Sister has students in her heart

SISTER Ria P Versario is passionate about educating young people in school.
She arrived in the country on Aug 4, 2016, and spent four months teaching religious education to the second and fourth year students at the Don Bosco Technical Institute in Port Moresby.
This year, she is the sister assistant in charge of the Mary Our Help Ladies Dormitory and a lecturer on Christian living education.
“Having just arrived in Papua New Guinea, I am learning the culture and I am open to surprises. With God’s grace, as I share my life with my students and boarders, and in turn, I learn through and grow through their joyful experience,” she said.
Sister Ria told of the day a female student explained why she had been missing classes. The student started to cry and said she wanted to give up on life as her boyfriend was unfaithful to her.
“I listened and allowed her to pour out everything,” Sister Ria said.
“As she sobbed, she shared her pain. She wanted to give up her studies. I cried inside and asked myself how many young people would just like to give up because of love, betrayal and other problems.
“What made me happy was when she promised to continue her study, forgive the guy, end the relationship and most of all, focus on the things that are most valuable at this moment of her life – completing her studies. She now has a smile on her face.