Beasts, dragons, and other symbolic monstrous creatures populate the final book of the Old Testament—the Apocalypse. Over the past two weeks, as the Church's liturgical year concluded on November 30th, the daily readings came from this book, vividly depicting the end of the world. It conjures images of dread and drama, painting a striking picture of an apocalyptic finale to the world we know and depend upon.
Read More“Your Excellency Madam High Commissioner Jenny Da Rin, and invited guests, good morning!
Let me just say a few words about why it is a ‘Good Morning’. I left Australia in 1983, then moved to Tonga, and in October 1994, I came to Tanzania. That’s 30 years on the continent. Why? And for what? Utterly simply, really—LIVING MY VOW OF OBEDIENCE. None of this was my plan, and after all these years, just saying yes has morphed into an OAM for Service to Social Welfare…”
Read MoreMy early morning reflection this Wednesday was very unremarkable. I couldn’t settle or focus on anything, other than the fact that it has now been two weeks since I returned to Kenya. My thoughts about the day ahead were similarly uninspired, as my schedule looked empty in terms of engagements and meetings. However, a walk through our maternity unit and a brief chat with three mothers holding their newborn babies from the night before lifted my spirits.
Read MoreSeptember 2024 marks my 30th year living in Africa. Tanzania, South Sudan, and Kenya have been home for most of that time, though there were some "on and off" periods for renewal, travel, graduation, and, more recently, retirement. However, none of that is the focus of this reflection. Instead, I want to ruminate on the events of one particular day—August 29th, 2024, in the Mukuru slums of Nairobi, Kenya.
Read More2024 has been unlike any other year for me. After all our work last year in re-establishing the vitality of all things at Ruben, including investing in a mid-term review of our current five-year Strategic Plan, the establishment of Ruben Centre as a Trust with five appointed trustees, and the appointment of two new Managers, surely this year would simply be plain sailing.
Read MoreThe citizens of Kenya continue to face difficult times. The increased cost of basic and essential household items such as food, transport, education, and energy has led to demonstrations highlighting the high cost of living for ordinary Kenyans. Contributing factors include a prolonged drought experienced in 2022 and into 2023, significant depreciation of the Kenyan shilling, a plethora of new taxes introduced in 2023, and recent floods have all added to the misery of the common 'wananchi' (citizen).
Read MoreHappy 2024 to everyone out there!
On January 2nd, Ruben Centre opened its doors again for the Mukuru people in this new year. "Oh MY! What has happened to 2023?" was my question as I sat down to reflect on the year of 2023. December 1st reminded me that I arrived back in Kenya exactly 11 months ago, largely to get down on the ground and save Ruben Centre. However, I must say that if the task was clear, the strategy or plan around how this could be done was anything but clear.
Read MoreAfter a four-year hiatus due to Covid-19, the Gone Fishing program returned to Kenya, with six Australians visiting for eight days in early November.
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