By Sr. Veronica Origenes
Nairobi, Kenya

Dear, Fr. O’Brien,

Today, the Aguinaldo Masses start in our beloved Philippines. May the timeless message of Christmas (LOVE, JOY, and PEACE) bring you happiness all through the years.

This is a very late response to your appeal. Sorry for the delay: too few workers and the apostolate is vast.

To fill you in: I was in Tacloban City from 1965 to August 1984, working at St. Paul’s Hospital and Divine Word University College of Nursing. Then I was missioned to Kenya.

Since coming to Nairobi, I have worked at Uzima Dispensary which was started by two Filipinos (Sr. Ramira Uy and Sr. Ramira Sulentes) who are now back in the Philippines.

In May 1989, we opened St. Odelias Dispensary here in Kasen where I am in charge. There is nothing spectacular about my work I live faithfully my daily ora et labora among our young African members. I am the oldest Sister here in Nairobi.

It is heartwarming to see the dying child recover and   to see the people coming to us for health care. At this new Dispensary, we strike the bell hourly to remind ourselves that this is God’s work’s that we belong to him and that He is a Divine Healer. We are only His instruments. Of the four Filipinos here, Sr. Fidelis Jardiel is directress of our novice Pacita; Sr. Lourdes Edissa Manrique looks after our two kindergarten schools, I take care of Sr. Odilia’s Dispensary.

To the remark that Nairobi is not a mission area, I counter, “Come and See”.
MISYON is where God sends you and me whether the venue is a big international City or the unblaxed bush areas of Africa.
KARIBUNI!

Sr. Veronica Origenes, OSB