My Kenya (Aug-Sep 2013)

An update from Kenya - Settling down and fervent activity

Sorry for not writing earlier but we had internet problems.

We are now settled in quite location in Sagana. After a  long day of missionary work and a two hour drive, we attend mass followed by dinner.

A short break and the group meets for an evaluation of the days work.

MY AFRICA: A SPIRITUAL SAFARI IN KENYA

MY AFRICA: A SPIRITUAL SAFARI IN KENYA

This is the first chapter of a Book of Life – my Book of Life. A sort of Journal of a Soul.

Within hours we will be travelling towards Cairo Airport. It’s a transit flight but still scary. I am afraid of the unknown. Not only for me but for the thirty volunteers who will be with me for twenty days in Embu, Kenya.

SAFE JOURNEY TO KENYA

My dear Bishop Paul, 

Thanks for your prayer and concrete support. 

Within few hours we will be boarding to Embu ... and we will meet face to face.

The Marmara' Family - 'Why don't I try to do my part?'

SAVERICK MARMARA' 13YRS OLD FROM M'SCALA - STUDENT AT DE LA SALLE COLLEGE.

Saverick Marmara'

It wasn't at all my wish or desire to go to do voluntary work abroad especially that much far away. I'm still very young to even think about it.

But after my father and older brother went to do missionary work and said it leaves behind a great incredible impact,I thought a lot about it.

Fr Colin's Update - The time is fast approaching ...

The time is fast approaching and I am sure of your prayers and support.

This is the first time we are coming to Embu Kenya - and I am sure it will be a Divine Adventure.

Media Reports

Doctors, nurses, engineers, builders and a family of four are among the 35 Maltese volunteers who will be heading

Appeal for Bible and book donations - can you help us?

We are still short on Bible, prayer or holy books- if you have any books such as Bibles, Children's Bible, and books with a spiritual theme suitable for children aged 10 and over,  please contact us since we are still short of these books. Please contact us if you can help us.Thanks for your support.

Fr Colin's Update - The heat is on !

Dear Bishop Paul,

Things are getting hot in Malta....

The temperatures are soaring to nearly 40 degrees....

And the heat of love for Kenya is increasing the load....

An oppurtunity to give to others - Deborah

When the opportunity comes for me to give to others, I get a million questions of the what's and how's of what I can do. 

But then I realise, what do we have to give if not ourselves? 

When this Kenyan Mission came along, I said yes, because although I cannot change the world, I can make a small difference which means the world to someone.

 And that seems like a good place to begin... 

Deborah

Esperjenza li dejjem xtaqt naghmel - Charlo

Jiena Charlo,sejjer volontier Embu il-Kenja fl-20 ta'Awwissu.

Din l-esperjenza dejjem xtaqt nghamilha imma qabel kont bil-hanut u ma stajtx.

Wara li ghamilt habib ma Fr Colin hajjarni biex din is-sena nghamel din l-experjenza.

Jien ninqala biex inbajjad,inkahhal,nizboh u anki insajjar.

Sejjer naghti sehemi f'dak li jkun hemm bzonn.

Ghajnuna najnu billi toffru donazzjoni u titolbu ghalina.Grazzi

Charlo

Fr Colin's Update

Kenyans,

Yesterday was the B'day of (Dr) Josie Muscat. He was one of the speakers during the Festive 15-days Fiesta celebrations of Qrendi Parish Church. During the Mass each one of us explained to the congregation what are the motives why we are going to Embu. 

Besides the awareness message it was another occasion to work together. I think this is the most important.

We wanted to give a surprise b'day occasion by going to Ghar Lapsi restaurant to be together....but Franca anticipated us by bringing the whole tribe of the Muscats to celebrate the big day in the life of Josie that changed contemporary history in the Muscat families....

I wish to thank Jesmond and Nathalie who invited those who came at Qrendi Parish Church to join them all together at Blue Creek. A wonderful setting in front of Kemmuna, a good meal and the joy of being together. It was another occasion to know each other better - Marisa 1, Marisa 2, Michael, Jesmond, Nathalie and myself .... a good bunch. 

I appreciate Franca's inititative to ask our point of contact in Embu to clarify things. 

Are the responsible of the other Teams getting the same feed-back?

I have received very good feed-back from the Engineering Team and their counterpart in Embu. 

I don't have enough feed-back from the Medical Team.

The sewers of curtains etc are getting very well response both from Embu and the local help so as much as possible we prepare the curtains etc already from Malta. I know that several maltese called to give a helping hand. Several outlets provided materials needed. A very good team indeed!

Florence (not Nightingale) of Embu is indicating some work to be done with students. I appreciate her determination to make our stay the best possible. Her email is also useful to other groups besides the Educational/Social Team.

