Finding Nairobi filled with friends
Posted by Dennis Chitwood Wed, 07 Dec 2005 15:00:00 GMT
Sorry, but we have very slow internet access here and cannot upload pictures easily. Look for them on the site after 12/14/05.
We visited the Eastland Youth Project in the Eastland ghetto 12/6/05. This is an amazing ministry to the poor in Nairobi. The center is in the heart of the ghetto and run by Opus Dei. They have volunteer university students tutoring the 12 – 14-year-old boys in math, English, computer etc. Then they play sports. As we talked with a couple tutors (more stories later) the boys were practicing Christmas carols. Later two boys sang a rap song that one of them wrote about the monster AIDS. They work on developing and building self-esteem and developing the virtue of chastity. Men here think women are to be used for their pleasure. It is an uphill struggle. The schools here went on holiday until Jan. when they start a new school year. This center is open 4-6:30 M-F during the school year. Now on Holiday it gives these boys a place to have structure and be nurtured. Last week two murders happened just outside the centers front entrance.
God does not call us to be successful, but to be faithful.
We were also able to visit two homes. Imagine a room about 8 x 10 shared by a family of mother, father and two children. This is their family room, dining and living room and bedroom. There is a set of bunk beds, two chairs with a table in the middle and a small sofa. There was a credenza with a 12� TV. We didn’t see any clothes, Fr. Kevin said they were stuffed into boxes under the beds and table. They share a kitchen and bathroom with 2 or 3 other families in the same house.
Sunday there was a first communion of 37 boys and girls. At Fr. Armagast parish, they receive when they are ready, not at a set age. There were 2nd grade through 8th receiving their first communion. They have to be able to pray spontaneously and lead prayer before receiving for the first time. They were dressed similar as we do at home.
Just heard on the CNN news St. Louis is –6 c; so sorry. Mon. Nairobi had a 6.8 earthquake. We didn’t feel anything and there was little damage, mostly to high rise buildings. We will not have much opportunity to see the news as tomorrow we start the second round of presentations to the leaders conference.
We had a most enjoyable visit with Moses and Patrick two seminary students here in their final year of study. Moses sends his regards to the people of Annunciation parish in Webster where he stayed while in St. Louis.
Seeing our friend Fr. Tony DeSousa was a highlight for us. It had been seventeen years between visits. However it was as though it was only yesterday that we had seen each other. The only difference was that we had aged. He sends his greetings to those in St. Louis.
Blessings, Deacon Dennis & Elizabeth
