John Roche's African Adventure

6/13/10

I arrived in Kenya this morning at about 8:00AM. The temperature was a cool 17degrees celsius with an overcast sky. I felt like I landed in Oakland! Without trouble I passed through the customs and passport security and I see that the obtaining of the visas ahead of time was a wise decision. 

I was met at the airport by Fr. Sebastian Kolyadil, the director of YES--a Salesian Multi-media and Retreat Center in Nairobi, and by Patrick Cowan, SJB grad and volunteer from our province. Both were in good spirits. Patrick has lost about 25 to 30 pounds, even though he did not need to lose! Fr. Sebastian took us to Bosco Boys, where Patrick and his friend Katie are helping the Salesians. 

This is an impressive house where the pre-novices are formed while working in the school where Pat and Katie assist. Patrick and Katie teach computers to the children among many things they do there. In fact, Patrick has helped slaughter some of the farm animals and prepare the meat for food. He has learned many amazing things about the simple living here in Nairobi. Pat told me, "You have to learn quickly that sometimes the only explanation for something is 'That's how we do it here in Africa,' and accepting that early on allows you peace of mind." 

He mentioned that Salesians from other countries send out many, even hundreds of volunteers every year to all parts of the world. He has spent time with volunteers from Poland, Germany, and now a woman from Slovakia. 

Pat showed me his little cell at the head of a dorm where a few of the students board at Bosco Boys. He enjoys so much being with them and he mentioned that the biggest thing he could ever offer them is just his presence. He doesn't think that he will have much impact on any lives or that anyone ever learns about that impact. For them, he is one of many who comes and goes. But if he can offer any experience of love and kindness, of patience and direction in their lives, it is worth the effort for him. Pat explained that so many of the children have tragic stories--orphaned by AIDS, some having lived in the streets, dealt drugs, and other very common experiences for so many of them. Yet, he underlined, somewhere under all of this tragedy there are little boys. He warned me that the children have learned to use their circumstances like currency, hoping to gain money and other things. The children play soccer with plastic bags rolled up and taped, or with foosballs and whatever else is available. Most of them wear tattered uniforms with holes and tears or sizes too small for their bodies. 

It is a popular game to play "police." The boys chase another boy and when they catch him, they start beating him up. This is their impression of the local police and authorities--experiencing corruption before they have the vocabulary to explain it. Like any other child, they want more things, watch the sports teams as posted on a bulletin board in the yard, and find ways of entertaining themselves with very little. But Patrick has reflected that it makes him feel like such a spoiled individual. He has always had a choice for so many basic things and these children have little choice at all. 

Patrick connected me with Katie's parents who have come out for a visit. Katie is happy and deeply moved, along with Patrick. They want very badly to work to keep the volunteering connections coming from SJB and other California Salesian ministries. They even talked about brainstorming with Adam Rudin, Carlo Fiattarone, and Juan Carlos to extend this as a formal outreach in much the same way that Adam and Juan Carlos have done and in imitation of the mission trips offered by them and by Carlo. 

One of the first things I asked Patrick on the ride back from the airport was how this experience has affected his own spiritual life. Pat answered quickly with such enthusiasm that it has deepened both his and Katie's sense of God presence and their own need for Christ. As an image, Patrick referred to a painting in the sanctuary of the retreat chapel at YES depicting Jesus as sitting in the middle of a family portrait. surrounding Jesus on all sides are the parents and the children of a family. Pat said, "That's what we need. That's what all families need. Christ has to be the center of their lives and homes. I know that Katie and I want to begin a family someday and keep Christ at the center and always find a way to serve Christ in the poor and in those in need." 

I saw Don Bosco Boys State, an impressive boarding school that is huge and has many wonderful trade learning centers the size of airplane hangars. The young people were cheering before a big screen projection of the World Cup game. A friend and contributor to Fr.Sebastian's work, a wonderful and adventurous woman from San Diego has come out at least once a year to help in any way she can. She told the young people at Don Bosco Boys State that they should cheer for Mexico in the game since her heritage is Mexican. Both Fr. Sebastian and the Director of the school were surprised to see how quickly their allegiances changed because of this benefactor! 

I took the grand tour of the YES center and was amazed by the video and audio productions going on there. Their printing work is also a resource for all of Eastern Africa. Their retreat center is being expanded greatly with a huge two story building nearing completion at the site. The interactive prayer experiences, gardens, labyrinths, and other activities are fueling my imagination! 

Tonight I sit at the Provincial House on "Upper Hill" near downtown Nairobi. Tomorrow I fly to Tanzania to begin a week of retreats for the Salesians and then another week sharing seminars with the young priests and then the brothers in practical training. I am taking pictures and when I get a chance, I will upload some for you. So far, I have avoided the mosquitoes, but I am told that will be a bigger challenge in Tanzania!