I am the youngest child in a large family and was brought up in Sasa village, Ba, Fiji. I completed Form 6 at Xavier College in Ba and did computer studies for six months in Ba town.
I was active in Church and was elected Assistant President of the Ba Parish Youth. I joined the Columban Companions in Mission and my family used to receive the Columban mission magazines. I also helped to prepare young people for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Perhaps it was because of this involvement that Bel, a Filipina lay missionary in Ba at that time, suggested that I apply for Columban Lay Mission.
I contacted the Lay Mission Coordinator in Suva and I then attended a 'Come and See' event. I joined the Lay Mission formation group in 2008 and I was selected to go on overseas mission to Korea together with Losena Biau from Tamavua Parish, Suva.
After the mission sending Mass I spoke and thanked my relatives and friends who were present. Mr Rakata from Votua later said to me, "Maria, there is something different about you. My daughter Salome cried a lot during her mission sending Mass and farewell but you didn't. You were even able to make a thank you speech!"
Even at the airport I controlled myself though others there shed tears. However when I sat in the plane about to leave Fiji and home for the first time, I felt very alone. The realization hit me that I was leaving all that was familiar and going into the unknown. I turned to the window and cried.
We arrived in Korea on a Friday and started our orientation course on the following Monday. We had no chance to rest! One week later we began our nine months language course at Sogang University.
The big challenge for me was to adapt to the very structured lifestyle of the Koreans. I had to improve my time management.
I also felt the expectations of Columbans of us. So we were often asked, "How was class today?" or "Are you able to learn this difficult language?" I took this positively. "I can do it" was the idea I often repeated to myself.
I sometimes reflect on that experience of learning Korean and it has helped me in taking initiatives with confidence in my ministry since.
Maria Rosa Vuniivi has been a Columban Lay Missionary in Korea since 2008.
Read more from The Far East, August 2014