Thank you for helping us turn the world into a garden.

After careful consideration, we decided that Nariokotome Mission in Turkana, Kenya, would be the perfect place to celebrate our Golden Wedding Anniversary! The family could not come – that was the only drawback – but we would share the celebration at a distance. We had a trip organised with our friends, Jose Luis, Angelina and Chelo, to perform minor surgeries and to organise the new operating theatre at the mission and the dates coincided. It was a unique occasion!

And so, it has happened! We got married again in Turkana. The missionaries are refined GOLD!

The church at Nariokotome was decorated in its best! Flowers, palms, white tablecloths on colorful fabrics of the area! Such are the efforts of the missionaries who, after an exhausting day, find time and strength to please others.

Fr. Antonio Aguirre, with the homily on Mark 10:17-30 on the account of the rich, young man to whom Jesus says, “go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” Never a better gospel to describe the missionaries of the MCSPA!

The Turkana mass and feast revolved around this gospel, and also around the meaning of Catholic marriage. One couple, for life, with its joys and sorrows, with its bad times and good times, a difficult journey at times but with a very positive balance!

The church at Nariokotome was overflowing with people. Dressed in their best clothes; typical necklaces and multi-colored costumes; school children in their uniforms.

Angelic voices, magnificent choirs and rhythms with drum beats and clapping! Noise, emotion, illusion, flowers, colorful, incense and smoke, handshakes as a sign of love and peace. Enveloped in this atmosphere that embraced our five senses we renewed our wedding vows, for as long as God wants us to be together.

At the end we were given the most precious title here: “Elders of Turkana” they dressed us up in the traditional style, giving the scepter and to Emilio the cap and “ekicholong”. Photos, laughters and reports! Dancing and shouting to celebrate.

Then we shared with more than 400 children a juice, a bun and candy and they were happy! Those innocent little faces with smiles of white teeth, black eyes and joy, are also worth gold! I left the bouquet on Paco’s grave! He would have loved to be at this ceremony, I am sure!

At Scholastica and Lydia’s place, we made the paellas, and at Patrizia and Lenny’s place, we shared them together with 35 other persons.

We did not expect more details and celebrations …. but yes, Lenny made a wedding cake with candles marking out “50” and brought out champagne to toast.

In the evening, looking back on the day, I thanked God again for the good fortune of having a husband like Emilio and for having met Fr. Paco Andreo, the founder of MCSPA, who taught us how he loved the people of Turkana and their spirituality, and introduced us to a missionary family, whom we continue to love and are increasingly united.

Special thanks to our missionaries at Nariokotome who made possible the renewal of our marriage vows on our Golden Anniversary! Thank you for being so generous and for showing us an example with your actions!

Thank you!

Ana Mañas Rueda,
Doctor of Paco, an “Elder of Turkana

As in many of the missions of the MCSPA (Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle), in Muketuri, Ethiopia, we have dedicated great efforts to the development of nutrition and education for children under the age of seven.

When the MCSPA first arrived in Muketuri, at the invitation of the present Cardinal Berhaneysus Souraphiel CM, the local population was surprised that we focused on nutrition and education of young children, ages 4 to 6, before they even start primary education.

After drilling a well on the land donated by local authorities to the Ethiopian Catholic Church and creating a vegetable garden to ensure water and food supply for what would later become the St. Joseph Mother and Child Centre, we conducted a socio-economic study of a sample of 500 families in the area. This study provided data on the most vulnerable: women and children affected by malnutrition and preventable diseases.

In many rural areas of Ethiopia, children under the age of 7 receive very poor nutrition and are often involved in tasks such as herding animals – as in the case of boys – and fetching water, cooking, and caring for younger siblings – as in the case of girls. Many of these children survive diseases without any medical treatment and are often the last to eat at home, because, in reality, until they reach 7 years old, it’s uncertain if they will survive.

The first children who came to the Centre were attracted by the promise of daily breakfast and lunch. However, few people believed that such young children could learn much or that education at that age could change their future development.

Gradually, more families began bringing their children to the Centre, not only for the food but because of the remarkable holistic development of the children attending the school. During the closing day festival, 5 and 6-year-old recite poems, even in English, participate in fashion shows, and, most importantly, learn to read and engage in learning games that prepare them for a future education.

All human development professionals – nutritionists, psychologists, doctors etc. – emphasise the importance of the early years in human life. Brain connections that form in early years of childhood require proper protein intake and the necessary stimuli for full physical, neurological and psychological development.

Now, in this area, most families recognise the importance of this age group: childhood before the age of 7. Those living in larger towns, who do not rely as much on farming and animals but have small businesses or other professions, strongly desire their children to start school from the age of 4. Our Centre accepts 120 children a year, but the number of applicants for the lottery to enter is three times that number. Muketuri now has some private kindergartens, and the government has started adding a year of pre-primary education to its curriculum. The MCSPA Centre has been a model and reference in this field.

Little by little, the quality of life for children – and consequently the entire population in the near future – is improving, thanks to the emphasis on nutrition and education in the early years. We want to contribute to holistic development of human beings from the very beginning, during those early years when strength and personality are shaped. By creating a safe, healthy environment without distinction of sex, race or religion, we aim to bring good news (i.e. to evangelize) to so many people who still live in subhuman conditions.

Lourdes Larruy, MCSPA
Muketuri Mission, ETHIOPIA