(ANS – Ashaiman)– There are many ways for a young Salesian to discern a missionary vocation ad gentes. One of them is to spend one or two years of practical training in a mission land before the missionary vocation ad gentes (ad extra and for life) is confirmed by the superiors.

Po TakAnthony is a Chinese Salesian born in Hong Kong. He did his first year of practical training in his native city at the Salesian School of Shai Kei Wan. His second year is already under way in Ghana in Africa, with a view to trying out his missionary call. Two years ago he sent his missionary application to the Rector Major and as part of his discernment he is now spending one school year in the English-speaking province of West Africa (AFW). The province is composed of 4 countries (Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria) and has about 180 SDBs, the grand majority of them native Africans.

Now in October, the Month of the Missions, he writes “I have been here in Ghana for one month and two days. I am thankful that I am gradually adapting to the place, and its cultures and languages. Certainly I am facing some difficulties and challenges but they are beautiful and encourage me to move forward. I don't need to be afraid because God is always with me, Mother Mary is protecting me ...there is nothing that can get me down....up to this moment, I think that the only thing I fear is that I might become estranged from God. God is good all the time. He grants me bountiful grace to experience His presence every day, most especially in the midst of children and young people.

For my daily apostolate I am assigned to a Child Protection Centre. Those vulnerable children are abandoned. Some of them do not know where their home town is, they do not know their families, they have no chance to go to school, they are forced to work against their will... they face many problems and unfair situations every day. I am here to accompany them every day, to play, to study and to pray. I see Jesus in each of their faces, they are all beautiful and they really are God's children. They should not be treated like this...... My heart is melting in the Love of God, and He is always asking me to share His Love with the children. I believe that nothing is greater than His Love, I need to be His useless instrument to share His Love with the children here”.

Published 20/10/2015