CMS Ireland Ronnie and Maggie Briggs

Let's hear it for the Goat!

2010-04-10T00:00:00Z

Bunny Rabbits get all the main headlines at this Easter time but the humble Goat gets barely a mention! Here in Kajiado at the moment it’s all about Goats!

On Easter Monday we went to a Community called Emarti to give out a mixture of Goats and Sheep to twenty of the most vulnerable households in that area. Each family received a total of three animals that will help them to start developing their herds again after the terrible suffering they faced during the recent drought and famine. The problem is of course, who are the ones to receive the Goats, and how are they chosen? This is always a difficult issue because as soon as you select one family then you have immediately rejected another. The task of selection therefore lies firmly in the hands of the community themselves. We help to select a committee of the recognised local leaders and they sit and deliberate about who should be the recipients of this support. On the day of distribution then we simply use the list of names and so everyone is satisfied with the process. Even when purchasing the Goats from the market we involve the local Committee so that the Goats selected are the ones they think will do best in their area. We make sure that it is the most needy in the community that are helped regardless of their church affiliation – or even if they attend church or not, so that an even spread across the whole community is achieved.

So, we arrive at the distribution area – the local Church – and everybody is already there, and there is much anticipation about what will take place. First, there are words of welcome, prayers from Church leaders, songs from the choir and then it’s down to business.

We keep a record of everyone who receives Goats so that in years to come if the same situation arises again then we know who received this time around.

The names are called, they come forward and three animals are selected at random from the herd, the recipient signs – or makes their mark – and off they go! As a way of giving thanks, each family has agreed to bring the first-born kid to their Church as an offering.

One lady called Jennifer told me that as she had lost her husband a few years ago it has been extremely hard to just survive. The drought completely devastated her remaining few animals and she was at a loss to know what to do. When she heard about the proposed distribution of animals through the Anglican Church she took no notice as she was not a member of that church and assumed that she would not be called up. Imagine her genuine surprise when she was told to be at the church on Easter Monday – and bring a long rope – and by the time it was all over she went home with three healthy animals to begin her herd again – now there is a happy bunny!

They say it never rains but it pours...

2010-01-06T00:00:00Z

They say it never rains but it pours – well we had begun to think it was never going to rain – but it did! Not only did it rain but it poured, and then it poured some more! It’s good to remember sometimes that if you pray for something you might actually get it! The first rain shower deposited almost 4 inches of rain, and then it continued to rain for a number of days afterwards.

Of course the rain is a blessing but the down side was the flooding: power lines came down, trees were felled, rivers flooded and overflowed their banks, some cattle were drowned and crops growing in the gardens were flattened.

However, we now have water in every conceivable water hole, good green grass growing all over the place and there is definitely a lighter mood amongst the people across the Diocese.

Very many thanks to all the people who committed to pray for the Diocese that there would be sufficient rains to alleviate the desperate suffering of so many people for such a long time – and that is now what we have.

We even have a story of a miraculous survival of an elderly couple who are members of the Cathedral in Kajiado. On the way to their home they always cross a small river bed – which is normally dry. However, on the first day of the rains it became a roaring river and the husband misjudged the strength of the water. As he attempted to drive across, his car – along with his wife and son – was swept away by the force of the water. It went down stream for about 100m and finally came to rest against some rocks. Fortunately the car did not roll but managed to stay afloat otherwise the outcome would not have been so good. They had to stay in the car for about another 3 hours before people could be phoned and provide the assistance they needed. (Thank you again to all of you who have given us old mobile phones in the past, they really do make a difference). His wife is still in Hospital with the shock of it all but they are thankful and grateful to God for their miraculous escape. This same river swept away a Land Rover of the Maasai Rural Training Centre and the driver was drowned back in 1992.

So, on behalf of everybody here in the Diocese of Kajiado can we thank you all for your prayers of encouragement and support during this really trying time and ask you to go back and give thanks to God for supplying all our needs. Our God is able…

How many visitors does it take to bring rain?

