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Marzena Gibek, Polish CLM in Kenya: “Six months of missionary presence in Kitelakapel”
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
It’s been almost half a year since I came to Kitelakapel. It is amazing how wonderful I feel here. The place is full of peace and joy. And that is exactly what I had been looking for. We are currently three Comboni Lay Missionaries (CLM) in Kitelakapel: me (Polish), Linda Micheletti (an Italian who was the first to come), and Pius Oyoma, a Ugandan who has been here for almost a year.. [In the picture: Pius Oyoma, Linda Micheletti and Marzena Gibek]
These first months were spent in meeting people, getting to know each other in the community and observing everything that was happening around me. I know this ‘adventure’ will never end. And I do not want it to end. I want to continue exploring, learning, and ‘tasting’ the life in Africa, which is indeed a great gift for me.
In Kitelakapel we are doing well. We are very busy with a lot of different activities. We still spend a lot of time learning Kiswahili. Linda is a fantastic teacher!
We carry out plenty of pastoral work: catechism lessons, meeting with the Young Missionary Group (called “St. Bakhita Group”), animating Young Christian Students in our Boys’ Secondary School, overseeing Sunday School sessions, and attending Jumuiyas (Small Christian Communities) meetings. Every Saturday and Sunday we organize in our compound games for children.
I have started offering my services to the dispensaries of Kacheliba Mission and Kitelakapel Chapeol. My dream is to work here in Kenya as a physiotherapist. This is not only my profession: it is above all ‘my great passion’. I have already taken some official steps to be able to practice my profession here.
Pius and Linda continue teaching ‘life skills’ in two schools and offering tutorials in the primary school. I had the pleasure of observing their work for almost three months: they do it wonderfully, engaging children and teenagers in various activities.
We have also started weekly workshops for teachers to improve the quality of their teaching. Workshops are run online by an organisation from Poland Why Blue Sky. Pupils and students are at present on vacation, so we can get involved in other activities.
We took part in very interesting workshops in Nairobi, organised by Fr Maciej Zieliński. It was about personality types. We are also planning to go to Uganda for one week, to organise some workshops for teachers and nurses there.
We are now trying to set up a permanent tent to be able to conduct activities with children and adults in case of bad weather. And we would like to have a little playground with swing, slide, and merry-go-round for the youngest children.
We send you our warmest greetings. And, please, keep us in your prayers!
Marzena Gibek, CLM