Hello friends,

First of all I would like to wish you a very happy Christmas and a wonderful beginning of 2019. I am writing to you from the Mission of Naturomoe, located on a hill from which we have a spectacular view of three countries: Ethiopia, Kenya and South Sudan. At night the celestial vault, the occasional roars of lions and the slow step of the elephants remind us that we are in the heart of untamed Africa.

This year has been full of good things and also full of challenges! and thank God, the positive weighs more than the negative.

Sunset from Naturomoe Mission

Only a couple of weeks ago we completed the third annual veterinary campaign thanks to a friend veterinary from Spain. This year he was accompanied by another veterinarian and a nurse. So apart from fulfilling the goal of deworming all the small ruminants of Kakuta, more than 15,300 heads, we have also been able to take care of sick people.

Deworming of 15300 small ruminants

In previous times we had only reached about 4000 or 4500. In addition, this year we tried to sensitize a greater number of people about the importance of hygiene and sanitation health in relation to health, especially due to the proximity between animals and human beings, thus being able to avoid many diseases.

Talks about hygiene and sanitation

From February to April of this year we had with us two doctors from Chile who did a fabulous job treating the sick in the Kakuta area. From April to August, we have tried to conduct mobile clinics once a month, with nurses from the nearest governmental health center located in Kangaten (1 hour by car from our mission). The challenge has been the vehicle since we only had one and it was being repaired often. Thanks to a donation and to many other efforts we have purchased another second hand car, which will help us a lot to do mobile clinics and many other things for the people.

Mobile Clinics

At the end of the dry season, in March this year, it was very hot, windy and dusty, and then all of a sudden the rainy season was upon us and it was actually the best rainy season that we have experience in all the years we have been in Nyangatom, it rained until the end of May. The Kibish or Nakua River burst its banks and flooded the shores, providing the people with the chance to plant after the waters receded to its normal course. However good, the rainy season also brings some challenges, especially because of the many mosquitos that breed in the rainy season and they bring malaria, which is dangerous, as the people do not have nets. We had so many cases and did our best to treat them all. In addition, travelling by road became very difficult due to the mud and the strong flowing rivers. We had to swim across the river to bring some supplies from the other side and had to build an improvised raft for it. Can you imagine!!.

Crossing Nakua river with an improvised raft

We have now been living Naturomoe, our new home, since May – it is 10 km west of from our former camp. Our living conditions have vastly improved and gradually things will get even better making our life easier so that we can also serve better our Nyangatom people. We now have running water, a latrine and showers. Hurrah!! Recently we have also installed the first WC toilet! We also have upgraded our tents for a straw and bamboo hut!

Bamboo and straw hut in the new mission

Very soon we will complete the first buildings of the mission with the new constructor, that is the staff houses and the workshops and store. We still have a long way to go but we will get there in the next 12 months.!

Constructions thriving…

We have had a very busy summer: In June 4 Mexican volunteers came to visit, they are part committed group from Monterrey who are trying to come every year to give a helping hand. Secondly in the month of July we had full house: 10 Spaniards, two Mexicans, 2 Ethiopians, plus 7 staff members. Among the Spaniards there were 4 Civil engineering students from Madrid and one from Ethiopia, and another graduated civil engineer from Madrid as well. They spent here with us a month and a half and each did a civil engineering project to help the community: 3 of them dams and 1 of them a rural road from Nyangatom to South Sudan.

In order to start this project the first thing is always to meet with the community and especially the elders. They are the ones who asked for this project to be implemented and therefore they are the best people to explain to us, and the engineers, what the needs are and the level of urgency. The elders gave us two scouts who took us to all the places where the Nyangatom know that the water gets stagnant during the rainy season and that could be good for the dams. Then we had to carry out a survey of the land and bush in those locations and evaluate them together with the engineers and the help of their professor back in Spain. It was a very good exercise and we have identified five good places: 4 for earth dams & pans, and one for a rock dam.

The engineers taking measurements of the terrain.

The real hard work came when we had to survey the possible road to South Sudan. This is mainly because there is no road, and therefore we had to cut through the bush, pass through deep dry rivers beds, and carry all the necessary equipment and supplies to survive in the wilderness. It was a great adventure! We cleared enough to build one third of the total distance of the road. The rest will be done when we have regained our strength.

Opening paths through the bush.

These projects will also serve the students as their final project for their graduation. The young civil engineer will survey and gather all the information from the others students and compile it all into a single survey. We will then look for synergies with all the previous water infrastructure we have already build with your fantastic support. Our aim is to design a global solution to improve the water situation for the people and their animals in the next 5 years. We will create a full project proposal and start looking for help to carry it forward. This will be in addition to continuing with the drilling of more wells and the excavation of shallow wells by the Nakua river, and finally if all goes well we will start the first nursery school in Kakuta, and try to help children and young people to access education.

