Fr James's impressions

It was a full and event-filled week. There was a lot of travelling to get to Irundu but, as was proved on our return journey, you can be door-to-door in 24 hours with a night on the plane for just over £500. I would say our mission was accomplished. We learnt a great deal about the community, met some inspiring people, and saw the beginnings of what we might be able to offer the people there. What is certain is that they are rich - rich in the spiritual gifts which make even such poverty-ridden lives into an opportunity of giving praise and thanks to God and growing in the trust in His goodness. It looks as though we are beginning on our part to see possible ways of helping, namely in the fields of education, health provision (there is no doctor there) and a small- loan scheme called micro credit. The most impressive feature for me of the whole trip was to meet the parish priest, Fr. Stephen Mudoola. He is about forty years old and has been parish priest for four years and previously he was curate to the founder of the parish, an Austrian Mill Hill Father. He is gentle, humble, but energetic and purposeful, and obviously much loved by his poor people. Before going, a concern of mine was how I would personally get on with my opposite number. I now have no worries and I look forward to extending hospitality to him in the future.
So our project is on course and the findings and recommendations will be fed back to the Worth Irundu Friendship Committee to move things on.