Looking back on how I began my vocational journey towards joining the Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle (MCSPA) and eventually becoming a priest, it is impossible to put the sequence of events on paper. If I am to put down each and every detail about it, then volumes of publications will be printed. I will therefore point out the land marking moments that defined the story of my vocation to the priesthood.

I went to St. Mary’s Minor Seminary in Kwale district, a minor seminary belonging to the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa for my Secondary education and it is in this school that I first came to know about the existence of the MCSPA. There were some students from Turkana and Tana-River who were being sponsored by the MCSPA and thus some of the members used to come to visit them. By this time no impact or sort of attention had been drawn from me towards this group since the intention was to join the archdiocese of Mombasa if at all I was to continue with the vocation to priesthood. 

The year 1998, while in Form Two (second year of my secondary education) can be defined as the year that marked the beginning of my journey with the MCSPA. This year, tragic as it was, can be called a “year of blessing in disguise”. I call it so because it is the period that my father passed on (5^thMarch 1998) and it is in the same year that I met and had some sort of lengthy and deeper dialogue with Fr. Alex Campon about my vocation and possible future plans. It was a routine in the minor seminary for the Rector (Headmaster/Principal) to invite a priest for our monthly recollection every last Saturday of the month. The June of 1998, it was Fr. Alex Campon, a priest from the Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle (MCSPA), who came to give us the monthly recollection. He came with another colleague priest and when the time for individual confessions came before the Mass, I happened to go to Fr. Alex and after the formal confession process, we engaged in a conversation which had to be cut short since there were other students in the line. The conversation continued later after the Mass. The death of my father created some sort of serious thought about my vocation since at one point in time I remember telling him that I would wish to serve God although at that moment I did not know in what capacity.

The end of this land mark conversation was an invitation by Fr. Alex to visit one of their missions, Wema Catholic Mission in the diocese of Malindi. This invitation was honoured during my August school holidays. I went for the first time to Wema Mission in August of 1998 in the company of Thaddeus Jilo, Dominic and Francis who were under the care of Fr. Alex during their studies at Kwale seminary. The journey was relatively long bearing in mind that the bus left Mombasa (Bondeni) at 6:30am and arrived at 3pm in Mininjila, a small shopping centre where the bus stopped for some passengers to alight since the final destination for the bus was Hola. Wema mission is 7 kilometres from Mininjila junction and there was no public transport to the mission, we had to trek the 7 kilometres to our destination. The trekking seemed long since it was the first time of my adventure to this mission.

After this visit, I was always in touch with Fr. Alex through post mail (letters) as the era of mobile phones, email and other social media technology was not so common in the Kenyan society. It was a slow type of communication but at least we got in touch. I did not go back to the mission for the rest of the years until after the completion of my Kenya Certificate of Secondary School Education (KCSE). After completing my fourth form of high school and getting the results, I worked as a casual clerk at the sea port of Mombasa in the container depot. In March of 2001, I had another meeting with Fr. Alex at the Holy Ghost Cathedral in Mombasa CBD. This meeting was to define whether I have agreed to come and see the missionary life or I would opt for another kind of life (remember I was earning my own money and paying my bills). It was a tough moment for me to make a decision since deep down in my heart I knew that I wanted to follow the missionary life yet the joy of being independent and earning a salary was also in the picture. I gave myself a span of 2 months to think over the matter; in the meantime the communication with Alex was through mobile phone so it was easier and effective. 

Fr. Alex, was patient with me. I cannot clearly say what he saw in me that made him be constantly in touch. In May 2001, I met him at our usual meeting point, Holy Ghost cathedral – Mombasa. We had a relatively long talk and this was the talk that made me make the move to go to Wema mission, not as a visiting student as it happened 3 years back, but a “come and see”, ready to taste the missionary life. Even though I had been to Wema Catholic mission, in Malindi diocese before, the arrival this time was a different one. I was going there with a purpose and a decision to make at the end; to continue with the missionary life or quit and go back home.

