Monday, June 28, 2010Yesterday afternoon I left Upper Hill and the Salesian Provincial Residence and was met by Fr. Sebastian Kolyadil, Director of Don Bosco Youth Educational Services (DBYES) and BEAMS in the nearby town of Karen. This is the first place I came to when I arrived. I was met also by “Mama Rosa” a benefactor, friend, and collaborator of the Salesians here in Nairobi for over ten years. Rosa comes from San Diego and first came in contact with the Salesians when she came over as part of an outreach from the Rotary Club in her area. She fell in love and has come back many times each year for extended stays. She is truly a “Mama” to most of the Salesians and the young people here. She is completely at home here and has come to absorb culture, some of the language, and the customs for interaction. I saw this when Fr. Sebastian brought the two of us to an open market near a mall in Nairobi. She and Sebastian were amazing in their smooth abilities to dicker and bargain with the sellers, but always befriending the people at every booth. Many remember “Mama” and Fr. Sebastian very well. After this first experience in the marketplaces of Nairobi, we went to a posh mall where only the rich can come and shop and there was anything anyone could possibly want in this mall. This is the first time I saw this side of Nairobi. We shopped for a few items such as macadamia nuts and coffee and then went for a cup of coffee at a coffee house attached to the mall. From there we went to a lovely Indian Restaurant where I had the best Indian meal I have ever enjoyed! And I like Indian food! This morning, Monday morning, I rose early to join the Salesians for morning prayers and mass at 6:30AM followed by Mass in the chapel of the center where daily people from the area come to share in the Eucharist. This was followed by breakfast and a prayer with the staff as they began their work here at the center. Fr. Sebastian has had a number of meetings allowing me some quiet time to catch up on email, check messages, call some people through Skype, and prepare work for SLIM. At about 9:00 AM, Fr. George Kocholickal came by the center and Sebastian made it a point for me to meet this Salesian.Fr. George founded Philothea Center and a new congregation known as the Philothea Missionaries. Their mission is to form the laity and families in Christian growth. Fr. George founded this congregation with a Salesian cooperator by the name of Florence Kabala. This mission, Philothea—the Love of God—was founded in Kenya in 2004. It has received approval and support from the local Bishop and from Rome and already there is one consecrated woman in the congregation with another young woman in the novititate. Later this morning, Fr. Sebastian and a volunteer from Germany travelled with me to Philothea Center in the town of Kiseria. We passed through the town of Ngong on our way. I took pictures in this town to capture the many carts pulled down the streets by donkeys. I also took some pictures at the center. Only the novice and the gate-keeper were home at the time of our visit. All over the center were paintings of Francis de Sales and small posters with virtues and motivations. This afternoon, we will travel about 90 kilometers from DBYES to visit the parish in the hills of Nzaikoni where Sebastian spent 7 years as a pastor building up a youth and young adult center. He told me that I could not leave Africa without visiting this favorite site of his. We will stay there overnight and return to DBYES sometime tomorrow. |