I am because we are....

Colin 

Media reports

The following are links of the media reports of the meeting the Prime Minister Dr Joseph Muscat.

http://gov.mt/en/Government/Press%20Releases/Press%20Photos/Pages/2013/July/day30/OPM.aspx

http://www.maltastar.com/dart/20130731-pm-meets-kenya-volunteers

PHOTOS - Meeting with The President of Malta, Dr George Abela

The Team of Kenya Mission International 2013 would like to thank Ms Marica Mizzi for forwarding us the photos of the meeting with The President of Malta, Dr George Abela

Fr Colin Apap gives seven thousand one hundred and seven - The Philippines Experience

Fr Colin Apap gives seven thousand one hundred and seven (7,107) reasons why his eight-year stay in the Philippines makes a tapestry of life.

7,107 reasons by the God of Surprises

“What, are you still here? Don’t you know that you were supposed to leave for Manila an hour ago?” That was the beginning of a divine adventure by the God of Surprises!  A first YES to God who is Love – a YES that implies a long chain of other Yeses.

I never ever thought of going to the Philippines. Once I said YES to God to follow Him as a priest I was convinced that missionary work was part and parcel of my choice. Brazil was my dream. Like so many other seminarians of my time. Yet God of Surprises had other plans for me…

I was eating dinner with a group of friends at Scuola Internazionale di Formazione of the Opera di Maria in an old dilapidated Capuchins’ convent in Frascati, Italy. Frascati, for me, was not only famous for its wine. For us these were the first adventures as foreign students visiting Italy as part of our ‘cultural love’ for the Italian language (of course, everything paid by the University authorities).  I remember the first time we visited Frascati, a group of adventurous seminarians, our main concern was how to enjoy the delicacies of Frascati. I never thought that Frascati was to be the jumping plank to Manila!

I went to Frascati School for six months -  after I was ordained a priest. I had my own dreams for my future. Hoping they coincided with what I thought was God’s loving Plan for me (I did think that God, in my case, would need a little prodding).  My plans were to go to Oxford, read an MSc degree in Applied Social Sciences and then return to continue my assignment with Mgr Charles Vella of Cana Movement. All that had to change. I don’t know why, really. But I did believe that was God’s plan for me.

Bible Project

Another project is the distribution of the Bible in the various schools in Embu. This is a project which is being conducted with the collaboration of the Gideons Organisation. The Team and representatives of Gideons are reserving Wednesday the 4 th of September as Bible Day

We would like to distribute a copy of the Bible in Schools while we are visiting ,

We have asked the Gideons International ( copied Rose Smith here) to distribute the Bible to children in schools above 10 years..Also we  will try to distribute ourselves a book with a Bible Story to children below 10 years.

Where there is no love, put love and you will find love.The Bible is one way of promoting a holistic approach to Embu.

Below is an excerpt from an email regarding this project: that Michael Attard sent to  Sr.Florence.

Dear Sr.Florence ,

We would like to distribute a copy of the Bible in Schools while we are visiting , possibly on the 4 th of September. 

We have asked the Gideons International (Rose Smith  to distribute the Bible to children in schools above 10 years. Also we  will try to distribute ourselves a book with a Bible Story to children below 10 years.

Michael

Further to this email a reply from Sr. Florence

I wanted to meet our group first to share with them this Good News! 

We are happy with the Bible initiative.we suggested three schools for this programme their details are as follows:

Ss Peter and Paul school-35 above 10 years and 95 below 10 years and they can all read.

Our Lady of Assumption, school Mbiruri,40 above ten and 20 below 10  who can read.

Mother Angelina school,126 above 10 and 69 below ten who can read.

Thank you for this great initiative.

Sr.Florence

PHOTOS - Meeting with the Prime Minister Dr Joseph Muscat

Fr Colin's Update

My dearest friends,

Allow me to call you dear friends, because to find a friend is to find a treasure. And I have found you, each of you, and i thank you for allowing me to be your friend.

I was preoccupied, to tell you the truth, because I see too much preoccupation by some members about things that are made important but are not important. I did not know how to express myself clearly so not to make someone be taken aback and next time would think it twice to talk clearly about his concerns. As I was thinking about this I received the wonderful explanatory letter from the Bishop himself. He addressed practically all the questions we were asking. 

I was 100% sure, without doubt, that this would be the case. From the very beginning. 

Martha and Mary, in last week's liturgy, is an emphasis of two ways at seeing life. I hope, with the Spirituality Team, with Deborah, we can deepen this reality.

Kenya is NOT doing work with the children, the families or building buildings.  All these will pass. Maybe after some years they won't even remember us. 

