December Blizzard

It has been a blizzard for us this month in several ways. First of all, we literally had a blizzard on Christmas Eve in Tonganoxie, KS. It started snowing that afternoon and the weather forecasters predicted 8 - 10 inches of snow by Christmas afternoon. It has been our family tradition to attend Midnight Mass followed with breakfast at our house for family members afterward. I was scheduled to play the organ for Mass. As we left home for church John dug out a neighbor lady because she couldnt' get her car into her driveway and was blocking the road. Attendance at Mass was light with only 60 people there. Father jokingly laughed that people that wanted a white Christmas were in big trouble. We had more than enough egg casserole for our traditional midnight breakfast because no other family members were able to get out and get to Mass!

We were involved in a blizzard of activities trying to see people during our short home visit. First we flew to Texas to see my sister, her family and my Dad and Betty for a few days. Our church hosted an Open House for us one evening. It was amazing and overwhelming to see how many people came out just days before Christmas to bid us good-bye and send their well wishes. We only wish the evening could have been longer so we had more time with each person. Then there was John's family Christmas with over 50 people squeezed into his Mom's house and a visit from Santa. Two of our nephews spent a final sleep-over with us giving their parents a quiet night at home while we enjoyed their company seeing a movie and playing games. We both visited school to chat with former co-workers. I had a final Girls Night Out with friends. We managed to squeeze in a couple of visits with John's Mom, his sister and as well as our best friends. There wasn't enough time to visit with everyone.

In between the visits, we were interviewed by a reporter for our local newspaper. If you'd like to read the article we wrote, click here.

We drove in three different snow storms. Even though they all couldn't be classified as blizzards, each was harrowing in it's own way. Driving home from New York with John's sister and husband we got caught in an unexpected ice storm in Pennsylvania. Thanks to the driving skills of both men, we made it through a couple of harrowing hours. Then driving back to New York, John and I just happened to find black ice outside of Louisville, KY. We never found out why traffic was stopped, but three tow trucks drove by while we were stopped. To help pass the time I read to John and we even played cards for awhile. Our final snowstorm was just this morning as we were driving back from visiting Andrea in Oneonta. Snow flurries with no accumulation was predicted for this afternoon. Since we were leaving early in the morning we really weren't concerned. Only an hour into the trip the flurries turned into heavy snow with snow packed roads. I don't think John is going to miss winter driving!

There was a blizzard of activity as we did our final packing. It seems like we have been working on this for weeks. We had several lists of suggested items to take that we used as we made trips to purchase items. Of course several days after shopping we always thought of something else that we ought to take. Our last purchasing trip was just yesterday! John had his own personal method of packing so the best thing for me to do was help set out things and then get out of his way. There was plenty for me to do as I cleaned the apartment, compiled lists of addresses, phone numbers, wrote cards and final emails. We enjoyed one last meal with Sisters Paula and Noel hearing even more stories about their time in Kenya.

I don't know that you could call it a blizzard, but more of a flood of tears as we spent the last "free day" with Andrea. She spent most of her Christmas vacation with us in a strange house without any TV or internet access. What a trooper not to complain, but offering to help in any way that she could. I'm sure it wasn't her best Christmas ever. Now that she is back at school coaching she is in high gear with two practices a day working to get the team back into shape after too many Christmas goodies. We were so glad to be able to spend a day with her eating at a favorite spot and playing pitch that evening. We got in as many hugs and kisses as possible hoping that they will be enough to last until the next we see one another.

As I write this John and I are at a hotel next to the airport. It seems impossible that we fly out tomorrow morning for Kenya. Mary will be arriving within the hour. The flights and layover last about 20 hours and we will arrive in Nairobi about 2:00 on January 2nd. We will be met at the airport by a lay missioner, Vicki Smith. She will take us to the Maryknoll House where we will spent the first night with the priests and brothers. Then we will move to the Flora Hostel on Sunday where we will be living as we attend language school for the next four months. School starts Monday morning at 9:00!

Ready or not, Kenya here we come!