Life was good in the mission since the people, both in the mission and the parish, were welcoming. The native Pokomo people were good to me, they made me feel at home. With other young people in the mission and with the help of Fr. Alex and other priests around I managed to be incorporated in the daily life of the mission. Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months and when three months were over, I was faced with the difficult task of decision making. I knew that this is what I wanted to do, to stay and respond to the call in the capacity that God will grant me. On 16^thAugust 2001, Fr. Alex called me after breakfast for a talk in the office. He asked me a question, with a typical phrase from him, “How is it so far?” and my response was that am fine and liking the place. The next question followed, “So are you staying with us or you are going back to Mombasa?” I gave him my reply again, but this time more elaborative. I wanted to stay and contribute to the building of the Kingdom of God. I moved to the main St. Paul’s house as an indication that I had made a step and accepted to start this new journey of my life. 

I lived in Wema Mission for 6 months until December 2001 when I went to Turkana in Nariokotome. This was the longest journey I had ever done in my life. We went by road all the way from Wema to Turkana. The journey took us twoy serviry days with difficult roads and terrain coupled with a dry and hot climate of very high temperatures. I was not convinced that I would stay for long in this place. However, as days went by I saw and found a new meaning of the place and the people. The simplicity of the Turkana people moved me; they have little material wise but they still manage to be happy. I learnt to appreciate and stop the complaining attitude, they taught me simplicity. I found myself falling in love with the place and the people and it is from this attitude that I managed to spend the three years of my life in Turkana without going back to visit my mother and siblings. Regardless of being far from my family and missing them in many instances, Turkana as a region taught me survival skills and what it means to live and serve a people different from my own. It was the first time that I had been away from my home and family for more than four months. It was not easy. I stayed in Turkana for three years and this period was vital in shaping my vocation to priesthood. 

In 2004, I went to Uganda for my Philosophical studies at Queen of Apostles Philosophy Centre in Jinja (2004-2007). Upon completion, I proceeded to Makerere University for my Post Graduate Diploma in Education from August 2007 to September 2008. All this while, I was in touch with Fr. Alex and his encouraging words and support helped me finish the studies successfully. 

I came back to Kenya in October 2008 and went to Lobur Mission in Turkana. Life was different again with a new reality distinct from that in Uganda. I had to adapt to the climate and the rhythm of non-scholarly life in the mission. While in Lobur Mission, I assumed pastoral responsibilities and other apostolate in the mission. I stayed in Lobur for 2 years and a half, that is, from 2008 to August 2011. 

In August of 2011, I began my Theological studies at Tangaza University College in Nairobi while residing at the nearby Blessed Bakanja AMECEA College. This was another complete different reality of formation life. It was the last stretch of formation towards priesthood and thus everything had to be done in a manner that corresponds to it. The integration of spiritual, human and academic formation was vital during the formation period. I was in Tangaza College from 2011 to 2015 where I graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Sacred Theology from Pontifical Urbaniana University-Rome, and a Diploma in Theology from Tangaza University College. In May 2015, I was ordained deacon upon which I was posted to St. Paul Nariokotome Mission for my diaconate apostolate. I worked in Nariokotome until 12^thDecember 2015 when I was ordained to the priesthood by Rt. Rev. Dominic Kimengich of Lodwar Diocese. Life as a deacon in Nariokotome brought back the old good memories of going for Masses in the different outstations in the parish. It also rejuvenated the bond with some people who were there when I came to Turkana, Nariokotome Mission in particular, for the first time 14 years back. My ordination to priesthood marked the realization of a long awaited desire and fulfilment. It was a dream come true after a long period of formation journey with many challenges that sometimes made me think of giving up: I thank God and all those who helped me with words of encouragement during those difficult moments.

Looking back at my vocational journey, I can only summarize it as a miracle since I do not have enough words to exhaustively narrate it. It is a journey of small steps coupled with perseverance and prayer. This year marks my 4th anniversary to priesthood and I still experience this powerful miracle every day of my life in the ministry. Thank you Fr. Alex Campon for your support and other MCSPA fraternity who in one way or another played a part in this great journey of my vocation. God bless you all!

