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.
