2015

Aims: to visit families of Kenyan and Ugandan inmates in HK prisons, to lobby for prisoner transfer agreement, to publicize the danger of drug trafficking to HK/China/Macau (... and to have a holiday...)

Audios (messages from families) and photos (of families) are at a non-public location.
Please email me for this location: jdwomi@gmail.com

HK is 5 hours ahead of Uganda

HK is 5 hours ahead of Kenya

Dec 29: Hello from Nairobi in Kenya where I arrived yesterday about 1.30 pm local time after flight from HK to Doha (Qatar), then flight from Doha to Nairobi. Fr Mario Azrak O.M.I. from Australia kindly met me at the airport, and I'm now enjoying Oblate hospitality in a lovely rural setting in Karen on the outskirts of Nairobi.

Dec 30: Yesterday in Nairobi, Fr Mario kindly continued my Kenya orientation ....and helped me find a place where from today I can start meeting families of Kenyan inmates in HK prisons. We went yesterday to two shopping centres, and had to pass through (superficial?) security checks at the entrances of both. Fr Mario says that people here of all persuasions - Muslims as well as Christians - are fed up with the terror tactics of Al Shabaab (which explains the incredible courage of Muslims on a bus recently to protect Christians when the bus was attacked by Al Shabaab)

Dec 31: Yesterday - what a day! Up at 5.15am to go with one local O.M.I. priest for 6.30am Mass at a local convent, followed by a 7am Mass with same good father at nearby retreat centre (.. a centre once visited by Pope John Paul II).

At both Masses, a new experience for me: a nun, using hands, playing drum to accompany singing of Alleulia verse and other singing. Sister Act at 6.40am - sure concentrates the mind! And of course the singing and music were really beautiful.

Then back to O.M.I. house for breakfast meeting, then with Fr Mario for 90 min drive to a new O.M.I. mission (where we met Fr Gerry, also from Australia) ....after which we returned to Karen area for my 3pm meeting with family of a HK prison inmate.

Same family member kindly spent several hours helping phone more than twenty other families to arrange meetings January 3,4,5,6. Then when that family member kindly drove me back to O.M.I. centre, we got lost ...for more than an hour...but finally made it home.

Today I'm due to go to another O.M.I. mission in another remote area ....about 5 hours by bus. Due to stay there two nights, then back to Karen on January 2 ....for family meetings starting Jan 3.

Please God I'll be going to Uganda (just Kampala) January 7-12 to meet families of about a dozen Ugandan inmates in HK prisons.

This old man was too tired last night to do usual daily menu of this website. No recordings today, sorry.

p.s. Today's mission area has wifi, but if there are power cuts I might be delayed in uploading something for this website.

Jan 1: Yesterday was mostly spent on the road: a one hour trip from Karen to the centre of Nairobi, then a six hour trip to Meru (north east of Nairobi) where the Oblates have had a mission for almost 20 years.

What a beautiful country Kenya is! Countryside reminds me of Northern New South Wales in Australia. Today I'm due to join Fr Faustin O.M.I. for two Masses in a local prison.

Last night I had wifi connection problems. Some items held over for a future menu ...when internet can be accessed easily. Email replies will be slow for the same reason. Might have to wait till back in Nairobi on Saturday night please God (Jan 2)

I guess this happened in many parts of the world ...yesterday in Kenya a lot of people received text message "2016 has been cancelled"!

Jan 2: Yesterday with Fr Faustin O.M.I. I spent 9 hours in Meru prison: starting with a 90 minute Mass for about 150 men crammed in sardine conditions ...followed by a 3 and a 1/4 hour Mass (the longest Mass of my life) in the prison chapel - for staff and families in the area.

Followed by a return to the men's prison for a joyful activity for all 1,214 inmates in the tiny exercise yard ...followed by a similar activity in the women's prison for all 250 inmates. Maybe some photos to come in the days ahead please God.

At yesterday's 3 and a 1/4 hour Mass, when I was asked to say a few words at the very, very end, I couldn't help, after wishing everyone a Happy New Year, then remarking "If this Mass goes much longer, it will soon be 2017"!

Jan 3: Yesterday was spent mainly on the road: a two hour return trip by 4-wheel drive from Meru to the Oblate mission in Kinyo. Then a five-hour public van trip from Meru back to Nairobi. Then a one hour trip from centre of Nairobi back to Karen

Such beautiful countryside! Lush and green. Plenty of hills and valleys. Just like Northern New South Wales in Australia

Reminded me also of rural China - with people working hard to make a living from their plot of land or from their stall by the roadside. Even tea plantations around Kinyo!

