Jose Viegas Sharing of Experiences in East Timor

It’s always with great feeling and humility to stand here, with more than 200 hundred students to

listen.

You probably were wondering why I am standing here again. Being at Timbertop and in this chapel

really is a blessing. I would like to thank to B Unit boys who given me encouragement to talk, F unit

boys for giving me the idea to be shared here and wonderful girls from P Unit who have invited me

last time.

I would like to tell some stories today about my experiences growing up in East Timor. You have

been learning about forgiveness and resiliency and these stories are examples of forgiveness and

resiliency from my life, which you can learn from.

The first, story about forgiveness

Many years ago, in my village in East Timor, my uncle was fighting with the rebels against the

Indonesian military who had invaded our country. He was a double-agent. He pretended to work for

the Indonesian army, but at the same time was stealing their guns and giving them to the other

rebels. One day, his neighbour informed on him and shortly after, Indonesian soldiers came in the

middle of the night, dragged him away from his into the street, where they beat him. Because he

was such a strong man, they used bullets from a gun and a rock to crush him. He was eventually

killed. (PAUSE)

Many years later when I was back in the village and I heard that the son of the man who informed on

my uncle was going to return to the village. I did not know how to react to him. Moreover, I did not

know how my mother would respond. I was very worried when the boy arrived. I approached and

spoke with him and I could see that he was very nervous too. But my mother said that what had

happened back then was during another time. Let the past be the past. We all are free now and we

must all walk together. So because she was forgiving, I learnt to forgive him too. And I said to him,

“Let’s walk together” and I shook his hand as a sign of reconciliation. This is about the forgiveness.

The second story is about resilience.

In East Timor, not every child could afford to go from primary school until tertiary education,

particularly the orphans. One year after my dad passed away, Alberto, (my mom’s brother) visited

us. In that opportunity, Uncle Alberto was persuaded and agreed to take one of her children. Uncle

Alberto took me instead of my brother or my sister. I was just 8 yo. I knew that my Mum loved me

very much but she had to let me go start a new beginning for a better life. Actually, staying with my

uncle was really an opportunity chance for a better life. I am very fortunate to have attended my

school while tens of thousands of children of that country remain disadvantaged. Once again, I am

very fortunate. And therefore, I have decided to endure every difficult circumstance with optimism.

After 1999 many people in East Timor lost their jobs. My Uncle Alberto was one of these people and

his new business became cake selling. I had to help otherwise we could not afford things like school.

During my years at secondary school, I had to sell cakes every weekend, every holiday. Occasionally

it could be anytime, even a school day. These occasions were bad days for me. I did not like it

because this business occupied all of my study time. I was afraid of performing poorly in my school

examinations and not being able to attend university. I also felt that I totally lost my confidence as a

teenager. When I met schoolmate, I was very shy as well. I thought at the time that this business

would limit my opportunities in the future.

One morning, I was ready for heading to school. But I was intercepted. I was prompted by my uncle

to be ready within seconds to sell cakes instead of going to school. I was stunned and reacted in

angrily, and had no idea what to say. “This is absolutely crazy uncle. Is this the uncle that I knew? I

had no idea what to explain to my mom on how this uncle (his brother) was looking after me,” I

thought.

Then, I realized that if I had the right to go to school, to have good meal, to be safe and good place

to stay in, then I also had the responsibility to help doing housework, including selling cakes. So,

rights and responsibilities always go together. It is absolutely a necessity, not to be debated.

With this philosophy, I challenged myself to excel at school even though my time was occupied

selling cakes. I was determined to finish Saint Yoseph College, one of the prominent schools in East

Timor. After graduated from that college, I showed him my marks saying, “Uncle, we all know my

dad has passed away. I could go to the college because I have you! Let me call you “Daddy” if you

don’t mind. I called him “daddy” since then.

The third story is about being positive

Back to term one at TT, when we set out tents at Country Club for three nights, JC, an outdoor Ed

Sessional asked me, “Are you OK sleeping in the tents like this?”

In the past I have lived in a tent for seven months”, I answered.

In 1999, there was a massive destruction in East Timor by Indonesian Armed militiaman. We had to

flee from home for safety and live in a refugee camp for three months.

After that, there was an uprising in 2006 that once again forced us to seek refuge for seven months.

A refugee does not always flee their country to other countries, sometimes they are misplaced

within their own county. That’s what happened and I experienced.

What I experienced inside refugee camp was being scared, I couldn’t go to toilet as there was no

sanitation facilities in the camp and to leave the camp was very dangerous especially for women

and children. The life surrounding was a dangerous place.

If you asked me, “what did I do to stay positive?” I do not know because East Timor does not have

schools like Timbertop.

Eloise Burn, a girl from L Unit once asked me about what makes me enjoy what I am doing at

Timbertop. Here is the tip, there are negative and positive – I choose to be positive. The happiest

people do not have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything.

And that is; live simply, speak kindly, care deeply, love generously. I am a combination of these four,

I think.

Anyone who displays these is the real international citizen because that person is mostly welcome

anywhere.

Obviously, TT is the school where we all are experiencing those positive aspects. It all depends on us.

Of my experience, it is not easy to be being positive. I have to tell you that bible has got big

influences to billions people, including the place where I grew up – East Timor. I believe the present

East Timor has been heavily influenced by Christian principles. People’s faith has helped them to

remain positive in difficult times.

East Timor was a place of conflict but now it is different.

Several students have asked me, “Are there any beautiful places?” I say, “Yes, definitely is.” There

are many places that provide uniqueness. It is unique because you’ll be easily be welcomed by smile

of our people.

Lastly,

I’d like to wrap it up that East Timor people have gone through difficult circumstances. To be a

nation it was and is not easy. I understand that. Therefore I keep asking what I could do to

contribute. Our people are working very hard to make East Timor to be one of the safest places with

its uniqueness. In East Timor, I’ve learned that the responsibility and right always goes together. I

have the right to go school, to have food, to have shelter, to be safe and to choose how to live our

life. At the same time, I have responsibility to help my family (this is very important in East Timor).

I’ve learned that how precious it is to help mom and dad while they are still alive. I’ve learned that,

things are not granted but through perspiration (hard work). I find that education plays imperative

role to make children and our children to think of others’ needs in their society – not just for

themselves. My one year at Timbertop with you has made its own page in my life story with more

diverse and more perspective from day to day. My dear fellows, I really want to leave Timbertop

with a big smile with you all.

Thank you.