AFRICA/MOROCCO - Sr Georgette shares her experience at a Nurses Training College in Rabat

Rabat (Fides Service)- Sr. Georgette Makosso a Franciscan Missionary of Mary FMM from Central Africa described for Fides her experience of three years at a Nurses Training College in Rabat, Morocco. “The experienced showed that when there is authentic encounter and people respect one another as human persons, differences of race, religion and culture are no longer barriers”.
“There were almost a hundred students mostly local men and women, members of the police force and the army, state employees but also nine foreigners from Kenya, Liberia, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Congo and Guinea Bissau and Central Africa. “At first it was difficult to be part of a Muslim environment, but after six months we had been accepted as part of study groups and preparing for exams. We ate meals together and at the end of the first year of study we non Muslim students made friends with a number of Moroccan Muslim students”.
Sr Makosso described a normal day at the college: “The day had three parts: practical experience in hospital, theory and reading. During the service in hospital each group prepared the therapy for the patients. When you assist the sick you learn to share their hopes and pain. At the lunch break we shared food and conversation. When the Muezzin called Muslims to prayer, my two companion women students went to the mosque and I found a place to read and meditate the Word of God. At the end of each day we had a meeting with teachers to share our experience and ask questions”.
“As the days passed we students formed bonds of friendship” the nun said. “A Muslim girl companion invited me to her home on the occasion of Muslim festivities. At first a colleague, I hadbecome a ‘sister’ and accepted as such. It had become natural for us to help each other, listening and giving advice”.
“At the end of three years of study together we had become a family of 97 students working in groups to prepare our graduation thesis” said Sr Georgette.
“I lived with my local FMM community and Mass, Adoration, personal and community prayer were a source of strength. I thank God for this experience of being a one Christian among many Muslims” the religious concluded. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 31/10/2005 righe 34 parole 428)