It was a 17 hour journey, but we were finally about to land in Bulawayo. I was back in Zimbabwe after two long years.

As I pulled into the driveway, I honked the horn, and waited for one of the aunties to hit the remote control which would open the gate. As I waited, I heard the cry, “Uncle Roro!”, which quickly became a chant. Suddenly 20 or 30 kids lined the fence, all shouting my name. They remembered me! Tearfully, I parked up, and was immediately engulfed in a horde of awe- some children. These were the toddlers and primary school kids. Later, I would go and collect the secondary school girls from their school.

The team this year comprised six volunteers from the Anglo-Irish province. And they were incredible. Niamh, Issy, Mairead, Ciara, Juliette and Rachel were adored, not only by the girls, but by the staff members as well. We quickly fell into a routine – morning prayer, led by either one of our team, or one of the Centre staff. Then, after a quick coffee and some time playing with the toddlers, we’d begin the painting. (While the kids are at school, we like to try to add some value to the Centre. So between breakfast and lunch, we take on a painting project, which hopefully allows us to leave things a little bit brighter and fresher).

The team, however, all looked forward to lunchtime. That was when the Centre came alive. The nursery and primary kids were let out of school, while the vocational girls came down from the fields, and the huge, empty building began to fill with song, shouts, screams and laughter. After lunch, we had the joy of just spending time with these incredible, wonderful, individual girls and boys. Some days we would play games, sometimes help with homework, sometimes sit patiently while the girls braided our hair (well, not mine…!) But our afternoons and evenings were always filled with joy.

Each day, as the sun set, some of us would jump in the car to head home (home was the Oblate pre-novitiate, Mazenod House, where the resi- dent Oblates looked after us incredibly well), while the lucky ones got to stay in the Centre, put the toddlers to bed, and then spend some quality time with the older girls. They didn’t feel quite so lucky though, at the 4:30 wake up – or, for that matter, when the buckets of freezing cold water arrived for them to wash with!

The Oblate Missionary Experience is designed primarily to allow people to experience life as a missionary.

We live together, eat together, work and pray together. It is humbling, at times it is challenging, but above all it is a privilege. To play a part in the lives of the incredible boys and girls who call SJC home, is a privilege. To be a witness to the suffering endured by countless children in Zimbabwe, while heartbreaking, is a privilege. To live out the Oblate charism, “He sent me to bring the Good News to the poor”, is a privilege.

While on the Missionary Experience in Zimbabwe, our team is asked only one thing – to love. To show the children of SJC that they are beautiful, divine, and dignified.

– Ronan Lavery
Ronan is the UK Youth leader of the Oblate Youth Service.