Connections

I'm not always sure what's noteworthy or rather blogworthy, but tonight three moments captured my thoughts as I was preparing to call it day.

They both revolve around connections. Life here sometimes seems not so different than life in other places. I wonder what I'll make for dinner, what's clean to wear tomorrow, or where time went since I once again didn't get as much done as I hoped. In other ways, life is very different. The reminders of the disparity between the rich and the poor. Leprosy in faces on the street bringing stories that seemed of old to be in the here-and-now. Challenges of living in a different culture.

Tonight I was reminded of the things that ground me, that make me remember who I want to be and why I am here. It has something to do with connections.

The first connection is to the earth. I love watching things grow. I am trying once again in my garden, since the first attempt during the long rains was not so fruitful, to put it lightly. The short rains are upon us, with morning downpours filling the streets and dousing any daring to be out. I am planting seeds from three different people who know me well and their love reminds me of how blessed I am.

The other connections today were brief moments, but just as significant.

I went with a Focolare group to visit a home for children rescued from situations of sexual violence. It was the first service trip planned this year and we were working from the seat of our pants with what to do to entertain the twenty children once we were there. I was impressed by the impromptu stand-up comedy skit and poem recited bringing laughter and lessons on life. I offered to lead a game and had everyone make a circle "duara" - today's new word. Before I could even explain the rules, the little guy next to me was hanging on to my hand as if I was his new best friend. Here he was not even up to my elbow and had experienced what no one should. We had gone there to show these kids love. Instead I was reminded of how simple love can be.

This evening I was able to help our property owner with a small favor as she prepares to leave the country tomorrow to see her sister. Her sister is not well with emergency surgery planned to see if they can save her life. As I offered my condolences and prayers with a brief hug, the clinging response was a reminder of how precious life is. Her words went something like "we stay together" - different words, different languages, different backgrounds and different generations but we stay together and hold each other up when we can. Please remember her sister and all who are suffering with your thoughts and prayers.

Our group today, visiting Mahali pa Usalama - Place of Peace
Visiting friends from Los Angeles bring connections home. Asante sana kwa kuja! Thanks so much for coming, Pia & Anselm! Read about the Varni's visit by clicking here.
And finally, comic relief.
Sometimes you have to really look to see the connections.

Thank you to all my connections. Wishing you enough of what you need.
Mary

Back to School - Wamerudi shuleni

It's back to school time here in Kenya, too! It's not a new school year, but the students have had one month of break. The school year starts in January, with three month-long breaks in April, August and December.

This was the first such break since I settled into my work here in Mombasa. I really enjoyed getting to know more of the kids. All of them live with family members or "well-wishers", so I usually only see them when we have a workshop or when they bring their report or come to the office with a request.

When the project has had funds available, workshops have been held during the break time on issues relevant to their lives as orphans. We have two trained facilitators who lead sessions in self-awareness, self-esteem and life choices - called Adventures Unlimited.

This month we had a one-day workshop for the children in primary school. In the afternoon, the children were split into groups based on their age. The younger children met with counselors to talk about issues they were concerned about.

Mrs Mary Bahati listening to the children in a small group session.

This month I added a Career Talk with the Education Coordinator for the older students who will be taking their final exam in primary school next year. Early in the year they will need to preference which school they want to attend, if they meet the entrance requirement.

Education Coordinator Angela Mumo talking about career choices.

I was really fortunate that my fellow missioner Dr Susan Nagele was available to attend this session as well. She told them her story and encouraged them to believe in themselves.

Counselor Elizabeth Mugo met individually with the children to give them an opportunity to talk about any concerns they have.

One of the joys this month has been the students who come to the office for studying. Theresia is working with me on a trial project of making note cards. We weren't able to finish before she went back to school, so we'll try again in December.

We have an old donated desktop computer which the children can use to practice typing or learning computer basics. It was fun teaching them about how to create files and get started typing. One of the boys (pictured below) kept working on typing - even after the monitor died. I hope to get another used one donated, since my priority for donations is to take another child into the project over having a new computer.

We also have a small library with used textbooks and reading materials the students can check out. It's been helpful to have review books for courses the children are struggling in.

Many of our children are struggling in school. I am still learning about all the factors that affect their performance (for example: lack of electricity or oil for lamps to study at night, household chores, poor nutrition, stress, bad home situations, etc.) I know many of these are out of our reach, but hope to see what we can do to help the children reach more of their potential.

Last Friday I had a woman who is HIV+ come with her son, who got the disease at birth and now has learning difficulties. He is now in a special school nearby the office that I hope to visit and find out more about his situation and how we might be able to assist him in either education or skills training. He is a really sweet boy, quick to smile and good-natured in spite of challenges in front of him. They came late in the day; I had almost left earlier and missed them. His mother is so committed to caring for him and certain that God is caring for us all. It was hard for me to listen to her thank God for me being here, knowing that what she does for her son is more than I could ever do. Although we only spoke in Swahili so I missed some of what she said, I could feel more than I could hear about her strength and her faith.