Wycliffe Ochieng – MCSPA

I am John Amadi Obila and I was born and raised in an Anglican family. When I was about 10 years old, I remember my parents used to take me for Sunday School and that was when Christian teachings and values began taking shape in me. However, during the upper primary school days until throughout high school, I was not much of a church-goer; even my parents did not go to church regularly. We would march to church only during Christmas, and, unfortunately, I did not find much meaning in attending the services and Sunday School at all.

After high school, when I was about 20 years old, I struggled very much so as to support my family especially since I was the first born in the family. I worked as an untrained teacher at a private primary school for 1 year. Thereafter I moved to a larger town at the invitation of a friend; there I worked as a waiter in a restaurant. Thereafter, I moved to Kisumu city to join my cousin in a small business to try to eke out a living. In Kisumu city, I was exposed to another kind of life, so different from the village; there, I experienced much in terms of social life. I used to commute very early everyday to town and return very late in the night. I was not content and certainly disillusioned with much in life. I wanted something more fulfilling. Many critical questions began surfacing in my mind – How would my future be like? What was my purpose and calling in this world? Why certain things happen to certain people? And so on … It was all so disturbing!

It was during those days of so many questions about the world and my existence, that a relative of my family came into the picture – Fr. Steven Ochieng. It was one evening in December 2010 when I my mother suggested to me about going to a mission called Todonyang in Turkana; that was where Fr. Steven, my mother’s cousin, was parish priest at the time. Fr. Steven happened to be in Kisumu then and the following day I went to Kibuye Catholic Church where Fr. Steven was to celebrate mass, and we met there after mass. We immediately made arrangements to travel to Turkana. As I did not know Turkana, I was accompanied by a young man from the mission called Robert who was very willing to travel with me to Lodwar town and then on to Nariokotome Mission. 

The journey from Lodwar to Nariokotome was one of those that I will never forget as it was really challenging and still an amazing experience for a first-timer like me. We arrived at Nariokotome Mission in the evening, totally caked in dust all over our bodies. Despite the bumpy roads and dust, I thanked God for granting us a safe journey. It is all still fresh in my mind. It was a Sunday and the usual weekly session of catechesis was on going. We attended the catechesis session, although we were very exhausted from the long journey all the way from Kisumu. Finding myself in the midst of a gathering of people from different backgrounds who were sharing their thoughts on Scripture, surprised me. I was happy with this and I really liked the idea that people could share and comment on the readings, and describe how the scriptures influenced their lives. That kind of sharing eventually gave impetus to my desire to be a missionary. I had not had an opportunity to be in such a gathering where people talk about God.  In my previous life back home, at no time did I experience such a kind of sharing; it was just attending church on Sundays and that was all. 

Todonyang Mission is where the foundation of my discernment and formation was laid, and it began with Fr. Steven as my mentor. I cannot afford not to state there that I encountered beautiful moments living with Fr. Steven; he was not only a father to me but also an educator and a formator, from whom I have learnt a great deal especially from the spiritual engagements that we had during meals, evening prayer and mass that I attended everyday. All this galvanized my aspiration to follow in his footsteps. My idea of God was transformed from the prior belief that I had, and this was as a result of communal living and the sharing during catechesis. Through all this, I encountered Christ in the people I shared my life with. The communal life has been amazingly beautiful to me especially since I come from a society that is centred on the individual. 

I am therefore grateful to Fr. Steven for having invited me and for the love he showed me, and how he continues to journey with me to towards becoming a better missionary. I finished my degree in philosophy and development studies last year with the University of South Africa and am looking forward to pursuing theology. Currently, I am studying an accountancy program at the Technological Institute of the Philippines; I hope that the knowledge and skills learnt can be of service in helping with the accounts of the houses and missions and also for teaching Mathematics at the Payatas livelihood centre in Metro Manila where I am presently residing. 

