INDONESIA

By Fr.  Henrikus Prasojo, OMI
(Currently undergoing Pastoral Orientation Year at OMI Juniorate, Beato Mario Borzaga, Cilacap)

With a dream, people are motivated to make it happen.  Dreams don’t belong only to children.  Even when they are adults, people dream of wanting to have a house, owning a private vehicle, having a certain life partner…  Dreams make someone’s life more beautiful because there are goals to be achieved.

Dreams are also not always personal.  There are also dreams that belong together.  Some boys in the OMI Juniorate, (Mario, Fibo, Hergi, Gerald, Edo, Fero, Aven), Bro. Thio MSC and I  dreamed of going on a mountain climbing trip together.  Climbing a mountain, what’s so special?  The inspiration to go up the mountain came from Fiersa Besari, who often uploads his personal blog content on the top of the mount Sindoro. Seeing how beautiful the scenery that Fiersa Besari shows in his blog, encouraged the group to experience for themselves the beauty of nature on the top of the mountain.  After completing their School Exams, they had the opportunity to make that dream a reality.

From left to right: Fr. Pras OMI, Mario, Fibo, Hergi, Br. Thio MSC, Gerald, Edo, Fero, & Even

Dreams do not just come without efforts to achieve them.  One must have proper physical preparation as well as adequate mental preparation.  What is beautiful about a preparation is the passion that burns as if the day of departure is in sight.  Moreover, if the dream is a collective one, something to be achieved together as a group, it can unite hearts and strengthen their enthusiasm and determination.

On Divine Mercy Sunday at 11.00 pm our group arrived at Post-3 of the Mount Sindoro climbing route at an altitude of 2370m.  The trip for approximately 5 hours from basecamp requires us to rest our bodies temporarily.  Thanks to the guides, our group was able to arrive at Post-3 safely.

“Sunrise Hunters” at Post-3

At 04.00 am we started our journey again to the peak of Mt. Sindoro at an altitude of 3153m.  The climb on a steep and rocky road made us forget the coldness that enveloped our bodies. All were still excited about enjoying the natural beauty on top of Mount Sindoro.

I can’t deny the tough journey from Post-3 to the top.   In the midst of a quite tough journey, I told my junior friends who were still very excited, “If you guys want to go up, just go up first, I’ll catch up later, I’m already tired.  I might slow down your journey.”   I gave up my dream of being able to get to the top soon, and said to myself that even if I don’t reach the top it’s okay.  I said to myself, that just to be able to take them to Mt. Sindoro and let them see the beautiful scenery there I am already happy.  And I’m ready when they say, “Okay, we go ahead, we want to get to the top.”   However, there was something different about this group.  They surprised me.   “We departed together and are going up together, and so, even going to the top, we will do it together.”  Two short but very touching sentences suddenly lifted my spirits.  I was sure that they had put aside their personal dreams to be able to realize the common dream of “climbing to the peak of Sindoro together”.  Finally, our group arrived at the peak of Mount Sindoro 3153ml together at 08.30 am.

Together with Guide Gunung Sindoro

Getting to the peak often tempts people to be ambitious and passionate but forget about being with other people.  The peak of success is so tempting to be achieved personally so as to encourage individualism and egoism. From this journey I learned that there is something more valuable than just reaching the peak of personal success, namely, “Getting to the Peak together” or achieving a “shared dream.” “No one ever feels left out.”  I pondered Jesus’ prayer, “Father, I want them to be with Me, wherever I am.”  (John 17, 24) a prayer specifically offered by the Lord Jesus for His disciples.  The pastoral example who wants to make all His disciples feel the “Glory of God” made me believe that this is what I am called to do.

The experience with my Junior friends reminds me of the love of God who always greets and gives encouragement and faithfully awaits the arrival of His beloved sons.  Jesus never left His disciples, even when His disciples left Jesus on His Way of the Cross. He continued to seek and greet His disciples after the resurrection.

Team Borzaga at the Peak of Mount Sindoro

The experience of “Reaching the summit together” confirmed my calling as an Oblate missionary to be able to reach to everyone who needs salvation.   This experience also reminded me of the words of St.  Eugenius de Mazenod,

“We support each other with great tenderness and patience, and compete in doing good and in practicing joyful love.  Each member will avoid everything that could offend his brothers, and willingly yield to the will of the other, so that the peace of God and the love of Christ may dwell among us.”
(St. Eugene de Mazenod, 1825)