Sending Ceremony and Goodbyes

It has been an emotionally intense week as we concluded our orientation program. Monday was a wet day and I wouldn't be surprised if we went through an entire box of Kleenex as we started goodbyes to our fellow missioners. It started with a retreat lead by Sister Janet and then our own evening meal. Sister Janet had put together a slide show with photo highlights taken over the last 13 weeks. Thanks to Mary's face recognition program and computer skills we were able to view a slide shows of each individual that evening as the group laughed and told stories remembering the times shared. Minh prepared another of her excellent Vietnamese meals. We are sure going to miss her cooking magic.

Tuesday was a final ritual with the Mission Sending Team as we dismantled the weaving our of Life Lines that started this whole experience together in September.

Thursday was the day the seven lay missioners pledged their commitment during the Mass. We have planned our own weekly Masses all along, but this one was especially important as we confirmed our assignments in mission.

Family members started arriving Thursday evening for the Sending Ceremony. John and Nan joined us and we had a great time giving them a quick tour of New York City on Friday. Here we are on the coldest day yet at the top of the Empire State Building.

That night was the Christmas Concert. The choir was made up of priests, brothers, sisters, lay missioners, Maryknoll friends and employees. It was a beautiful concert. Along with four part harmony, we had a harp, organ, guitars, violin, cello and percussion instruments. The chapel was full and filled with a joyous celebration.

The highlight of the week was our Sending Ceremony. As part of the ceremony we brought gifts to the altar representing the counties where we would soon be giving. A Sister that had worked in each country "called us forth" to our new homes and welcomed us in the language we will soon be learning. We were presented with our mission crosses and received a blessing.As a final send off, bells and noise makers serenaded us as we left the church. The chorus of the recessional song We are Called sums up the orientation program:
We are called to act with justice,
we are called to love tenderly,
we are called to serve one another,
to walk humbly with God.

If you'd like to see some pictures of the Sending Ceremony click here.

If you'd like to watch some highlights of our sending ceremony click here.

Wisdom from Sisters and Fathers

Those of us going to Kenya were invited to dine with some of the Sisters that have served in Kenya last week. Today we were guests of the Fathers that served in Africa. What follows are some of the insights we gained from them as well as some of their stories.

Sisters Paula and Noel, both nurses, worked together in Kitale for over 30 years. Noel was in Sri Lanka for 8 years and then in Africa for 34. Paula was in Africa for 41 years. The majority of that time they worked in a medial dispensary. In more recent years they worked in pastoral ministry included a knitting group, putting roof on completed houses, an adult literacy project, and a community bank.

Sister Clare worked 50 years in Kenya in many different places and in many different roles. Sister Roe was an educator in Eldoret and Mombasa. She now serves on the Christian Peacemaker Team that goes into conflict areas. While there they non-violently prevent further violence, train other in non-violent action and give witness to human rights abuses. Most recently she was in The Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Fathers Richard, Tom and Leo served for a total of almost 120 years. That's a lot of experience!

Father Tom served in Tanzania, Kenya and Sudan. He enjoyed his time most when he was in the bush (translation: out in the country or rural area). He talked over and over about how we need to forget that we are there to help people and instead focus on what we can learn from them. Although the people are very poor, in many ways they have more wisdom and sense of community that we do. He suggested talking to the people. Find a boy or girl out tending a herd of cattle or goats. Sit down with them under a tree and visit. Listen to them.

The Sisters have described Kitale as paradise with a mild climate, good soil and beautiful people. They had a yard with every kind of fruit tree imaginable. Since Mary is a composter and gardener we are looking forward to having a garden and growing some of our own food and herbs. They suggested good restaurants, areas where we might want to live, which local bank to use, good places to shop and even the best kind of beer!

Never leave home without duct tape. They told a hilarious story about a medical evacuation of one of the Sisters. When the plane arrived they discovered that the stretcher with the Sister strapped it was too wide to be able to fit through the door. What did they do? They taped the Sister to the stretcher so that they were able to tilt it and get her into the airplane. Then as they were taking off, the Sister still taped to the stretcher, started sliding forward and into the pilots area. The solution to the problem? Remove part of the tape from the stretcher and tape her to the floor of the plane!