Desiring to be formed in another country was an essential thing I thought of during the days of my decision-making as to which [religious] congregation to join. Thanks be to God, for my spiritual director, Fr. Antoney Parankimalil, who reminded me to be wise in choosing my congregation. He said, “Evalyn, remember that you are consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and so think of considering Him in your choice; let your congregation bear the name SACRED HEART.” I really considered what he meant. No wonder why I went for a ‘come and see’ experience in two other congregations back in Kenya which bear the name ‘’Sacred Heart of Jesus’’.
I always [thought] I made a good decision to join the Missionary Sisters (MSCs) with the help of the Holy Spirit. Thus far, God has brought me to be a missionary, makes me smile and [to] be thankful to Him. I never knew the MSCs until my mother’s cousin Fr. Nicodemus gave me the contact of Sister Antonia Plata, MSC, the vocation director for the Stella Maris Province.
God always beholds our imagination. Fr. Nicodemus lived and was missioned in Ethiopia for three years, and [the fact] that he gave me the contact information of Sister Antonia made me wonder, [at first], because she was in the United States. I remember asking him where he got her email address? He replied, ‘’Evalyn I honestly can’t tell where I got it. I am trying to figure out where I got it from because I don’t know Sister Antonia but I do know some of the MSC Sisters in Ethiopia.’’ I was encouraged when he told me that God wanted me to be with the sisters and that I shouldn’t mind about where the address came from.
With these words of Fr. Nicodemus, I am motivated to move on with my formation looking forward and hoping to be an MSC sister. Being a candidate in our holy institute I feel the presence of God because I know that there is a big reason as to why I am here.
As I see God’s will and His sufficient graces within me, I, in a special way, thank Him for bringing me this far. [It is] through His beloved son and daughters who showed me the way to where I am. In a special way, I am grateful to my mother’s cousin, Fr .Nicodemus, who gave me sister Antonia’s email address. [I am grateful to] Sister Antonia who first chatted with me and later [introduced] me to Sr. Maureen Bennett, MSC. I am fond of Sr. Maureen who invited me to pay a visit in Ethiopia and did a good job of introducing me to the lovable and adorable sisters in Ethiopia and Swaziland. [And now,] here I am at Cabrini University! God bless all of them since it’s through them that I am here. May God bless all of the sisters who have been there for me. I love all the MSCs. Thank you, Lord, for such a special gift of Cabrini Family. I thank you and I praise you, Lord.