I am writing this at a hotel close to San Fransisco International Airport. A funny thing happened on the way back to Africa. When I got up to the ticket counter at the airport yesterday to check my bags and get my broading passes I was told that because my passport is expiring in Nov 2014 I would not be able to travel to my destination Nairobi, Kenya.

The Kenyan government now has a policy of not allowing entrance if one’s passport has less that 6mos before it expires. The agent suggested I book another ticket for a flight two days in the future, while in the meantime I would go to the US Passport Office and get a new passport. To make a long story short, I was able to get a new passport in 8 hours and am ready to travel tomorrow.

All this was a good reminder to me of the challenges life presents in general and Africa in particular. I’m learning the importance to accept first anything that happens and then respond to whatever in the Peace of Christ. Not easy but as the saying I choose for my ordination card, “Jesus, Master of the Impossible” says, I’m not the one trying to do the impossible.

Why this new website when I haven’t even started making one brick for the House of Prayer? The thing is, anything worth doing starts with a Vision, a Dream. I have been dreaming, visioning for something like a House of Prayer since I entered my community (Maryknoll) in 1982. This past year of Sabbatical has only affirmed and made real the possibilities for this Dream. I am very grateful for the people and places who have inspired me to continue on this path of making the Vision a flesh and blood reality.

This website with a blog will help me to keep in contact with you who come to visit us here as we embark on yet another New Beginning on this adventure in faith to live out God’s Will by being responsible for the Dream/Vision. So while the physical infrastructure is not present, the spiritual one is and this website is just a small step of putting flesh on the Vision/Dream.

When I went to get my haircut this morning in preparation for my return trip to Africa the barbers ask me right away, “What about Ebola? Aren’t you concerned?” I said I’ll be on the other side of Africa (East Africa), while the Ebola is in West Africa. More bad news for Africa. Indeed then, why go back?! I  believe there is such a thing as a call, a vocation, a unique path each person is gifted with to live a full life. As a follower of Christ I am very much aware of how the inclusive unconditional love of Christ is  very much needed in our broken world today. This vocation is has an aspect of it living and working in solidarity with the poor.

I leave for Tanzania on Sunday and am in the midst of last minute preparations to depart. I’m hoping to live more simply in this new work, although I just sent over 80 books by regular mail for a library at the House of Prayer. It’s funny I’ve done this many times in my 24 years in Africa but in a way it seems like the first time. And in a way, it is, this is a new adventure, a mystery to be lived into. I hope you will join me.

Here’s my latest newsletter:   Summer-Fall 2014