Thanksgiving - Ushukuru

This year has brought many changes for me - moving to a new country, learning a new language, and relocating to a new home are the big ones. I spent this Thanksgiving with the seven other Maryknoll Lay Missioners in Kenya.

John led a morning of reflection which was really helpful for me. We spent time reflecting on the challenges and then on the accomplishments and moments of joy in 2010. I know some of you will appreciate my list. First - the challenges:

• Feeling insecure, unsure of direction and competence
• Missing people
• Building new relationships
• It's HOT! Adjusting to a new place
• Not understanding conversations going on around me
• Not understanding conversations I'm involved in
• Not meeting my own expectations
• Understanding complex situations and people's realities
• The disparity between the rich and the poor
• Quieting myself
• ANTS

When we were reflecting on our challenges, another person mentioned seeing challenges as the art of the possible. I realized at the end of this discussion that I need to stop trying so hard. Easier said than done.

Accomplishments and moments of joy ... hopefully you can guess which are which:

• Sunrises
• Colorful lizards jumping up and down our outdoor stairs
• "Mungu Yupo" - God is here.
• Being able to sing along in Swahili, even if only for the refrain
• Making people laugh
• Peacefulness, when it comes
• the breeze
• Seashells and sand
• Driving (definitely an accomplishment, not a joy)
• Forgiveness
• Honesty
• Feeling deeply
• Meeting people at home, where they are at
• the drums beating at Mass, the rhythm reverberating within
• New relationships with my co-workers
• Persistence in continuing to try in Swahili (they say it will get easier?)
• Letting go
• Basil (the only plant still surviving from my "long rains" garden)

Here's a few moments in November that I'm thankful for ...
Sunrise at Mombasa Beach Hotel - I was invited there for a three-day meeting on Governance and Board Capacity Building. It was much more interesting than the title sounds ... and a real blessing to fall asleep and wake up to the ocean.

Friends! We were able to see Sr Genie who was in our Orientation Class last year. Cindy and John have been my family here in Kenya and I am grateful for every moment with them.


Being able to make my mom's bran muffins. A taste of home.

The "short rains" garden on the stairs ... and thanks to Julie sending me 3M non-slip tape, I hope not to fall down these stairs for the third time!

Watching the sunrise from my roof


Walking on the beach with new friends and colleagues

Rain, the waves, and watching the ships come in and out of the port.

The long-awaited driver's license ... 7 months after I applied. The temporary paper one worked in between. I am still asking people to "pray me home" when out driving. Its' a jungle out there on the main streets of town.


Our Maryknoll community in Kenya

Finally, I give thanks for all of you who are staying in touch, remembering me in your thoughts and prayers, or continuing to love and support me in spite of the distance.

With much gratitude,
Mary

Mitihani - Exams!

This week is the week of exams for students across Kenya. Two groups of children are taking their exams: Std 8 (8th grade) and Form 4 (Seniors in High School)

The Form 4 students are finishing up three weeks of testing on all their subjects this week. The combined and subject scores will determine whether they can 1) get to go to the university and 2) which subject they can study - too low or too high can disqualify you for your subject of choice. If you are over-qualified, the Joint Application Board for the Kenyan universities will suggest a different line of study for you. Unless you have money to pay extra (which the children we are supporting don't), you have to take the course you are invited to. We have six students taking their KCSE.

Please remember them and send your best wishes for their future our way:
Benson
Collins
Mirriam
Mwanzara
Dennis
Victor

Standard 8 students are taking the KCPE exam Tues to Fri this week. The overall score they get will determine if they can continue on to secondary school (high school) and which school they can attend. Thus, this is a time of great stress and importance for them. We have thirteen children taking the exam this week. Please pray for them:
Ali
Boniface
Bonaventure
Caren
Emmanuel
Gift
Joseph
Joyce
Lucas
Mwangangi
Neema
Stephen
Valentine

Next week I am meeting with the board of my project. We will be looking at finances, governance of the project, and selecting which new students we will support next year. We have had over 40 requests for assistance. Based on our finances, I am hoping we might be able to help half of them, but it might be more like one third. I realized this past week I need to not take myself so seriously, as I've been stressed about trying to get the most information for us to make the best decisions.

It seems as though each day I'm working out a puzzle. Sometimes new pieces appear, others become more clear, and sometimes I realize I've been putting them in the wrong places and that the puzzle is much more complicated than I thought.

The solution seems that it might not be solving the puzzle. What I keep running into is the word compassion. Dorothy Day said "The only solution is Love." Sr. Joyce Rupp wrote in the daily reflections I've been reading that her life goal is to be a compassionate presence in the world.

May we all be more compassionate.