Jessica Werner, recently returned from visits to USA Vincentian Lay Missionary sites (Jimma and Bonga in Ethiopia and several sites in Kenya) writes of an encounter between an old friend of many missionaries with Pope Francis at the D.R.E.A.M. project of Sant’egidio and the Daughters of Charity in Kenya. She writes,

“As many of you know, I recently returned from from being in Ethiopia and Kenya. I wanted to share this exciting news from Sr. Tsige Petros (formerly the Sister Servant in Jimma), who is in Nairobi now and working at the DREAM Center. Sister Tsige wrote on her Facebook page:

“We were together with our staff and the people we serve in DREAM.
The experience of meeting the pope was unbelievable for us. It was like a miracle for all of us
We were waiting for Pope Francis in small tent in St. Mary’s play ground (Kenya). After His talk to religious despite the tight security he walked to wards us with a smile interest. He greeted every one of us with great love, interest and respect. It was great joy, honer, blessing, healing and strength to all of us. We are grateful to St. Egidio, (Dr. Janni) for arranging this program in advance and made it possible and our own community Daughters of Charity who has given us the opportunity to meet the pope. Many were desired to meet the pope face to face and only few had the opportunity to meet him and we were one of the few. We thank the Lord and the pope for his humility, simplicity, his love and openness us and to the whole world. We continue praying for him and supporting him, being committed to our mission we all are entrusted.
With love and prayer
Sr. Tsige Petros”

DREAM (Drug Resource Enhancement against Aids and Malnutrition) is a collaboration among many groups, led by the Community of Sant’Egidio and Daughters of Charity. THE RESULTS: To date 60,000 children were born free of HIV in the DREAM health centers of the Community of Sant’Egidio located in ten African countries.

You can see the joy the project brings in a Christmas video from the Community of Sant’Egidio.