This coming year 2019, will mark 5 years of our presence in Nyangatom. Sometimes it feels like 50 because of the many things we have gone through. We have achieved a lot, and yet in many ways it seems that we are not moving forward, as for example in the issue of peace. Just this morning we buried a Turkana rustler in the vicinity of the mission, who, along with three other companions, had stolen 12 cows from the Nyangatom, the previous day. When they escaped with the cows, the Nyangatom chased them, killed one of them and recovered the cows. This is the harsh reality here, which makes us be more humble as we continue to pray for perseverance in doing good among these people, so that God willing, one day they will understand the value of peace. Thank you very much for being part of this mission, as the African proverb says “if you want to get there fast, walk alone, but if you want to go far, walk with others”.
Our deep and heartfelt thanks to you all for your continued support without which we could not make these small changes that improve the lives of many in Nyangatom, even if there is still a lot to do.

Many blessings!

Frs. David Escrich and Angel Valdivia López, MCSPA

As in most of the rainy seasons, South Sudan’s roads become full of mud. This time the rains have badly affected the roads and streets of Yambio, capital of former Western Equatoria state.

The Bishop of a Tombura-Yambio, Msgr. Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, has decided with the Catholic youth of Yambio to repair the streets in this town.

He went personally into the mud and gave a personal witness on how a bishop can do manual work and in this way contribute to the reconstruction of his country.

Let us pray for him and for many to follow his example.

Fr. Avelino Bassols MCSPA

After many months of struggling, from doctor to doctor, to find the appropriate solution for the young boy, Rheynell Kadusale, from a corner of the Parola/Tondo slum of Manila, there is now a real sign of hope.

Rheynell has a bone deformity in his right leg due to polio from very young. We met him and his mother about 2 years ago during our outreach programme at Gate 1 of Parola slum (there are 120 “Gates” which are designated areas of this huge slum comprising 60 to 70 families at each “Gate”). Rheynell has been limping and jumping on his left leg all these years due to the polio that affected his right leg.

We share the joy with you who supported this boy’s journey towards his therapy and rehabilitation. Rheynell is now able to move his right toe and has gotten used to the splint attached to his right leg. He can actually even run and play with the other kids of Gate 1.

The splint will soon be adjusted and serviced for the next 6 months so as to continue stretching the undeveloped bones.

We have seen great progress after all the therapy sessions that Rheynell has undergone. Thanks be to God! And thank you for helping to make what was impossible possible!

“The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” Mt 11:5

May God bless you!

Ambrose Wanyonyi and Zacchaeus Okoth,
MCSPA Apprentices

After many months of struggling, from doctor to doctor, to find the appropriate solution for the young boy, Rheynell Kadusale, from a corner of the Parola/Tondo slum of Manila, there is now a real sign of hope.

Rheynell has a bone deformity in his right leg due to polio from very young. We met him and his mother about 2 years ago during our outreach programme at Gate 1 of Parola slum (there are 120 “Gates” which are designated areas of this huge slum comprising 60 to 70 families at each “Gate”). Rheynell has been limping and jumping on his left leg all these years due to the polio that affected his right leg.

We share the joy with you who supported this boy’s journey towards his therapy and rehabilitation. Rheynell is now able to move his right toe and has gotten used to the splint attached to his right leg. He can actually even run and play with the other kids of Gate 1.

The splint will soon be adjusted and serviced for the next 6 months so as to continue stretching the undeveloped bones.

We have seen great progress after all the therapy sessions that Rheynell has undergone. Thanks be to God! And thank you for helping to make what was impossible possible!

“The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” Mt 11:5

May God bless you!

Ambrose Wanyonyi and Zacchaeus Okoth,
MCSPA Apprentices

Todonyang Mission is a reference of hope and peace at the border between the Turkana (from Kenya) and the Dassanech (from Ethiopia). The mission has always stood against conflict by promoting peace, development and education.

On the ocasion of World Peace Day, Todonyang Integrated Centre celebrated
in style with the slogan “Peace is All We Need”.

The day started with a procession, followed by the planting of a tree as a symbol of peace. The school children then put on different presentations of poems, songs and dances.

Around 250 people came for the occasion and they all received a meal.

In the afternoon we had various sports such as football and volleyball. These sports were played between 3 teams: the General Service Unit (special soldiers deployed at the border areas), Todonyang youth and students from Todonyang Integrated Centre.

Let us all continue to pray and work for peace.

Peace is all we need!!!

Fr. Andrew Yakulula, MCSPA.

When we started the Mission of Nariokotome way back in 1989, our founder, Fr. Francisco Andreo (Paco), had the idea of turning this place into a self-sufficient mission. This was to prove that through hard work, abundant water, fertile land, plenty of sunshine and above all trusting in God, we would be able to produce food despite the contrary opinion.

Hence, agriculture evolved into a crucial activity at Nariokotome Mission. Currently there are more than 4,000 fruit trees here, of which 1,500 are vines.

When I first came to Nariokotome in November 1998, I was very surprised to see and taste for the first time fruits such as grapes, olives, figs, custard apples, dates … just to mention but a few. I had only read about them in books at schools down at “civilised” Nairobi!