At Todonyang Mission, I used to accompany Fr. Steven to the out-stations for masses, to bring good news to people living in harsh conditions. We were going to the schools there that provided food and education to the children; we even went with the mission nurse. I was involved in helping the nurse give medication to the sick of those areas. The organization of educational workshops and peace talks for purpose of establishing peace between the Turkana and the Dassanech tribes people along the border areas were a constant activity since they was always conflict between the two communities as a result of inadequate pasture and water. Living and witnessing all this in the flesh at Todonyang Mission, made me want to be on the side of the vulnerable, the poor and the underprivileged. I felt for them and was motivated by the desire to do the same as Fr. Steven did. At the same time, I was under pressure from my family who wanting to pull me back to the village as I was the first born. I have remained adamant and insistent over the years, trying to make my parents understand my decision to be a missionary, and that I really want to help others and to bring some light to those in darkness. It has not been easy with my parents because of their expectations of their first-born to support the family especially the younger siblings. 

My spiritual journey has always been premised on my keen observation and listening to people, and through that I obtained some inspiration. I am also grateful for the privilege of meeting the founder of MCSPA, the late Fr. Paco … may his soul rest in eternal peace. Fr. Steven introduced me to him and I stayed with him for about 2 months until the time he passed on. I had edifying moments of discussions with him, and I remember so well how he enjoyed reflections from the divine office. We would read paragraph by paragraph and reflected on them through discussions and I was really moved by that. I cannot forget the practical activities that we were involved in such as the building of gabbions, giving food and clothes to the children, etc. Thus a sense of humanity and generosity was inculcated in me through these encounters.

Paco would occasionally let me know how he saw me, how I might have changed for the better in the way that I understood things and led my life; those words of Paco are always imprinted on my mind. He showed me that we had to be fruitful by doing good.

I am currently in Manila, Philippines, where I am involved in our outreach programs such as teaching at the Payatas Livelihood Center, doing home visitations, visiting the prisoners and doing vocation promotion in other parts of the Philippines, with Fr. Francis guiding us. I find joy in reaching out to the needy and responding practically to their needs through the development projects that we have drafted.

John Amadi

Senior Apprentice, MCSPA.

Last week on Thursday and Friday, Ss. Joachim and Anne Catholic parish in Kibish, held a parish pastoral council meeting together with all our Catechists.

We invited the delegates from Prince of Peace -Naturumoe from Nyangatom in Ethiopia. 8 members arrived at Kibish parish, being lead by their head Catechist and were welcomed by the border  police officials before they proceeded to the parish where the Parish priest and his team received them.

The Catechists from Nyangatom and Ss. Joachim and Anne Catholic parish, started the meeting with a lot of enthusiasm and the key point was Ekisil…PEACE. Peace between the three communities leaving at the border in Kibish.

Lack of Peace has left many communities and families divided, many have lost their lives especially the young people within the bordering communities.

The delegation from Nyangatom came with the message requesting the Kenyan communities to accept and sign up the peace agreement which is still in discussion from the Nyangatom. Also they requested the Catholic under Ss. Joachim and Anne since their faith is strong, to crossover to Prince of Peace Parish – Naturomoe in order to help in reawakening the Faith of the people in Nyangatom since it is a first evangelization area.

The meeting was crowned with Holy Mass and thereafter all shared lunch and the Nyangatom team left Kibish with a lot of JOY hoping that soon PEACE will be restored

Fr. Joseph Githinji- MCSPA

I am Ambrose Wanyonyi and I was born in the western part of Kenya. I spent most of my childhood in a village near Kitale town. I am currently a senior apprentice with the Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle, better known by our acronym, MCSPA.

My journey to missionary life dates back 8 years ago, on completion of my high school education. Brian Werunga – whom I knew ever since we were children – at that time had just spent a year with the MCSPA. Brian returned to our village for a couple of days and shared with me the “breaking news”: he had met some missionaries who reside in Turkana, and he was impressed at their generosity in restoring hope to people of this marginalised region of northern Kenya. 

The news about the missionaries did not move me much at first, since I hardly knew much about what missionaries were all about anyway. Nevertheless, I felt somewhat eager to see what all the fuss was about. So in the beginning of 2011, I set off together with Brian to Lodwar and I was introduced to Fr. Francis Teo, a member of the MCSPA, who was then the Vicar General of the Diocese of Lodwar. It all appeared like going and staying with a priest in the parish … it didn’t look anything extraordinary at all!

