Haiti; who gets helped?

The Sun did not scotch the faithful heading for the Mass at St. Luc, Kinshasa. Indeed, they braved the afternoon heat to pray and help their brothers and sisters far away in Haiti. Tranquility filled the church. Their minds definitely raced kilometers away in the Caribbean. Each must have wondered about the human sufferings par rapport God’s Love. This fifth Friday, 2010 Mass was a special prayer session in the whole Archdiocese of Kinshasa.

Life was normal in Haiti after the country’s 206th independence celebrations on 1st January. Twelve days later, a massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook this tiny country. Change was evidence. Cries all over! Lost lives! Blood oozed! Buildings in the vicinity went down! People turned homeless!

Today, the “Help Haiti’ petitions are all over. It has not bypassed any rational and spiritual being on earth. Large and small organizations have come together for this purpose. Internationally, all the humanitarian aid in Haiti is headed by the former US President Bill Clinton, the man behind the William J Clinton Foundations, which ‘focuses on worldwide issues that demand urgent action, solutions, and measurable results’. Indeed, Haiti’s case demands rapid response. Humanity indeed has shown solidarity that has never been witnessed in its history.

But could someone be making an easy life out of Haiti’s casualty?

Located in the western one-third of the Hispaniola Island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, Haiti, only borders the Dominican Republic. Being in the middle of the hurricane belt, the region is no stranger to the natural disasters like earthquakes and tornados. Moreau de Saint-Méry, a French historian of the 18th century, reported that the whole Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s Capital collapsed during the earthquake of 1770. Later, in 1842, an 8.0 magnitude hit Dominican Republic where Haiti was a victim of milieu. Haiti had its share again in 1946. My question is, has this zone gotten used to these forms of calamities?

Haiti covers an area of 27,750 km², 20 times smaller than Kenya, my home country. Only 190km² is water. This piece of terrain held 9,035,536 inhabitants according to the World FactBook updated in July 2009. If justice was to prevail, that translates to 328 people per square kilometer. Overpopulated? The terrain is semi arid with occasional droughts and tropical downpour. This is where global help is directed.

We all have our discourses on what happened to the world on 12th January. Most of which are centrally pointed towards God, for He is the Creator and Almighty. But wait.

No one is indifferent to pleasure or pain. Neither are we freed from passions of any kind. We are always moved by either joy or grief. The two dictate the cause of our actions. Haiti’s phenomenon grieved us and moved us to actions. A conservatist stoic might raise an alarm. But being at the service of all fellow human beings is the underlying desire of every person’s heart. At the same moment, to be afraid of skepticism is being at the verge of naïve lifestyle. That I may feel and be doubtful of my next action is normal and neither good nor bad

Helping is naturally a good thing in itself. Providing means for helping others is another good thing. But making business out of the plight of the needy is not good. Today, I refuse to believe in the many of the adverts dubbed “Help Haiti” “Donate blah blah blah” to be objectively good. Others are genuine but a good number have sinister conmanship at play. The latter, either as person or agency, grab the occasion to manipulate the society. They bank on the prevailing feelings of circumstances appealing for intensive aid.

Who doesn’t fear being manipulated? Do these donations reach the victims as intended by the benefactor? Who is the prime recipient of all the donations? Don’t we hear the victims lament even after two or so months of giving aid?

At the end of the Fifth Friday Mass, all left with somber-mood-patched faces. Smile was hardly seen. They must have been satisfied by the prayers and donations they offered. Yet they doubted the actions of both God, before the quake and those of human beings after the quake. Haiti is here to haunt us eternally.

The Pecking orders during Communion

One of the homilies that I literally fell in love with was delivered by my parish priest on the occasion of the solemnity of Visitation, 31st May 2007.

It commenced with a short story on the events that punctuate the welcoming ceremony of a visitor and preferably one from the city. He gave a typical traditional home setup and how the daily programme suffers alteration at the comfort of the visitor. “The coming of the visitor changes a lot of things in the village…” goes the story. He further enumerated a litany of advantages that glues such a visit at home not mentioning the disadvantages.

