Nairobi stop

This first stop on this new journey has been full of new experiences. We were greeted at the Nairobi airport by Mary Oldham, former C.R.S. volunteer and now, Maryknoll Lay Missioners, which leads us to being hosted at the Maryknoll house with it's current staff of dedicated priests wich comprise over two hundred years of missionary stories, one richer than the other. We could easily spend most of our time here listening to stories. Between these shared life experiences,Mary has managed for us to visit a giraffe protection center, an elephant  orphanage, take a safari in the Nairobi National Park, visit with Father John Lange some of the sick identified by one of his social workers, in one of the slums surrounding Nairobi and attend a beautiful Sunday Liturgy.

The highlight of our activities is sharing in the celebration of Mass with the people we view as most in need. This morning, Fr. John picked us up to join him at one of the out station churches located in the middle of a Nairobi slum.We arrived early to find a group of men and women praying the rosary together and singing as the church filled with worshipers. Before we knew it, the youth choir and groups of youthful dancers had taken their places ready to greet the celebrant. Out of their 8' X 10' corrugated steel living quarters emerged the faithful dressed for the rich celebration they were about to participate in. Hundreds of all ages packed under one roof. Approaching the little church through the sewer muddied rutted streets one might think that they are seeing the wealthy monied people from the developed world coming to  bring hope. A more prepared people, for the celebration, one would be hard pressed to find anywhere. When the celebration began, every mouth sang and every hand was raised to applaud His coming. Anyone who has had the opportunity to witness the faith of people from these slum communities will know that God has a special relationship here, and wonder how we have drifted away.

What a rich experience this has been for us! 

Thank you Mary, for sharing with us God's love!  By taking care of every detail for us we have been filled.  What a grace it is for us to be here with you and to meet some of your wonderful friends in Maryknoll.  May the Lord richly bless you and them in the work that you are doing here in Kenya