2009-11-03T00:00:00Z

This has been the Summer of the Visitor! A total of 69 visitors have passed through Kajiado since July – making up 6 different teams. We asked all them all to help us pray for rain… and to remember to pray again when they went home – then on 1st Nov it started to rain!! It looks like what we call ‘good rain’ – not too heavy and just right for the growing of crops and the all important grazing for cattle. However, many people still have to try and lift up their cattle by hand every morning to encourage them not to give up just yet, then continue to search for grazing and a little water to keep them going for another day. It will take time before the grass is sufficient for proper grazing. The Met office states that we are in for heavier than normal rains this season and we should prepare ourselves for significant downpours. The Maasai here just laugh at that as they have been waiting for just such downpours for more than two years and will be more than glad to see them actually falling!

In the meantime we still have to help support people in the daily routine of survival. For those of you who have responded to the CMSI Famine Appeal for Kajiado we thank you very much as we have already received the first instalment and have immediately bought maize and bean seeds to distribute to those who are planting crops. A big task but well worthwhile and would not have been possible but for your partnership with us…

So, the Teams came to visit and to pray for rain but what else do teams bring to us and to the Diocese of Kajiado, apart from a lot of hard work and a logistical challenge? Kajiado has been going through the worst drought and famine in living memory and you would think that bringing that many people in such a short space of time would be nothing but a burden to those of us who work and live here. In fact the opposite is true! The Bishop and all the Diocesan staff and clergy state quite clearly that it is precisely at a time like this that we need our partners to stand along side us in mutual support and encouragement. To offer prayers up for each other and to assure each other that we are in this together. This is really a true partnership in practical action. Even though there is a drought and a severe famine, life must still go on… we still have to wake up each morning and get on with whatever the day brings. Having visitors here during this time of great need and suffering brings a glimpse of hope in the midst of despair and adds a sparkle to a day that otherwise might have been depressing.
Visitors have worked on rehabilitation of schools, building of a secondary school classroom, teaching in SU classes, worshipped in many Churches Sunday by Sunday, helped to deliver relief food to those most vulnerable, fixed tractors, taught motorbike riding classes, supported the Mother’s Union in their work, and made many new friends and uplifted and encouraged us in all we do here.

To all those who took the time and energy to come to Kajiado during this time – a very big thank you! Know for sure that your time here was of great value and helps us to appreciate the fact that there are people out there who love and care for us as a Diocese.

True friends or Partners, are those who stand close by in times of need and trouble and this Summer so many people from all over the Church in Ireland have done just that. Yes, it has been busy, but what about the blessings? And after all it is now raining…..let the grass grow!

‘I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs.’ Isaiah 41: 18

Picture this ........ without pictures!

2009-06-02T00:00:00Z

We were on our way to Oltiasika – one of our rural development Centres about 6 hours drive from Isinya – to do some repair work on the Guest House there. I want you to picture this using only your imagination – try to put yourself in this same position without the help of pictures.

After only about 45 mins drive we came across the first dead cow – lying abandoned at the side of the road. As we were expressing our real concern for the people who lost this animal we came across another one, and then quickly thereafter another – only this time it had been skinned so it was lying completely ‘naked’ and seemed to express the depth of despair being experienced. At least the hide was worth something to the owner! As the journey continued we came across countless dead animals – including Zebra. The Maasai say that they know a famine is particularly bad when the Zebra start to die as they have the most resistance to drought.

After a long silence and looking at the situation unfolding before us the Maasai Elder in the Land Rover with me said ‘The place where we are heading is not a good place.’

Our drive took us through huge expanses of savannah land and there was not one living thing to see – the grass had been completely grazed down to bare earth and the dust plumes rising behind the Land Rover bore witness to the level of drought and famine being experienced in the whole area of Kajiado.

