‘By the end of my Indonesian Immersion Experience, I knew that I had found what I was looking for’, writes Erina Sharp, one of a group of young adults who recently travelled to Yogyakarta with MAGiS, the Ignatian young adult ministry. Here, Erina recounts an experience which enabled her to overcome obstacles and, in so doing, learn something new about herself.
The MAGiS Immersion Experience gave me the opportunity to try something really different. I did not know what to expect going in, but by the end of the experience, I knew that I had found what I was looking for.
The two best things about the experience were the community and companionship and the challenges that resulted in personal growth. From the moment I set foot in the Yogyakarta airport, I was welcomed into the MAGiS community. I was humbled by the generosity of the people that opened their homes to me; people who did not always have a lot in terms of material wealth, but who, I discovered quickly, had plenty in terms of love and happiness.
Throughout the Experience, I felt encouraged, supported and, despite the occasional language barrier, understood. Sharing stories and making comparisons from the various places we came from was enlightening and fun; the similarities we discovered united us, and the differences made us appreciate the diversity of God’s creations.
It was amazing to watch how the villagers formed a close-knit community, regardless of age, gender or religion. It was even more amazing how they invited us in and accepted us and treated us as a part of their community, as if we were just as important as any other village member. The companionship we formed as the MAGiS group ensured that we never felt alone; saying goodbye was definitely the hardest part of the trip.
The experience provided many challenges, which were really opportunities, to go beyond the ordinary. I never stopped feeling that I was being pushed out of my comfort zone, and though at times this was difficult and caused my stress levels to skyrocket, I know that it was definitely worth it.
When you are put in an unusual situation, you either have to admit defeat, or accept it and rise above the challenge. With the support of the MAGiS group and local community members, I was able to overcome all obstacles, and this enabled me to learn a lot about myself.
I would like to thank all the people who made the Immersion Experience possible and encourage anyone who is given an opportunity like this to go for it, as you will have the best time of your life.
By Erina Sharp, FCJ College, Benalla (Pictured)