Wishing all children an opportunity to reach their potential this fall - and for those of us who are still learning in other ways to see new possibilities.
Mary

Happy 35th to Maryknoll Lay Missioners!

Today is the 35th Anniversary to the foundation of the Maryknoll Lay Missioners! My co-missioner Susan and I went to Mass together this morning and then out to a delightful lunch to give thanks for the organization that has given us the journey we are on.

I was just reading a note from our Executive Director Sam Stanton & wanted to share with you some of his thoughts.

"As missioners, we carry a great deal of responsibility, especially to those who make our ministry possible. As our original vision statement said, “Mission is a sacred challenge and gift from God.” Let us take the opportunity of our 35^th anniversary to profoundly ponder the sacredness of our calling and of this moment while we thank our creator God for our many blessings. We especially thank God for our brothers and sisters in the Congregation [Maryknoll Sisters] and Society [, for our current staff, for our alumni and former staff, for our board members, for the Affiliates, and for all our partners in mission throughout the country that support us in so many ways.

For all these blessings, oh God, we thank you with grateful hearts."

We are also giving thanks in Kenya for a very peaceful vote on the constitution. It was so quiet and the peacefulness of the vote gave so much hope for a brighter future.

I am also grateful for good health and beautiful weather in Mombasa right now. I had to take it easy a few days this week when a bug (possibly a malaria-carrying mosquito) got the best of me. Feeling good again seems bittersweet when hearing of the plight of those dealing with the loss of varying degrees now in Iowa and in Pakistan.

My final and most profound gratitude today is for those who have gone before me in Maryknoll, those who encouraged me to follow my heart in deciding to come, and those who have accompanied me along the way.

I found a few photos of faces of missioners to share, but I wish I could put all of your faces that come to mind today.

My MKLM Class back in December - now in Kenya, China, Bolivia, Tanzania, Panama, Cambodia and El Salvador

Two amazing women who inspired me with their joy and their stories of life in Kenya!

And my fellow missioners in Kenya: Pat, Russ, Ilona, me, Susan ...
and Kathy, Cindy and John.

Happy Anniversary MKLM!

With gratitude,
Mary

Praying for Peace in Kenya - Tunaombea Amani katika Kenya

Today is a historic day for Kenya. It is now just before dawn. There is a symphony of birds outside my window proclaiming the new day. Today is the day of a national referendum on a constitution. It might be the first constitution since Kenya gained independence from England in 1963.

The Constitution has been the predominant headline since I arrived in Kenya early this year. When I was in Nairobi, I was asking Kenyans that I was getting to know what they hoped for. Moses, the day security guard at our hostel who also served as our Swahili tutor and friend, told me that his hope was for a new constitution - a new beginning for Kenya.

Since then, the wording was finalized, the draft published, rallies held on both the sides, questions raised, highly publicized arguments and insults thrown, articles written, sermons preached, alliances made, and campaigns full of both innuendo and promise run. Although most agree a new constitution is needed, key issues have hotly contested. Almost three years ago, violence erupted in hot spots around Kenya when the last presidential election results were disputed. The memory of loss, frustration, and unresolved conflicts still remains. The tide seemed to turn in the last two days from heated battling to requests for peace and reconciliation between the two sides whatever the result may be.

After work yesterday, I went to the ocean and it was still. Even the ocean breeze seemed to be holding its breath.

Please join us in praying for peace in Kenya.

July - Mwezi wa Saba (The 7th Month)

I thought I would take you on a photo journey through a few events this past July.
A highlight was visiting friends in Uganda & Kenya. Here's one my the English classes that my friend Cindy Korb (another MKLM missioner) teaches in Kitale. The students and I were enchanted with each other as we asked each other questions and sang songs. Cindy & I gave our best version of Amazing Grace, while the girls sang various ones of hope, love, faith and unity.


Earlier in the month, the Community Based Health Care Center which I work with had a Family Day for children who are receiving treatment for HIV/AIDS through their programs. I went as part of the staff and was happy to see a few of the children that the AIDS Orphans project serves as well - particularly one girl who I has last seen at her home still very weak. The CBHC provides the children with medicine, counseling, and peer-support groups, where as the AIDS Orphans project that I coordinate supports educational needs for some who have lost one or both of their parents to AIDS.

The Family Day had an excellent emcee who has a gift with young people. He found a little performer who sang a solo for us all.

