of the mission. All of them were very friendly. Their love for the refugees, concretized through their full dedication to their works, was inspirational. They also found Thailand’s culture to be praiseworthy. God was concretely present in the midst of the refugees to be touched, heard and seen.
Arrupeans at the Tamaraw Falls. The community had their villa in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro from May 26-30. Minister Br Tinh (ASL), decided to book this venue because he knew the community could experience tranquility, where the sound of waves and being near the ocean will help everyone enjoy each other’s company and break away from the scholastic life in the Ateneo.
From April 17 – May 15, Almanzo Salsinha (ETR) and Gregory Tan Tham Heng (MAS) were sent to Macau. Imran John (SRI) joined them ten days later after completing his Arrupe Month retreat. Frs Fernando Azpiroz, Luciano Morra, Howard Lui, and Fermin Rodriguez of the Chinese Province coordinated their exposure. In Macau, they taught English at Jesuit schools and worked in charitable homes ministered to by Jesuits. In mainland China, Almanzo and Imran went to a leprosy Centre in Guangdong province supported by Caritas Macau while Gregory went to a home for AIDS patients in Hunan province. They saw the rapid changes occurring in China and the immense needs and opportunities for the Society to serve the spiritual needs of China’s vast population. They were also impressed by the diversity of Jesuits serving in the Chinese Province today; they come from more than ten countries.
Two Chinese scholastics, Aloysius and Paul John went to Cambodia from April 20 – May 20. They stayed in the Jesuit House in Phnom Penh. They joined the team of Jesuit Service Cambodia, made up of Jesuits, Mercy and Providence Sisters, lay missionaries and volunteers from all over the world.
Aloysius and Paul John helped in the work towards reconciliation, peace, justice and the full human development of people hurt by war, oppression and exile. The JSC team do this by offering a broad range of social, development, pastoral, spiritual, educational and formation programs across Cambodia such as in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sisophon, Battambang and Banteay Prieb.
Henry Ponce (PHI) and Savio Freitas (ETR) were the last one to leave their visas were delayed. They left for Japan on April 25. The Jesuit Theologate community in Kamishakujii, Tokyo accommodated them for one month. Fr Kajiyama, the Socius to the Provincial of Japan Province and Sch Kogure Yasu, a regent, prepared the entire program. The bulk of their work was with the Catholic Tokyo International Center (CTIC). CTIC helps people of different nationalities and religions to cope with problems concerning marriage, sickness and medical assistance, and job-related issues. Henry and Savio went with some CTIC staff to meet with Filipino migrants who come to CTIC. They also visited some Jesuit schools like Sophia University in Tokyo, Eiko Gakuen in Kamakura and Elizabeth University in Hiroshima.
With their different experiences, the exposure truly served its purpose: to help the scholastic develop the Jesuit character of being available "to be sent anywhere in the world."