My journey, my call to formation and mission

Aug 07, 2015

SANDAKAN: Jellferlyne Joseph, who hails from Sandakan, is the fourth candidate from the Diocese of Sandakan to undergo a one-year formation programme at the Institute of Formation, Fondacio Asia (IFFAsia) in the Philippines. Prior to leaving for the Philippines, she was engaged with the Good Shepherd Welfare Centre, Sabah as a Programme Coordinator. Her job required her to journey with the children of migrant workers living in plantations and the outskirts of the town. She is expected to graduate by the end of the year.

Below is her sharing
“My name is Jellferlyne Joseph. I am 28 years old and my nationality is Malaysian. In my family, I am the third child of six siblings. I grew up in many different places due to my father’s job that required him to be transferred many times. Finally, we settled down in Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia, where I spent my teenage life. After completing my Bachelor Degree in Marketing in 2008, I began my career in a tourism company. It only lasted for one year. I felt there was something missing in me. It was a mismatch. I was inclined to do social work, to be with people, people living on the margins. I resigned from my job in December 2009. In April 2010, I secured a new job as a Programme Officer at a non-government organization, the Good Shepherd Welfare Centre. My new job has given me a new perspective, a completely new way of looking at life. …

Discovery and Transformation…
Five years have passed since I first started working with the Good Shepherd Welfare Centre in Sabah in the children’s programme. I can still remember vividly my first encounter with the children of Indonesian migrant workers. I was taken aback. I was reluctant to serve because of the impoverished environment. My heart sank.

My perception about the migrants was somewhat negative due to my lack of exposure and information about the community. However, I gave myself a try. As a result, my subsequent encounters with the Indonesian children has drawn me closer to the community. The experience has opened my eyes, my heart and mind towards the disadvantaged community. They are deprived of so many basic needs in life.

Before my encounter with the migrants, I had always complained about my life. I was ungrateful and felt that God was unfair to me. Actually, I am very lucky and blessed to have most of the basic things in life as compared with the migrants. I have a fine home, enjoy health care facilities, education, and above all, freedom to move around.

There is no doubt that, on many occasions, I contemplated giving up this job because of the many challenges. I realized that going through these challenges is part of my growing process, especially for my spiritual life. Slowly, I began to see that each person is precious and valuable, regardless of their background, in the eyes of God, including the immigrants. It drives me to want to know more about God’s Love — as related to me by one of the Good Shepherd Sisters, “It is a call through a loving service.”

The most precious gift that God has given me is the transformation of my egoist heart into a compassionate heart. St Mary Euphrasia, the founder of the Good Shepherd Sisters Congregation said, “You have a heart created to love, be grateful.” I am moved with these words and it has left a strong impact on my heart. The many challenges and difficulties that I have had to go through have been an opportunity for me to better understand about God’s living words.

Today, I believe that God speaks to me through the many people I encounter in my life. The message that remains in my heart is God has a big plan and an important mission for me and now He is preparing me for it.

There is still so much to learn. I said “Yes” to the formation at the Institute of Formation, Fondacio Asia (IFFAsia) in the Philippines for the one year programme. I want to build a strong foundation of my personal relationship with God so that fears will no longer become the barrier for me to move forward and beyond my comfort zone. I would like to improve and gain more knowledge and skills in order to respond to the modern day challenges and issues as a disciple of God. I believe that, in order to become effective and efficient, I need to experience a holistic learning — spiritually, mentally and emotionally.

I could not agree more that IFFAsia is the right place for me to be transformed, to expand and to improve my capabilities and also to develop myself as an effective leader. I hope to be mentally and emotionally prepared to share my Christian values and the Good News. This is the Light, light of hope to make a positive difference in the life of the people I will reach out to. I would like to embrace this opportunity that has been granted me. I am determined to achieve my mission of being transformed into someone who is more courageous, ready for challenges, vision-oriented, focused and energized, and most importantly, to have a strong faith in God.

Today’s realities are getting even more challenging and it is more difficult to live the word of God. I believe if I allow myself to go through the formation process, I will be better prepared for His mission. As a follower of Christ, I am called to make a difference in people’s lives, a new life contributing to the vision of being a participatory Church. I want to share the little talents that I have received for the betterment of the community.

Let us rouse ourselves and go forward! No small corner of the earth should hold us back. You will go forth and pitch your tents on distant shores, from one end of the earth to the other. One town, one foundation would not satisfy your zeal. It must embrace the whole world.” — St. Mary Euphrasia

In solidarity
In IFFAsia, we are encouraged to find partners to journey with us in the formation year to achieve our Mission for our community. I would like to invite you to join me in prayers and any financial support that you can offer for this mission to develop young leaders for the Church through IFFAsia. I believe your kindness and generosity will help us make our dream come true: the dream that God dreams in us.

--Jefferlyne of IFFAsia Batch 9 will join 19 others in the Mission Internship Project to Thailand from September 23 to October 17, themed Let Your Light Shine : Action Against Human Trafficking. The project aims to show God’s love to others through learning, sharing and raising awareness to the youth.