Surfin’ Safari

Surfin’ Safari

Colin Chan

After an emotional week of early mornings that ignored jet lag, interacting with the amazing children who represent the future of Dandora & Kenya, driving on the unpaved roads of the poverty stricken slums of which they must persevere. Despite being dealt a rough hand, their spirits and smiles remain unbroken, and their love for selfies, stickers, dancing and football reminds you that they are happy and grateful for what they have. 

Through the highs and lows of the week I was emotionally (and physically) exhausted, luckily it was time for the vacation part of the Kenya experience, the safari. Although it was the most relaxing part of our journey, there was no rest for the weary. The ride was about 5 hours from Nairobi to Masai Mara Game Reserve with only a few stops, most notably a sightseeing point overlooking the Great Rift Valley and a Masai village, but from the minute we entered the gates of the park my jaw dropped. Zebras and Wildebeest as far as the eyes could see, at one point Trevor counted 27 giraffes grazing together, a moment I like to remember as Giraffapalooza. 

The “camp” itself was also impressive, strongly built tents with bathrooms that belonged in a 5 star hotel, a dining area that overlooked the Masai River, in which we saw Hippos and even an Elephant grazing nearby. Fortunately for us, the weather was very cooperative and even with some intimidating storm clouds we only saw a few minutes of rain which only helped us by making the roads less dusty. 


The experience of the safari was unforgettable. To be able to see lions mating, a hyena scavenging a carcass, a leopard just trying to sleep in a tree, and a cheetah eating a gazelle and the subsequent vulture swarm that followed were a few highlights of our few days on safari. But for me, the best experience was being able to stand in the back of the safari van and be able to see 360° of horizon, while pondering what life was like before humans came along and started building on top of it, the simple beauty of an African sunset.

Missionaries of Charity Experience

While visiting the Missionaries of Charity we were asked to attend early morning mass with the sisters. This was something that I thoroughly enjoyed. I felt a sense of peace and calm, as we started mass. There weren’t many of us in attendance, however, the Holy Spirit was watching over us. I felt honored to be in the presence of truly giving and caring people who are committed to helping the less fortunate. 

As we finished mass we immediately walked into an open courtyard of mentally disabled people. My first instinct was not to think but to react. I approached each and every person with extended arms, making eye contact and expressing that it was nice to meet them. It was as if I was seeing God in each and every one of them. I felt compassion overcome me. This allowed me to see past each person’s disabilities. 

We stayed long enough to help with lunch. I was drawn to this one person whose name was Agnes. As I began feeding her she tightly held my one free hand. She began to tear-up as I spoke words of kindness to her when I was gently placing each spoonful of food in her mouth. She was unable to speak or make eye contact, however, I felt how much she appreciated my spending this time with her. I had to keep myself composed and not breakdown from the sadness I felt for my new acquaintance. I felt blessed that Agnes accepted the offering of my time and presence. In less than fifteen minutes of contact I was given a gift of seeing pure gratitude from another human being. This amazing experience has touched my heart and will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Naomi Cota Moore

Children of BOMA

Today we are scheduled to go to the BOMA Rescue Mission for children living off the dump. Its something I have been waiting for— which tells you a bit about me. I’ve been eyeing this trash city behind the shacks lining the street for some time now. You can catch glimpses of it every now and then— it seemingly goes on forever. These kids live near it, on it , in it. They are more destitute than the kids attending Holy Cross/ St James because most of them don’t go to school. They can’t afford to… more on that in it minute.

Our Guide Paul tells us sternly (which for him is a novelty) that when the bus stops we must stick together. No dawdling. No wandering about. We are to haul our butts quickly up a steep hill and disappear from view into the BOMA rescue. The neighborhood is not welcoming and is “rough” he says. I nod. Yes, I will be hauling it--- as several people give us the eye on our way in. 

Once we stop our bus and park, we get off in record time and I think I actually —for once— did not take any pictures on our climb up to the mission. We scurried in and the metal gate doors shut behind us. Inside are about 30 kids sitting on bleachers, waiting for us. They are a sight— dirty, no shoes or mismatched ones, clothes torn, and hanging off them. The kids stare at us— we are all lost for speech. None of the kids come running toward us— which is what we experienced nearly everywhere else. These kids are uber reserved, shy. 

But that dissipates within nano seconds when the soccer balls come out. I could barely take any pictures, these little kids became speed-of-light blurs. They grab at our cameras, they do acrobatics, they laugh and play until we called time out. They exhaust us, and we love it. I was never so moved in my life as I was talking to some of these children. They are all tough exterior because of their neighborhood, and soft chewy insides— because they’re still kids.

We hand out new clothes and new shoes and they all instantly vanish into rooms to change… girls and boys can suddenly be told apart. Remember, they all wear very short hair, torn tee shorts and pants and a lot of dirt. Suddenly the girls are in adorable dresses and the boys in slacks and shirts. WOW— they are good looking and they feel it. Grins from ears to ears. We all hug and take pictures and share final goodbyes.