Then, for my first weekend in this region, we all went up to the remote area to the north of Lodwar, to the mission of Nariokotome. Now, things began to look different! I was able to meet many other members of the Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle.

While Turkana is generally a semi-arid place, the mission looked different. Here, in the middle of nowhere, there was life! Because of the lack of rain and the apparently barren soil and scorching sun, it may not be easy to agree with me when I say that one could easily fall in love with this place. It is here that my whole understanding of missionary life deepened. Living and learning the charism of the missionary community continues to strengthen my vocation. I have no doubt that this is the correct choice that I have made. 

The unity and bond among people of different nationalities was surprising to me at first, but as time went by, I developed a better understanding of this way of life, a life in common. The love of Christ is felt in the people of the house and living together becomes more and more fulfilling. This closeness is propelled by one purpose, to give all to those who need more than what we need, and to bring them closer to Christ. 

I think this is the one thing that I admire most in my journey with the MCSPA: when you are able to go out of yourself and just give without expecting any returns. I am always touched by the words of Cecilia Puig, a senior member of the MCSPA, “there is much joy in giving than in receiving.” It is in this giving, that I am able to help myself more, and this strengthens my vocation. 

This missionary community or house, as we say, has become my home. It is hard to speak of a material or visible sign that one is being called to follow a vocation as a missionary. I think the recognisable sign is when there is deep joy in simply belonging to or being a part of this house. It is through these 8 years that I have continued to grow more seriously – in mind, heart and soul – in my vocation to the priesthood. I am not yet there, but it is my aim, with the help of God. Fr. Francis, the one who has mentored me throughout and to whom I owe my gratitude, has been the “driver” ever since I started out on my vocation journey. He has given the greatest support to bring me this far. These years have come with challenges of all sorts. However, Fr. Francis has stood by my side to guide me and to help me stand up again and to continue the journey, happier still and with more focus and commitment.

And I know that I need to serve God better from now on.

Ambrose Emmanuel Wanyonyi, – Apprentice, MCSPA

It all began in September 2009 at Nakuru College where I met Laura, a young lady who had been with the Missionary Community of Saint Paul the Apostle (MCSPA). Laura explained to me about these missionaries and invited me to visit them at their different missions in Lodwar Diocese, Kenya.

At that time I didn’t know anything about missionaries except for what I had learnt at school. Laura encouraged me and told me that if I became a missionary, my generosity and love would reach far in helping others.

After completing my studies in 2012, I contacted Josephine Amuma and she invited me to visit the MCSPA mission in Turkana. I was eager to know who they were and why they had come from far away to live with people in the middle of the semi-desert.

When I reached Lodwar, it was another adventure for me because there were no sealed roads to go to the mission, only the dirt tracks that the missionaries used to go to the different villages. I finally reached the mission of Nariokotome. I was left speechless at how the missionaries had come from so far to help and yet I was not even aware of what was happening in the northern part of my own country! I did not expect to see what I saw at that moment. It impressed me so much that I decided to choose to live this kind of life with the members of the MCSPA so that I could help others by caring for them, and starting from my own country.

I was moved at how the missionaries were carrying out their tasks and apostolate with generosity and love and to whoever that came knocking on the door for assistance – some solution would always be found!  I marvelled at how they had turned a semi-desert land into a lush garden, and showing that, with patience and perseverance, vegetables and fruit can grow in a semi-desert like Turkana!

Seeing people without much water or food to eat or clothes to wear opened my heart to share all that I had and love others as God has loved us without choosing; real love does not expect anything in return.

I was touched, and I said “yes” to joining the MCSPA missionaries who had come from different parts of the world so that I could serve freely the people of God. I believe that God is calling me to serve all his people. It is through that kind of love that life can be changed and all this starts with me. It doesn’t matter how much one does but it is the love that one puts into doing that really matters.

I am now living in Ethiopia and I give thanks to Laura and all those who have showed me the way to go out and love as God has loved us.

