Jan '09 | Feb '09 | Mar '09 | Apr '09 | May '09 | June '09 | July '09 | Aug '09 | Sep '09 | Oct '09 | Nov '09 | Dec '09
We spent three days in Kitali visiting the children at St. John Bosco Children’s Centre – as well as their teachers
and some of their families. Many of the children here are Turkana, and their homes are huts made of sticks and plastic
bags in camps located in fields of maize. To help one of these children to go to school, please see
www.boscokenya.org.
For a bit R & R, we crossed the border into Uganda and went to Jinja. Here we took a boat out on the Nile until we got
to its source at Lake Victoria. This is a bird lover’s place – we saw an African Fish Eagle, egrets, herons, cormorants,
kingfishers, Sacred Ibis, Hadada Ibis, weaver birds, pelicans, Maribou Storks, sunbirds and Superb Starlings.
A few days later, we were back in Kenya for the dedication of Nambale Magnet School. It was wonderful day! All of the 35 ECD (Early Childhood Development) and Class 1 students looked so smart in their uniforms - and they spoke and sang beautifully in English. In January 2010, when the new school year begins, we hope there will be many more students here. To sponsor a Nambale child, please see www.nambalemagnet.org.
Marilyn attended the 2009 Women’s International Grassroots Peace Congress which was held at KEMU (Kenya Methodist
University). The theme was “Inspiring Action for Peace”, and Naomi Tutu, a daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, was the
keynote speaker. There were many excellent presenters, including Mercy & Chidi, founders and directors of Ripples Intl,
who stressed that for peace in our lives, and in the world, healthy minds, spirits and bodies are required. All through
the four days, the 200 or so women sang “Peace begins with me … Peace begins with you .. Peace begins with us”. To learn
about IPI and its founder Dr. Karambu Ringera, see
www.ipeacei.org.Marilyn and Caroline, who is a Community Development graduate from Daystar University, spent a Saturday morning at a Mentorship Camp sponsored by Ripples Intl. They took photos of the 47 secondary school teens who attended. These young people, who are all affected by AIDS, had watched the “Jesus” film and a “Tough Choices” movie – and had taken part in discussions about Spiritual Growth, Sexually Transmitted Infections, Self-Esteem, Protection, Decision Making, Human Reproductive System, HIV and AIDS and VCT, Managing Stress, Anger and Conflict, and Drug and Substance Abuse. See www.ripplesintl.org for more about the programs of Ripples Intl.
May God go with you!
May you go with God!
May your path be free of danger!
May you escape all mishaps!
May God bear you in peace!
May you meet God with kindness!
May God take care of you!
May God be with those left behind!
May you pass the night with God!
May you remain with God!
Amen.
~Maryknoll
Home is a Hut
Source of the Nile
We Love Nambale
Naiomi Tutu