Rwanda – “I trusted in Jesus. Sometimes what we wish is not the best for us”

21 October 2016

(ANS – Gisenyi) – Gisenyi is a city located in the eastern part of Rwanda, very close to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, contiguous to the Congolese city of Goma, where there is a Salesian presence. Gisenyi is renowned as a tourist attraction and during the genocide in Rwanda it hosted for some time the provisional government of the country. It is from this city that we receive the testimony of Iwona Błędowska, a Polish Volunteer of VIS, the “Don Bosco International Volunteer Service” writes from this city. 

I do my missionary volunteer work at the house of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, who here animate a vocational school with courses of hotel management and tailoring. The students, of whom only four are young men, are between 18 and 22 years of age. Thanks to this education, many young people reach adult life with some wisdom and some experience, and the diploma they obtain at the end of the school testifies to their skill and competence. The local youth are very skilful: the young ladies of the tailoring course, after only two months of practice, are capable to sew shirts by themselves and to crochet napkins and table cloths...

Gisenyi, as all of Rwanda, is a special place, also because of the difficult past of this country. Perhaps, because of this the Eucharistic is celebrated with deep reflection. Hymns and dances during the Eucharistic celebration are performed in a delicate and moderate way. Above all I enjoy the moment of holy Communion, when the women, and also some elderly men, stand up to sing and gently sway to the rhythm of the song, raising their hands. It is as if in that moment nothing else matters to them...

I had my projects, which I had prepared in detail… I had planned to go for a short time to the mission of Namugongo, in Uganda, but I finally came to Rwanda. And this is very beautiful. I feel that I am at the right place, that here I can donate the best of myself. I trusted in Jesus. Often what we desire is not the best thing for us”. 

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ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication, the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007.

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