Esther Kerubo, 

Apprentice MCSPA

Why take this way? This is a question I am often asked by many people, especially my former classmates. It is difficult for them to understand why I decided to do something so different in my life.

It all started on 28^thFebruary 2011, when I said “Yes” to Fr. Avelino, a priest and member of the Missionary Community of Saint Paul the Apostle. I remember vividly that day under a tree in Thika (central Kenya) when Fr. Avelino invited me to go with him to Turkana and to see for myself what they do. I had never been in that part of the country, but I had read, back in my school days, about the Turkana people who are known to be warriors. For this reason I did not share with many friends and family about my going there since I was afraid that they would discourage me from doing so.  

I was born in the central region of Kenya. The land is generally fertile and rain is never a problem. However when I reached Turkana, for the first time in my life I experienced extremely high temperatures. I started wondering if anyone could survive such conditions. What encouraged me was seeing the people of the land so happy and positive despite the harsh conditions under which they survived.

I was warmly welcomed by the members of the Community who come from different parts of the world, but who have formed a fraternal bond, guided by the same charism, and moved by people’s suffering. When I saw how the members were united, I immediately decided to leave my former life and embrace this new journey. I had also the privilege of meeting and staying with the founder, Fr. Paco. May his soul rest in eternal peace. I owe him my life here. He was the one who moulded me and showed me the realities of life.

I have usually been good at working with youth, and I have been doing so in Turkana for several years. It gives me joy to see the young people smile. In that way they are able to overcome all the trauma they have gone through. I stayed in Nariokotome for five years and then I went to our mission in Malawi. There, I was introduced to another life and culture. I was working with a fishing project, establishing fishponds in different villages, interacting directly with the people on the ground.

Again, I left Malawi and moved to South Sudan. We are trying to rebuild the mission of Ave Maria in the Diocese of Tombura Yambio. It was constructed by the Comboni Missionaries decades ago. It feels an honour to step into the shoes of these early missionaries. In South Sudan I often have to lead the Liturgy of the Word, visit remote villages and take communion to the sick and elderly.

It is now eight years since I chose this path and I have never regretted it a single moment. I look forward with zeal, as St. Paul says, to finish the race that I have started.

Thank you, Avelino, for inviting me to this life. Meeting you was the best thing that has ever happened to me. To all the members of this wonderful family, I thank you as you continue helping me to get up especially when I am down.

So going back to the question often asked of me, “Why take this way?” I guess its because I shall never pass this way again, and so if there is something good that I can do for others, I shall do it now!

In our youth group in my home parish we had T-shirts with the quote from Stephen Grellet printed on them: “I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” 

This quote has been for me an inspiration in my life and vocation. I find in it an answer, when I am asked why I decided to take this way.

Peter Chege, Apprentice MCSPA

My journey to being a missionary was one of many curves and turnings. At a very early age I knew that I wanted to be a Priest. At Nakuru where I lived with my family for ten years during my adolescent years is when I discovered my vocation to the Priesthood. Through a very encouraging and concerned Parish Priest I became an altar server and later on joined St. Joseph’s Minor Seminary in Molo.

While at the seminary my vocation became stronger. The rector then was a very gentle and demanding man at the same time. He inspired most of us towards the Priesthood. The said rector is currently my Bishop in the Diocese of Lodwar. All along my idea of the Priesthood was of the diocesan kind since all the Priests that I came across were Diocesan.

This however changed when I went to Turkana through the invitation of a friend of mine to visit Turkana. Turkana was a new discovery to me. It may have been in the same country but it might as well been another country all together. The people, the place, the smells, everything seemed so different and difficult and yet surprisingly exciting.

I met European missionaries so fascinated by the place and doing a lot for the people, my country men. This was a great challenge to me. I felt like, if they can be happy staying in a place that most of us Kenyans shun, a place that we consider difficult and forgotten, I could also be part of the change process, be an agent of hope. I was happy and committed for some time.

However after four years I left the Community, I left Turkana to try a new life. By God’s grace I found my way back to the Community. As they say, the rest is history. I became a missionary through the guidance and support of Albert and many other MCSPA members.

