Myriam, of Burkinabé origin, after 2 years of postulancy, could not continue her training and enter the novitiate in Cameroon, due to her mother’s illness; having just spent a whole year near her, she has joined the current group of novices for a few weeks. She therefore does, alone, her spiritual preparation and her official entry into the novitiate. She wants to share this experience that marks her deeply.
“Arrival in a late and surprising way, it was a great joy for me to be able to continue my training after a year spent at home with my suffering mom. Finding the other novices and Sister Pauline – who was already my mistress of the postulancy – was a moment of immense joy. Tough was the ordeal I went through, but great are the graces of God in my life and his faithfulness towards me. It is after some time of pain, suffering, discouragement, family confrontation and perseverance that I arrived in this place, a sign for me that the Lord has supported me during this difficult moment and that he cares about me, even in my least person. I felt supported and I feel accompanied by Him, by his grace.
A few days after my arrival, in retreat, I was able to reread under the gaze of God my story, everything I had gone through. Yes, I was able to see how the Lord had spoken for me and that he was calling me to continue trusting him. It is therefore filled with this trust in God that I experienced my official entry into the novitiate.
The celebration was a moment of joy, emotion, fraternity and reunion with the presence of the priests of the parish of Marza. I received the cross of the novices and the Rule of Life of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, thus indicating that I was now part of the Congregation. As a symbol, I chose a child between the hands of an adult, because I am amazed to see what I have stood for in Christ come true.
I express my great gratitude to the leaders of the two vice-provinces who gave me this opportunity to continue my formation with others, to my family for their support in prayers and to the novitiate team for its openness and kindness. Thank you because today my sorrows have given way to peace and joy. May the name of the Lord be blessed.”
Bertine BAYANG, FSE. Community of the Novitiate, N’Gaoundéré,