On our return journey the following day we came across a small herd of cattle standing looking forlorn and hardly able to walk at all. One cow was lying down and making no effort to get up, another was down but trying to stand. It was so weak its legs were shaking with the effort required, while the herdsman was standing behind it trying to help it to stand. The Maasai know that if they can just get the cattle to stand then they will continue to live – it is when they cannot rise that they know the end has come. And we were only seeing what was happening at the side of the road we were travelling on. What about in the interior where there are no roads and no people from outside to witness the catastrophe that is unfolding before our eyes? I actually thought about taking a photo but stopped myself. What would such a photo show? How could it express the level of suffering we were seeing? Why should I take such a photo, surely I don’t need a photo to move me to respond to a situation like this? I put my camera away feeling a little bit ashamed that I nearly undermined the privilege of being allowed to work in a place like this by putting on public view the distress of suffering loss.

Many of the owners of the dead cattle we saw will be going to some of our Churches in the Diocese on Sunday – places like Meto, Namanga, Magadi, Kajiado Cathedral, Torosei, Loitokitok, Isinya and Oltiasika – names familiar to many of you who are reading this blog. Our Pastors will have to minister to them and support them in whatever way they can. They will not be able to put much into the collection bag as they simply do not have it. This means that the Churches are unable to support the Diocese and this in turn prevents the Bishop from making his pastoral visits to some of these Churches to bring spiritual support and encouragement to those who need it most.

This is the reality that we are working under here in Kajiado and so it brings with it huge challenges that are difficult to meet.

It’s like having a nightmare in which you are standing in line at the ATM and as you wait your turn you realise that the person in front of you is using your card! You note that he has your bank balance on the screen and then he begins to enter your pin number and proceeds to take out all your money from your account. You try your best to stop him but somehow you can’t get through to him and before you know it your account is empty. The people here have no control over what is happening and are standing helplessly watching their livelihood disappear in front of them. Anyway, nobody wants to buy animals that are in such poor condition.

The weather forecast here is not encouraging and the govt has said that there will probably not be sufficient rains to complete a maize harvest. Apart from lack of food for the people, this also means that there will not be sufficient grass for livestock grazing and insufficient water in the waterholes and dams across the land. There has been some rains in a few selected areas. The Maasai are moving in big numbers into these areas with their cattle and this will add a huge strain on the grazing of such large herds and very quickly the grass will be finished. All the other areas are just simply dry.

Please pray for the Bishop and all the Church Leaders as they face this reality over the next number of weeks and months. Pray for wisdom to know how best to respond to such need.

Picture this and plead to our God – who is able – to bring blessing in such circumstances.

Could you be an MPO…?

2008-12-03T00:00:00Z

Mission Personnel Opportunities (MPO) are generally available here in Kajiado but are they a blessing or a burden?

Alongside the META concept of sending a team of people out to one of our Global Partners we have developed the MPO concept. This is essentially an individual offering their skills and gifts into a particular part of the work here in Kajiado and helping us to move forward in achieving the priorities set out by the Diocese. Recently we have had visits from three different people and it would be a good idea to set out some of the work they were involved with and how it actually helps us here in the Diocese.

Anne Campbell from Newtownards spent three weeks with us in September/October. With a background in community development she helped us with a number of reports. We are coming to the end of an Irish Aid funded Drought Recovery Programme and the writing of the final report is a very important exercise. Anne worked hard at bringing together all the relevant information required and before she left we had a complete outline of for us now to complete. She also worked on the CMS Ireland Annual Project for 2008 called ‘Footsteps’ and this was focussed around issues of education here in the Diocese. The project was developed around a particular community in Torosei – a 4 hour trip from Isinya on the Tanzanian border. What we wanted to do was to go back to that community and show them the project pack and more importantly the DVD to let them see exactly what we did with the video taken last July by our son Philip. Anne writes:

