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| MICHAEL, SUSAN, SUMMER, LENORE AND THE TWINS |
HOME SWEET HOME
This is for those of you who have not heard that I have arrived safely back to our family home in Urbana, Illinois. We celebrated our Independence Day on the 4th of July and many people who have seen this picture comment on how much I look like my mother. I've spent the past month settling in and visiting around. I just returned from lunch with my 99 year old aunt and godmother who still lives in her own home. She is a wise woman. I also went to Wisconsin to visit my 81 year old first grade teacher. She is the youngest of the women I was able to spend time with at the Dominican Sisters. They also are wise women. Given the state of this country it is good to surround myself with wise people!
Many people have mentioned how glad they are that I am home and out of harms way. I had no idea that they were so concerned about my safety and paying attention to what little news would trickle out from wherever I happened to be. It is a credit to my African friends that over all these years nothing terrible has happened to me. I have been well taken care of for sure.
Many people have mentioned how glad they are that I am home and out of harms way. I had no idea that they were so concerned about my safety and paying attention to what little news would trickle out from wherever I happened to be. It is a credit to my African friends that over all these years nothing terrible has happened to me. I have been well taken care of for sure.
Today I begin working as a Maryknoll Lay Missioner based in Illinois. I will be doing Mission Education, Advancement, Medical Consultations and Medical Policy revisions all in support of our leadership team. I will also provide some input into the Maryknoll Office of Global Concerns.
This first month has been very relaxed and enjoyable as I settle in. I'm happy to be living with my mother and she feels the same. The weather has been warm and sometimes hot and humid. I am grateful for this summer season and know that transitioning to cold temperatures will be one of my biggest challenges. It is a pleasure to drive Mom around on good roads where people follow the rules for the most part. My basic needs for electricity, water, security etc are met without any problem. I walk around the neighborhood once or twice a day and don't stand out or attract hisses or cat calls. The neighbors are friendly and welcoming. Several have shared plants from their gardens to help me get our garden blooming with more greenery and flowers.
Politics and bad governance are similar to the problems we had in Kenya. I try to connect with the rest of the world through the BBC and our Public Broadcasting network. It's hard to get much detail about Kenya except through friends who still live there. But certainly that country, in particular, is in often in my thoughts and prayer. I did see pictures of the total lunar eclipse throughout Africa and was envious I could not see it myself. But we can clearly see Mars shining a bright red hue near the moon, closer than it has been to us in a long time.
This will be my last blog post as I am no longer providing health care in Kenya. I offer it mainly as a way to reassure Kenyans that I am remembering them and grateful for all that I shared over the past 33 years in East Africa. I would like to keep in contact and plan to try to connect around Christmas time as a minimum.
PEACE OF THE MOONBEAMS AND SHINING STARS THAT CONNECT US!!!
