University of Colorado Athletics
Shadley Follows Her Passion To Uganda
August 02, 2017 | Volleyball
The CU volleyball outside hitter has spent five weeks over the last two summers doing missionary work in Kirugu
BOULDER - Over the course of the last two summers, Colorado volleyball player Stephanie Shadley has spent five weeks in Uganda.
Uganda? Yes, Uganda. Specifically Kirugu, a small community that is approximately a two hour drive from Uganda's capital, Kampala.
Shadley typically receives confused or amused looks as to why she would spend a lengthy portion of her summer in a third world country stricken with misfortunes, but this outside hitter from Lewisville, Texas, has a heart of gold and these trips were not something she was going to pass up.
A few years ago, Shadley, heard about a mission trip to Uganda from a fellow CU student, Zane Larson. She could accompany a group of college students who would travel together to Uganda and volunteer with the Hoffman Family Foundation at Rays of Grace, a Christian primary school in Kirugu. The group would work on various construction projects at the school and volunteer at a medical clinic for the community.
Shadley was ready to pack her bags without any hesitation. However, she knew little of how much preparation there was to go on a mission trip such as this one. This included a new wardrobe, as there is a fine line between what Americans and Ugandans deem as apprpriate and modest clothing. In Uganda, long skirts, dresses that show little skin and pants were what most women wore.
at Rays of Grace.
Shadley also packed plenty of bug spray, picked up her malaria prescription and underwent a number of vaccines before departing on her journey.
"We had no idea what to expect, because we were the first college group to have gone to Kirugu," said Shadley.
Over 8,000 miles flown, 17.5 hours of sitting on a plane, several layovers, many time zones, and an extreme case of jet lag - Shadley touched down in a country very foreign to her at the time.
It is not unusual for Americans to have never heard of Kirugu. Searching for the community on Google won't get you far.
Before Shadley departed on her first trip, her family attempted to research Kirugu online but found little to no results.
"I remember when I learned about Africa and would picture it in my head," Shadley said. "After having been to the country I realize that it is everything that I had imagined."
She makes reference to the red dirt roads, the jungle villages, and the poverty that rattles the small community of Kirugu and surrounding areas.
In the summer of 2016, Shadley and her group found themselves in a state of astonishment upon arrival.
"We were all shocked that people could live and survive such ways," said Shadley.
one of the children in the village.
However, Shadley noticed that once she started to make and feel connections with the villagers, she had created a whole new outlook.
"Once you start to get to know the people and hear them communicate, you realize how happy they are, regardless of their situation," said Shadley.
When Shadley arrived back in the United States after her mission trip to Uganda in 2016, she did not have much time to reflect on her experiences.
"As soon as I got on the plane, I got very sick. I was not able to do anything for a couple weeks. It took a toll on my body when I came back for volleyball," said Shadley.
But despite getting sick, Shadley was more than ready to go back to Kirugu and found herself back in the same village one year later. She deeply missed the relationships she had formed there and the simplicity of life in the quaint community.
"The second year we were more prepared when it came to what we would wear and how we should act. We went into the mission trip feeling more confident," said Shadley.
Shots, check. Gear, check. Plane ticket, check.
This past summer, Shadley's three weeks in Kirugu were very similar to her previous trip.
Keeping volleyball in the back of her mind, Shadley woke up early each morning to push herself through core and strength training exercises before eating a hefty breakfast.
"Breakfast was a chance to get your one big meal of the day." Shadley notes that there was not much time to eat until later in the evening.
The group would then hop on the back of bota botas, the Ugandan's word for motorcycles, and arrive in style as they were driven to the school. During recess, the children would play with the group and during class time, Shadley would help the teachers with proctoring exams and creating lessons for the students.
"Sometimes we would help in the kitchen making hand squeezed passion fruit juice," smiled Shadley as she recalls the taste.
Once the school bell rang, the children would collectively sprint towards Shadley and her group, who were found bearing basketballs and volleyballs. After the children wore the group out with their perpetual source of energy, they would head back to their living quarters as the exhaustion would begin to set in.
Though Shadley hardly found free-time, she made it imperative to take a short break each day to reflect on her journey while journaling. She did this while sitting and overlooking the Nile River, which flowed along their camp.
worked out by and reflected on each day.
"Doing yoga and having a bible study on the Nile was hands down the best thing I have ever done," said Shadley as she recalled the stunning views and peaceful atmosphere.
(grandmother) at the medical clinic.
One day during the three-week mission, Shadley and her group were given the opportunity to volunteer at the local medical clinic, where 300 people were treated.
"There were 80 cases of malaria," Shadley said. "We were able to cure every case!" In addition, Shadley counseled patients with HIV by pointing them in the proper direction for treatment.
When asked to summarize the characteristics of the villagers who reside in Kirugu, Shadley took a deep breath, exhaled, then took a minute to sum up the thoughts racing through her mind.
"Wow," said Shadley accompanied with a chuckle. "There are so many words that I could pick out… hardworking, loving, joyful, and most of all, patient."
Patient? Extremely. Shadley recalled lines of villagers standing outside of the medical clinic from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., waiting for a chance to be seen for medical treatment.
Though Shadley returned home from her second trip in full health, she struggled with the transition between two polar opposite worlds.
"Returning home after the second trip was a much harder experience. I was much more conscious of how other people live across the world," said Shadley.
She was extremely emotional during her first few days back at home. She struggled with the realization that people around the world are living in poverty while she continues on with her comfortable lifestyle.
"I would just break down crying. I knew how people were living in Kirugu, and here I am eating at this fancy restaurant with my family," said Shadley.
With time, Shadley has come to realize that spending three weeks devoting her time and effort to the community of Kirugu is not something every college student, especially a collegiate athlete, can say they have done; thus, she feels reassured that she has given all she can at this time in her life.
"I'm glad there are people like Steph in the world – people who are selfless and altruistic. She truly represents what leadership through service is all about," said Colorado head volleyball coach Jesse Mahoney.
Mahoney was fully supportive when Shadley initially told him about the Uganda mission trip, a type of support that only comes from a special athlete-coach bond.
"We want our players to be passionate about volleyball, no doubt, but it is also important to have other passions and outlets in your life – hopefully outlets that are stress-reducing," said Mahoney.
When the time came for the Shadley to say her goodbyes and travel back to the United States, she noticed a common theme in what the villagers of Kirugu were telling her.
"They said 'Till we meet again,'" recounted Shadley. Shadley responded with the same phrase.
Before leaving, the children gave Shadley and her group a proper send off - a tribal celebration. The village boys applied powder on their faces and the girls wore hand-made dresses and shook their tail feathers to the drumbeat created by the talented drummers.
"It's a big deal and was one of the neatest things to experience," says Shadley as she recalls the amount of preparation the children put into the ceremonial tribal dance.
Though now thousands of miles away, not all communication was lost when Shadley left the village of Kirugu. She makes it a priority to keep in regular contact with the teachers and the staff at the village via writing letters, sharing photos and messaging on Facebook.
one of the children in the village.
Shadley may not be certain of where her life or volleyball career may take her at this moment, but one thing is known for sure: she will continue to travel to Uganda and practice what she does best, devoting her time to helping others while spreading love and happiness along the way.
