The Testimony of Sister Agnieszka Missionary in North Kivu
The Polish missionary works in the Democratic Republic of Congo, precisely where one of Africa’s bloodiest wars has been ongoing for nearly three decades
In the early years of her religious life she worked teaching catechesis in schools, took care of children and youth. She received permission to go to Africa after her perpetual vows. First she went to Rwanda, then it was time for the Democratic Republic of Congo. For the past decade she has run a hospital and nutrition center for children in the village of Ntamugenga.
The missionary jokes that she is “the man of the house”: her occupations range from buying the faucet, soap and medicine, paying the staff, repairing the roof and finding pots and mattresses for the refugees, to risky trips to Goma, the only town in the region where she can get the medicine, food and milk needed for children who have lost their mothers. During these expeditions, he has to pass several checkpoints in the hands of the rebels. At almost all of them he has to negotiate in order to get by with his help….
Beata Zajączkowska– Vatican City