Today I'm due to meet family members of five inmates in HK prisons - delivering written messages, receiving written messages, having photos taken (to show the inmates...they love to see family photos), recording messages for playing on HK radio, reassuring families about the excellent conditions in HK prisons.

Jan 4: Yesterday at Karen shopping centre in Nairobi I met the families of five inmates in HK prisons. A moving experience, not least because for the families themselves they had a chance to meet other families in the same boat. Moving also as people recorded messages for HK's Sunday night program "The Hour of Love" which inmates listen to. One family of three members recorded a message in the morning, and then at about 4.45pm local time heard their message played on "The Hour of Love" - through the internet.

Since arriving in Nairobi a week ago I've been really impressed by the excellent freeways to be found in the city. Yesterday I found out that all of these modern highways were constructed by China with Chinese engineers and workers. Well done, China! May locals continue this good work and thereby help Nairobi be free of traffic jams.

Jan 5: Yesterday as I met the families of seven inmates in HK prisons, I found out that five children of those families would not be returning to school today for the start of the new school year .... because the families could not afford school fees. Thanks to the kindness of HK friends who are supporting my trip to Kenya and Uganda, all five children will now be at school today! Jesus, please bless the children .... and the kind friends who are helping them return to school!

Yesterday at meeting with families of inmates in HK prisons, one lady - who knew I was from Hong Kong - said to me "But you don't look Chinese"!

My room in Nairobi, Kenya What a joy to look out the window and see trees!

More photos

Jan 6: Yesterday I met three more families of inmates in HK prisons ... two of them with the same story as families the day before: three children not able to attend school on the first day of the school year because no money to pay school fees. Well, thanks to HK friends who are supporting my trip to Kenya and Uganda, I was able to help the three children (in addition to the five the day before)

But, just like in Tanzania last year, my well is starting to run dry. So, if any kind readers would like to help some very special children in some very special families, please email me for details to use Western Union: jdwomi@gmail.com

Yesterday in this part of the world was the first day of the school year. But in the Karen area of Nairobi where I am staying there was no power for most of the day. I felt so sorry for the teachers and students. Maybe some schools had their own generators, but not all. Luckily for myself I had the use of an external battery I'd brought from HK and a USB modem. After being in Tanzania last year I came prepared!

Several readers have asked me how come the January 1 Mass at Meru Prison took 3 and a 1/4 hours. Well, there was the usual dancing and singing - beautiful. Also several candidates for Baptism and Confirmation. But the number one reason was a dear middle-aged catechist who, at the very end of Mass (which was in Swahili), read (with a faulty sound system and in halting English) the whole of the Pope's message for World Day of Peace ....which took 45 minutes. Pope usually gives short homilies and writes short letters. Why oh why did he produce a 6 (?) page magnum opus for Jan 1?!

Jan 7: This afternoon I'm due to fly from Nairobi to Kampala in Uganda. Due to stay at the Ugandan Martyrs Shrine in Namugongo. Hoping to meet with families of a dozen inmates in HK prisons. Due to return to Nairobi on January 11. Thank you Lord for a safe trip! No need to add me to the martyrs at this stage please!

As I continue to meet the families of inmates in HK prisons there is one activity that is very special: recording messages from the families, which I email to "Brother Bruce" in HK for playing on his Sunday night radio program "The Hour of Love" which more than 1,000 HK prisoners listen to (as well as 80,000 other listeners). Bruce is now hoping to give more time to the "prison segment" of his program ...but he needs financial help. Please read his special appeal

For the past few days I've been travelling each day from the O.M.I. Gerard Centre where I'm staying - to the nearby Karen shopping centre, to meet families of inmates in HK prisons. A trip of about 10 minutes. At first I went by "van taxi" ...like a sardine can, with the side sliding door not closed until the van was going some distance. Yesterday I chose a safer mode of travel ...by motorbike, just like in China. Will go back to van if/when there is rain!

Jan 8: Hello from Assisi Guest House, right across road from the Ugandan Martyrs Shrine in Namugongo, Kampala, where I arrived late last night after a two hour taxi ride (US$40 ...I gave extra...driver was so helpful) from Entebbe airport ....right into and then across Kampala ...what an experience. But DG I'm here and am due this morning to meet families of some inmates in HK prisons. Due to return to Nairobi on Monday January 11.

