My Vocation Story: The Language of My Heart
My Vocation Story: The Language of My Heart
By Latai Muller
Columban Lay Missionary from the Kingdom of Tonga
A vocation is not just something God calls us to do, but also becoming the person God calls us to be. When Jesus summoned his first disciples beside him in the Sea of Galilee, it was not only to assist him in his ministry but also to alter their lives through his friendship and love. We have been invited to follow Christ, God's son, who became one of us to rescue us for eternal life. He sent his holy spirit for us to share in his divine life and express it by loving him and our neighbors.
I always entertained the idea of serving God as a missionary and helping those in need when I was younger. I used to mimic their behavior by seeing and listening to people. I was also motivated and inspired to watch television programs about the lives of those in the margins. I wanted to emulate my parents' acts of kindness, since they frequently welcomed strangers into our home, fed them, and provided them with a place to stay. My father used to remark, "We never know, maybe the stranger that we helped was Jesus," and as I got older, I realized how deeply ingrained this attitude of giving was in my family.
At the age of 18, I received God's calling in my life through the help of a former Columban lay missionary, Losana Ve'ehala (+). I was excited to join the Columban Missionaries right away, but I was urged to finish my education first and gain some work experience. Five years later, I finished my studies and entered the workforce. Even though I had already settled into my career and had been enjoying my life as an active youth in my parish, the desire in me to be a lay missionary still burned strongly.
I'll never forget the day I returned to Losana's office. With a huge smile on my face, I said, "Here I am, Lord; I have come to do your will." It was supposed to be hilarious, but it ended with emotional tears. She could not believe I would return after five years of waiting. In 2017, I joined the accompaniment program for Columban Lay Missionaries. Despite the ups and downs, I persevered. Discovering that my faith speaks the language of the heart has enabled me to develop my faith and prayer life.
Reflecting back on those five years of waiting, I constantly prayed for a sign. Thankfully, God gave me the strength to persevere in my desire to be a lay missionary, to wait patiently, and have faith in his perfect timing. Over time, everything made sense to me. He made me wait because he wanted me to get closer to him and continue his good work. He wanted to shape me into a person who is willing to serve rather than to be served. “ For we are God’s Handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good work, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” - (Ephesians 2:10)
Latai (2nd from left) with team mates during the orientation program for Columban Lay Missionaries