Columban Lay Missionary Angie Escarsa writes about her accompaniment of a Ukrainian refugee who has been confined to a nursing home because of her health issues and has become isolated by her lack of English.
“Preach everywhere you go and, if necessary, use words” (St. Francis of Assisi)
As Columban missionaries we try to live out the Gospel message through witnessing the love of God to others, especially in responding to our mission priorities of migrants, refugees, as well as biodiversity protection and restoration. In my experience sometimes words limit our efforts to convey a deeper expression of care and compassion towards another person, especially one who does not speak the same language as we do.
Every time I step into Tara’s room, the woman I met in a nursing home, I have this profound realisation that witnessing to the Gospel message truly knows no boundaries, including those of language.
I got to know Tara, a refugee from Ukraine, through my ministry in two nursing care homes which I visit every Friday. Tara has no one around for her here in Ireland as almost all of her family died during the ongoing war in Ukraine. When I first went to visit Tara in the nursing home, I had to ask a few people, including the nurses, where her room was as it was quite hard to find!
Angie Escarsa (right) with other volunteers who help out with Ballymun Tidy Towns.
Arriving at her room, I noticed that her door was slightly ajar and there was a yellow plastic ribbon attached with the words: “please do not enter.”
As I stood at the entrance, I could see a woman lying on the bed. I greeted her by her name to make sure she was the lady I wanted to see. She uttered the word ‘yes’ but there was no sign of a smile on her face. I smiled at her and asked if I could come in. She seemed to understand and nodded her head, so I entered the room.
I told her my name (Angie) and mentioned the name of her carer (the person who first made me aware of Tara) and her face lit up. I asked how she was. In response she took out her phone and put the translator on and started speaking into it. Then she showed me the translation. I then understood that she was waiting for a social worker, and she thought that I was the social worker. I told her I was not but that I had come to see her.
She was a bit taken aback and seemed to lose interest. I did try making conversation by telling her that I was glad to meet her. She had little to say and told me it was not easy to talk because she had very little English. With little to say and as she became uneasy, I decided to say good-bye but I promised to see her again the following week and I left the room.
Angie (centre) with Arfe Conception, a Filipino nurse in Navan, and her daughter Angel.
I felt my visit was useless as I did not do anything for this woman. I did try to make conversation but the language barrier was an obvious difficulty and a big challenge. Then it dawned on me, that my presence was just as important as any words or actions that I could have said or done.
I realised how difficult it was for any refugee to be in a place like a nursing home with no family members to talk with. Tara is a woman in her early 70s who is overweight and suffers from swollen legs and feet. As a result, it is very difficult for her to walk, or even to stand up. Now I can understand how important it is for her to meet people as most of her time is spent lying on the bed, alone in her room, all day.
Despite the language barrier, the presence of another person who is trying to connect and show her care is more valuable than any spoken words or conversation. I will continue to visit Tara without being too preoccupied about the difficulties in our verbal communication. It will be a ministry of presence in which I will try to give witness to the compassion of Jesus.
By consistently turning up, I can show her that I am there for her. Just this week, I had the chance to see Tara again and she looked much better. Without words, I gently gave her hands and legs a massage. In that way I could express how I care for her. “Preach everywhere you go and, if necessary, use words.”
Angie Escarsa is a Columban Lay Missionary from Zambales in the Philippines. She has served on mission in Ireland since 1999.
If you would like to support the work of Columban Lay Missionaries please donate online here: https://columbans.ie/donate/ Alternatively, you can send a cheque payable to ‘Columban Missionaries’ to the Far East Office, Dalgan Park, Navan, Co Meath C15 AY2Y or Tel: 00353 46 9021525.
First published in the January/February 2025 issue of the Far East magazine. Subscribe here: https://columbans.ie/far-east-magazine/