Nairobi, Kenya, 8 May 8 2016 - Greetings from Don Bosco Utume, Salesian Theological College, Nairobi, Kenya, AFE Province. Wow – I’m ready to take this opportunity to share my first five years missionary experience in Africa. Next May 21 twelve companions (including myself) will be ordained deacons. Happy to share at this occasion!
I have been at Don Bosco Theological College, Nairobi, Kenya since 2013, after my practical training experience as a new missionary. Our present community is a Centre of Higher Education in preparation for ministerial priesthood of Eastern Africa. This school year, there are 61 Salesians in our community.
We are together 6 formators and 55 students (four year course). Our six formators are from different Salesian provinces: two are Africans (Kenya and Nigeria) and four are missionaries (Italy and 3 from Poland).
Fifty five students of theology come from many different countries, such as Zambia, Sudan, Nigeria, Kenya, Togo, Somalia, Uganda, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Vietnam. Fourteen (14) of us are missionaries – 8 from Vietnam and one each - from Malawi, Somalia, Togo, Madagascar and Italy.
We have class from Monday to Friday, and the weekends are for our apostolic experience in various parishes, youth centers, juvenile prisons, high schools.
Then we come back to our community on Sunday evening to prepare for new week.
In this way we are helped to study theology through theory and practice. Here we are also blessed to work together amongst Salesian coming from many different countries, cultures and life experiences. I feel that my experience here will help me a lot good lessons for my mission later in our Sudan Delegation (AFE province).
Truly, I have been missionary in Africa already for past 6 years, I have had many experiences and many good lessons in my missionary journey. Sometimes I got both negative and positive experience in my life here. Through many difficulties I have seen, felt and passed in my life here, I believe that God is always present in my life. He has helped me and granted me His grace! I felt that I received more than I gave through the people I was sent.
With the grace of God I will try to learn more things day by day. Especially that I try study very hard languages and cultures, with a lot of patience. That may help my life will be a good gift for people in place where I will be sent in the future.
I know that my missionary journey will get many difficulties which are waiting me there but with my trust in God and believe that if I try to do everything in God’s will as I am only God’s instrument I will walk in God’s way with peace and joy!
Remember Africa and all Salesians – African and missionaries - who are working and studying here in your prayers! Many thanks for your prayers! I wish the Rector Major will get also this year many missionary application letters from East Asia – Oceania region, in order to send more Salesians to Africa for the service of the People of God here!
Happy feast day of THE PENTECOST!
In Don Bosco’s great love!
Peter