A few days ago when I Googled "Namugongo Shrine Uganda" to try to find accommodation near the shrine, I was surprised to see how up to date the shrine website was ....with main article "Speech by Pope" (who visited here recently) ...only to discover Pope's name: John Paul II!

Jan 9: Well, after Dec 28-Jan 7 in Nairobi (which included 2 nights in Meru),
I flew from Nairobi to Entebbe airport last Thursday afternoon. On arrival I spent an hour getting a phone sim card and a USB modem with sim card - registration not simple. Then a two hour taxi trip to and through Kampala: imagine Guangzhou 30 years ago ....multiply the number of motor bikes....double the air pollution from road traffic....increase the number of traffic jams ....and you have some idea of Kampala.

On arrival at Namugongo at a late hour I was really blessed to find a room available at a guest house run by an order of sisters. Local priests also staying here while their residence is being renovated. Guest house, "Assisi", is just across road from the Ugandan Martyrs Shrine where Charles Lwanga and Companions were horribly martyred in 1886.

Yesterday at midday I met with 11 people, half of them children, from 3 families of inmates in HK prisons. All 3 families struggling with school fees, so, thanks to kindness of HK friends who are supporting my trip, I was able to give each family US$100 for each child (= half of one semester's fees; 3 semesters a year). Families recorded and wrote messages for the inmates, and then we had a glorious meal cooked by the guest house chef "Moses". At the end of the meal we had an ice cream. I gulped mine down as usual, but my 11 guests put me to shame: they slowly, carefully, like people handling precious jewels, enjoying their ice creams ...the first they'd had for a long time.

I'm hoping the Ugandan families will form into a support group - as happened last year when I visited Tanzania, and as is also happening in Kenya. A lady and her brother who came yesterday (...another brother is in prison in HK...) has agreed to be a co-ordinator. She and her brother will come again today when more families come for a gathering.

Mid yesterday afternoon I paid a visit to the Shrine. A real honour. I've never before been in a place where Christians have died for their faith. In the next day or so I hope to post some photos of the Shrine.

Before last night's meal at the Guest House I went for a walk around the Shrine area ....and discovered in two different places, two choirs practising. Beautiful.
I couldn't help thinking that Africa is materially poor but spiritually rich. Today I'm due to meet with another 7 families. I will try to eat my ice cream slowly!

Hong Kong's well-planned New Towns could well be a model for Africa and other parts of the world where huge cities are .... a mess. HK's towns have schools, shopping centres, transport, clinics/hospitals, housing, recreation areas etc all in one location. If the same could be done for Africa ....adding factories to each location ....what a recipe for healthier and safer living.

One blessing of this Africa trip that also happened last year: members of families who haven't seen each other for a long time ....maybe even not on the best of terms ....are coming together for a meeting with the HK chaplain

Taxi driver to Nairobi airport last Thursday wasn't sure about location of Australia. This was verified when I mentioned kangaroos as a way of establishing the identity of Australia ....only to be told that Finland had kangaroos ....to which I replied "and the North Pole has elephants"!

Jan 10: Yesterday I met with the families of 7 Ugandan inmates in HK prisons .....a moving gathering of 31 people. Photos can't be put in public place on internet, but can be seen somewhere else - please email me for copy: jdwomi@gmail.com

Same story as previous families - struggling to pay school fees. I gave what I had (thanks to kind help of HK friends). But ...my well is now well and truly dry. Help! I still have one more family to see here today in Kampala, and 13 more on my return to Nairobi.

The meals at the two Ugandan gatherings so far have been cooked by an expert chef named Moses. But yesterday when he tried to overcharge me "something terrible", I called him Pharaoh

Jan 11: Yesterday morning I met the family of one more Ugandan inmate in a HK prison. That makes 11 families met in Uganda.
Yesterday afternoon I attended Mass at the Shrine of the Ugandan Martyrs. What a special privilege. This afternoon I'm due to fly from Entebbe airport (one hour from Kampala) back to Nairobi. Tomorrow I'm due to meet more families of inmates in HK prisons - including several families from far-away Mombassa.