I’m currently working at Nariokotome Mission as the Parish Priest and as the Director of St. Joseph Primary school.

Denis Odongo, MCSPA

From what I know, we tend to search for homes. Home as a place or as a human being. It was a sudden feeling right after my arrival that Malawi will be somehow really special to me and when leaving I knew, that this place on the other side of the world feels more like home than any other before.

I spent five weeks in the Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle in Benga Parish in Malawi.

As I can get anxious very easily, it sometimes makes me feel that I have already met enough people and I become scared of meeting new ones. In Malawi, I have met so many. Some of them were just passing by. To me, more than an ordinary people they represented an impression of joy, love, openness. The strength – of the voice, body and mind. The devoutness – to God, to their jobs, to what fulfils them. But some of them became really important to me and they had an impact on me in the most positive way and I am forever grateful for meeting them. 

The moments in Malawi, when we were finding ourselves on the same place in the same time on the same path, were too short and regardless of this we were still able to surrender parts of ourselves and take something from one another. It’s not about languages, nations, amount of money or race. It’s not even the mentality, or habits, however different they are. It’s the laughter, joy and openness what connect us. The willingness to help each other but never look down on somebody who has less than you do, as the wealth can’t always be seen. The ability to accept ourselves the way we are. Get over our walls and differences, our own hypocrisy and habits and search deeper. Not to compare and always start changing ourselves before others. And most importantly – not to be afraid of being human, because that’s what we are after all.

My experience may have changed everything I’ve known up to now. The point of view, priorities, the way of considering what really matters and what’s important. It made me doubt myself as well as my goals in life. Eventually made me find myself in a better place, with realisation that everything takes time, that as we can influence our lives we can never change what is supposed to happen as well. Although we can find ourselves on a place not really suitable at the moment or accomplishing tasks that don’t seem fulfilling enough, it’s happening for some reason. And what really matters is to do it with joy and love, which can be always find around or in ourselves, doesn’t really matter where you are. You are here and now, it’s time to be present and grateful. And that’s definitely what I am while thinking of my experience – infinitely grateful. The place, community and people, the joy, calmness and openness, all this together. And one beautiful country, Malawi, which once you’ve visited, it’s too hard not to coming back. And definitely impossible to forget.

Marie Mlatečková (Volunteer)

for more info get in touch with us via email on admin@mcspa.org

Growing up it never occurred to me that one day I would be a missionary, my understanding of being missionary was shaped by what I learned in school, to me a missionary was someone who had come from Europe to spread the good news of Christ’s salvation in Africa. 

This totally changed when I met Fr. Alex Campon a Spanish missionary priest of the Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle (MCSPA), most notable thing I remember in those early days when I began my missionary vocation in Turkana was waking up early in the morning preparing land for growing crops and planting trees with the local nomadic Turkana people in the almost barren land of Turkana which I thought was “madness” at that time little did I know that God was calling me in that way, now I trust that God writes straight in crooked lines. Going for “round masses” as we used to call them helped me hear the life stories of struggle of the local poor nomadic people and I came embrace the invitation that Christ was calling me to follow him through Fr. Alex Campon. It was not only to follow and remain dormant rather it was an invitation to share my life, capacities, and talents consequently from these experiences the Lord planted in me a great desire for missionary vocation.  

Even though at times the work, traveling around in an unforgiving terrain felt like a “punishment” and exhausting, at the end of each day I felt more refreshed and full of life than ever before. In Turkana I became aware of the adventure and the difficulties inherent in following Christ and in the midst of this spiritual transformation of sorts, I was learning and observing first-hand the ministry of long-term development being guided Fr. Alex Campon and the wider community of the MCSPA.

As a missionary in my own country among the poor nomadic people of Turkana, I have come to learn that direct service to the poor requires serious, consistent self-examination, deep prayer, and willingness to be converted and unlearn many things. No one serves perfectly, gives completely or works flawlessly. What is important is that a person knows and experiences the call to missionary vocation as a call from Christ, I don’t serve because it is good to do so, but I serve because I have been called in love and my response is to choose to return love.God created me in love, and has called me to life in service of others. In the poor, in those I work amongst, I see and know the Lord. I see the crucified, suffering Christ more often in the person broken by hunger and struggling to feed themselves, in that elderly person who has no one to take care of him or her, in that abandoned child and in many cases of desperation.