The CBHC staff sang a song about stomping out AIDS and then the teens living with HIV/AIDS performed the song for everyone with the support of a couple staff members - after just hearing it once!
We didn't let the 4th of July go by without a BBQ! Brother Stan is one of the few Americans we know in Mombasa. He is the director of a Marianist Center for training youth. This center offers training in vocational skills such as welding, hairdressing, and catering for an affordable price. We are very happy to partner with them in the training of some of the orphans in the AIDS Orphans project. I was delighted to find when Brother Stan offered to bring cake and buns for the occasion that they were made by some of his catering students (pictured with one of their creations).

As part of our BBQ, (which also included grilling hotdogs & hamburgers) we had a sing-a-long.
July also brought a visitor to Mombasa - Russ, who is a MKLM missioner in Kitale. He came with Jane, a CBHC nurse (2nd right), and I to do home visits. This woman we visited was absolutely delightful. She had recently lost her husband, so Jane wanted to see how she was holding up. Her eldest son was busy constructing a new shed from local materials, and they are fortunate to live where they can do some farming.

Jane was telling me how this little guy always had a beautiful smile for her so she asked for a photo.
July also brings a new year in my life, and I was blessed to have friends to share a meal and homemade cupcakes overlooking the Indian Ocean.

Fellow missioners & friends

As July came to a close, I was able to join the CBHC staff for a meeting at a beautiful place along the beach. We talked about the challenges of our work and it was an honor for me to listen to stories of others.
I also learned how the Giriama (from just north of Mombasa) do their traditional dance - but it wasn't something I was able to master.

The last sunrise in July.

Wishing you moments of peace and wonder in the coming month,
Mary

Balance - Mizani

Many of you may have learned to drive a stick shift a long time ago, but I didn't really learn until I came to Mombasa. So it was when I was re-learning how to drive that Coralis told me something I needed to learn: Balancing.

I think I've figured out the balancing it takes to get through a jammed roundabout and secondly, into our driveway, which up the little hump and through the gate with narrow clearance. These both take some coordinated footwork, a feel for the clutch and a good eye for the right moment to go or to stop.

I am finding that balancing isn't just about driving, it's also:

• Balancing the time for greeting and welcoming with the time for getting into what might be deeper and need more attention.
  
• Balancing the reality of people's needs being greater than what our project can offer them with the possibilities of hope.
  
• Balancing being quick enough to ask the right questions when the moment arises and taking enough time to reflect on what is being said.

These types of balancing, I am still working out. Perhaps I will always be working on them. One moment this week that sticks with me was a time of speaking with a mother who has chosen to send her daughter upcountry (the term for "back home" or in the rural areas) since she thinks her daughter will do better in school there. She was worried about the friends her daughter had in the local area and saw the influence they were having on her. Although I had to tell her that the project couldn't pay the school fees for a school 1000 km away, I realized as we were talking the solution might not be to bring the girl back to where we could support her school fees. I told the mother that I was glad she was so interested in her daughter's education and caring enough for her to make such a difficult decision.

I work with so many women that are working so hard to give their children - or their nieces and nephews, siblings, grandchildren, or cousins an education. They hope that the young ones can have a brighter future. This mother told me that her two children ARE her future. They will care for her in the later years of her life - possibly even soon, as she is infected with HIV/AIDS.

One of the project donors contributed funds for blankets for the children. This time of year is the coldest in Mombasa. Some of our children sleep on the floor so a thick blanket is really valued & can be used as a mat, too.

A few photos from the blanket delivery:

Smiles that make me smile.

A family member of one of the orphans at home.

Most of our children live in a more densely-populated setting.
A few live on the edge of this valley, overlooking Tudor Creek, which runs to the Indian Ocean.

One of my new friends

Today I'm ending with the Swahili word for the day:

mizani /mee zah nee/
1. weighing scales, balance 2. mental serenity

Wishing you all a good sense of balance and serenity,
Mary

This little light of mine

The song "This Little Light of Mine" has taken on new meaning for me in the last two weeks. I knew it as a children's song from Bible school many years ago. Now it is a joyful memory of Coralis, my mentor and friend, who left Mombasa today for another chapter in her life story.

After returning from the airport , I was doing a bit weeding-therapy in my shamba (garden), about which I will post on another day, and reflecting on some of the things I learned from Coralis about mission.

+ Sometimes people just need someone to listen.
+ Things take time. Don't rush them.
+ Be present.
+ We can come to know God more deeply in all we do.
+ Be one with the car.

I will add more as they come to me. It has been an incredible privilege to know and work with Coralis. She is a woman of deep faith, many versatile talents, and great hospitality. She will be greatly missed in Mombasa.

It's common for women to be called Mama here, usually followed by the name of the mother's first child. Coralis is fondly called Mama Paulo. For me, we decided that my new name would be Mama Bado ... or Mama Not-Yet.

Coralis with some of the children in the AIDS Orphans Project

Nenda salama - Go in peace. I know your light will continue to shine.