Originally published at Orange County Catholic
RON AND SANDY SMITH were in Africa on their way to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a national park in southwestern Uganda that is home to nearly half of the world’s mountain gorillas, when their lives changed.
They saw schoolchildren in purple and red uniforms walking along a dirt road on their way to St. Kizito Rubuguri Primary School – a humble collection of classrooms and buildings located in a small town where agriculture and tourism are the main industries.
FR. CLAUDE WILLIAMS AND FR. BRENDAN HANKINS FROM THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE ARE WITH FR. NESTORIO NIWAGABA OF THE DIOCESE OF KABALE, UGANDA ALONG WITH PARISHIONERS. PHOTO COURTESY OF RON AND SANDY SMITH
The following day, the Smiths decided to visit the school. They met Fr. Nestorio Niwagaba of the Kabale Diocese and were moved to action by the dirt floors in the classrooms and a host of other pressing needs for the 700-plus students ages 5 to their late teens.
And so, in January 2023, they formed Friends of St. Kizito Rubuguri Primary School, a 501c3 nonprofit organization.
FULL-TIME CALLING
Five years ago, while living in Fresno and running a business, the lifelong Catholics had been considering missionary work.
“God
