“My name is Florence Mulenga, I am a Zambian. After my first profession in 2017, I was sent to Cameron where I studied French for one year. It was a very nice experience though challenging,” says Sr. Florence Mulenga, a Comboni missionary sister currently serving in the Central African Republic.
In 2019, Sr. Florence was assigned to her first mission in the Lobaye-Bagandou region. “This is my current mission and the first love of my youth,” she says.
What inspired Sr. Mulenga to become a Comboni missionary? “I come from the parish of the Comboni sisters and fathers. I was touched by their way of living the gospel and being with the people. It was interesting seeing the sisters that came from different countries, speaking our own language and eating our local food and above all their life of consecration and belonging to God.” The famous phrase of St. Daniel Comboni, founder of the Comboni missionaries, also inspired her: “If I had one thousand lives, I would have given them all to the mission.”
In her mission, Sr. Florence works in a Catholic primary school, helping provide education and instill Gospel values. “I also work with the youth, and the children of the parish. I have a group of adolescent girls whom I try to accompany and encourage them to persevere in their studies.”
Sr. Mulenga says sharing the faith across cultures has been enriching but also challenging. “I have learnt different languages and cultures and I feel fortunate and blessed. But I also face injustices, seeing children who can’t afford school, and girls who have been abused with no justice.”
Her advice to young people discerning a missionary vocation? “Do not be afraid of saying yes to God. Somewhere around the world, there are people waiting for you. As missionaries, we are enriched by different cultures and grow in faith.”
The educational mission needs support to give more opportunities to children and empower girls through education. Sr. Mulenga’s journey shows the joys and sacrifices of serving Christ as a modern missionary.
