Is a year not a long time to spend in Africa? Before leaving for Zambia I often asked myself that. Now I'm glad that God brought me to Zambia for a year. It gave me the time and patience to get to know each of the girls, and especially to understand why they suffer?
Before starting my voluntary work I talked a lot with God. I fought with him, I thought it was not for me, that I would not last. Today I know that he sent me to Zambia to change my heart and my way of thinking. I had to travel to the other side of the world to appreciate my parents, all they have given me in life and how they educated me. And most of all I came to appreciate the gift of the Eucharist. I've seen people in the forests waiting for months to receive the Eucharist. Mass at 6:00 in the morning became the foundation of my mission in Africa.
I remember Nellie. Without pausing for a moment she used to tell me stories of dragons and princesses. It is a mystery how she knew them, because to the best of my knowledge no one ever read bedtime stories to her. She had been living in the "City of Hope" for a few years. I remember Cecilia, who used to arrive late for class, so one day I told her to stay in to make up for it. She took offence and did not speak to me for days! A week later, as we were praying the rosary, she came and sat next to me, took my hand and said, "I've missed you." Since then she always arrived in time.
Often I did not have enough fingers on my hands to give one to each of them who wanted to hold me, to make them feel loved, not so much by me, but by God.
I experienced a wonderful year, a year of living together with exceptional people and with God, who is even more exceptional. The mission taught me to thank God for the time, the place and the children to whom he sent me.
