01 May 2017

HOLY THURSDAY 2017 MOMBASA CATHEDRAL

ARCHBISHOP KIVUVA WASHING FEET OF WOMEN, MEN AND CHILDREN 

     I couldn't believe it myself.  That foot in the middle of the picture is MINE!!! Some of you may remember that last year was the first time I saw a Kenyan priest wash the feet of women and children as well as men.  So, it was a big surprise that I was asked to have my feet washed this year.  By an Archbishop no less!

CORALIS WITH OTHER FAITHFUL IN THE CATHEDRAL

     Our services for Holy Week at the Cathedral were well prepared.  The youth did an excellent drama on Good Friday enacting the Passion of Jesus.  It is, for me, a set of rituals that continue to give me hope.  On Easter Sunday Joan Chittester focused on Mary Magdalene who recognized Jesus before the others.  She wrote, "It is over 2000 years later.  Men are still not listening to the spiritual insights of women.  But women are still strong enough to stand by, to keep saying what they see, to keep telling men the will of God for both women and men even though "they will not believe them".  Joan says this fidelity is the spiritual gift of women to the church.  She's right.  Just look at all the women in the picture with Coralis!
     We have had two days of rain and I hope that the dry season is ending.  The drought has been bad.  Some of you may remember seeing a picture of me with Josephine (the woman who helps me with cleaning in the house) and a watermelon some few years back. This year Josephine had purchased special seeds and insecticide to grow more watermelons and they were big.  Some boys came to her garden and started eating them because they were hungry.  That night a group of boys came with sacks and collected all the big watermelons and hauled them off to eat and sell.  All of her hard work has been taken.  She shrugs her shoulders and says, "They are hungry."  
     Josephine also lives right next to a polling station.  The primaries for the elections in August were held this weekend.  She said that more young men were rioting at the polling station with sticks and batons.  They were yelling that they wouldn't vote unless they got paid.  In the past many politicians have paid people to vote for them.  It is becoming a way of life.  But Josephine also adds, "They are hungry."  
     As part of our response, some of my donors have directed that certain gifts be given for food relief, both in Kenya and South Sudan.  We call it "food by prescription"! 
     This is a precarious time for Kenya as violence is beginning during the primaries.  It doesn't bode well for peace when hungry people don't get what they need.  I will be in Illinois in August with my family.  I experienced the post election violence of 2008 and that was enough for me.

EASTER COFFEE CAKES THAT MY GRANDMOTHER
ALICE LOESS  TAUGHT ME TO BAKE

MAY THE BREAD OF LIFE 

WHO SHOWED US HOW TO WASH FEET

BE OUR EXAMPLE OF HOW TO PROVIDE

 THE FOOD EACH PERSON NEEDS

SO THERE WILL BE PEACE