In July, nine men and women from VLM-USA traveled to Africa to work in communities in Jimma, Ethiopia, and Thigio, Kenya. In Jimma, the VLM lived with the Daughters of Charity and served as English teachers at the Catholic school. The VLM taught in the mornings and afternoons, taking a two-hour break each day for lunch and rest. They served children in grades 3,4 and 5 and worked with local teachers to facilitate lessons for the students.

The VLM in Thigio worked at the Kisima Center with children and adolescents who have intellectual special needs in the mornings, and hosted a summer camp for over 300 students at Thigio Primary School in the afternoons. The VLM enjoyed these two different ministries immensely. Their reflections on the experience:

“This program has been a beautiful experience of working alongside the DOC in their different ministries. It has been a great time of learning, self reflection, and solidarity with the Thigio community and our Vincentian family in Kenya.” (Jordan Bouchard, Thigio)

“I’m so thankful I was not only given the opportunity to carry out this mission, and just be led to the Vincentians in my life in general. I would also encourage anyone in the Vincentian family to take the dive and go through this experience – God is very much alive in all the wonderful people of Ethiopia.” (Zack Savino, Jimma)