We are pleased to present to you this first-place essay from the 2024 Holy Cross Missions Student Essay Contest, which invited students to reflect on the ways an encounter with an international Holy Cross ministry drew them “to completeness” as understood by the person of Jesus Christ. 

Originally from Amman, Jordan, Layann Wardeh is currently a junior studying computer engineering at the University of Notre Dame and a leader in the women’s boxing club known as Baraka Bouts. Thanks to a Summer Fellowship provided by Notre Dame’s Center for Social Concerns, Layann spent eight weeks this past summer serving and researching at St. Joseph’s Hill Secondary School, a Holy Cross school in Uganda. The Student Essay Contest Committee commends Layann for her first-place essay and for her ongoing support for Holy Cross in East Africa. 

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“A Journey of Hope”

Hope: the desire and expectation for something positive to happen. 

This was my understanding of hope before my eight-week journey with the Holy Cross Missions at St. Joseph’s Hill Secondary School in Kyembogo, Uganda. Hope was a simple yet guiding principle that I held onto through many challenges. But as my experiences unfolded, this definition began to take on new dimensions.

When I first arrived at Uganda, I hoped to form new connections and learn more about Holy Cross Missions in East Africa, but hope manifested into my life in a completely unexpected way. I first met Hope, a student at St. Joseph’s Hill Secondary School where I was teaching and leading activities as part of the University of Notre Dame’s Center for Social Concerns Summer Fellowship program. Introduced by Fr. Peter, Hope stood out to me with her bright smile and glasses; she seemed composed and involved in the school community as she updated Fr. Peter on recent events. This small introduction was just the beginning of a deeper bond that would shape my understanding of the virtue of hope.

Over the weeks, I watched Hope lead the netball team with strength and grace that seemed well beyond her years. Her leadership was not just about being the best player on the court; it was about fostering a sense of unity and trust among her teammates. This became especially clear during the district competitions.

It was a tense Friday afternoon, and the district netball competition was underway. The air was filled with excitement and nerves as students from various schools gathered to represent their institutions. The field, a vast expanse of grass under a clear blue sky, was bustling with energy. Among the sea of eager faces, the St. Joseph’s Hill girls’ netball team stood out as they prepared for their match. The stakes were high – only the top three teams would qualify for the regional championships.

Hope, calm and composed, led her team in a pre-game prayer. The girls formed a circle on the field, some kneeling in the grass, with Hope among them. Her voice was steady as she prayed, not for victory, but for strength and for the outcome that God desired. She prayed with a quiet confidence that reflected her deep trust in God, a trust that seemed to envelop her team and bring them a sense of peace amid the tension.

Despite their best efforts, the netball team lost the match. Tears welled up in the eyes of some players, the weight of their loss heavy on their hearts. But Hope didn’t let the disappointment linger. She gathered the team once more, this time to pray after the match, expressing gratitude for their efforts and placing their trust in God’s plan. Her leadership didn’t stop there – she encouraged the team to stick together and go cheer for the boys’ volleyball team, who were also competing that day, by saying, “Even if we lost, we need to stick together to go support the boys’ team.” 

And so, with tear-streaked faces and hearts still heavy with disappointment, they made their way to the boys’ volleyball match. As they cheered for their peers, the sadness began to lift. The energy of the boys’ final match was contagious, and when the boys won, the girls’ joy was palpable. Their cheers filled the air, not just in celebration of the boys’ victory, but as a release of their own pent-up emotions.

Watching the netball team during that competition, I was filled with a mix of emotions. I felt excitement and pride in seeing the team I had watched train so hard finally compete. But more than anything, I was deeply moved by Hope’s leadership and faith. Hope’s leadership and her response to defeat showed me a different kind of hope – one that was not just about personal desires, but about collective strength and trust in God. It was hope that looked beyond the immediate outcome and found purpose in being there for others, in lifting them up when they needed it most.

Hope’s leadership during the competition, particularly her focus on prayer, had a profound impact on me. I saw how her trust in God provided a foundation for her leadership. She wasn’t just leading her team on the court; she was leading them in faith, reminding them that their worth wasn’t tied to winning or losing but to their trust in God’s plan. Her calm demeanor and the way she handled the loss showed me that true hope isn’t about expecting everything to go our way but about trusting in God’s greater purpose, knowing that He has a plan for us, even when the path isn’t clear.

Jeremiah 29:11 came to mind as I reflected on this experience: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Hope embodied this verse, living out her faith by trusting in God’s plans for her and the team, regardless of the immediate outcome.

Through this encounter, I was drawn closer to Christ, learning to lead with the same confidence and compassion that Hope displayed. This experience brought me closer to “completeness,” not in the sense of achieving perfection but in becoming more aligned with Christ’s teachings. I learned that to truly live like Christ is to trust in God’s plan, even when the outcome is uncertain, and to find strength in Him.

Towards the end of my time at St. Joseph’s Hill, Psalm 39:7 resonated deeply with me: “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.” This Scripture passage captures the transformation that took place within me during my time in Uganda. My understanding of hope evolved from being centered on specific outcomes to being rooted in a deep trust in God’s promises. I realized that hope is not just a desire for good things to happen but a steadfast trust in God’s love and faithfulness.

Hope: the trust in God’s plan, even when the path is unclear. It is the confidence that, regardless of the present, God’s love and faithfulness are constant. Hope, I’ve learned, is not just a wish for the future but a steadfast trust in God’s promises.

Learn more about Holy Cross in Uganda

Published: October 4, 2024