Missionary Trip to UZBEKISTAN—Reported by Dr. Ligaya A. Acosta, September 15-29, 2010

I first heard about Uzbekistan when I went to Kazakhstan last year.  Frankly, I didn’t even know then that such a country existed! When I started gathering facts about Uzbekistan, my heart leapt with the desire to go. Abortion is legal, promiscuity and divorce are rampant, and the government is enforcing a mandated sterilization program.   Not surprisingly, international death peddlers, including USAID, have been pouring in a lot of money for massive population control.

Thankfully, His Excellency Bishop Jerzy Maculewicz, OFM, Apostolic Administrator, readily approved my visit – the most challenging mission that I have embarked on so far, but I would also say the most miraculous!

From the beginning, the mission seemed impossible!  Not only is there no embassy of Uzbekistan in my home-country, the Philippines, but also the cost of travel was prohibitive.  But the more I prayed, the more my desire to bring the Gospel of Life there grew.  After many difficulties, and with the full support of HLI Central and the Catholic Church in Uzbekistan, I was able to get my visa in China.  God indeed always makes a way – where there seems to be no way!

Speaking to the People

At the airport, I was met by a smiling Fr. Lucjan Szymanski, whom the Bishop designated to coordinate with me on his behalf.  Just as I thought I could rest from the long journey and give in to my drowsiness, Fr. Lucjan said he would give me ten minutes to freshen up, as I was to address a women’s group meeting.  I could not complain but only obey with all my heart.

Immediately upon her arrival, Ligaya meets with professional women of Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

It was a small but great group of six female professionals, who meet at the church every Thursday.  They began sharing the sad situation in their country.  One of them, a nurse, was a former abortionist who had decided to give up performing abortions when she became active in the church - to the consternation of her family, who had enjoyed the big income from abortion.  She was comforted by my talk, as it confirmed her in her decision for Life.  She came back for my other talks as well.

Father Lucjan called the Missionary of Charity (MC) Sisters — the only group of nuns in Uzbekistan — to ask if they would be interested in having me, and they readily accepted.  A talk was thus arranged for me the next day with the Sisters (numbering nine – including their Regional Superior who was in town for a visit).  Surprisingly, they already knew my name.  The MCs in Kazakhstan, to whom I had become very close, had been telling them of me and of HLI’s mission. After my talk, the Sisters decided that my message was urgent and should be heard by many.  Thus, they became great missionary partners, intently praying for and arranging many talks for me – three with their community, one with the English-speaking group held after the English Mass,

Ligaya Acosta (center) with Rev. Fr. Lucjan Szymanski and the Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, September 2010.

 one with their youth wards, and another one with their poor constituents. They wanted to have more, but very soon my days were filled! The Sister Superior even called the MCs in Kyrgyztan (one of the six independent Turkic states, like Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan) to tell them about me and HLI, and they want me to come as well.

Fr. Lucjan’s Parish … and Beyond

The next day we set off on the long difficult route to Fr. Lucjan’s parish, which took about seven hours.  The good priest had no car of his own, and thus we undertook a series of long endless walks under the scorching heat of the Uzbek sun.  As we walked and waited for public busses and walked again to transfer to other busses, passing through markets and walkways, I imagined how difficult it was at the time of the twelve disciples.  At least there were buses for us, even if we had to walk far to go to the terminals.

Upon reaching his parish, we dropped by a small market to buy vegetables and instant noodles to go with the bagful of bread that Father had brought for the parishioners.  On arrival we busied ourselves preparing the late lunch we were to share with them after Mass – a routine Father does every Saturday to encourage them to come.

At 3:00 p.m., Father celebrated Mass, after which I delivered my talk, which he translated into Russian.  It was the first time they had ever heard the reality and evils of abortion and contraception.  They were horrified at learning the effects of IUDs; they told me IUDs are very commonly used among the women, often being inserted by health workers without the women’s full knowledge and consent.  Condoms, the young people also said, are freely distributed in schools.  As we broke bread at the dining table, they shared how rampant contraception and abortion are in their community, and that they didn’t know it was harmful.  They appreciated my talk, especially with the colored slides.

Meeting with parishioners of Angren, Uzbekistan.

A person of German descent even begged me to also go to his home country of Germany, as they too, he said, need to hear the message.

My talk also touched a local priest, Father Yarek Jaroslaw Wisniewski, who started calling and sending messages to his contacts to have me speak in their institutions. As I had done with Fr. Lucjan, Fr. Yarek and I also walked and travelled near and far, knocking on doors of possible audiences, including universities. It was definitely hard work.  Since Father walked fast and was used to a lot of walking, I would often be left behind or run to keep pace with him.  At times, I purposely walked behind Father to get some shade from his shadow.  The noonday sun was so hot for me that I would often cover myself with the winter jacket I had to bring because of unpredictable temperatures.  My shoes peeled off from walking on rugged terrain, and my feet were sore and wounded.  But I had no reason to complain.  My heart was full, and since there was so much to do, there was no time to brood nor even get tired!

Our hard work and perseverance paid off.  Ultimately, I was given the opportunity for 25 speaking engagements, reaching out to around 1,103 people – Catholics, Baptists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Muslims, and university students in two big schools in Tashkent.  I was also able to speak at the Tashkent Presbyterian Seminary, where classes were suspended to enable all 21 seminarians and faculty to listen to my whole-day talk, which they also opened to their parishioners.  One talk led to another and another. As soon as one group heard the message, word spread and the invitations kept coming, and thus we had to run from one appointment to the other. 

Just before my departure, I had to rush to another two-hour talk with physicians and medical professors from the nearby hospital and medical

Youth leaders of Tashkent take the vow of chastity.

school, after speaking at a university. One of them, an Uzbek Doctor of Korean descent, Dr. Valentina Kim, who attended many of my sessions, helped us immensely in organizing the talks at the universities.  As always, there is power in the Gospel of Life and joy in the splendour of truth!  Everyone clamoured for more.  University Administrators asked me to come again when I return to Uzbekistan, and non-Catholic denominations promised to organize bigger audiences if HLI would come again.  Young people, to the joyful surprise of parents and teachers, took the vow of chastity after my talk – unusual in a country where promiscuity is considered normal!

Working with the Bishop

The Bishop, whom I often had lunch with, was amazed at what we accomplished, considering that in Uzbekistan, which is a Muslim country, evangelization is strictly prohibited, and one has to receive a government permit to be able to speak in public.  Defense of life and family is truly a unifying factor for all religions – including the Muslims.  

Indeed while HLI is a Catholic organization, our message transcends religions!

Aside from Tashkent and nearby areas, the Bishop also sent me to Urgench, 1,000 kilometers away.  Although I stayed there only for one night

The youth of Angren, Uzbekistan.

and one and a half days, the great parish priest, Fr. Edward, arranged three talks for me:  one for women in the community, another for his parishioners, and another for the youth.

As I left for home on the evening of November 29, sent off at the airport by no less than the good Bishop of Uzbekistan himself, I felt immense joy in my heart at being able to carry forth this mission for HLI - which Pope John Paul II described as the greatest work on earth!

Truly, I always thank God for the many benefactors of HLI, without whom we can never accomplish the mission.  Many hours each day, I pray (and ask others to do the same) that God will continue to bless them and their families and multiply their resources, and that they will continue to give to HLI and we can continue to carry out our mission.  Many more countries need to hear the message, and in many of these countries, HLI is the first and lone voice defending the family and promoting the culture of life.