Arrival in Kenya Today

It's hard to believe it's been over a year since my last blog update. I will try to do better this year. I'm now back in East Africa after a few months back home in Kansas City. It was great to meet a lot of new people there, especially the contemplative group at Guardian Angel Parish. They remind me a lot of the contemplative group in Texas that I became very close to over the last 10 years. One minor difference is the use of Fr Thomas Keating's readings (Contemplative Outreach and Centering Prayer) vs Fr John Main's readings (World Community for Christian Meditation).
It was very nice to see Sam Stanton (Director of Maryknoll Lay Missioners)in KC a few months ago and get up to speed on who is doing what in lay missions; especially those in my class of 2006. I hope to meet the 5 new missioners in a few weeks that are now in Swahili language school in Musoma near my mission sight (Kowak) in Tanzania. They will be graduating in a few weeks and going to their new assignments in Mwanza soon. I am also looking forward to seeing my old classmate Vikki Smith who just moved back to missions from Oregon and will be working with me in the bush. I think she turns 72 this summer and is a real trooper, after many years all over Africa with Maryknoll and The Peace Corp.
I arrived last night about 10 pm after 26 hrs of flights and layovers. It was a very uneventful trip and I even got all my luggage without a problem. I was particularly concerned about the bag with the ten digital cameras and the digital projector for teachers at Kowak Secondary. But all arrived safe and sound. I was very blessed to be given some religious books by Fr Wempe and Sr Barb McCracken just before I left. That added a little weight but will be greatly appreciated by my seminary friends.
I was especially pleased to have a taxi waiting for me in the rain when I arrived and to get back to the MM Fathers House and have a cold beer and watch an excellent football match (Barcelona vs Chelsea) that was just starting. I was even able to get a sound sleep the first night which was very satisfying and have a warm shower this morning. Pat and Ilona are also here and heading back to Northern Calif after finishing their 3 1/2 yr contract with the Lay Missioners, so it is very nice to see them again. Ilona had a fall a few months ago and is needing to use a cane periodically but she seems to be doing fine and is anxious to get back and see the kids.
I hope to see many more of the Lay Missioners when they arrive Sunday for their semi-annual Kenya meeting here at the Father House. I don't know all of them, but have known several for many years, like Russ and Dr. Susan. It will also be good to see Cindy and John Korb again; the couple from Tonganoxie, KS. Their regular blogs have been a good example for me to follow (kenyaforus.blogspot.com). We have a lot in common since they also work in secondary schools that are very similar to the one at Kowak; however, I'm not sure their's are boarding schools.
If you want to be notified of my future blogs feel free to click "Join" on this home page on the right, just below my picture.