My Mission Experience in Dubbo, Ethiopia
My name is Maureen Bonareri Anyega, and I am a second-year novice, having my novitiate experience in Ethiopia. I started my experience journey in Dubbo, where I served for two months and now, I am in Wallacha where I will be serving for 4 months. I am going to share my experience in Dubbo; it involved participating in various missions that deeply impacted my understanding of service and compassion. These missions included working at Baby Jesus Center of Life (a malnutrition rehabilitation centre), conducting hospital outreach and family visits, promoting women's empowerment, and caring for malnourished children.
During my time in Dubbo, I encountered children who suffered not only from a lack of food but also from a deficit of care, love, and basic needs. In this experience, I felt God speaking to me, urging me to grow in compassion and strengthening my desire to serve. I now understand that a mission is not only about helping others but also about allowing God to transform my own heart. This journey has taught me patience and how to love more deeply. I learned that my presence matters sitting with them, feeding them, and simply showing care became my way of sharing love. I realized that while I may not change everything, I can make a significant difference in someone's life.
Working as a cleaner at St. Mary hospital has become more than just a job for me; it's part of my mission and vocation. Through this service, I feel called to care for others in a simple yet meaningful way. Keeping the hospital clean is not only about hygiene but also about preserving the dignity of every patient.
In this work, I see the face of Christ in the sick and suffering. Even in small and hidden tasks, I believe I am serving God by creating a safe and peaceful environment where healing can happen. This experience has helped me grow in humility, patience, and faithfulness, especially when the work is tiring or goes unnoticed.
I thank God for this opportunity because it teaches me that no service is too small in His eyes. My work becomes a prayer, an offering of love, and a way of living out my vocation through daily acts of care and dedication. This mission has not only transformed the lives of those I served but has also profoundly changed me.
Novice Maureen Anyega during one of the outreach program sessions conducted by Cabrini Ministries in Ethiopia
