We were up and going by 8:00 to have breakfast with the Sisters. This is a big day for them as there is an ordination of two new priests and a celebration for the end of the Year of the Priest. It seems that in this diocese they have been praying to support the Priests in their work. There are also issues with the Kenyan Constitution that is being developed to support different tribes/cultures/races/religions. One of the articles is about the issue of abortion and this has caused difficulties with the Catholic Church and they are praying for guidance.
After breakfast we went down to the Asumbi Teacher’s College where the celebration was to occur. We were introduced to the Bishop and later in the ceremony the Bishop recognized that there were visitors from America and had us stand up. He also told the people there that we had not come with Vice President Joe Biden (who is currently in Kenya). The outdoor service started at 10 am and reminded us of the ordination of our bishop and the development of Camino Real at San Juan Batista. There were 5 choirs that totaled about 100 singers (Yvonne was in heaven), many priests, many sisters (and yes it was a little weird to sit in the Sisters section), and hundreds of people. But the big difference was the dancing. Each school brought their dance team and the dancers, though not in competition, would move forward through other dancers so that they could be in front. It was amazing.
The program started with the Kenyan Boy Scouts raising the flag of the church and Kenya and then the 12 minute entrance procession of dancers began coming down the aisle. Dance group after dance group danced in until they filled the center of the area. All during that time the choir sang, the Bishop and priests processed, the bible was presented and the service began. We got to the consecration of the bread and wine by 2:00. We are in a really warm area. Think of the central valley in August. Sister Pauline had brought water and umbrellas and I had brought my hat. The Sisters were under a shade and that helped.
It was an amazing service that finished at 3:00. After the service we were invited back to the Sisters house for a little lunch and then we went on a walking tour of the different schools and hospitals that the Sisters run in just this little town. At one of the schools there as a choir making a video (this is really interesting as you are talking about a town that raises all of its own food, cars are shared or people walk, and yet they are making a video and have cell phones.) The director was excited and ran up to Sister Pauline and asked if we could be in the video. She said they would have to ask us. This young man was so excited to have two Americans to put on his video he could hardly stand it. When we asked what he wanted, he said he wanted us to dance with the choir. Well you can guess our response. NO. These people were great and they would have had two sticks standing with them. It took a little doing but they finally let us go on with our tour.
You cannot believe how well we have been treated. What care the Sisters are taking of us. What an insight into a country that many of us know little about. You cannot believe the work the Sisters are doing.
Pray for them.
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