A Kenyan Greeting

We started out first full day in Kenya getting a tour of our sister parish. We started out by first going into the main church where all the kids were practicing for Sundays mass. They were so cute, and as we walked in they all stopped, starting clapping, smiling, and whispering to each other. They were very excited that we came. 

Older students at St. James School

From there we were able to see the rest of Holy Cross grounds, which included the sewing school, cyber cafe, and the classrooms. All the little children sang us songs when we entered the classrooms; it was so adorable. We were also there during recess so we had time to play with the kids.  They completely swarmed us, but in a positive and fun way. 

After seeing the school we had lunch at the rectory and then headed over to Boma Rescue Mission. The kids at this place are orphans but not in the sense that we call them. These children have parents they just don't know who they are as they have been living in the dump site of Dandora. The mission tries to reunite these kids with their families and they have a decent success rate. First we attended mass in Swahili and English and then clothes were distributed. Each child received a new shirt, pants or dress, and shoes specific to them. They were so happy to get this and they felt so proud. Then we handed out sporting goods that included soccer balls, basketballs, kickballs, and jump ropes. We got to play with them after that and it was a blast and I think they had an amazing time. 

Gabriela handing out clothing to children at Boma.

-- Julia Kavich

To be noticed

One day in and this experience has been truly life changing. The graciousness and appreciation displayed to us by the children at St. James and Boma rendered me speechless.

Angela with some of the children from the baby classes.

Their love for us from the moment we arrived, though we hadn’t even done or said anything, was enough to bring tears to my eyes. All the little children just wanted to be noticed – a quick high-five or a hug wasn't passed up either!

-- Natalie Gigg

Blessings of the children

Unbelievable experience today with both the children of Holy Cross Parish School and the rescued children at Boma. All were so open to us, so welcoming and friendly.

Monsignor addresses the St. James
Primary School students.

The same wide smiles and camaraderie at both places overwhelmed us given our expectations of children drenched in poverty. They blessed us so much rather than the other way around!

-- Bruce Willison

Children and Vultures

Children and vultures. Those are two words I never thought I’d have in the same sentence, or see in front of me. Today we went to Boma Rescue Mission located next to a trash dump. Boma accepts children from the area who cannot afford the school uniforms required for attendance. The children stay for five months and then hopefully attend school. If this isn’t an option, the children stay for a year.

Children with pigs and vultures at a dump site.

With donations the priests and nuns in charge purchased clothing and shoes for each child. Immediately, the children ran off to the rooms to change. Many put their new clothes over their old clothing and kept the tags on. The littlest ones needed help tying shoes and even some older ones did not know to button cuffs on their long-sleeved shirts or roll up sleeves and pant legs if they were too long. I think many of us were holding back tears amongst our smiles.

Bruce and his new friend at Boma.

Then we all began to play. Soccer balls, footballs, and jump ropes galore! The children ran around and could be children. For a short while they could laugh and play and not think about the worries I am unable to even imagine. I think of my students at home, how fortunate they are to have their parents and homes.

Two boys with new clothes and balls!

Several children took their shoes off to jump rope or play soccer. In a life where I would not dream of going barefoot on paved roads these children found it easier to be barefoot kicking balls on rocky ground than in new shoes. Many also did not have underwear or socks. I have seen commercials on TV for various charities where the children are bedraggled, but to actually see the little ones is such an overwhelming experience.

Boma Rescue Mission

As we were leaving I turned around to take one last look. I saw children running around, waving goodbye, kicking and throwing balls, and smiling, but right above were dozens of swirling vultures.

-- Gabriela Gualano

Smiles, flowers, and a special greeting

Our friends never stop giving of their time--especially to show us a generous welcome.

Jennifer, Monsignor, and Sr Margaret.

Passing through immigration and customs is often a bit confusing and you emerge outside after many hours of travel to be greeted by big crowd of both familiar and new smiling faces with flowers, a kiss on both cheeks, and quick help with baggage.

Angela receives flowers from Sr Miriam as Joy,
Monsignor, Philip, and Kaley look on.

From a drab terminal to a great start to our time here.

Irene, Natalie, and Cathy.

-- Christopher Bell

A new church rises

One advantage of visiting this community for several years in a row is the opportunity to see changes on a meaningful time scale. Dandora is growing. Nairobi is growing. People continue to come to Nairobi to work for a better life. New construction of all types is visible and the streets and pathways are filling with more kiosks and little shops and more people working hard to try to create something for themselves and their families.

Churchill, Joy, Bruce, Fr Andrew, Monsignor, and Philip on the future altar.

Most striking though is the progress on the new church. Holy Cross parish is a community that covers a large area. They offer Sunday Mass in two locations: a large main church on the campus that also includes the school and other facilities and a second, small plot where people spill out into the alley and street straining to hear and participate. The new church is to replace that small plot and create a proper space for worship, for meeting, and for continuing to develop the life of the parish.

The future altar from above.

The effort to build is an incredible labor of love that stretches over years of hard work, sacrifice, and generosity from parishioners that are already stretched very thin. But, they have begun. In an economy with high inflation, one is always chasing the costs and they have found a way to get started.

The church tower rises.

Two years ago, the site was an open lot. Last year, the foundation was outlined in twine and the digging had begun. Now, we can see the structure of the church rising--creating another oasis here. This is what hard work and commitment look like.

--Christopher Bell

How far is that?

Just getting to Kenya is a major endeavor for our travelers. Nairobi is about 9,700 miles from Los Angeles, but there are no direct flights. The most efficient routes are all Eastbound through Europe or the Middle East. Most of our group will have the opportunity to fly directly over the North Pole on one of the longest commercial flights in operation today (clocking in at over 16.5 hours)--and that's just one of the two flights needed to get all the way to Kenya.

One flying route into Nairobi.

No matter when or on what flight each of us arrive in Nairobi, we are greeted by friends from our sister parish who so generously give of their time to come out to the airport just to welcome us.

That might depend on the seat assignment.

The one advantage of such long flights is the opportunity to get a head start on handling the time change. Kenya is in the East Africa Time Zone (GMT + 3) which during our daylight savings time in Los Angeles puts Nairobi at 10 hours later than California. Making that big of a shift typically takes a couple of days and since we travel for typically 30+ hours from start to finish, we can use that time for a good portion of our adjustment. So when you wake up in LA, it's about dinner time for us in Nairobi and when you are getting ready to sleep, we're already up and starting the next day.

-- Christopher Bell