A role model for others 

Glory Michael Sunday is from Akwa Ibom state in Nigeria where she attends Ikot Ekang Itam Assembly, a congregation of MWC member church Mennonite Church Nigeria. She’s currently nearing the end of her term with YAMEN (Young Anabaptist Mennonite Exchange Network) serving as a teacher at P4T Nursery and Primary School in Kyangwali Refugee Camp settlement, Uganda.  

As she nears the end of her term with YAMEN, we asked Glory some questions to reflect on her experience. Her answers have been edited for length and clarity. 

What made you interested in serving for a year with YAMEN? 

I’m a product of community services. While growing up, at some stages, I couldn’t pay my school fees and I had a teacher back then in class that was looking out for me. 

So, when I had the opportunity to give back to society and be a role model to children, I was like, “OK, why not just go try it? Why not do it and just be a change that people need to see?” 

So why did you pick YAMEN specifically as opposed to something similar? 

I specifically wanted to serve in Africa. This was my first time travelling outside my country and I was like, “OK, Africa is big, let’s explore Africa.” 

It’s a way of getting to learn culture, getting into different types of food and just seeing how life exists on its own differently. How people value life from a different perspective. Everything doesn’t have to be on your own side. Why not just see how people see things on a different side? Maybe if you’re not here, you’ll not think this way. 

What has the experience of working in a refugee camp been like for you? 

It wasn’t easy, but as time went on, I blended in with my colleagues at work. I blended in with the community. I had more friends. And eventually, I thought maybe the year should never be over because I don’t know if I can be bored here.  

Coming from a different part of the world, I’d never seen a refugee camp and seen people live at their lowest, but they are still living very happily. We should always have a reason to thank God because people are seeing life in its hardest parts, and they are still living very grateful. 

Is there someone you’ve connected with over your time at the school that’s really stuck with you? 

When I came here, there was a girl in class that I saw who was a stubborn child who all the teachers had written off. We got talking and became friends. I had to spend a lot of my time after school doing extra lessons with her to get her to the level other pupils were in her class. We took the process step by step. 

Then there was this day that she called, and she said she wanted to talk to me. She looked me in the eye and told me, “Teacher, I don’t want to disappoint you.”  

I was speechless. I remember not wanting to disappoint my parent, and now someone looks into my eyes and tells me they don’t want to disappoint me — I broke down, and even when I got home, it was just resounding in my ear. 

I never thought I’d come to this point in my life where I’d motivate someone enough that they would think that I am their role model, and they don’t want to disappoint me. This is the peak of my life. 

Have there been moments or experiences that have challenged or grown your faith? 

This is a refugee camp, with people from Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan and other places, so it’s mixed language, but Swahili is the language mostly spoken in the camp. 

But I connected with them because it was just like my local church. When it was time for praise and worship, they all went outside and they were dancing, I found myself joining them, and I didn’t actually expect to be worshipping God in a language I totally didn’t understand. 

Have you found any Bible verses or passages particularly helpful or meaningful during your term? 

Proverbs 3:5-6 has been my go-to verse. Anytime I feel stressed or depressed, I just remember “trust in the Lord with all your heart.” Just lay all the burden on him, and he can take it. I wrote it on a piece of paper and I hang it in my room so when it seems as if it’s too much, I just remember “…he will direct thy path.” 

What would you say to someone who might be considering doing a year with YAMEN, but might be feeling unsure about it? 

Everything in life is risky, there is no safe side in life. You always have to try out what you want to try out.  

It’s fun, it’s motivational, it’s inspiring to be a light to someone that has lost hope. Just take the decision and you won’t regret it. 

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