The first to feel this change are the children. They benefit from the change of dietary, and there goes the first advantage amidst others. A system which ones was vegetarian in nature, because of either the parents’ pocket dilemma or love of animal husbandry, turns delicious evidenced in the children’s oil-shinny mouths after the agape. Indeed there will be some blood spilt in the name of wendo modhial (distinguished visitor) at any cost.

Secondly, those kids who either daily go in birthday suits or tattered clothes would that day benefit from the textile products or mitumba, for their parents, the host, cannot bear shame of not affording their offspring some clothes. They are clothed with the Christmas reserve attires. Not only the children but also the house is adorned to kill.

Everything is well set.

The parents also get in their Sunday best even if the visitation day happens to be in the middle of the week. The children’s etiquette would change for the best just to show the visitor that they are ‘always’ hospitable and well-mannered even if that wasn’t the case. But once the visitor has gone, the home meter gauge reads back as it were three days before the actual visit. All in all the change would be felt. This mannerism of the children is what struck me most not only in that sermon but also in places we visited during our pastoral activities at the parish, by then.

Once I was helping with the distribution of the Eucharist in three different outstations. There was a phenomenon that began in the first outstation and spread in all the three. It was the case of real pecking orders during communion. Notice this, when there is a priest concelebrating the Eucharist, the concelebrant would receive the blood of Christ after the main celebrant, and the protocol would follow till the last Christian to commune.

Perturbed by the young Christians-children, who were literally following the order, I wondered at first that the many children who hanged Rosaries on their necks, a sign that they have received the First Holy Communion, were reluctant to come forward to receive the body of Christ. Kumbe, I realized that the line was full of parents and elderly persons; and the young people had to wait for their turn. Then immediately I recalled to mind that famous mannerism when a visitor is at home the children would enjoy the leftovers.

Hardly had the last adult finish with the communion, than the first child woke up and came forth followed by an overwhelming crowd of children. Any how, this struck me most when the same trend got repeated in the two other outstations as if they had the same instructions on this issue of pecking orders during communion. For them it was the case of good manners, I guess.

What about the adults? Well, others would wait for the choir to begin the communion hymn then, inspired by the hymn, they would go forward. Here the choir should be cautious with the type of hymn lest they not inspire such a person even though inspiration cum preparation should flow in the whole celebration. Such are the people the sermon do not make sense, for either the priest has turned the pulpit into a political dais or they have antisermon venom in their blood, they dosed throughout the sermon.

While for the choir members it is a last-minute reception of the Lord after they are done with the singing. Yes, when we sing we double prayer; but remember to receive the Lord meditatively, not in a last minute rush. Yet others would just find themselves moving to receive the body of Christ. What prompts this lot is to counter the disturbances caused by other faithful heading for the table of the Lord. Another funny lot gazes at each other to see who goes first…

There is this specific old man, call him Mzee Cornelius, whom I have seen through out my lifetime at my home parish as a catechumen until now. Cornelius indeed has a unique style of receiving communion just like other jopunj dini, catechists. He would always wait for the singing to go half way as he nods to the tune no matter the language of the song, and then solemnly walk to the Altar in a contemplative posture and steps that occasionally would annoy those who follow him at his promptly overtaking him speedily as if on a highway. Reaching the Altar, he would kneel down, bow with clamped hands close to his chest and murmur a few words, I guess some sort of prayer, the priest would by pass him twice or thrice, and as if afraid of seeing Christ, close his eyes letting his tongue out to be given the body of Christ. In the mean time the communion hymn would be almost through. He indeed welcomes Christ as a special visitor. How about you? Do not ask me my way.

The New Constitution; a New Dawn for Kenyans in Diaspora.

