Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Nairobi (Fides Service)- “Generally I am happy and used to working with and for people on the margins of society. However when I learned that I was missioned to Kakuma to work with the people living in the camp I was thankful for the opportunity but afraid because I had heard of the local situation of insecurity” says Sister Lucy Bahati Robert, a Franciscan Missionary of Mary (FMM) in an article in the FMM magazine Meeting Space.
Sr Lucy tells about her work Kakuma Refugee Camp in the semi-desert Turkanaland region in northern Kenya. The Turkana people are nomad shepherds always on the move to find pasture for the animals.
“In1992 when the camp was started it was meant to hold 20,000 refugees. Now the camp holds about 90,000 refugees from Sudan, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Congo, Somalia and Ethiopia” the missionary explains. “The Sudanese are the majority, about 75% of the refugee population in the camp. Three quarters of the Sudanese refugees are youth”.
What frightened Sr Lucy were “reports of insecurity, harsh climate, hostility of the people because of what they have been through and are still experiencing”.
“But” she says “when the time came for me to go to this mission I had overcome most of my fear through prayer and God’s grace. Still there was a certain fear in the back of my mind. After entering the camp I discovered that what had been said was true. But the good news is that people are wounded but basically good. They are waiting and longing for someone to share their pain.”.
“So may prayer was to ask God to give me the courage to share with them what he desires for them and for me and that we may learn and grow together. I was given the opportunity to accompany the youth of the parish of Holy Cross. The Catholics are mainly Sudanese, some are Congolese and Ugandan Catholics. I was to focus mainly on the girls, the most vulnerable in the camp. At first I found Sudanese women very closed which made it difficult to know where they are emotionally. According to their culture women seldom go out so they have little occasion to mingle with other cultures”.
“With patience, compassion and the skills acquired from my Social Ministry Course - says Sr Lucy - I gradually gained the trust of the families and girls who were eventually allowed to attend meetings and seminars we organised”. Soon boys complained they were left out of the programme and talks on common issues were organised
“I had to wait a long time before the young people were able to be open in their personal sharing. Later their need was so great that I had to have a book for appointments for the young men and women who needed counselling. Sometimes I had no time for meals I was so busy. I went for human development and social issue sessions in the various chapels. Sometimes their wounds were so deep that it was painful for me to sit listening with nothing to say. I could not carry all this alone and I shared my concerns with Jesus, the owner of the mission. In front of the Blessed Sacrament I asked why Jesus allowed me to hear all that made me feel so helpless, especially when the people needed material support which I did not have”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 24/1/2006 righe 42 parole 551)
