Caring for teenage mothers as a woman in ministry
I am a citizen of a small country called Timor-Leste, located in Southeast Asia between the two giant nations of Indonesia and Australia. My experiences as a Timorese woman from a country with a long history of struggle for independence have shaped the way I see the world, my community, and my Timorese brothers and sisters. This is the foundation that drives me to do what I do.
Since childhood, I have witnessed the suffering of people around me due to civil war, oppression, the lack of food and clean water, and the lack of access to basic amenities, such as a hospital. Even today, in 2024, almost half of our population is still living in poverty, predominantly concentrated in rural and remote areas. Malnutrition among children persists, and violence against women remains alarmingly high, posing very difficult challenges to overcome. This is the reality faced by the majority of the Timorese population. If an individual or family is not in this situation directly, it is likely that they know someone who is. Virtually every person in Timor-Leste is intimately acquainted with the profound impact of poverty. In our tiny island nation of 1.3 million people, poverty is not merely a statistic; it is an inescapable facet of our daily lives.
The hardship of my people is what fuels my passion to directly engage with those most affected, particularly in rural and remote areas where I've been involved in a food security project since last year. However, long before my journey with the Jesuit Social Service, I had already worked with farmers, cooperatives, and women's groups in rural areas since 2008.
My deepest concern lies with the women and children in the community I serve, especially the teenage mothers. They touch my heart and soul deeply. Despite the exhaustion apparent in their tender bodies and weary eyes, they still greet us with warm and generous smiles. It pains me to see them carrying malnourished babies, shouldering responsibilities that are way beyond their years. Rather than being in school and enjoying their teenage years, they are thrust into adulthood prematurely, tasked with caring for their children, managing the household, working in the fields, and selling vegetables in distant markets. I worry about their safety. They still need to be taken care of by their parents, yet they are now the primary caregivers and first educators for their children.
Early in my career, I recognised a calling to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Yet, often, I still ask myself, "Am I doing the right thing?" There are times when I feel exhausted, when it seems as if my efforts have resulted in nothing. Change comes so slowly, and when we think we have made one step forward, there are forces that push us two steps backward. My relationship with God is the only thing that sustains me in my struggle.
These days, I pray for peace in the world, and in particular, for peace in my country. With the youthful population we have, mostly Catholics, I pray for unity and resilience within our community. I pray that more leaders like me will use both our intellect and hearts, seeking God's guidance in all our endeavours. I pray that Timorese people truly understand the meaning of making "God the centre of everything we do", and putting it into practice in our families, workplaces, and communities. I am also still learning.
I love praying the rosary and really enjoy writing down my prayers, as if I were writing a letter to God. Sometimes, I read verses from the Bible and reflect on them. One of my favourite verses is from1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
This is how I communicate with God, sharing my burdens and asking for His forgiveness and strength in becoming an instrument of support for vulnerable people, particularly young mothers and their children. I pray that all my actions be guided by His wisdom and love, and that His glory may shine through every act of service and compassion.
Elsa Pinto, Jesuit Social Service – Timor-Leste
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