First day: arriving in Nairobi

Greetings to all from Nairobi, Kenya!

Its 9:30 p.m. local time here in the African continent.  I knew that Africa was far away, but after traveling for the better part of 24 hours, I now have a much better sense of that distance.  Msgr. Mike Hazard, Father John Peter and I left Kalamazoo at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday morning to drive to Detroit for a 3:30 p.m flight to Newark.  The next flight was from Newark to Zurich, leaving at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday evening, arriving in Zurich around 1:45 a.m. (7:45 a.m. Zurich time).  The flight from Zurich to Nairobi left within the hour of arriving there.  It was the better part of an 8 hour flight arriving here in Nairobi at 7: 45 p.m.----11:45 a.m. your time.  That's 7 hours difference.

We had a real "welcoming committee" waiting for us at the airport.  + Bishop Dominic, the Bishop of Lodwar, and his nephew Joseph were there to personally greet us, as was Father Jacob, one of Father John Peter's confrere's who is the pastor/local superior of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales in their ministry here in Nairobi.  We are staying this evening at their parish of St. Joseph.  We enjoyed a very delicious dinner.  Bedtime is coming very quickly.  Our day tomorrow will begin by 5:00 a.m,, with Mass together at 6:00 a.m., and being on the road by 7:00 a.m. for a Game Preserve Lodge about a 6 hour drive from here. 

So far, I haven't seen much, but I've met a lot of wonderful, hospitable and warm people, who are so glad that we have come to visit with them    Good night, with prayers of thanksgiving to God for a safe trip and the beginning of a wonderful Pastoral Visit and exciting adventure of getting to know the Church here in Kenya, East Africa.

+ Bishop Paul