But what remains is the love we put in whatever we are assigned to do. 

Everyone has his own plans and wishes....but it's more important to 'lose' these plans and wishes to be able to be free to discover new visions and new dreams.

Those of us who will be tied up to their own plans will find it difficult to make the real experience of Kenya.

 If I may add a personal anecdote. This is the fourth time i have been doing mission group volunteering. The main difficulty is always the same: relationships. All the speakers who came to talk to us emphasized just one single thing: unity. I do remember on several occasions that members come but when they meet obstacles they would create cliques, excluding others, and being always with the same persons whom they feel comfortable with. To the extent that this happens - our Mission will be a flop (no matter how grandiose things we do),

But unity depends on each one of us. 

There will be mistakes...and it is when we are aware of the mistakes around us that we prove unity. It's easy to be united when everything will run smooth. 

But it's not realistic to expect 35 strongly-opinionated individuals to live together for 20 days in a foreign country with weather conditionings to run all smooth and serene. 

Life is difficult. 

And so will be our experience. 

The seed won't give fruit unless it dies. 

If the seed remains a seed to be itself it will never make fruits. 

We are called to give fruits....

But not everyone is ready to pay the price....

Are you?

Colin

PS All I ask of you is to remember me as loving you.

I AM BECAUSE WE ARE ....

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Kariuki Njiru Paul <kariukipaulnjiru@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello Fr Colin Apap. How are you? How is your team? I wish you success in your final tasks in preparation for your mission in EMBU Kenya.

Be assured that I and the local community we will give the project of orphans maximum support. Currently it is not possible to say how much the whole project will cost but Divine Providence is always there for the needs of the poor ones of God. I Haven't seen the plan yet and I request you to resend it again.

Concerning the place and security. I formed a team that is busy preparing for the place where the entire team will stay. They will also organise for the transport to the places of work. The security is our first priority and some members our team will stay with your team too.
The electricity is there. For health reasons the water for drinking we shall buy the certified bottled water. For cooking and washing we shall use the ordinary pipe water. Internet you shall use the local sim cards for internet. Those who have lap tops, iPad or Tablets should carry them for they can use them comfortably for internet.

About a presentation in the TV here in Kenya they demand that we buy airtime which costly to engage in but we can invite them to cover some of the works and interview team members. Where you will stay will be 24 hours guarded.

Once again be assured of my maximum support. I am very passionate about the home for the orphans a place that will guarantee them a place to stay and have their education without interruption.

I look forward for a very successful mission in Kenya in all the areas you will work. In the hospital, in the health centers, in the parishes, and if possible in the schools. I am sure that your team will appreciate very much their mission in Kenya. May the Mother of all missionaries, The of Jesus, accompany you in your preparations.

God bless you all.

Meeting with Dr Joseph Muscat

The meeting we had today with Dr Joseph Muscat  at Castille went extremely well. On behalf of all the team of Kenya Mission International 2013, I would like to thank Dr Joseph Muscat  for giving us an opportunity to meet him and for expressing his appreciation and support. 

Fr Colin

My motivation to be part of Kenya Mission Internatioanal: Mildred

"And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me”" - Mark 10:21.

I have always been quite the dreamer and going on a mission particularly in Kenya has been one of my biggest dreams for many years now. 

Being a Kindergarten teacher, children hold a special place in my heart. Most of our children in Malta are blessed with so many opportunities and experiences, so why not share our blessings with others, near and far, who need it? It is very painful to know that somewhere, children as well as adults are at risk of maltreatment, malnutrition and many other forms of suffering. 

Being one of the so-called 'lucky ones' myself, living a relatively effortless life with food in my fridge and a roof over my head makes me nothing but part of an extremely unbalanced world.

I have realised that it is my duty to help others who, simply for geographical reasons, lead a much more difficult everyday life than I do. I have realised that I am among the 25% of the world's richest because I have clothes on my back and a place to sleep. I have realised that I am luckier than millions of people who suffer starvation. I have realised that it is now time to stop wishing and start doing. God has blessed me with this opportunity to go to Embu, Kenya this August and I have no other aim than that to do whatever I can to make people happier.

Being my very first experience of the sort, I do worry sometimes that it might get too hard for me and I still ask many questions as to what to expect. But then I remember what one of my biggest inspirations used to say: "God doesn't require us to succeed. He only requires that you try" (Mother Theresa) and that is all I need to keep moving forward. 

I do believe that the people in Embu will have as much to give me as I will give to them, if not more. From this experience I am looking forward to learning two beautiful lessons in life: that of appreciating the simple things in life and the other of loving others unconditionally.

Mildred