This article presents a project of our mission in the western parts of Kenya, Kisumu.
The daily bread that gives us life and survival is a luxury that many people seek with and arms outstretched in supplication and prayed to God as drops of tears after years of many waiting for this rain to water the desert drought.
Kenya, an East African country, has experienced difficult but and joyful years in its history. More difficult I would say because of the various political changes that have contributed to good days, namely the independence of the people from foreign influences, but also the struggle for the African people to survive on their own under adverse conditions. To carve out a history of its own, bloodied and wounded as in many other countries on the African continent.
It is not right to separate the world and God’s creation, because from the beginning of the world evil and good have always existed and will always exist, and contributes positively or negatively to people living together or not living together.
We show the life of the people in this small piece of land.
Listening to or reading in the media, internet, books and magazines, the needs of the people of the earth are innumerable, and it all flows rapidly through our minds in the few moments we find in the evening before we settle down. The personal contacts and the struggle of every bishop who needs to sacrifice himself so that our brother may have a plate of food. We help where we can and we know that the good Lord will do the rest. He who created the heavens and the earth knows the needs of every soul.
So for this plate of food we toil night and day so that one of our flocks may not go hungry.
Let’s not think that they are soup kitchens that happen once or three times a week, and the rest of the year what happens? Did we settle the debt of the day or the week? Are we pleased with ourselves for the good we have done?
Everything is God’s.
Our nights are restless in case someone hasn’t eaten. We do not promote our own work but God’s.
If only we could build huge churches where the bells would ring and the chants would be heard in the heavens, even small churches for the faithful to worship in.
What can we do with them when many churches are made of straw and mud and need repairs? Is it our fault? No for God’s sake, how to thank them all. It’s impossible. But the impossible in spite of men is possible with God.
And may our toiling and burdened priests be praised and rewarded for the good fight to do more than we can do for them.
Well done, good and faithful, enter into the joy of thy Lord. With the pious donations of people who are sensitive and sympathetic to our struggle, we offer food to the children of our school, whose families often do not have enough money to pay their children’s school fees. And this brings consequences when the state contributes the minimum to the schools having contributions. So the church steps in so that the children and teachers can have the food they need and have a water borehole.
Their daily food is a meal made from fried wheat – pebbles which is nutritious along with beans if available and rice. On big feasts and when there is a possibility to feast and fish. Lake Victoria which is the largest lake on the African continent and borders three countries feeds people like manna from heaven.
Everywhere the grace of God is seen in everyday life. We attach some humble photos showing our small efforts to give some joy to the children in the schools. May the of Christ’s Resurrection bring the best to the entire world, first and foremost love, peace and health. And with the word of John Chrysostom on the great feast of Easter, may we always rejoice in the banquet of faith:
The table is full. Eat up, everybody. The calf is plentiful, let no man go hungry.
The Most Reverend Bishop of Kisumu and Western Kenya, Mr Marcos.