Through these experiences I have developed a burning desire to be more than just a participant in life, but to understand a spiritual calling to serve the Church. The strong presence of God actively working in my life has led me to seek a deep understanding of my personal spiritual growth. I am filled with joy to have responded to the call of Christ to become a missionary and now that I am in my final year of theological studies at Loyola School of Theology (LST) in Manila, almost being ordained deacon it gives me pleasure that I will further my life rooted in Christ and at the same time understand God’s intention for God’s creation and human potential, proclaiming and becoming an authentic witness to the Word of God in an intelligible manner as a future priest to the People of God, in the blessed land of Turkana where my missionary vocation was born.

Victor Otieno, MCSPA.

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My journey towards the missionary life started in 2007. I was still at Lodwar High School when I first encountered real missionaries. That is when the whole idea of missionary life began to take shape in me. 

My encounter with Fr. Francis Teo in 2007 was when the seed of a vocation was planted in me. It all began as a friendship that grew day by day and helped shape my vocation as a missionary today and this decision to journey towards the priesthood which I am walking along now.

In 2009 after finishing high school studies, Fr. Francis extended his invitation to me to join him at St. Augustine Cathedral, Lodwar. He was the Rector of the Cathedral at the time. Living with the priests of the Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle (MCSPA) helped me to see life from a different perspective. I was 19 years old then, and I started asking myself so many questions to which I could not find answers!

I was born in the western part of Kenya near an agricultural town. From there, I moved to Turkana to study. I never really experienced much hardship, at least nothing compared to the challenges that I faced later in the semi-desert of Turkana. Though born and raised in a Catholic family, it never occurred to me that one day I would journey on this missionary life.

Life in the semi-desert of Turkana was a very big challenge for me. Though I am Kenyan, I found it hard to cope up with that and I always wished to return to my hometown. However, I asked myself, “How I could look away from the same people of my country while here was someone who had come from very far and has committed all his life for them?”

This kept on ringing in my head and I felt that I could do something about it. And the way I figured would be for me to be part of the missionary community and do my little part.

My life with Fr. Francis and other priests of the Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle who were then residing at the St. Augustine Cathedral was a learning experience. I remember Fr. Manuel Hernandez and Fr. Angel Valdivia with whom we shared much time together. Together with Fr. Francis, they helped me mature in my vocation.

Accompanying Fr. Francis for masses to the outstations of the Cathedral Parish and helping to attend to the lines of people who came looking for help at the Cathedral, instilled in me a sense of service. This was part of the whole conversion process that I was undergoing deep within me.

I got exposed to other missions of the MCSPA. Thus I learned many things from the priests and other missionaries. I also learned to love. This was the most interesting part of my vocation. Learning first-hand from the missionaries was one big adventure!

I remember meeting the founder of our community, Fr. Paco, who made an instant impact in my life. From the first encounter with him, I saw a father figure in him. The love and care he showed at the first meeting was something that left me wondering what on earth did he see in me! He encouraged me to search for what would give me real happiness.

In 2012, there were some changes and new plans. Fr. Francis was on his sabbatical and he was to venture into Asia. I left with Fr. Francis to the Philippines where we started, from scratch, to slowly establish our house of study in Metro Manila.

The same year, together with other apprentices, I started philosophy studies at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. I also registered in a language school for Spanish. We also got involved in, very practical ways, with outreach at the slums of central Manila, at Parola. This also played a big part in the journey of discovery in my life as young missionary.

Nine years have gone by and I find my life changing and the zeal to serve as a missionary increasing. I think I have found my vocation and reason for my happiness, and I look forward to this missionary life.

Now I am in the second part of studies towards the priesthood. I have started theology studies at Loyola School of Theology in Metro Manila. I pray that through God’s grace, the work the Lord began in me on the day I said “Yes!” to this call may be accomplished in His time.

Brian Werunga, MCSPA.