‘In September Torosei Primary School received a visit from some of the Kajiado Diocesan staff. The purpose of the visit was to show the pupils, teachers, community leaders and parents, the result of their work that they carried out with Philip Briggs and Daniel Taama just over a year ago. A DVD was made to illustrate to children in Northern Ireland a typical day in the life of a Kenyan school pupil. Members of the local Maasai community started to arrive as word of the DVD viewing quickly spread. The children crammed in as they tried to get a better look at the screen. Most of the children had probably never seen a television before, never mind themselves on television. Once the DVD was played and familiar scenes of their school, friends and each other came up on screen there was lots of laughter and pointing. There was also great enthusiasm at seeing their teachers on screen. The teachers too, found the DVD amusing as they were able to see themselves on DVD and were also humoured by the pupils’ reaction.
When the DVD finished Ronnie Briggs presented the DVD and resource pack to Emmanuel Kidali (Deputy School Headmaster) and Rev Moses Ntuyai (Vicar in Charge). It was felt that it was important to show Torosei Primary School and the community the DVD as it was their hard work that made it all possible. The school received it with thanks, and even requested a second viewing!’

Anne later visited another programme of the Diocese in Meto where we had a ‘Field Day’ – inviting the local community to come and see exactly what we do in this development Centre and perhaps try to copy it in their own Villages.
Anne reports on her visit:

‘The Diocese of Kajiado has recently reactivated the Centre in Meto. A variety of cultivation and livestock practices are used at MRTC Meto as a means to demonstrate to the local Maasai community how they can make a livelihood for themselves on semi-arid land.

Almost 300 people from the local community arrived to the field day which consisted of demonstrations of cultivation practices and the services available to them.

Demonstrations of livestock included Doper sheep, which have been bred using South African raised Rams. A cow and it’s calf have been introduced for good quality milk supply and used as a demonstration of how to manage and care for milking breeds.

For cultivation of the land demonstrations, an ox-plough was brought in and staff explained how oxen could be trained to pull a plough. Soil erosion preventative techniques were illustrated and explained, such as fencing off vulnerable land. A drip irrigation system would be a very new concept to many in the Maasai community and it created great interest and the local people used the opportunity to buy some of the crops grown by the irrigation system.

An “agro-vet” store is a shop that sells seeds and other farming equipment plus all requirements for animal medicine that might be needed on the average farm in the Meto area.
A new mobile clinic was recently bought by the Diocese. This was on show at the field day and a nurse, Agnes who is employed to work in it, explained the different programmes and equipment.

There is an Anglican Church within the compound of Meto MRTC. The roof of the church is used as a rainwater catchment area.

The local chief, local businessmen and Bishop Taama all encouraged the community to make use of MRTC Meto so that they will be able to sustain themselves, even during times of drought.’

Then came Clifford McSpaddan in October. Clifford had arranged to come to us in his capacity as a business consultant to help the Diocese to establish a training programme for the staff to improve their capacity for the work they are doing. In between he became the President of CMSI so it was an even greater privilege to receive him wearing both hats. He interviewed all the Diocesan staff and then sat with the Bishop and a few of us to set up the training requirements for all staff members. This is the first time such an effort has been made towards training needs and it will be of great help into the future.

And then came David Spiers in October/November – husband of Mavis who works in the Belfast Office of CMSI. David has spent most of his working life in Human Resources and even worked for a time with CMSI as the Personnel Coordinator. David followed on from Clifford in that he too interviewed all the staff members of the Diocese to begin the process of setting up job descriptions and establishing personnel processes for the Diocese to ensure that all legal requirements are met in terms of looking after staff members. Needless to say, the staff here were delighted to see progress on these levels and made them feel even more secure in their roles within the Diocese.

All these MPO visits were targeted at specific areas of the work here and all of them made a big impact on the people they came across. When organised in this way an MPO visit is a blessing to us as well as the Diocese. All MPOs are taken out to various parts of the Diocese to see for themselves the challenges faced by those who work here and to help put into context the particular work they came to do. This can be a very big learning curve for the MPO and is also a big benefit to the Diocese here in Kajiado.

MPOs are a blessing and not a burden – maybe you too could be an MPO! If interested please contact Niall Manogue through either of the CMSI offices and he will point you in the right direction. God gave us all skills and gifts our response is to use them….

Visitors, visitors, visitors!