Here is the heartbreaking part. I found out that even though school is free in Kenya until grade 9… they still charge for meals and administration costs and uniforms. So that comes out to about 60.00 dollars per school year. Sounds super cheap— to you and me. These kids however are usually bread-winners, and/or orphans, poorest of the poor. Their families (if they have them) make about 30.00 dollars a month—and that is for food and rent. They cannot spare 60.00 to send their kids to the “free" schools. And their kids go trash diving for money, grabbing anything that can be used or recycled… so the parents are loathe to give them up to schools. Its truly a lose-lose situation. And while BOMA offers some place for these kids to BE during the day with sports activities and such, they have no funding for classrooms or teachers. SO… they are in dire shape and need aid. That is where my heart is— today and the rest of my journey. 

Kathryn Haydn

Looking for God

The one thing I can tell you about Dandorans is they are a people looking for God, drawn to religion, desperate for salvation. Every few feet, scattered amongst garbage, there is a sign for a church. It may be a shack or even a tent, but people come and gather and pray, sing, dance, eat and pray some more… yearning to be heard and remembered. 

The old Holy Cross Church which is located in “phase one” of the Dandora Slum is a small church which is packed to overflowing with people standing outside the church by the hundreds. There hasn’t been room in this much beloved church for years. Rain, sand storm or high noon shine, people stand outside and pray to God.

Now, almost across the street… everyone in the community is watching hope literally rise. Brick by brick this beautiful new church, generously aided by Saint Monica parishioners, is being built in the middle of the slums. It is being erected quite literally right in front of the Dandora trash heaps. In fact all the rear windows of the church offer a view of miles of garbage, scavenger birds, pigs and trash collecting people. The view is perfect. Here amongst filth and degradation the gleaming new church with the looming cross rises up like a beacon promising a better way and a better life. It is a symbol and it is alive with hope, faith and community. 

We wear hard hats as its an active construction site… and we climb to its tops looking down and realizing it has underground parking and will be able to house hundreds of people. We can see its beauty even in this stage. Father Andrew tells us every day people ask him when the church will be finished. Every day he has to tell them to be patient. And every day he sees the gleam in their eyes, like children waiting for the candy shop of delicious sweets to open already. They are hungry.

Kathryn Haydn

Women and Children of Holy Cross Dandora

On our first tour to Holy Cross in Dandora I was very moved by the beautiful and joyful songs from the children. I really admire the wonderful teachers

for being so devoted and for doing their work with so much love.

We visited Holy Cross for the second time, but this time it was to hear the testimonies of HIV survivors. I was touched by one lady who gave her testimony

how she overcome the disease, and by her courage to live for herself and her children. She is now and advocate for her community in Dandora, training people how to look for medical care, promoting HIV awareness, and meeting with the community to talk about their challenges and how to support each other.

Claudia Schade

Brother Andre Dispensary and Visitation Maternity-Child Health Center

I will admit: I am not a fan of hospitals— I try to stay as far away from them as much as possible, on almost all occasions. But here was this huge building at the back of the school property line calling me. And Father Bob Dowd was leading us through a tour, so how could I say no? But I lagged behind the rest of the group just in case I needed to make a quick exit. 

First we were shown the old building which is a small center courtyard building with about 6 rooms. Two women with underweight babies were being seen by the staff. Seeing those tiny little babies made us all teary-eyed. Every single room was occupied and there is no space to get a wheelchair or gurney in and out well and the waiting area is practically outside. What do people do when its raining or over 100 degrees?

Next we walked a few feet over to the new construction where, once its finished,  dozens of mothers can be seen simultaneously. Its two stories with dozens of rooms for birthing, after care, wait rooms, well baby clinic etc… Father Andrew lead us room by room explaining how many women die in childbirth in Dandora and how many babies die soon after birth. So this Hospital is mission critical and he’s already heard from numerous people throughout the area that all eyes are on this construction waiting for its completion. It will be one more amazing blessing to a community much in need!

It was a wonderful hour long tour and I was the last one in, first one out --without anyone chasing me with a syringe! On to see the new church!! 

Kathryn Haydn

BOMA Rescue Mission

As soon as we handed out the jump ropes, the kids tied 2 ropes together to Double Dutch jump!! Ingenious and athletic!! 

These kids are rescued from the dump and given food at the shelter. HCAM also provided new clothes for the children. They were ecstatic with their new outfits and shoes. 

Everything they have comes from the dump. My heart remains at The BOMA Rescue Mission.

Lyn Chan

A Study of Opposites

Our hotel grounds are beautiful. It’s a true oasis. It’s deceptive. We wake up to singing birds and lush green landscape. But as we board the bus…I know well what’s coming. I brace myself. It’s day two. I’m already wearing armour.

Our bus driver’s name is Alex. He is a magician. Think of all the films you’ve seen of over-crowded roads in Third World countries where there are no traffic lights and every man and machine weaving and bobbing about and then multiply that by 100. The add mounds of trash, people, rats, potholes the size of a buick…now you have Dandora. Ales squeezes our forty-foot bus through 20 foot openings. Pure death defying magic. We pour heaps of love on him as often as we can.

