Kenya Saturday, 6/12/10

We were up at 5:30 (even Yvonne) so that we could be at the Sisters Mass at the chapel of the Mother House. What we thought would be a quiet early morning service exploded into a profusion of song accompanied by drums, tambourine, kyamba (a shaker). This was the first mass for the newly ordained priests. (It seems as though some of the Sisters were teachers of these priest so it was an honor for the Priests to be asked to celebrate and for the Sisters to see the fruits of their labors.) Yvonne and I listened to the true joy of the word of the Lord surrounding us.

We then were invited to the Mother House refectory for breakfast. Where we met the Sisters of the Mother House and the Aspirants (Young Sisters in their first 6 months in the order. In December they will progress to Postulant Vows.) who sang for us and the new Priests.

It was there that Yvonne was introduced to the choir directors and they have organized a time tomorrow for Yvonne to meet with them and talk and learn music. She is so excited.

While that was going on I got to talk with Retired Bishop Collin Davis (from England) who has been working in Kenya for the last 50 years. Here is a Bishop that the Sisters respect so much that they requested him to be their chaplain after his retirement. We will go with him tomorrow to the Novitiate (these are women who are in their last stage before they profess their final vows) when he celebrates mass for them. He was an RAF pilot in WWII and was a hoot to talk to. He is full of energy and deeply caring of the Kenyan people.

Sister Pauline then took us on a tour of the hospital that they run here in Asumbi. This was quite sobering. One of the projects that the hospital is involved with is an AIDS project supported by Catholic Relief Services. Sister Angela (one of the administrators) told us that the project has been underway for only two years and they are tracking and treating 2000 people with HIV/AIDS. She expects this to increase by a 1000 patients a year. This CRS program has provided drugs that are showing very good results. Incidents of TB and AIDS deaths in this region have dropped significantly because of this program. Here are is a hospital working at the very edge of First Aid. Very little equipment, no X-ray facilities, the Surgery is just a room with a hand painted sign. But they are healing people and knocking down walls in this building to make it work better. They are moving forward as funds become available to better the lives of the people in the region.

From the hospital we went to a compound called the Helpage. This is a program for grandparents who are parenting HIV/AIDS orphans, where they are taught to make clay pots and fire rings in a safe environment. They come on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. These elders are given seeds for their farms so they can feed their families and school supplies for the children. This allows the grandparents to be able to support their grandchildren and live. The Order checks in with them periodically for the grandparents to stay in the program and to support the family.

Then back to lunch at the Generalate. Sister Pauline suggested we needed an afternoon off and that was really true, that is why we have been able to catch up on the blog, read a little, and take a nap.

I have to report that Yvonne is using her inhaler less than she does in Salinas and we are physically doing very well. We are overwhelmed at the work that the Sisters are doing and the needs for the region. No matter what they just keep going on cheerfully doing the work that they are called to do. They continue to push the boundaries of what could be expected. They are healing the population, teaching the young people and themselves, and caring for the poor with faulty electricity, water, and basic supplies.

Pray for us and the Sisters.