When Are You Beginning? — The Question No One Can Answer
By Fr. Silas Kemboi, SJ
Greetings from the Miki community! We are blessed to be in good health, both in body and mind. We are getting more pastorally engaged. For the past two weeks, we have been assisting the parish priest as he visits families in his parish. These day-long visits often culminate in a Mass celebrated in one of the homes. It has been a humbling and fulfilling experience to meet and listen to the faithful in their homes.
The visits have also given us the chance to interact with the wider community. While some are aware of our presence, others are just learning about us. Many are excited about the possibility of starting a university here. However, the most challenging question we face is, “When are you beginning?” We’re doing our best to paint an honest picture of where we are in the process, but constantly saying “soon” feels insufficient.
It seems as though God sensed the weight of these questions on our hearts. This past weekend, we had the joy of hosting three dear friends: Cleopatra, Pauline, and Ambassador Kathambana. Their visit filled our community with laughter and encouragement, but it was Ambassador Kathambana’s words that truly lifted our spirits. Shortly after his arrival, he spoke about the persistence of early missionaries, likening our journey to theirs. He urged us to keep hoping, persevering, and believing. He said that, like a pregnancy, our hope should be both large and visible to all.
We are deeply grateful for their visit and friendship.