How to describe Dandora? It needs 3D pop-up smell-o-vision. It’s a study of opposites. Wild-eyed children up against signs that advertise Tide for brighter clothes on a building built with mud and metal scraps, landscaped with 2 to 3 feet of trash. It’s storefront after storefront advertising cafes, hotels, churches, scavenged goods and clothes for a population mostly unemployed. It’s building after building no bigger than small shacks put together with cardboard that house extended families. It’s bus after bus after minivan and minivan of people crammed in going to goodness knows where while goats eat through roadside garbage.

We arrive at Holy Cross church--the parish is literally a breath of fresh air. Walled up from the filth of outside to provide pasture-filled serenity on the inside.

Today hundreds of locals have gathered to get food from Veronica’s Place in order to be able to stomach the anti-viral medication they need to take in order to live with HIV.

A few get up to speak to us and the assembled crowd: they speak of being discriminated against and shunned by their parents, spouses, children—only here at Holy Cross and Veronica’s Place have they found peace, comfort, community and assistance. I am moved to tears by their testimonies and determination to live. It seems here laughter, tears, joy, sadness and all are mixed together and spring up to the surface in an instant. They say they are blessed to have us. I know differently. We are blessed to be God’s little helpers…filling in the gaps.

Kathryn Haydn

Father Bob Dowd's Reflections on the Day

I arrived in Nairobi last night and it was great to join group today.

We began the day visiting with people who are HIV positive and supported by the Veronika’s Place feeding program. So many parishioners at Saint Monica’s participate in the LA Marathon to raise money that purchases food for people who are HIV positive and who need to take their medicine with proper food.

You would never know that the people before us are HIV positive. They laughed, danced and sang. They invited us to participate in their joy. It is as if they had been given a second chance at life and they were making the most of it. It is as if they had been freed and it seemed they were inviting us to do the same.

In the afternoon, we had the opportunity to tour the construction site of Visitation Maternal-Child Health Center at Holy Cross Parish in Dandora. Quite literally, that facility is going to save lives. Dandora is an area of Nairobi that is underserved. The health facilities are poor and there is no decent place for women to receive pre-natal care and to give birth to their children. As a result, there is evidence to suggest that the maternal and infant mortality rates in Dandora are almost two times higher than in Kenya as a whole. Thanks to Jill and Mark Tabit, and their family, the Visitation project is quite far along!

Almost two weeks ago I gave mission appeal for Visitation at Saint Monica and people were amazingly generous! Thanks to the parishioners of Saint Monica, the progress is going to continue and Visitation Maternal-Child Health Center will be making a huge difference in the lives of women and children in Dandora. Visitation will provide skilled and compassionate care for women and children in one of the most underserved areas of Nairobi. Life will be nurtured from the beginning! It is a big project and there is more work to be done. At times, I am a little overwhelmed thinking about it. However, with God’s help, we will get there.

Fr. Bob Dowd, C.S.C.

Karibu!

Karibu! Welcome!

All these months of anticipation and preparation and finally we are here! What we did not expect or anticipate was how emotional it would be upon arrival. The welcome we received by Father Andrew, Paul, Sister Agnes, Joy, Christina, Isaac, Adrian, Joseph, and about 15 more people from Holy Cross was to witness the Holy Spirit in action.

Waiting outside with bouquets of roses for each of us, they welcomed us like long absent family. And now we were home! There were hugs and tears of joy, and thanks that we were united at last after such a long journey.

The warmth and smiles, the delight at seeing one another for the first time, walking out the door to see 20 people waiting for us was a moment we will never forget. We lingered on the sidewalk and Father Andrew gave a beautiful blessing of thanks and welcomed us with God’s grace.

It was a moment that we didn’t want to end, and a first that we will never forget.

Our wonderful coordinator Paul Mbugua and driver Alex led us to our destination and pointed out the giraffes and zebra visible from the highway out of Nairobi Airport. Unfortunately, these are a rare sight these days.

We stopped to get supplies from the local supermarket and were once again surprised by the Spirit working. One of the gentlemen helping to load our purchases was from Holy Cross. He stepped on to our bus and welcomed us assuring us he would be at the mass on Sunday. He said, “Holy Cross Dandora means EVERYTHING!  Holy Cross is the world to us. And we welcome St. Monica’s.”

We were greeted at our hotel by Father David Guffey. Our group was complete. We had an opportunity to share and pray together and talk about the journey ahead. Being in a group like this is a powerful feeling. We are not here to “fix” things, but we are here together to be guided into what this mission means to each of us individually.

The Pilgrim's Journey

July 18, 2015
This group of Pilgrims of St. Monica Catholic Church started their journey to Kenya. A sixteen hour flight to Dubai, then another day of travel from Dubai to Kenya. Our group of strangers quickly became a small band of friends. Our leader Trevor Rodrigues patiently and kindly led the way.

Blessing over the St Monica Travelers

Watch the mass on Livestream

July 12 2015 - St Monica Sunday 530 Mass
http://livestream.com/stmonica90403/sunday530

Preparing

The 2015 team is making the final preparations to travel and will be sharing its experiences here soon.

-- CB