Pole to Fr. Mtunga

We received news that Fr. Mtunga has a car accident last night but fortunately he was not injred. He was sxpected to travel to Morogoro to attend the First profession of his niece. We are not sure if he will be able to travel because he has to finalize with reports with the police.

Br. Dominic is with us in the community. We welcome him warmly. Fr. Maina left for his holidays. He is expected back next week.

Christmas Day

Today we celebrated the Christmas Day beginning with the Mass in our community Chapel. We later had meals together with the members of the FMA community of Embu. It was a nice and family gathering. Our Cook, Mr. Johnson, prepared Nyama Choma and other foods. It was all very delicious.

Later in the Evening, Fr. Maina went to visit Br. Mulu in Makima. He came back later in the night.

Christmas Eve

Fr. Richard left for Nzaikoni Parish to help with Christmas Masses. Fr. Mtunga had already preceeded him from Nairobi.

This evening we celebrated the birth of Christ at the FMA community. We began with Mass then super. It was a joyful moment sharing our joys. It may be the last time we celebrate with most present members of the FMA community because three of the m ahave been transfered to different communities in Kenya.

We wish all Happy Christmas Day and teh joy for the new year in their different commitments and apostolate

Closing Worskhops for Christmas

Today we closed our workshops for Christmas holiday. Our workers, in the Production Unit, who have been working very hard were treated with a luch in the afternoon. All expressed their joy for having worked with us and pledged to work harder next year

Comide Reporting

Today in the oafternoon the Riso Moni and Acti Moni for COMIDE project was finished. It has been a hectic time for Maina and teh two ladies, Rosemary and Christine working even upto 2:00 am. We hope that all the reports will be in order.

Comide Program reporting

Today has been a hectic day with COMIDe work. Fr. Maina with team from Don Bosco Development office have been working on annual report for all the expenses incurred during the training for the year 2011

Br. Andrea leaves

This morning Br. Ndrea Comino left our community for Nairobi and then he wil be flying back to Khartoum tomorrow. Fr. Richard and Br. Josephat accompanied him. We thank him for the loved he showed to our community.

Calm Sunday

It was a calm Sunday indeed which made gave us some restful moment. We were previleged to have a visit by Fr. Alex Mulongo and his team as they were going to Kyeni for vocation promotion. We wish them all the best.

We had power interruption now and then this afternoon but at last all stabilized.

Josephat returns - 17-12-2011

Josephat return this morning from Nairobi. He had escorted our studetns who were attending the SYM. The works in the workshops are going on and we are trying to beat the deadline of 9th January, 2012 when all the beds, chairs and desks should be ready.

The works on temporary sanitation is going on very well. We hope it will finished by next week, before Christmas.

SYM Forum begins 16-12-2011

A total of 21 students left this morning for SYM forum in Nairobi. They were carried with out Institute Bus. The number was surprisingly lower than expected. The bus has a carrying capacity of 51 passangers. With such small number of students and the fuel expenses being high it is very uneconomical. We wish our students a successful Forum.

Our three Aspirants and Josephat Orota accompanied the students. The bus will remain in Nairobi untill Thursday, 22nd December, 2011, but the driver, Mr. Josephn Kiago Ndirangu, will come back because he has some work to finish in the workshop. Josephat will also come back because he is entrusted with the work of arranging classes for next year Form One intake. The Aspirants will remain in Nairobi for the Forum.

Prison Warders in the compound

Today we were honoured by a vist from from three prison guards. They have been around looking for a prisoner who escaped from Embu GK prison. They visited our workshops and they were so much impressed by the high quality products that we make. Also we were honoured by a vist from Sr. Mariagoretti, Principal of St. Monica's Girls Secondary School. She was also bringing a boy for interview to enter technical Institute next year.

Br. Umberto, Fr. Richard and Josephat returned this evening from Nairobi. Br. Umberto and Josephat were attending a retreat at DBYES. In their company was Br. Andrea, a missionary in the Sudan, who has come to visit our community. We welcome him warmheartedly.

In and Out

Fr. Mtunga left this afternoon for Nairobi as he prepares for the SYM Forum. He gave a lift to Sr Pat who has left for Thika. We wish Fr. Mtunga a successful Forum. It is time for all the Youth leader to recommit themselves in their work.

Work in plenty

Our workshops trying to cope wit orders that have come en massWe are glad for that. We have employed many young men to do the work, in both Metal and Wordwork Departments.

Today we were honoured with a visit from Fr. Maina's sister and also Sr. Pat Karanja from Murang'a. We are always glad to have visitors with us. Visitors bring job. Sr. Pat remained with us but Fr. Maina's sister left for home.

Busy Jamhuri Day

Today being a Jamhuri day was a nice time to put things in order. We had a chance to re-arrange our main Machinery and tools store in the Technical Institute. We are expecting a container containing aeroplane from Italy so we neede a place to store it before assembling it in early January.

Day 2 of Tournament

After the Mass this morning the Football matches kicked off. All the teams were eager to win. The environment is very peaceful adn all are eager to create unity through sports

Youth Empowerment Tournament 10 - 11 Dec 2011

The Youth Empowerment Tournament organized by the Don Bosco Past Pupils of Embu kicked off today. A total of 8 teams are attending. The tournament will take place for two days. Present to sponsor and support our efforts was National Bank that gave us one trophy, Kshs 5,000 and six T-shirts.

