Southern Pakistan — Life as a missionary is rarely quite as predictable as the diary suggests. You may have a plan for the day, but before long you can find yourself facing a completely different reality. And sometimes, it is precisely in those unexpected moments that some of the most beautiful experiences of mission take place.
For Fr Zach, a Mill Hill Missionary from Kenya working in Pakistan, one such moment involved taking over the kitchen of the family he was visiting. Perhaps the missionary life had awakened an old talent — or perhaps the family simply decided it was time for someone else to do the cooking! Either way, Fr Zach took the opportunity to revive his cooking skills and enjoy the simple joy of sharing life with the people he serves.
With or without chapels, the proclamation of the Word of God continues. In the villages of southern Pakistan, the Gospel is often shared in very simple surroundings. Sitting cross-legged on the ground for a long time may come with the unexpected reward of aching legs and a few cramps. At least, there is then a practical connection with the Gospel story of the paralysed man! Close to the ground and connected with Mother Earth, people gather to pray and listen as the missionary moves from one village to another. Even the buffaloes in the background seem to be paying attention to the Good News.
One of the great privileges of missionary life is meeting people in the middle of their ordinary, everyday routines. These encounters can bring to mind the Gospel story of the Samaritan woman who met Jesus at the well. Fr Zach is fortunate to meet not just one person at a well, but many people in the course of his ministry, sharing with them the message of Christ, the true Water of Life.
The image is particularly meaningful at a time when the Pope’s monthly prayer intention (September) calls attention to prayer for fair and sustainable access to water. For many people around the world, water is not something that can simply be taken for granted. Missionaries often see this reality at close hand as they walk alongside communities in their daily struggles and hopes.
Missionary life is not always about following the plan. Sometimes it is about putting the plan aside, stepping into the unexpected and being open to the gentle spontaneity — and occasionally the humour — of God.
After all, the road to mission may lead to a village, a prayer gathering, a family kitchen or even a dusty patch of ground. Wherever it leads, the invitation remains the same: to meet people, share the Gospel and discover God already at work among them.
