Zambia – The Daily Life of the “Gringa” among the Children

18 January 2017

(ANS – Mansa) – In Zambia, the word “Muzungu” means “Gringo”. This how children call Monica Chudzynska, a young lady working as a volunteer for the programme of “Don Bosco International Volunteer Service - Poland”, when they forget her name. Monica has been working for 4 months in Mansa, Zambia, capital of Luapula province, and fills many roles in the local mission of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMAs).

Monica is a missionary: she does her best so that every activity may begin and end with a prayer, both at school and in the oratory. The children look at Monica when she prays. They observe how she crosses her hands to pray. They listen to her when she prays the Our Father. They look at the cross hanging from her neck.

Monica is a teacher, or rather, an educator: she teaches maths in the garage that has been transformed into a classroom. To the children she teaches adding and subtracting, but above all she teaches them the road to happiness.

 “Gringa” is a shoemaker. The children try to draw her attention. Some of them remove the sole from their sandal, just to spend more time with her.

 “Gringa” at the mission is also a nurse. The children approach her, show her their bruises on their bare feet, the scars of little fights, to get some simple cure, receive a hug or hear some reassuring words.

“As ‘Gringa’, in the mission I am an instrument in the hands of God. As St. Paul wrote, ‘Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone’ (1Cor 9,19). I do all I can to be fair to everybody, but the most important thing is to be joyful, so as to educate the children and give them an example also through the simple things of everyday life. It does not matter whether I am a teacher, a shoemaker or a nurse. What matters is leaving a small imprint in the heart of the children”.

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