Yesterday after meeting the family of one more inmate in a HK prison, I also met these three suffering people

More details here

On the plane from Nairobi to Entebbe last Thursday afternoon, when a light meal was served, the man on my left blessed himself with the Sign of the Cross. The woman on my right did the same. I asked myself: where am I? On a pilgrimage to Lourdes? The faith of the people here is really inspiring.

Jan 12: Last night I returned to the O.M.I. residence in Karen, Nairobi, after 4 nights at Assisi Guest House near the Shrine of the Ugandan Martyrs in Namugongo, Kampala, Uganda. Like most parts of Africa, Uganda is trying hard to modernize. And it's being greatly helped by China.

Yesterday at Entebbe Airport near Kampala, I met three young men from Mainland China - engineers working on a dam project in Uganda. They told me there are around 50,000 workers from the Mainland in Uganda, building highways, dams and other projects.

Entebbe Airport, Jan 11:

Four very friendly young guys from China, working for Sinodydro on a hydropower project in Uganda - four of some 50,000 Chinese from the Mainland based in Uganda.

After two hours on "old" roads in Kampala yesterday morning and two more hours on "old" roads in Nairobi yesterday afternoon, I can only say "God bless China for helping build new roads in Africa" (.... which is what Africans themselves often say!)

Coming from one of the most efficient and smooth-running places on the planet (Hong Kong) I am continually being forced in Africa to go at a slower pace, starting with an extended greeting when beginning to talk with anyone: not just "hello" but then "how are you going?", "happy New Year" (still common here till mid January) etc

On yesterday's flight from Entebbe to Nairobi by Kenya Airlines, the pilot was a lady.
And .... her landing at Nairobi was one of the smoothest landings I've ever experienced.

Jan 13: Yesterday, thanks to support of HK friends, I was able to help with the school fees of another group of children here in Kenya. Today I'm due to meet with 6 more families .... with a replenished well thanks to HK friends.

Next Monday I'm due to fly to another place in Kenya for a bit of media publicity about the danger of drug trafficking to HK/Macau/China. Such publicity this time last year in Tanzania was truly blessed. Drug mules have virtually stopped going to HK from Tanzania. Only one arrested at HK airport in the past 10 months. (c.f. 2013 when this website's campaign began: 1 or more arrested every week)

My daily means of transport from O.M.I. centre in Karen, Nairobi to nearby shopping centre where I've been meeting families of inmates in HK prisons. Seven years of such bike riding in China (2001-2008) was good training, I mean biking. This particular bike is a new one, made in China, cost about US$1,000 (and driver got c. US$500 for sale of old bike).

There's an old saying that if what to learn about a place, ask a taxi driver. Well I've sure learnt a lot from taxi drivers in the past two weeks, about Kenya and about Uganda - on trips to and from Nairobi and Entebbe airports. If newspapers and other media published the comments of cab drivers, this world might be a better place!

Jan 14: Yesterday I met with five more families of inmates in HK prisons. I've now met with 35 families ... a few more to go. Nearly all these families are struggling with school fees. Thanks to the kindness of HK friends, I've been able to give every family a little help, in some cases a lot of help. Yesterday one family caused my heart to give everything I had on me: a person whose spouse is dead, whose child is in a HK prison, and the person has HIV, Diabetes and ulcers. I got someone to help me check the person's medical reports .... showing how the person urgently needs an operation .... and needs to buy more HIV medicine. Jesus, please tsunami that dear person with your healing love!

One thing I find frustrating in HK (where it is not all that common) and here in Africa (where it is very common) is receiving a phone call from someone who does not give their name. Lately I've given up asking "would you please say your name", "can you please say your name", "can you please tell me who you are?" Now I just go along with the conversation and wish people well. But when the phone conversation stops I shrug my shoulders and think "I wonder who that was?"

Jan 15: Yesterday I met with 4 families I'd already seen ...together with 2 media representatives ...to prepare reports (newspaper, radio and tv) about two issues: the need for Kenya to sign an agreement with Hong Kong for the transfer of prisoners - and the need to spread the message about the danger of drug trafficking to HK/China.
Publicity in Tanzania over the past two years has virtually stopped the flow of drug mules from Tz to HK. May publicity here in Kenya and Uganda have the same effect.

Yesterday I said I had stopped asking the identity of people who phone me.
Not true. My resolution didn't last long. Good manners got the better of me.
For something like 95% of the 20-something calls I received yesterday, I needed to say "Could you please tell me your name". And as usual, I needed to repeat my request several times before getting a name. And ...then ...half the time I couldn't understand what name was being said!

