Teachers

I am teaching some of the sisters to use their computers during this holiday. As we spent a few hours hours in a hot computer room the other day—yes there are no seasons in Uganda—I felt that I wasted two hours of my life. I could have been reading or researching or making money or taking time with friends or exercising. I could be in medical school if I really wanted to be. Then I thought about the sisters I’m teaching. They are teachers, they spend their whole lives teaching. Taking information and giving it to others—that is selfless. What about mothers? They spend endless hours prattling with their one year olds, carrying them on their backs, waking up nights, cleaning endless baby clothes (think about it—cultural taboos against nakedness+ cultural taboos against diapers+ no running water or power+ washing machine—what is that??= suffering). What would happen, however, if I only pursued things that added to me? I would do nothing, become nothing. For a person to reach anywhere, he or she must live a life of giving. When athletes reach the Olympics, they benefit their home countries and their fans. When a doctor becomes good, he is helping others. “It is in giving that we receive, it is in dying that we are born again to everlasting life.” St. Francis. When I teach others, I give myself and I live on in those students. This is why I meet so many Ugandans in their 40’s and 50’s who tell me “Yes… Peace Corps… I had a teacher from Peace Corps, his/her name was ….. and I loved him/ her so much… I really like Americans….. now I am a successful….” It is, after all, the seeds planted, not the big cement houses, not the “life changing” devices, and not the money we give, that grow into trees