| December 2005 Letter from Africa After fourteen years of ministry at St. Benedict Lodge, McKenize Bridge, Brother Daniel has accepted an invitation to return to Africa and work with the Dominicans in Kenya and Tanzania.
Here I am, already in African for almost three weeks and gradually getting my "African Legs." I've already started driving - a task that cannot be underestimated what with driving on the LEFT side of the road! Add to that the fact that the roads are narrow, ofetn don't have any lines and are also occupied by many pedistrians, cyclists, push-carts and cows, goats and sheep! Also, if all the above isn't enough to occupy your concentration, you have to dodge huge pot-holes and stay with the flow of traffic at a tremendous speed. Well, I'm doing OK even though I have yet to attempt the "round-abouts" which are supposed to be a safe, efficient way to avoid signals at intersections but really end up being grand free-for-alls with the most agressive driver winning! Keep me in your prayers when/if I tackle this new phase of life in African. On another aspect of life in Nairobi you can add that my computer didn't make the transition to life in Africa as well as I did. Seems it was part of a "recall program" (that I didn't even know about) that caused the screen to blank out intermitently. Fortunately there was a pretty good Apple Service Center right close by but there were "glitches galore." In the end I have had to turn it in, pay $150.00 to have it shipped back to the US to get the logic board replaced and wait 6 to 8 weeks for it to come back. So, for the time being, I'm forced to a public internet store where I can work on their computers for 5 KS per minute (about 10 cents I think) This has also put a crimp in my intentions to get photos and stories up on our web site so folks will just have to wait until I get back on my own computer. In the meantime, things are otherwise going well. We had a gathering of all the Dominicans in East Africa last week at a really fine retreat centers about 2 1/2 hours north of Nairobi. It was a good change for me to meet some of the new friars and re-aquiant myself with those whom I knew from before. There are 32 of us here: 7 friars from the New York Province and myself; seven novices from Uganda, Angola, Sudan and Kenya; Student brothers from Nigeria, Rwanda,Uganda and other places that I can't now remember. We had a good week. I still have to work out details of what I will be doing and already know that I will have to say, "I can only do SO much, so you'll have to give up on some of those expectations! Our house is up on a hill overlooking a valley and about a mile from the Church. Each morning I walk with our two dogs (not reprints of Kenzie, though since they are full grown dobermans! I'm gradually getting them to understand who's the 'alpha male' and that I will not be pulled along at their descrection. I have a nice room with a view and will soon tackle the job of putting some order into our living since the other friars are still under the illusion that this rental house is only temporary until we build the new one. They forget that they have been in this house for three years and we haven't even begun to build the new one. So, this brother wants to say, "Let's make the best of this place and this time since we're not anywhere near moving." As I say, lots to be done. Well, I wish you a Holy and Happy Holidays and a good New year. AS soon as I get back on my "own computer" I'll begin to send better stories. Until then, I'm still, Brother Daniel Actually IN Africa Watch this site for an ongoing journal of his trip back to Africa. As always, I write back to folks who write to me. |
