“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” — Matthew 6:9-10
Every day, as I reflectively pray the “Our Father,” I feel my entire being—my mind, heart, hands, feet, ears, eyes, and lips—opening to God’s immense life. This prayer helps me belong to God and embrace all of humanity and creation. It invites me to welcome whatever God holds dear with love and to surrender my need for control. Instead of constantly asking, “What must I do?” or “How can I get what I need?” I learn to trust in His providence. This surrender to God’s will has become especially vital as we navigate overwhelming hardships in our country.
The situation in Myanmar remains deeply painful for us. Severe flooding has devastated western Myanmar, displacing tens of thousands of people amid ongoing military airstrikes. All the villages of our Sisters from the Rakhine areas are flooded. In the midst of this widespread suffering and displacement, we have also been confronted with a different kind of storm within our own community.
Recently, our leadership team requested prayers for our sisters and all those struggling with cancer. We have been praying the “Trinity Prayer,” composed by our Mother Foundress, Euphrasie Barbier. This prayer has become a source of strength for us, calling us to a life of “Compassionate Ministry.” We have witnessed many “daily miracles,” knowing that the Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—listens to our prayers, even when the answers come in unexpected ways. One of the most profound unexpected journeys we are currently walking is that of our beloved coworker, Elizabeth Aung Seh.
Elizabeth, who is 66 years old, has lived with us for nearly 30 years. She is the heart of our community—tending to the water pump, gardening, preparing vegetables, and leading Morning Prayer. This ministry is vital, especially for the displaced people who cannot afford transportation to attend Sunday Mass at the parish church. Everyone appreciates her simple, joyful spirit and her childlike approach to life. Her younger sister, Mary, is also an RNDM.
My own mornings were often anchored by her presence. I would greet her as she waited to ensure the water engine did not overflow. If she felt unwell, I would share some pocket money so she could buy whatever she needed. Whenever I asked her for a key or help, she always responded with a big, warm smile. Being in her presence was a constant pleasure.
That joy was suddenly interrupted, one morning when she went to the clinic for a checkup. The diagnosis was a shock: advanced liver cancer, with not long to live. Elizabeth does not know the full severity of her illness and continues to hope for the best. We have chosen to focus on palliative care under the doctor’s direction, surrounding her with loving support and prayer. I gave her a picture containing a relic of Euphrasie Barbier; she holds it close whenever she is in pain and often finds relief.
Though we long for her health to be restored, we realize she is preparing for a new life with God. In the face of this grief, we hold onto the promise in Jeremiah 29:11:
“The plan of God is not to destroy us but to give us hope and life.”
Elizabeth’s journey reminds me of the words in John 16:21:
“A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come. But when her baby is born, she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.”
Just as the “Our Father” teaches me to surrender my need for control, Elizabeth is teaching me to surrender my desire to hold onto her earthly life, trusting that God is birthing her into something new.
Witnessing Elizabeth’s journey has brought me deep peace. I am no longer afraid of death. With the Psalmist, I sing:
“For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, ‘Peace be within you.'” — Psalm 122:8
I am Noreen Mya Sie. I made my first profession as a Sister of Our Lady of the Missions in 1966. In our province here in Myanmar, I have been involved in teaching, leadership, formation, and at the Catholic Religious Conference of Myanmar (CRCM). I love it that I have been called to the world community of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions, and with so many others am committed to bringing about the reign of God in today’s multi-cultural and globalised world.
At present, I am our Province Archivist, and every day I am enriched by learning more about our pioneer sisters, their different ministries and the hardships they endured. Their experiences encourage me to more forward freely and courageously. It is great that I can make this journey with so many others in this age of technological advances.
