Mission Integration Program

John and I travel back to the States in late April for the Mission Integration Program for Maryknoll Lay Missioners that have completed their first contract. MIP is a chance to reconnect with our classmates in orientation and reflect on our experiences in other cultures. It was a wonderful experience. It felt as the if the seven of us had seen one another just a few days before rather than 3 1/2 years ago.



These are our MKLM classmates: back: Nan, Mary, Lindasy, Cindy, John front: Erica, Minh

We stayed at the convent of the Maryknoll Sisters so mealtimes were delightful. Currently there are over 100 Sisters living and working there. The cafeteria was a great place to meet them and hear stories of their time in mission. What a wealth of experience! The bad part is that we were often late for our meetings because we were busy talking to the Sisters!



We had the opportunity to spend time with two Sisters that worked in Kitale for years, Sister Noel and Paula.


The last day of MIP we had a Recommitment and Blessing ceremony. Three missioners have decided to leave MKLM and return to the States. Four of us have renewed our contracts for another three years. Mary asked me to anoint and bless her as she transitioned out of MKLM.


We were gone for three weeks. We spent the first week with Andrea and Melissa. The last two weeks were in Ossining, NY. Over the weekend we had a chance to ride the train into New York City. It was a beautiful spring day.



As we were leaving, we shared one last taxi ride with Mary. We will miss her enthusiasm, energy and smiling face here, but know she is doing what she is called to do.

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For more pictures, click here

Monkeys on our Fence

Not just anybody can say that they have monkeys living in their area! For a long time I didn't realize the difference between the sound some birds make in our neighbourhood and the monkeys chattering. It is a high shrill sound that does sound like birds. We have always enjoyed watching them play making the tree tops sway as they jump from branch to branch on the roofs.


John calls them his angels. Whenever he is discouraged or down he seems to see monkeys. That brings a smile to his face and reminds him to lighten up.




Yesterday when I went outside in our yard there were six monkeys with two babies. While I watched they moved from one tree along our fence into another tree where they began eating flowers.




Look at how long their tails are. Did you see the babies head in the mother's arms in the first picture? Isn't nature amazing?

Kenyan English

Because I’m teaching English, I’m extremely aware of the difference between British and American English. Sometimes the wording of my fellow teachers and students is interesting because it’s a direct translation of Kiswahili into English and isn’t really grammatically correct. I’ve been marking compositions, so I’ve jotted down a few that I thought you might find interesting.

We experienced some slight hiccups today. = We’ve had some problems today.

My body was removing smoke. = It was so cold I could see my breath.

We ate to our satisfaction. = We had plenty to eat.

He coughed the engine. = He started the car.

He added value. = He improved himself, his skills, or his work
.
Slowly by slowly we footed. = We walked slowly.

We slept late. = We went to bed late.

She fished out the person who shouted. = She found out which person shouted.

She had all her basic needs. = She had everything she needed.

I had no otherwise. = I had no choice.

Somehowly = Some how

The chairs are available for hire. = You can rent the chairs.

Maryknoll Family

During the election several Maryknoll Lay Missioners stayed at the Maryknoll Father's house in Nairobi. I thought you might enjoy seeing some of our colleagues.


Russ, Fr. John Conway, Fr. John Lange, Kathy


Mary, Fr. Joe Healey, Fr. Mike Kerwin, myself


Bethany, Rehema, Curt


Kathy, John O'Donoghue, Mary, Russ, Fr. Joe Healey, myself, Fr. Mike Kerwin, Melissa


Anita, Curt, Fr. John Lange, Fr. John Conway, Bethany, Rehema

We did do other things besides eat all the time! In the morning we gathered for Mass in the chapel. We all worked on our own projects during the day and gathered again in the evenings. The evening entertainment was a puppet show put on my Bethany and Rehema or a movie. Of course, there were always a few people in the television room checking for the newest election result news.

Flight from Nairobi to Kitale

Last week when we were traveling from Nairobi to Kitale we took a small plane.


Due to the weather, we weren't able to get very high, but John was able to get some great photos of landmarks.

south side of Nairobi


Kibera, one of the largest slums in Nairobi


Mt. Longonot, an extinct volcano


escarpment of the Great Rift Valley


Lake Navisha and greenhouses that grow flowers for the European market


Curio Valley


natural forest vs. farming


more greenhouses


Almost home in Kitale

Election March 4, 2013

Today, March 4, 2013, is Election Day in Kenya. The polls are open from 6am to 5pm.
There are six positions on the ballot: President/Deputy President, Member of National Assembly (MP), Woman Representative, Senator, Governor/Deputy Governor, County Assembly Ward Representative. Today has been declared a public holiday so people can vote. As in the US, many people are glad the day has arrived as they are becoming tired of all the campaigning done by candidates.


Father Joe asked if any of us would like to go with him to a polling station not far from the Maryknoll Society house here in Nairobi. His small Christian Community is helping to monitor the election at that polling station so he knows several of the workers. So I (John) decided to go along to see.


As we approached the queue (line) of voters it looked to be about 100 yards long. Then we noticed it turned around the corner onto another street. As we walked around the corner we saw over a hundred yards of people in queue on this second street. There we visited with some Carmalite Sisters in queue whose compound is across the street from the Fathers. We rounded the second corner and saw a line at least 50 yards with more people queuing. We estimated about 1000 people were in queue outside the gate of the compound where the voting was done.


We asked various people what time they arrived. One lady said 3:00 (we think that was the time she left home, but many do not have watches to know the exact time). Many said 5:00.

Shortly after we arrived there was a commotion. They had opened the gate to the compound to allow a group of people onto the grounds to vote. There was pushing and shoving as the newest arrivals took their places in queue and those that had already voted were allowed to leave the compound.

On the way home we saw Joshua, one of the guards at our compound. He had just voted and showed us his pinky finger which had been marked with indelible ink to show that he had already voted.


A couple of observations of the journey: A) The people were very patient waiting in queue even though they had been in queue for many hours and would continue for many more hours. B) I did see some people reading Bibles, prayer books and praying a rosary while in line. C) A couple of people were actually reading a book. That is very unusual as Kenya doesn’t have a reading culture other than the newspaper. D) Very few people had water bottles, a concern since some will be without water for many more hours.

The government has done a great job with civic education about the election process. The IEBC (Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission) has done much work to ensure that is a fair election.


This is the procedure: Once a voter reaches the voting table their fingers will be checked for signs of indelible ink that would show that they had already voted. Then they will check to see that the voter has been biometrically identified and registered at that polling station. The next step is to verify their identity via their national identification card. Then they will be issued the six ballots. The voter will mark each of the ballots and insert them into the appropriate colour coded ballot boxes. Finally their index finger will be marked with indelible ink and they may collect their identity card as they leave the polling station.

President Kibaki has asked that people vote and then return home and stay there for the rest of the day. If there are questions as to the validity of the results, that they be settled in the courts and not on the streets.

We continue to pray for a free, fair and safe election in Kenya.

Flowering Trees in the Dry Season

It is currently the dry season, but there are many flowering trees and shrubs. I don't know the names of most of them, but I thought you might like to see some that I saw on my walk this morning.