Palm Sunday- my fellow missioner Kathy and I ventured to an area called Changamwe where we met many parishioners from St. Patrick and Mikindani Parishes. One group processed with Fr. Nicky and our group processed for over 1 ½ hours, with 82-year-old Fr. Peter to St. Patrick’s Church located in Bangladesh, the largest slum in Mombasa. The Swahili mass was very nice and most of the gospel was sung wonderfully by Francis, a new seminarian just arriving from Zambia.
Monday- Kathy and I returned to St. Patrick’s Dispensary, located in the slum, where she is a nurse/administrator in Bangla. It was my first time to be at her ministry and I was able to meet all those she worked with. The social worker took us on a tour throughout parts of the slum, places Kathy and I would not be able to explore alone. The poverty and living
conditions are unjust because the citizens in Kenya are treated unfairly by this corrupt government. But despite what they endure, they welcomed and thanked us for our visit. And the look of excitement on the children’s faces to see and greet a “mzungu” (white person), melts your heart!
Tuesday- Easter Break has begun, I spent the day at home. My neighbor and catering student Ramadhan and I spent several hours working on his homework, sharing about our cultures and religions. He joined my cleaning lady and I for lunch and we gathered bags of food for Lenten almsgiving. We are currently experiencing a drought and many are starving.
Wednesday- I walked to a nearby gym and was guided by a young man named Fred in weight lifting. After we got to know one another, I had learned that he was an orphan sponsored by a couple from the U.S. Two students came by and we hauled kilos of flour, rice, and beans for Lenten almsgiving to St. Martin’s Church. Our newest Maryknoll Missioner, Rich, arrived to Mombasa this evening and is staying with me.
Holy Thursday- Serving Rich with meals he has not been able to enjoy since he arrived to Nairobi in January and making him feel comfortable in his new surroundings. We attended a lively Holy Thursday Mass, washing of the feet, and adoration.
Good Friday- Rich and I joined several hundred parishioners at my parish for over a three-hour Way of the Cross journey through the area of Kisauni, located just behind my area. It is a very poverty-stricken area that has experienced increasing gang activity. It was a brutal hot and dirty pilgrimage under the African sun to the point that I felt very weak. I felt someway connected in Jesus’s suffering. In place of a homily some of the youth did a play of the Passion in the very dramatic and comical African way. The Good Friday service from beginning to end was a little over 6 ½ hours. I feel exhausted and emptied in a good way.
Easter Vigil- Kathy, Rich, and I gathered at my place for a good ole fashioned fried chicken dinner. Service began at 7pm as we all gathered for the ceremony surrounding the fire and procession of light into the church. Eighty to ninety members were all dressed in white being ready to receive the sacraments. A 33-year-old choir member friend of mine was being entered into the church, so it was even more meaningful for me to witness. It was a very beautiful and celebratory evening. There was so much joy and celebration as you will see in the attached picture which was taken at 1 am when the celebration commenced. Alleluia, Alleluia!