It took Kenya 20 years to come up with a people oriented and friendly constitution. Having made several attempts in this search and passed its final journey through the Parliament on 1st April, and massively approved by the people in the referendum on 4th August, the Kenyan president, Mr. Mwai Kibaki, signed into law the new Constitution on 27th August, 2010 at the historic grounds of Uhuru Park jam-packed by persons of all caliber. This was a special sacred moment when all Kenyans were to be in Kenya in person to witness this new birth.

Alas, that can not materialize. It is estimated that there are over 2.5 million Kenyans living overseas. This translates to 6.77% of the Kenyan population.

Nonetheless, celebrations had to continue even outside the geographical boundary of Kenya. In Democratic Republic of Congo, some 2,411.48 kilometers away from Nairobi, there was the same triumphant ambiance. All was new! Kenya was born anew and it could be felt.

Beginning by the ‘happy birthday’ greetings, from which I even did not know how to respond to since am not acquainted to such wishes addressed to me in the middle of the year, for my bundle of wishes always come at the start of the year, we gathered not only to welcome the new republic but also to feel part of this heavy task that has opened to us a new door of hope.

The opening prayer was conducted by Fr. Urbanus Mutunga Ndunda, a Kenyan consolata missionary working as a parish priest in Bisengo Mwambe, a parish in the Archdiocese of Kinshasa. Later in the evening, we had a chance to follow the four-hour promulgation ceremony of the new constitution from a big screen in the compound of our Kenyan embassy.

What is this new republic for us Kenyans living in diaspora (KLD)?

The new constitution dawns with it new changes. These significant changes touch all aspects of our human life and society. The good thing is that it doesn’t discriminate a Kenyan depending on where he or she is thanks to its third and seventh chapter.

Firstly, the third chapter that dwells on citizenship gives a big smile and relief to some of KLD who had in one way or another lost their identity as Kenyans; compatriots, who found themselves in an awkward situation of selling away their birthrights as Kenyans for greener pastures, and those in mixed marriages with nothing to do other than crossing the borderlines. Now the multiple or dual citizenship in sec 14 and 16 restores the sense of belonging in the ‘lost’ KLD.
Kenya has now opened its doors for the lost link with this community. It has renewed the link with their native land, family and friends. It has also opened a link for business and further developments that the countries with multiple citizenships enjoy. Kenya has headed to the signs of the time, where now, the world is a global village.

Secondly, as legal KLD, we are from now onwards going to fully and actively participate in the political development of our country. In section 82(1) (e), the parliament will enact legislation to provide for ‘the progressive registration of citizens residing outside Kenya, and the progressive realization of their right to vote’. Definitely we shall be exercising this right! Not only by talking, but by acting also. Think of it this way, having a polling station in the embassy’s offices instead of the Olympic primary school in Kibera. And there you go; beside the reception’s desk is the transparent ballot box to cast the vote. So exciting! No?

The seventh chapter empowers and gives opportunity to the KLD to elect their political leaders; president, senators, members of the National Assembly and county governors!

This external voting is helpful for those living, working, studying and on various trips or journeys outside Kenya during the voting periods. ‘It was angering, annoying, frustrating and confusing not to participate in the general elections of my country’, revels Mr. Edward Kite, who has been working in Congo for quiet along time. He has felt deprived of a say in his country’s future and plans. This ‘cut-off’ attitude in him is buried and he is among the people who really feel the new dawn has come with the change of attitude. Has unchained the past angers and given a sigh of relief for KLD. So far so good, the international community has lauded this step that Kenya has taken.

(this article was published in the Seed Magazine)

Fr. François Amboko, imc, 43, passes on to eternity.

‘Siku njema huonekana asubuhi’, writes Ken Walibora in his swahili novel, Siku Njema. This translates as a nice day is always seen at its dawn. Indeed it was siku njema for us the Consolata missionaries in Congo, the family, friends and relatives and all, who came to pay their last respect to our fallen brother, confrere and friend the late Fr. François Amboko Natambise, imc. There was little rain and the weather was promising. The harsh Kinshasa sun gave in for a cool day. This was a blessing and a nice beginning of a two-day mourning period.

