Happy Birthday Otieno!

We wish David Otieno on his birthday today and wish him many more years as he journeys a road in search of Gods calling for him. May he truly discover himself and come to fullness of life. We wish you well Otieno, and pray Gods blessings on you.

Happy Birthday and many happy returns of the day

Lent 2010

I will lead you to the desert and there speak to your heart!

May this lenten season be for us a time when we listen for God's word in our lives, in the ordinary daily experiences, and recognise there the still small voice urging us to the callings of our heart. Let us be open to that and may we find the courage and strength like Mary at the annunciation and Jesus in the garden to say, "Let your will be done."

Ther cup may be hard to drink but at the end of it it will draw from your lips the "Alleluia!"

Message from Sydney this Lent

Lent is about mortality and transformation. We begin the season of Lent on Ash Wednesday with the sign of the cross smeared on our foreheads with ashes as the words are spoken over us, "Dust thou art, and to dust thou wilt return." We begin this season of Lent not only reminded of our death, but also marked for death.

The Lenten journey, with its climax in Holy Week and Good Friday and Easter, is about participating in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Put somewhat abstractly, this means dying to an old identity.the identity conferred by culture, by tradition, by parents, perhaps.and being born into a new identity.an identity centered in the Spirit of God. It means dying to an old way of being, and being born into a new way of being, a way of being centered once again in God.

May God grant us grace this lent to be open to read and interpret the needs of the times and be partiners in the message of salvation.
(Sydney)

Ministry at Yumba

Being in Yumba Special School I have seen and experienced a lot. Mentally challenged people need somebody to listen to them, understand them and to love them since people consider them to be of no use in the society.

Taking them in moral education and practical issues like putting clothes and taking care of their body is something that I have really enjoyed. The challenge at Yumba is not about producing good results at the end of the day (since it can take10 to 15 minutes of concentration to perform a simple task), but it is to make the children feel welcomed and help them believe they can things like any other child.

The biggest challenge is that I will never come to understand their feelings. I can't say if they are happy or sad at times. Despite their physical condition like having running noses, sliver in the mouth or even small incidents of violence here and there, I have come to learn that I have to be patient not only with them but also to myself.

I have come to acknowledge their presence and the presence of God in them despite the questions I ask my self about their situation and why it is that they suffer. As Mother Teresa once said “let nothing so sorrowful fill you heart and forget Christ is risen for you.” I am happy to be in Yumba and share my brotherly love to those denied the right to love and associate with others fully in the society. We need to love and appreciate their presence in the community since we all share the same love and image of God.
CONSTANTINE SUNDAY

The New Roof

The roof is being replaced

The tiled roof on this part of the house was a mess. It leaked in many places and indoor waterfalls were a common feature during the rainy season. Last year we had to change some of the electrical wiring as a result. So this year, thanks to some generous funding we have been able to replace the roof with material more suited for climatic conditions in the north of Ghana.

The pictures show the tiled roof being stripped.