Karibu Kenya

Jambo to all!!  I have arrived safe and sound in Kenya.  Father B. picked Jan and I up in Nairobi and brought us to our new home in Mikinduri.  The area is beautiful and the people have been so warm and welcoming.  Jan and I just got back from Mass.  We got to be Eucharistic ministers!!!!!! 

This first week has been so up and down emotionally for me.  One minute I'm crying, thinking I made a major mistake coming here and the next I am feeling happy and so grateful.  I feel a bit schizo!  I am also grateful for the Lay Mission-Helper program.  They do know what they are doing. They did many things to prepare me for my life for the next three years. Living in community for one.  People here really all live together and do not have or seem to want privacy like we are used to.  Meals are eaten in large groups and they do not talk during meals.   Very difficult for me!!!  They talk after.

We were at the music and dance competition for all the schools from the Diocese of Meru - there were 18 schools represented.  Some of the children walked over 6 miles to get here and 6 miles home.  They were barefoot and many who did have shoes the shoes were way too big or small and very ratty.   They were so happy and joyous as they spent all day here.  The competition was held in a field with the judge at a little table and Jan and I stood with all the villagers to watch.  There were no chairs.  They changed the location of the competition several times. They would pick up the judges little plastic table and move it to the shade as the sun moved.  The dancers would sing and dance inches from the table and the children and parents watching would crowd around the performers.  It was a sight to behold.  The small children would mob Jan and I and touch our skin and laugh and dare one another to touch us.  They wanted to look at the inside of my mouth to see what it looked like.  Jan and I are like aliens to them. 

A few days ago I went with Fr. Linus up into the mountain to a village home to help him with mass.  It was an amazing experience the people were so very poor yet all the folks living in the vicinity came. We were 2 hours late but that is called 'African time'. No one is on time anywhere. It's so difficult to get to places that people start when everyone gets there.  We drove 20 kilometer over unpacked rocky dirt roads and then hiked about a mile through the jungle (or forest) to get to these folks homes.  They had outhouses and their kitchens were outdoor fire pits.  The homes were small plywood shanties.  They were the size of a large bedroom in US. Entire families live in them often 6-8 people.  The children sleep in one half and a curtain divides the room so parents have separate sleeping area. Dirt floors, no windows..  These folks made us tea and food. So generous.  They also gave money at the offertory.  Reminded me of the parable of the widow who donated all she had to church. 

Father B threw a 4th of July and welcome to Kenya party for us!!!  We had a bonfire and cookout.  It was beyond awesome.  

Anyhow goodbye for now and please continue to keep me in your prayers. 

Love to all,

Kathleen