Seminary Trip, Kaaga Retreat, misc.

24/03/11

I got up, ate breakfast, washed clothes, etc., then I decided to go for a long walk.  Left at 10am, and headed north on the new road that is under construction.  I am so used to solitary walks, and can’t seem to get them here.  I am a foreigner, so everyone wants to say hello.  One guy wanted to send his kids to Rita’s orphanage.  I guess he doesn’t know what orphanage means.  Another drunk kept walking with me and babbling incoherent things in Swahili, English, and Italian.  When I changed directions to head back, he kept walking, and when we came to where he was sitting when he started following me, he just kept following.  Finally, I said arivaderchi, and began to walk fast, and he couldn’t keep up!  Most people asked me where I was going, and thought I was lost.  Just before the end of the walk, I went down to the creek that borders the property, to take some pictures.  I got back just after noon, and had pretty much walked the entire time.  When I arrived at the house, I could feel something biting me in the upper legs.  I decided to go for a shower and discovered that it was little black ants biting me!  We had lunch with Fr. Sebastion, a Nun, and five novitiates.

25/03/11

We drove down to Chuka to stay at the Fransalian Seminary, the home of Fr. Sebastian, Fr. Jacob and eleven novices.  Both priests are of Indian descent and are from the same area of India.  Chuka is southeast of Marimba and takes just about 90min. to get there by car.  We arrived late in the afternoon, and headed straight to the volleyball court.  The court is made out of red dirty clay, which is very common in this area.  I played barefooted, like everyone else.  I couldn’t jump as high, run as fast, spike as good, or set as proficiently as I used to, but thank God, I could still bump a hard serve adequately!  After about an hour of playing, covered in sweat, I managed to hobble off the court with my ego barely intact.  It seems like it was only yesterday that I was able to do myself proud on the volleyball court.  We joined in on evening prayer, and a wonderful dinner, which included some curry dishes.

26/03/11

The morning was spent in prayer, then, Fr. Jules and I went for about a 1km walk to the entrance of Chuka College.  One the way there was this place called B.C. Hostel, no kidding!  I even got a picture of the entrance.  In the afternoon we went to Chara to visit Fr. Jobe, and the nuns who run a dispensary.  They have a large church, which seems unusual, as it is almost in the middle of nowhere.  Inside the church is a wonderful fresco of the Passion.  In the evening, back at the seminary, we were all anointed and prayed over.

27/03/11

In the morning after mass we headed back to Marimba.  We had showers, lunch and a short rest, then left for the Retreat Center in Kaaga.

Pictures before and during trip to Seminary:

Father Jules and the children.

Entry to the Seminary in Chuka (south of Meru)

Novices taking a tea break.

Believe it or not!  This is just north of Chuka.

Same as above, but written in the shrubbery!

As the banana unfolds.

Before the banana unfolds.

Church in Chara (S.E. of Chuka), which is off the beaten path!

Cooking area for the school at Chara.  Those are 5 gallon pails!

Chara - children with Father Sebastian (Fransalian).

Three of four Nuns that run a mini-hospital/dispensary in Chara.

Back in the Seminary - 5 of 11 novices.

Father Jules and Father Jacob at the Seminary.

27/03/11 – 01/04/11

The week (Sun.-Fri.) retreat had good and bad points – mostly good points.  The theme was Healing Your Family Tree, and forgiveness.

Beans, beans, and more beans.  This was resolved during lunch on the Monday, when I walked to some stores and got food, water, etc.  The days and talks were very long, and took a toll on my back, as I had to sit in plastic deck chairs for hours at a time.  Some talks were in Kimeru, Swahili, and English.  They were not translated simultaneously, which means that everything took three times as long.  Most of the talks were geared toward the Kenyans and how they are prone to bondage through ancestral curses.  In other words, some of it was hard for a westerner to grasp, and the message was geared to a slower thinker – I think!

The spiritual team was very good, and consisted entirely of lay people, and a very capable group.  I was particularly impressed with John Ooko, the main speaker.  John, an exceptional orator, was animated and on fire during his talks (in English!), and a good listener, as he is a therapist by profession, and he is also an author.  I spent some valuable time with him.  Father Jules was the only priest there, so he celebrated mass, heard confessions, preached, etc.  Father was well equipped for the charismatic component, and commented that it was like being back in the middle seventies, when the charismatic movement was in full swing.  They have a wonderful chapel, as well as the crucifix, which is in the hall / church area.  The retreat participants were mainly Catholic, and included other Christian denominations.  Father, Michael and I were the only white skinned people in the entire complex.  There was praying in tongues, and they sang in tongues only once, which unfortunately, I missed.  The Blessed Sacrament was exposed among the entire congregation.  Wouldn’t you know it, but I was the only one that was Slain in The Spirit!  How to stand out (lie down) amongst a crowd of dark skinned Kenyans – double contrast!  The singing and dancing was wonderful, and a large part of every day!  The theme was on healing the family tree and forgiveness. 

01/04/11

We left the retreat center, had lunch in Meru, and drove back to Marimba.  Nice to be back home and eat Rita’s good cooking.

03/04/11

Another Sunday spent in Kenya.  As usual Father and I celebrated the Eucharist together, and Michael and Rita celebrated in the church.  Father Vincent has yet to ask Father Jules to concelebrate, and I’m O.K. with this because the mass in the church goes on for two and a half hours.  The Bishop and Father Vincent came for dinner.  The Bishop seems to be a kind and humble servant of the Lord.  With permission, I took a picture of everyone else, and then Michael took a picture of us.

Retreat pictures:

Crucifix inside the Church / meeting hall at the retreat center in Kaaga.

The Blessed Sacrament in the Chapel at the retreat center.

Father Jules celebrating mass during the retreat.

Chapel in the background.

Cooking area at the retreat center.

Close up view of the Blessed Sacrament in the Chapel.

The Blessed Sacrament with a Nun in the right foreground.

First litter (without mother) of five pups - OLG Marimba.

Second litter of six pups with mother - OLG Marimba.

Bishop comes to dine.  Michael, Rita, the Bishop of Meru, Fr. Jules, Fr. Vincent.

Same as above except I change places with Michael.