2008-08-02T00:00:00Z

It’s hard to believe that a month has passed since the last blog – such a lot has happened during that time. As mentioned before, we were visited by a group of 36 from Limavady Grammar School and they certainly kept us on our toes! The main reason for their visit was to begin building a Girls Secondary School – the first of its kind in the area.

The first cutting of the sod was performed by Head girl, Naomi Canning and this represented the culmination of many years of planning both by the Diocese of Kajiado here and Limavady Grammar School as the latter have organised a sponsored walk every year for the past 4 years in preparation and raised a very generous amount of funds.

The pupils and leaders participated in many different jobs and many learned new skills – like slashing the long, dry grass and then baling it in order to clear the site for building. They also set out the outline of temporary roadways for the site traffic using large stones. Then there was lots of digging with shovels and pickaxes, pushing wheelbarrows laden with soil until the foundations were complete. These were then filled in with more rocks. Everyone took part with great enthusiasm and burned off lots of calories!

The group visited a place called Oltiasika, run by Maasai Rural Training Centre which was really out in the bush and they had the chance to experience traditional Maasai life and interact with those who lived there. The variety of landscapes between a sub-tropical rainforest on top of the Chyulu Hills to a game drive on the flat, dry plains below which overlooked Mt Kilimanjaro was stunning and a great contrast to the building site. This trip was summed up by one pupil who described it as “The best day of my life!” At the end of their time, Bishop Jeremiah Taama, clergy, many leaders and people from the local community and the Limavady group all walked around the perimeter of the worksite to dedicate it to God, along with all the building work which will continue for several more years. Also there were prayers for those who would eventually come through the doors to study.

For us, this was a very moving ceremony as it reflected many years of research and planning and eventually God’s timing in bringing to fruition something which we hope will be of great value to the local Maasai community. It has many ties with CMS Ireland – from Limavady School to the Hillsborough Architect and Banbridge Mission Partners. No doubt many others will join in many different ways in the future years to come. Our Son Philip was the official ‘photographer’ for the team and he has put together a CD and DVD of the whole trip – a copy of which is available in the CMSI Belfast office if anyone wishes to have a wee look! May God bless this school richly and all those who come under its influence.

Big Celebrations!

2008-06-17T00:00:00Z

The ACK Diocese of Kajiado was created in 1998 with Bishop Taama as the first Bishop. It was a turbulent birth as a Diocese and the Bishop and staff have worked very hard on healing and reconciliation in the years since. It was appropriate therefore that a service of Thanksgiving be held to mark the 10 year anniversary of the Diocese and to look forward to the future with hope and expectation.

We entered Kajiado Cathedral to such an overwhelming volume of people praising God through singing, music and dancing that it almost took our breath away! I thought for a few minutes – this is just a little glimpse of what heaven will be like!

Up to 2000 people were present at this special service of 10 years as a Diocese – and they were out in force! Choir after choir praised God in different languages and as they danced their way through different songs, the swirling of their bright clothes and necks draped heavily with beadwork were an absolute sight to behold.

The preacher spoke for 1hr 30mins but was brilliant and he held his listeners’ attention all that time. The whole service lasted 5 hrs and afterwards, everyone was fed!

For us personally, as a family, it was very special as Ronnie was given a chance to say that this was such a wonderful occasion for us, as we came to give thanks to God for the way in which He had delivered us through the last 4 years during Naomi’s illness. This congregation has been very faithful in praying for her and now she had managed to come to the service herself and when she stood up to greet them, a loud cheer went up and everyone clapped as they praised God for her recovery. We were very touched by the depth of their love and after the service, she was hugged by so many people – it was all good medicine in itself.

What a privilege to be part of such a service and be able to express our praise of God in such a vibrant way!

The Diocese is making a very positive impact on the people within the area of Kajiado and it is indeed a great privilege for all of the support Churches in Ireland to be involved in this exciting partnership.

Another Journey!

