Continuing our series of testimonies from participants in the Programme for the Preparation of Formators, we share the experience of Sr. Lydia Apili Bwor, a member of the Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate of Gulu.

In this interview, she reflects on how her understanding of formation has evolved from seeing it as preparing others to recognizing it as a lifelong journey of personal transformation. She emphasizes that authentic formation begins within oneself and that one's life, even more than one's words, becomes a witness that forms others. She also shares how adapting to a new culture, environment, and community has deepened her empathy for those she will accompany in the future. Ultimately, she reminds us that formation is always at the service of Christ's mission, lived in communion with the Church and for the life of the world.

How has your understanding of formation evolved over the past few months?

My understanding of formation has been evolving from the time I got here in January up to now. I have deepened my understanding on formation and I now know that formation is not about forming others. Formation is about forming myself first interiorly to be transformed so that I am able to form others. Even without talking, my way of life is able to form others when I have self-formation.

Looking ahead, what areas of your formation do you feel called to deepen or strengthen?

It is important to have at heart formation because consecrated life is not for an individual. It is born in the church, it has to grow within the church and it has to bear fruits in the church.

And the mission is for the church, it's not the mission of the congregation, it's not the mission of an individual. The mission is for the church and the church is Christ. So in this case, I appreciate the fact that we have had lessons on formation, formation, the mission of Christ, which I participate in.

Other people also are participants. We are all on the journey for the mission of Christ. So I wish to deepen my understanding about the mission of Christ in the church.

What challenges have you encountered during this period of formstione, and how have you responded to them?

One of the challenges has been that this program is intense. It is heavy because we all stay in different places and every morning we come to school and we are not very young now. So getting on the bus every morning, getting on the bus every evening, that has been a bit of a challenge.

A bit of a challenge also because for those of us who are not from Italy, getting the bus numbers, getting the stops, but that is normal for any beginner in a new place. That was a bit of a challenge, but now it is okay. We now know which bus to get, what time the bus arrives, and so thank God it was a challenge, not a problem, and we have overcome that challenge.

Another challenge is the weather. We came in January when fine, it wasn't very cold, but for Africans like myself, that was a bit cold. Thanks be to God, we didn't get big challenges with health.

So far, none of us out of the 46 have got serious health issues or challenges, and we thank God. So I would not call them challenges, but I would call them maybe a change of environment, which is normal, and then getting to know the culture of the place, which is also normal. And this is also a lesson for us because the young women who will join the different congregations or the young women we are going to form will get challenges like we got.

They will be coming to a new environment. They will be meeting different people, new culture. So what we have gone through is to help us to also help others, particularly for myself.

I now appreciate the fact that religious life is open. We join new family, just like we have been here. All of us came from different places, but we have bonded.