Happy New Year!

I am laying on my couch in thankfulness for a wonderful night breeze flowing through my sitting room. We have completed day 3 of the new school year. Things are still the same, there are no schedules, both planned and unplanned events happen when they happen. Things just change on a whim without any notice, but coming back refreshed after a month break from school is allowing me to cope with this better…for now.

My break was filled with lots of activity. I celebrated my birthday the first day with all the Maryknollers in the region. Then traveled an hour north to a back packer’s eco-lodge for three days. We wandered around a rural village that meandered high atop the largest creek flowing into the Indian Ocean. One man invited us into his compound of relatives who all stemmed from a father and nine wives. All live and support one another in harmony. Families, large families are the greatest possessions still in the rural areas.

We welcomed a 6-year missioner transferring from Cambodia to Kenya, showing her how to navigate Mombasa and visiting possible mission sights for her.

Then I flew to Zanzibar “spice island” for a week on the beach. It is one of the most peaceful and beautiful places I have ever been. We interacted with many people and every single one were just happy and care free, “akuna matata” is their mantra.  The island is 90% Muslim.

Two days after my return, December 23 I hosted a Form 4 celebration for five neighborhood graduates.

Christmas as you may have seen on my first post was a real blessing for me. My Maryknoll 2017 classmate Gabe was here on break from his mission in South Sudan, so we spent the next 6 days with him until New Year’s Eve day.

I attended New Year’s 10 pm mass with Kathy and Dee (MKLM missioners) in Tudor. As we entered through the church gate into the courtyard, there was this scarecrow like figure being burnt that everyone formed a circle around before entering in for mass. We never figured out what that represented.  Mass commenced at 12:30 after dance group after dance group performed traditional dances up and down the aisles. The celebrant even led everyone for hooting and hollering form the 60 second count down. The only thing lacking at mass that night was the champagne! 

Early the next morning we were on the train to Nairobi to greet and orient our newest lay missioner graduate Rich arriving from Rhode Island. Returned to Mombasa late Saturday night, mass, unpacking and farewell pizza party with Gabe on Sunday.

One of my new responsibilities at school this year will be to monitor each of the 77 students from last year while they are in hotel attachments. I will be able evaluate each of them with feedback from their supervisors. I am looking forward to seeing them again. If they successfully complete the rigorous 4-month attachment they will return to graduate in May.

Blessings to you all, Happy New Year!

Mike