2008-06-11T00:00:00Z

2008 brought many changes for us as a family. We officially became CMSI Mission Partners on home leave and so began the process of visiting all the Parishes linked with Kajiado. This proved to be a very worthwhile exercise and we managed to see large numbers of people who support Kajiado. We wish to thank all those who managed to come along to the Kajiado Info Nights we held and for the encouragement you all gave us. The commissioning service in Magherally was a very special occasion for all of us and we would like to thank all who made the effort to be there. We really appreciate your love and support and in fact will rely heavily on it when we are here in Kajiado.

After much packing, sorting and saying goodbyes, it’s hard to believe we are here over two weeks already. Now, having gone through more unpacking, sorting and saying hellos, we feel like we have returned home! People have been very welcoming and it has been good to settle back into our house. Even 2 kittens were here to greet us!

It was great to see our son Philip again and now Susie and Naomi have also come out, we are all one big family again for a few months!

It’s also so good to have Rev Naftaly around too. Having graduated from Bible College with him, it is such a pleasure to be back here in his homeland, sharing God’s work together. Since his return, he has been blessed with a baby daughter called Esther, so he’s very happy!

Ronnie is slowly working his way around all the ongoing development projects to get an up to date picture and we have been very encouraged at the progress that has been made. However, it is very evident just how dry and brown the land looks and people are very concerned that real hardship is on the way.

Next week we have some visitors from home including a cameraman and reporter to film some of our work here in the Diocese. Following that, we will be invaded by a group of 36 from Limavady Grammar School……. so this week is the quiet before the storm!! The Limavady Team will help us to start building a Girl’s Secondary School for the Diocese – the first of its kind – and will be a major project for us as we get started. Maggie will be looking at how best to start reaching out to the many women in the Diocese who have very little in terms of financial security – especially in light of the poor harvests and the drought that is beginning to bite again.

Please continue to pray for the situation here and if you have any thoughts on all of this please do get in touch – so that we can journey together.

The Long Road 'Home'...Going Back to Kenya

2008-02-28T00:00:00Z

It has been quite a journey! But now after about four years, Maggie and I are able to make some plans for returning back to Kajiado in Kenya.

When we went out in 2002 we had planned to stay for at least 6 years but then when Naomi fell ill we had to come back home earlier to allow her to regain her health. Little did we think it would take this long and it has been a challenging time for all of us, to say the least. We praise God that Naomi is now beginning to show good signs of recovery and she is at last on the long road to recovery.

we always knew that some day we would be planning to return back to what feels like our ‘home’

Naomi has lost 4 years of school and is hoping to get back slowly into some kind of study again – she will start with working towards her driving test. We have already been out for a few lessons already. Susie is in her second year at Queens studying Social Anthropology which she is enjoying very much. Philip is already out in Kenya following his dream of becoming a wildlife photographer. If you have seen the CMSI Annual Project for 2008 all the video and photos are his work.

Maggie and I have missed Kenya very much over the past number of years and while I have enjoyed working in the CMSI office in various capacities we always knew that some day we would be planning to return back to what feels like our ‘home’.

If ever there was a time that Kajiado needed it’s partners to stand alongside them it is surely now. With all the political drama and the violence being played out in many communities there has been essentially no government nor leadership since the failed elections in December of last year. This vacuum will be filled with more violence if a peaceful solution is not found soon. Meanwhile the people continue to suffer and many of them look to the Church for help and support. Bishop Taama and the Diocese need all our support at this time and Maggie and I are looking forward to getting out there to begin the work and ministry that God has called us to.

We can use your help as well if you think you could offer your gifts and skills – as follows:

• Pray for Kenya and Kajiado – sign up to this blog and ask the office to send you link letters and all other pieces of information and you can pray with us in a more focussed way.
• Come and visit – we can use all manner of different talents and skills, just ask the office for details.
• Host a visitor – we really want to open up opportunities for people from Kajiado to visit Ireland to share their experiences of ministry with us – to challenge and encourage.
• Make a donation – all of what is planned in Kajiado will have a cost to it and if you wish to support in this way you can do so – either by a one-off donation or by Standing Order so that a little can go a long way! Just ask the office for details – or click on the donate button on the right hand side…it couldn’t be easier!

