What was the point in leaving Portugal to be a volunteer for a year in Angola?
This experience allowed me to live a completely different sort of life. I didn't know where I was going, what I was going to do; I only knew that I was going to be working without being paid for it! I wanted to understand better the purpose of my existence in this world. Before I went, I told myself that I would do "whatever it takes". This led me to ask for the job I hated the most in life – manage computer networks; and my year of mission life was simply INCREDIBLE.
I would, therefore, say that the starting point is to be able to live in a completely different way, to be open to others, to serve and to discover yourself in depth.
What did you discover about yourself? Does your experience of volunteering help you today in your work as a teacher?
Well, I discovered a whole new world. I lived in one of the most dangerous slums in Angola. I tasted the difficulties, needs and joys of those people. I went to a school to teach street children. This made me see life from a completely different perspective.
Does it help me today as a teacher? I would say, more than that... I understand now that each of my students has a life story that deserves to have its space; that school is not just a place to learn things, but to learn to be. This new post-mission perspective makes me as open to those entrusted to me today in my work in Portugal as I had to be to those with whom I was in Angola as a missionary.
What was it like, living in close contact with the Salesians? What would you suggest to them?
During my time in Angola, I met members of many congregations and understood the different ways they live and serve God. At times the ways of the Salesians were strange: they seem to be seriously workaholic. Eventually, I had a great example of hard work for the good of the needy, a great model of pedagogy and love for the young.
Any suggestions? Well, I don't know. Probably Salesians should spend as much energy taking care of themselves as they do of others. No one can do good without taking care of those closest to them; taking care of the community should be a duty. Secondly, it would be good to include other saints outside the Salesian family, too, in their catechesis. That is just a suggestion.
Source: Cagliero11
