The Daily Bread in Kisumu
The daily bread that gives us life is a luxury sought by many people with hands outstretched in supplication and prayer to God. Like teardrops waiting for this rain to water the dryness of the desert.
Kenya, a country in East Africa, has experienced both difficult and happy times throughout its history. I would say mostly difficult times due to various political changes which have contributed on one hand to good days, such as the independence of the people from foreign influences, and on the other hand have made it difficult for the African people to survive on their own under adverse conditions. To carve out their own history, bloodied and wounded as in many other countries of the African Continent.
Our Mission in Kisumu minimally portrays the life of people in this small piece of earth.
When someone hears or reads in the media, on the internet, in books and magazines, they realize that the needs of the people of the earth are countless, and all these pass with a rapid flow through our minds in the few moments we find at night before we rest. Through personal contacts, we see the struggle of each bishop in every corner of the earth, who is ready to sacrifice himself so that our brother can have a plate of food. We help where we can and know that the good God will accomplish the rest. He who made the heavens and the earth knows the needs of every soul.
For this plate of food, therefore, we toil night and day so that not one person of our flock goes hungry.
Let’s not think that these are meals provided once or three times a week, and what happens the rest of the time? Have we fulfilled the duty of the day or the week? Are we satisfied with ourselves for the good we have done?
All belongs to God. Our nights are restless worrying that someone might not have eaten. We do not promote our own work but God’s.
However, besides daily food, there is also spiritual nourishment offered in our churches. If only we could build enormous churches where bells would ring and psalms would be heard in the heavens, even small churches for the faithful to worship.
What good are they when many churches are made of straw and mud and need repairs? Is it our fault? No! God forbid.
How shall we thank everyone? Impossible. But what is impossible with men is possible with God. And may the laboring and burdened priests of ours be praised and rewarded for the good fight, doing more than we can do for them. Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord.
With the pious donations of people who are sensitized and sympathize with our struggle, we provide food to the children of our mission school who often come from families unable to pay their tuition. The inability to pay tuition creates serious problems, especially when the state contributes minimally to school funding. Thus, the church intervenes so that children and teachers have their necessary food and a water well.
Their daily food is a meal made from fried wheat which is nutritious along with beans if available and rice. On major feast days and when possible, they will also enjoy fish.
This fish constitutes an important part of the region’s diet, as Lake Victoria, which is the largest lake on the African Continent and borders three countries, feeds the people like manna from heaven. God’s grace is visible everywhere in daily life.
We attach a humble photograph showing our small efforts to bring a little joy to the children of our mission school as they receive their daily meal.
May the feast of Christ’s Resurrection bring all the best to the whole world, primarily love, peace, and health. And with the words of John Chrysostom at the great feast of Easter, may we always enjoy the banquet of faith:
The table is full, rejoice all of you. The calf is plentiful, let no one leave hungry.
✝ Bishop Markos of Kisumu