We have produced a leaflet setting out all that we hope to be involved with while in Kajiado and if you have not seen one of these please just ask the office to send you one in the post.

So, it has indeed been quite a journey – but an exciting one. The Lord has been preparing us during our time here in N.Ireland for this return and we are going back with renewed energy and commitment. We would like to thank all of you who have faithfully prayed for Naomi and ask that you continue to do so and also to pray for our return. We look forward to continuing this journey along with many of you as well and together we can make a real difference to many people living both here and in Kajiado.

Been and Gone!

2007-09-26T00:00:00Z

Now that all of the MPO’s have had time to settle back into the daily routine of their life back home, they’ve had time to reflect on their experiences in Kenya. Here are a few of their thoughts and feelings.

Don Todd, from Ballyholme Parish, used his IT Consultant skills to network together the computers in the ‘Health For All’ Clinic in Kajiado as well as installing computers into the Diocesan offices – all of which were donated by Altnagelvin hospital. Here is what he has to say about his trip;

“If you were to ask me what I remembered most from my trip to Kenya it would have to be the people. Certainly the people from the ACK in Kajiado were wonderful, gentle, friendly people, very appreciative that you had come to work with them and always, but always, giving off that wonderful aura of living their faith. There are so many examples of individuals who could only be described as “giants” in the community, models of how the church should be at the centre of people’s lives, working to improve their community.

What is also abundantly apparent is the respect which CMS Ireland and ACK have for each other in working in this partnership. It is only through seeing this working up close that it can be fully appreciated.

Other vivid memories of my trip would be the sights which we just don’t get at home:the lorries with “God Blesses” painted on the front;lots and lots of people walking; carts towed by donkeys; the legions of small minibuses (matatu) serving as local transport; the wonderful names of places (the Ya Ya Centre).

The overall experience is one I would highly recommend and does show that we all have some talents to contribute, and know that any contribution will be fully appreciated.”

Jenny Myers, from Lisburn Cathedral, using her Project Managing background, worked with the Planning and Developing Department to assist with producing information to help with the all important reporting process back to those who support the work in Kajiado. This is her reflection on the time she spent with us;

“Hamjambo, a ‘Mission Placement Opportunity’ was what it was called and what an opportunity!

I got to meet the people in their place of work, at home and at play, I became their friend, I found out all about them. Their families, their concerns, their hopes, we exchanged growing up stories, we discussed our different countries and cultures. We shared prayers, we joined in worship, we celebrated together, we ate together. We greeted each other with handshakes and hugs, sometimes we just nodded, smiled and marvelled at Gods creation. We joined together, one people with one God.  Bwana asifiwe”

Brian Howe, from Agherton Parish, put his accountancy skills to good use in the Accounts offices in Isinya and Kajiado, transferring accounts from books to Quickbook on the computer. This is what he has to say about his experiences;

“Would I be able to cope? Would I be able to make a difference? Would I really be able to help change things? Was life going to be the same again? – All these thoughts and more raced through my mind as I sat on the plane heading from London to Nairobi. ‘Enjoy the flight upgrade because it might be the last bit of luxury for a few weeks.’

Almost three weeks later and I was heading back home again after my sojourn in Africa. I had been working with the Anglican Church of Kenya, sponsored and organised through CMS Ireland and based at the Maasai Rural Training Centre, Kajiado. I had been reviewing the audited accounts for the various charitable and supported projects they undertake and I had been helping to install and set up a computerised accounting system.

Well the answer to the first three questions was yes but the answer to the last one was a resounding no. The welcome and support I received from Ronnie, Maggie & Naomi Briggs; the other team members; The Bishop; the members of the Church and the staff at the MRTC all made an indelible mark on my life. Of course I could cope; hopefully I was able to make a difference and help change things but it was I who came back changed. Unity in the Body of Christ [Eph: 4] is self evident in the work and witness in that part of the world. – Thank you and God bless.”

At the reunion which will be held on Saturday 29th September, we are all hoping to share even more stories and enjoy each others company. You could probably do something like this as well……. Just contact the office to find out how!