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April 3, 2021Wrapping it up
Can hardly believe my 3 ½ years will be coming to a close in just a couple of months. I took a long solo walk on the beach along the Indian Ocean two weeks ago just to escape, think, and pray. This is when it began to hit me as to how much I have become a part of this missionary way of life.
My last session during my Orientation Program at Maryknoll was a two-day meditative retreat lead by a Maryknoll Sister. Our last exercise during this retreat was to think of our fears and express them though drawing on construction paper. One very strong thought that came to me was that I would not want to come home after my contract. There have been several times I wanted to pack my bags and return home, but what I had feared has seem to have come true.
I do plan to return and trust that God will lead my way into a fulfilling way of life. But I know it is going to be a big challenge.
My last day at the school was to be Wednesday May 31, then do some traveling in areas I have not been able to visit. I caught wind on Friday night that there was to be a surprise farewell party for me on Tuesday the 29th. On that same Friday night, the president announced another lock down and closed all the schools, country wide. Five counties had to fully shut down all church services. We have begun our third Covid wave, so traveling has once again halted. But on Saturday the school staff received a message announcing a smaller party for me on Monday and I was not to arrive until 12:20pm. It was to held upstairs in the church hall which is a bit out of sight.
I arrived at school and many students were preparing the buffet and decorating the hall and all the preparations. One of the students named Joy approached and said “Sir, today we are going to make you cry”! I thought eeeh...African men don’t cry, and I have never even seen African women cry except at funerals and those are hired, professional bawlers.
I entered the hall, music was playing, linens were set, and the buffet was very well done. Students stood at attention ready to serve the food and care for the mixture of staff and selected students.
Lunch was served and so began the photo shoots and the program. The first presentation was given by a newer student from our school across the road, he is a great singer/entertainer. He wrote a poem titled wazungu (white man). Then came Joy who said I would cry, then Clinton who is a return student quoting a bible verse and how he has been impacted by me, followed by my current Catering production assistant, Madam Ruth, then my original Catering HOD returned for a speech, then Zakayo, the oldest of the triplets we sponsor. For him, who only reached eighth grade and is now 24 years old, emotionally did me in. I was so honored. Then came both the Directors sharing with everyone things that are mostly known just between the three of us. I am very pleased and thankful that I have been able to touch so many lives here, only by the graces of God. And I am blessed over and over by these youth.
The kind words, the laughs, cards, messages, and photo after photo has left me with so much gratitude. As for now we do not know exactly when we can return due to the lock down and they are anticipating a dramatic increase in positive Covid cases into June.
Just an update so I can share the remaining time with you. I will put together a new album on this blog with some of the farewell pictures.
Easter Blessings! Mike