A land – hot and dry, apparently barren – could be made to produce food! This was mind-blowing for me, a young girl just out from school. This fact continues to surprise many visitors and locals who come to our missions and find available vegetables, fruit, poultry and other sources of food.

Just this week, we are blessed with a harvest of 510 kgs of grapes (Alicante, Sirach and Barbera) and 100 kgs of table grapes (Murcia, Lambrusco, Regina Italia) … this does not take into account the grapes which the birds have been feeding on for the past 2 months! The member in-charge of agriculture at Nariokotome, Patrizia Aniballi, pruned the vines 3 months ago and now we have harvested the grapes and are starting the process of making wine, as we have done for many years already. With each harvest, we are trying to improve on the quality.

The grapes are harvested bunch by bunch, and gently placed into the buckets. Then they are washed, separated from the stems, crushed and placed in a huge container for fermentation to take place. They will then be separated by squeezing and the liquid that will be collected with be placed in barrels to settle and after some months it will be bottled as “Nariokotome Vintage”.

Our aim is to produce twice the amount of grapes and be able to make altar wine and supply to the whole Diocese of Lodwar.

Lillian Omari MCSPA
Nariokotome Mission

The Pontifical Missionary Children (PMC) of the newly created parish of Sts. Joachim and Anne at Kibish (Diocese of Lodwar, Kenya) have promised to use their talents to make the parish more outstanding in the diocese at large. They participated for the first time in both the deanery and diocesan PMC festivals and stood out brilliantly.

Sr. Isabela (Diocesan PMC Coordinator) enrolled 47 of the children in a colourful celebration at the outstation of St. Patrick’s, Kokuro.

We pray for these children that God may protect and nurture the seed of faith planted in the hearts of these young boys and girls.

Fr. Wycliffe Ochieng MCSPA

These past 2 weeks, 55 youth are attending a Summer Camp at the St. Joseph’s Mother and Child Centre, that the MCSPA is running at Muketuri.

We started this Centre in 2008 and, in order to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its founding, we organised a summer camp for former students and youth from the area. Our aim was to encourage them to create the “St. Joseph Youth Group”.
This activity was organised by some members of the Catholic Scout Movement from Spain together with members of MCSPA present at Muketuri.

The main idea is to create awareness among Ethiopian youth about their potential in volunteer work as promoters of change among children, youth and families of the area.

Different activities have been organised: sports, drama, fabrication of musical instruments with recycled material etc.

The topics of the drama plays have been chosen by the participants themselves with the idea to present them at the different villages and schools: How to fight gender discrimination; Importance of hygiene; Causes and consequences of child malnourishment; Peace and conflict resolution; Inclusion of people with disabilities and Taking care of the environment.

The drama groups are presenting the topics in 5 villages and at Muketuri town to create awareness on these social realities and how the community can improve the situation.

It is the first time that an activity like this is being organised in the area and this has been an extraordinary opportunity for building up the local community.

Lourdes Larruy MCSPA

Apart from pursuing studies in Manila (Philippines), the members and apprentices of the MCSPA also carry out various apostolates at Payatas II and Parola (Gate 54). These are among the largest depressed neighbourhoods around Metro Manila (pop. 12.8 million in 2015). We do family visitations weekly at Payatas and also teach basic English and Math to the youth attending classes at centres initiated by the Salvatorian Fathers at Payatas and to young children at Gate 54 of Parola at a Livelihood Centre owned by the Salvatorian Fathers as well.

We also do have our own milk program in which supplementary powder milk is provided to malnourished, lactating children whose young mothers may not produce enough breast milk for their babies.

These weekly visitations have created a bond between us and several of these families, a bond that has endeared them to us and vice versa. We have become part of their lives and they take us as their own family. They share with us their joys and struggles of living in such squalid conditions.

This is why when Aries Aquino, a teenaged boy from one of the families at Payatas, fell sick of leptospirosis, a bacterial infection due to contact with contaminated water containing the urine from rodents, his mother called us in the middle of the night to go help her son who was admitted at the hospital. His kidney was almost failing. We did whatever we could to help alleviate the pain of the boy; he had to undergo dialysis in order for his kidneys to recover. Aries has now been discharged from the hospital and is recovering at home.

These trying days for Aries and his family and for us too have taught me that no one can serve perfectly. But what is important is that one has to experience his or her ministry as a call from Christ. We are loved by Christ and called to live a life of service; we do not serve simply because it is good to do so. Rather, we serve because in love we have been called and our response is to choose to return love.

Victor Otieno, MCSPA

A team of 25 young adults from Our Lady of the Rosary Parish of Kiambu (Kenya) visited Todonyang Mission where they stayed for 5 days. The group of young professionals accompanied Fr. Andrew and the MCSPA team at Todonyang to the outstations, animated devotional activities, gave talks on the dangers of alcoholism, helped at the primary school and dispensary etc.

It was good to have this enterprising group of young people around to share their deep faith.

Fr. Andrew Yakulula MCSPA