A section of us gathered at St. Joseph Hospital mortuary. This delegation was led by our Regional Superior, Fr. Rinaldo Do, imc. And, by 11.43 am we were en route to Mater Dei Parish, where the late Fr. François served as the Assistant Parish Priest until his untimely demise on the 28th October, 2010.

The arrival at the parish was greeted by the ringing of the church bell, the mourning religious men and women and the queue of the pupils making two lines and in between them the pallbearers who were seminarians in their cassocks.

Despite the somber mood, it was a colorful and triumphal entry into the church which the late served for one year. He won the race and deserved the welcome.

Prayers were conducted, thereafter, by the parish priest of Mater Dei, Fr. Antonello. Then the viewing of the body and paying homage continued.

Later in the evening, at 7.00 pm, there was the Eucharistic celebration. Fr. Rinaldo, Fr. Antonello and Fr. Symphorien assisted each other as the main celebrants amidst many other concelebrants. It was celebrated in lingala, one of the local languages and Fr. Symphorien, the Rector of Bl. J. Allamano theological seminary, Kinshasa, gave out the homily. After the Mass, which lasted until 9.16 pm, was the night vigil prayers and songs very well animated.

The Tuesday, 02nd November, 2010 was a day of its kind. It was the day we thought of all our dear departed members. It was All Souls Day. That morning the sun rose to dry up the wet land and the Christians from all walks of life and all corners of the Democratic Republic of Congo gathered for the Requiem Mass and burial of the late Fr. François. These people of God came to church with well decorated flowers that had the consoling words and the ‘adieu’ to Rev. Fr. François. Many were dressed in black, the official mourning colour!

By ten o’clock, the procession of the clergy had reached the holy altar. The choir was at its best, singing out their voices and playing the instruments to every beat of the music! One of the choir members revealed to me that, ‘our father liked music very much and we want to send him to heaven musically!’

His grace Mgr. Nsielele Mputu Zi Fidèle of Kisantu diocese celebrated the Mass. He was very brief in his sermon, citing the consoling words of both St. Paul and the gospel. He pointed out that the life of our departed brother was and remains a lesson to us, a lesson that we need to remain staunch in persevering the hardships of life and being available for the service of the church.

Among those who publicly witnessed to the life of our departed brother were; a Christian from Bisengo Mwambe, a parish that the late Fr. François pastorally administered before moving to Mater Dei. He revealed the love the late Fr. François had for the youths and his sportive initiatives to bring them together. He was then followed by Fr Ramon, imc who worked with the late in the early years of the 21st century in Ivory Coast. Fr. Ramon exhorted the fallen priest as a great musician. He evangelized with his flute! ‘Since he didn’t know very well the local language, for he had just joined us, he quickly mastered the music of the people and would later sing for them using his flute,’ he told the gathering. Last but not least, was Fr. Antonello, the parish priest, Mater Dei, who recognized in the late the love and dedication to the youth apostolate. ‘He had a dream for the youths in the parish.’

Finally, the regional superior Fr. Rinaldo spoke in the name of the entire Consolata missionary family and in a special way for those working in Congo. He later invited mamma Maria, the mother of the late Fr. François, who courageously gave her last words on this sad day. She sincerely thanked the Consolata missionaries for the support they have accorded them as a family during this hard moment and for their son when he was still alive. She promised to remain a mother to all the Consolata missionaries.

The final procession to the cemetery begun at 12.03 pm. It took us some 40 minutes to reach the cemetery; the final resting place of the body of our dear brother. At exactly 1.00 pm, the body was lowered into the grave and later the flowers covered all over the brown casket. Each person gave the late a flower or a bunch of it. We then all left in silent, many minds meditating on the mystery of life. May he rest in peace.

(this article is published in the site of the Consolata Missionaries)