The journey has begun

I’ve arrived in Nairobi – the first step in my journey into Kenya. It was hard saying goodby to everyone at home. The most difficult part for me is the realization that I won’t be there for many of the life events of my family and friends. I’ll do my best to stay in touch with everyone, but I know it’s not the same as being there. I also realize that there is the possibility that some of my relatives, who are advanced in age, may not be there when I return home.

I am so appreciative of the beautiful sendoffs I was given by family, friends and my parish communities. You are all part of what makes up me and so part of what I’m doing here in Kenya. Your thought and prayers are so important to me.

My first few days here in Nairobi have focused on getting to know the Maryknoll family here, my fellow lay missioners along with some of the Sisters and Fathers, as well as a basic introduction to Kenya. Kathy Flatoff and Mike Garr, the two Maryknoll lay missioners who came to Kenya last year, took the train up from Mombasa, where they are living and doing mission work, to meet me at the Nairobi airport. Kathy is a nurse and administrator in a dispensary serving the needs of those living in a slum in Mombasa. Mike is teaching culinary arts and catering at a vocational school in Mombasa. Joining them is Dee Dungy, a lay missioner who spent six years in Cambodia, but has now transferred to Kenya. Dee is between Swahili language school sessions and will be starting the second level class when I start the first level class that she just completed on Monday. I am so grateful to the welcome that Kathy, Mike and Dee have given me. Kathy and Mike are facilitating my orientation into Kenya. Having just gone through what I’m going through now a year ago, their guidance and support have been invaluable. They are also helping me get settled logistically before they head back to Mombasa on Saturday and I check into language school where I will be living for the next seven weeks for the first level Swahili class. For the past few days, we have been living together in the Maryknoll Sisters house in Nairobi covering things I need to know about living in Kenya and exploring the city of Nairobi.

There is no doubt that living here in Kenya is a big change for me and presents a number of personal challenges in terms of how I live my daily life. So many things that I took for granted living in the US are either non existent here or are much more difficult. I have so much to learn. I’m blessed to have Kathy, Mike and Dee here with me in Kenya, as well as the other lay missioners living in the region that I will meet later on, for friendship and support.

I’ll end this post with a quote from Mother Teresa that I’m doing my best to integrate into the way I live my life. “Give Jesus not only your hands to serve, but your heart to love. Pray with absolute trust in God’s loving care for you. Let Him use you without consulting you. Let Jesus fill you with joy that you may preach without preaching.”