There are some experiences that leave a deep mark, not because of the work itself, but because of the people, the lessons, and the quiet moments that shift something inside you. One of those experiences for me was helping construct a toilet and later a bathroom for a disabled woman living in Kabonge. Something beautiful happened: we connected. Not just as a team, but with the people we met, especially the woman and her family.
Of course, like any community project, it came with its challenges. A few neighbors questioned the work or expected more, and it reminded me of something important: when we serve, we should do it not for approval or praise, but for something greater. Serving with a heart focused on God makes it easier to accept the things we cannot change, and still give with love and purpose.
This experience taught me that service isn’t always perfect, but it’s always worth it. It’s about giving what we can, lifting others up even when we aren’t in the best positions ourselves, and walking together both literally and spiritually . And in doing so, we often find that we’re the ones who are changed for the better.
This project taught me more than how to build a bathroom. It taught me about grace. About the strength of faith in the face of hardship, finding joy in unlikely places and about how the act of giving, when done for the right reasons, can transform us as much as it helps others.