We were also lucky to have Mrs Eusebia Mwaniki as our Chief Gurst. She wants to be Embu County Women rRepresentative. She is also the foundress of Basket of Hope, an NGO working for the needy.

Exam Supervisors in the Institute - 09/12/2011

Today marked the last day for Trade Test Exam. The supervisors from DIT came to check on the progress of the activity and they were happy with the way everything was conducted. The examiners were very friendly and they seemed to have better understanding than the ones we have a number of years before.

We wish all our candidates all the best and success in their exam and also their life

Fr. Maina went to Kangeta, Our Former Polytechnic to see how the atructure is and also to find out why the electricity bill for the security lights has gone too high. It seems that there is someone using heavy gudgets in the rooms thus making the bill go up too high.

End of Trade Test Exam

The Trade Test Exam is almost over. Most of our students have completed and left. We were able to give basic tools to them so that they could start doing something to suport themselves.

Foundation for the temporary sanitation facilities. We pray that we may get more support to put up a permanent structure for our needy boys.

End of Trade Test Exam

The Trade Test Exam is almost over. Most of our students have completed and left. We were able to give basic tools to them so that they could start doing something to suport themselves.

Trade Tests going on well

Trade Test exams are still going on. Our students are relaxed and are confident of doing well. We wish them all the best. Those who have finished their rests have left and many more may leave tomorrow.

We are proud that one of our graduates this year has been called for a job at Hardi Kenya Limited. He has been our best welder and we wish him all the best in his work.

Peter Mtunga lest for Nairobi this afternoon to prepare for Youth Forum that will take place mid this month. Communities have been requested to make contribution towards this noble function.

The construction of temporary sanitation near the music room is going on well. The foundation is ready and proper foundation is being laid.

Technical Institute Exams on

Today marks the beginning of Trade Test Exams. A total of 7 examiners arrived this morning and exams begun immediately. Our students, majority from Technical Institute and just a handful from Secondary School were and are ready to face the test. We hope that all our studetns will have finished exams by early next week.

Josephant Orota left for Moshi to visit his Father who has not been keeping well as well as attending Practical Trainee meeting from 7th to 9th December. We wish him a safe journey, quick recovery to his father and also a fruitful meeting.

Secondary School Closes

 

The secondary school students left this morning for thier Christmas holidays after receiving Don Bosco. Many of them showed their love for Don Bosco and some of the, who have finished Form 4 this year, came and stayed with us to welcome our Father.

The students of Tehnical Institute have remained waiting for their Trade Test exams that will start of Monday. We wish them all the best in their exam.

Thinking of sanitation facility for our students, the fist truckload of ballast came this evening bringing. We hope to start construction of temporary sanitation on monday. We hope to have enaf finances to complete it.

Secondary School closes

The secondary school students left this morning for thier Christmas holidays after receiving Don Bosco. Many of them showed their love for Don Bosco and some of the, who have finished Form 4 this year, came and stayed with us to welcome our Father.

The students of Tehnical Institute have remained waiting for their Trade Test exams that will start of Monday. We wish them all the best in their exam.

Thinking of sanitation facility for our students, the fist truckload of ballast came this evening bringing. We hope to start construction of temporary sanitation on monday. We hope to have enaf finances to complete it.



Welcoming Don Bosco our Father

Today was a great day full of joy because our Fatehr Don Bosco was with us. He arrived at 6:40 from Nairobi. Our School Band and the Scouts received him from the main gate to the front of the Church. All our students were eager to see him and to touch him.

When Don Bosco came out of the Truck our studetns were a bit taken because the casket looked like that of a dead person. Their voices went down and the could not sing so well. Their gazes were on the casket and a kind of fear was shown on their faces. It was after some intoduction and explanation that the students gained confidence and they entered into a prayerful mood. Then we could see their jon for having our Father with us.

We were privileged to have with us our Bishop Paul Kariuki. He prisided over the Mass in honour of St John Bosco. In his sermon he said that Don Bosco wanted to studey for only one aim, to become a priest, and the resolutions he made in order to achieve that goal.. During the Mass 22 of our students were confirmed. It was indeed the presence of Don Bosco a mong us

Arrival of Don Bosco delayed

This morning we got the news that Don Bosco's relics will not arrive in our community as expected; i.e 01/12/2011. Instead the relics will arrive tomorrow, 02/12/2011. Today we have been finalizing with preparations. We hope to have Don Bosco with us tomorrow. The tentative time table for the day will be as follows:

4:00 am     Relics leave Nairobi for Embu
7:00 am     Welcoming Don Bosco from the Main Gate. Scouts and Band lead. Welcone service follow
7:30 am      Praise and Worship
8:00 am      Relics leave for FMA community/ Breakfast for students of Don Bosco Embu
8:30 am      Prayer by Focolare & Marian Group
9:00 am      Prayer by Youth from Korr and Bible Group
10:00 am    Prayer by Cooperators, Renewal of Promises
10:30 am    Relics move to the field/ presentation by groups
                   * Siakago youth
                   * Korr youth
                   * Oraroty kids
                   * Don Bosco Tech
                   * Secondary Students
11:30 am    Mass with the Bishop/Confirmation
2:00 am      Relics leave for Makuyu

We pray for our community that our urgent need for expansion of the institution for the good of our youth may be realized. May Don Bosco Pray for us.