HONG KONG (SE): “In an environment with apparent constraints, I discover that I have greater inner freedom,” said a joyful Stephania Ling Kwan-wai of the Hong Kong Catholic Lay Missionary Association in an online sharing session organised by the Talentum Bookshop, Yau Mei Tei, on November 13. She was assigned to South Sudan earlier this year [Sunday Examiner, March 17].
Ling shared details about her service, which began in February of this year with the Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity [MC] in Turalei, South Sudan. She also announced the release of a new edition of a Chinese book originally published in 2016.
The book chronicles her missionary work in Kolkata, India, which started in 2012.
Proceeds from the book will support her current efforts in South Sudan. Father Dominic Chan Chi-ming, who has been instrumental in promoting her mission by endorsing her books and writing an introduction for the new edition, attended the session.
Ling discussed her current role as a teacher at a primary school in Turalei, a large town on the border with Sudan, which has over 400 students. She assists with various tasks, including preparing teaching materials and supporting students during performances.
She also performs outreach work, helping elderly or physically-disadvantaged women with personal care, which gives her a sense of fulfillment as she helps others. She shared that bathing or cutting the nails of the elderly women allows her to connect closely with the disadvantaged without relying heavily on language. Although she is trying to learn the local dialect, she believes communication through physical touch is a more effective form of interaction.
Another of her responsibilities is assisting internally displaced people who have lost their homes due to tribal conflicts at a camp in Turalei. She will help the MC Sisters distribute nutritious meals, particularly for malnourished children, twice a week. Additionally, she will teach English through songs and games while the sisters provide spiritual talks.
Their efforts have brought joy to the children and led to improvements in their nutrition. For more serious cases, they will refer children to the hospital for nutritional programs.
Ling observes that the services she provides have allowed her to let go of her desire for control. She emphasises the importance of releasing subjective perspectives, embracing humility, and accepting her limitations.
For example, during the staging of a drama for the feast day of St. Teresa of Kolkata, she noticed imperfections. However, she chose to relax rather than strive for perfection and trust that the purpose of the event was to help people understand more about the saint and to bring joy and understanding to both teachers and students.
She discussed her previous opinions and judgments about social injustice before becoming a missionary. Through years of experience, she has learned to let go of her biases, recognising that issues like the relationship between corruption and poverty in South Sudan are often complex and not as straightforward as they may seem. She acknowledged that her earlier strong opinions might not fully consider the deeper factors at play.
She also performs outreach work, helping elderly or physically-disadvantaged women with personal care, which gives her a sense of fulfillment as she helps others. She shared that bathing or cutting the nails of the elderly women allows her to connect closely with the disadvantaged without relying heavily on language
Ling shared that adapting to life in Turalei required her to let go of old habits, especially in cooking and her daily routines. She described the challenges of cooking over a fire ignited with a match instead of using a gas stove. Despite the difficulties, she found joy in learning these new skills.
Above all, she shared that she found true freedom through her missionary work. She believes that clinging to certain requirements or preferences, such as sanitised hands before eating or the need to always flush toilets, can be restricting. “These ‘must-haves’ create a sense of constraint, as they start to control our lives,” she explained.
Despite facing certain external limitations, she has discovered a sense of inner freedom by letting go of attachments to unnecessary external needs and expectations. This realisation has led her to a deeper understanding of peace and freedom, enabling her to make meaningful choices in her life.
She expressed gratitude to God for the challenges and lows she has faced. She believes that if her life had gone as planned, fulfilling all her secular desires, she would not have become a joyful missionary working for God.
At the end of the sharing session, Father Chan reflected on the profound impact of Ling’s genuine smile, which radiated from her face even as she described difficult situations. He highlighted their shared admiration for St. Teresa of Kolkata, who has shaped their understanding of authentic faith and devotion. This admiration has led them to learn how to live in the present and love through acceptance.