Jan 16: Each day as I take a 10 minute walk from the O.M.I. Gerard Centre to the main road, to get a motor-bike (here called a "border border"), I pass this most beautiful tree. One night last year someone was kidnapped on this road (.. and released after two days). I walk in the day time.

Yesterday after meeting with the family of one more inmate in a HK prison, I went by motorbike for a one-hour return trip to a seedy district of Nairobi where many drug mules in HK prisons are said to have been enlisted/tricked ....by Nigerian Drug Lords. Please God next week's publicity about the danger of drug trafficking to HK will cause a sharp fall in the business of the Drug Lords

today a meal gathering, with media, for all (already seen) Nairobi families of HK inmates; Monday due to fly to Mombasa for similar gathering; Tuesday fly back to Nairobi; Wednesday go with families and media to see Chief Justice to present petition for prisoner transfer agreement with HK.

Jan 18: Yesterday morning I joined Fr Fidelis O.M.I. for his regular Mass at Langata Women's Prison which, as these images show, is not such a bad place! I now realise that while Kenya's men's prisons are seriously over-crowded, the women's prisons are not at all over-crowded. Langata is on the side of a hill, overlooking Nairobi City, with grass and gardens and fresh air ..... very different from the concrete jungle that is Lo Wu Prison in HK.
After Mass in the "sentenced" section of the prison, we briefly visited the remand section, where I was able to have a chat with some 20 inmates from China and Taiwan!

Then it was to Karen shopping centre for a final gathering (about 6 hours long!) for many of the Nairobi families I'd already met ....to set up a support group, to plan a day in town on Wednesday for presenting a petition about prisoner transfer from HK, and to publicize the danger of drug trafficking to HK. I lost count of how many people attended, but the man who helped buy ice creams for those who wanted them bought 50 something ice creams!

Among the reporters who attended yesterday's final gathering for Nairobi families of inmates in HK prisons were two guys whose very informal clothing made me mistake them as belonging to a group of beggars (to whom I have given meals, and yesterday again gave a meal after the function) ...so I asked them, not very politely (since others had tried to gate crash the party) to leave the restaurant where our function was being held. Had to offer very sincere apologies! And while the two men had a nice meal I ate humble pie. (But then ...after their meal ...when they offered to do a radio interview ...they asked for a bribe...US$100...which I declined...maybe my first impression was correct?)

This afternoon I'm due to fly from Nairobi to Mombasa (see middle map, above). Due to return to Nairobi tomorrow night please God. Hoping to have gathering tomorrow morning with families of inmates in HK prisons ...and to do some publicity about the danger of drug trafficking to HK (...not a few drug mules have come from Mombasa region)

Jan 19: Yesterday's (Jan 18) article in the Nairobi Standard has a few mistakes, but it will do a lot of good to stop people drug trafficking from Kenya to HK:
42 Kenyan drug suspects rotting in Hong Kong cells See all the comments, including mine

Today in Mombasa, where I arrived yesterday afternoon, another gathering of families with media is scheduled - arranged by families of inmates in HK. Originally I had followed much advice about the danger of going to Mombasa ....so I asked Mombasa families to travel to Nairobi for meeting (for which travel I re-paid them). But last week when I met several Mombasa families in Nairobi they insisted I go to Mombasa ....and they said they had media contacts in Mombasa to help the campaign.
Since many Kenyan drug mules in HK (including the most recent group) are from Mombasa, I have followed the advice of the families and am now in Mombasa. But there is no wifi at the church where I'm staying, and USB modem is working very sporadically (I have to walk around in the yard behind the church to get on the internet) so this menu will just have the essentials.

One day last week in Nairobi, while waiting to meet two more families of inmates in HK prisons, I went for a haircut ...found a simple place, nothing fancy. Man said to me "just a trim". I replied "yes please, just a trim". He said "Don't cut too much". I answered "That's right. Not too much. In fact, not much to cut". During the haircut, as I rested with my eyes closed, news on barber shop TV had report about an Al-Shabaab attack on a Kenyan garrison in Somalia. When I opened my eyes, I saw that I too had been attacked: almost bald! Al Shabarber!

Jan 20: Yesterday morning in Mombasa (see middle map, above) I met with five families of inmates in HK prisons. Present at the gathering were two reporters from Pwani TV whose 8pm news tonight is due to feature several interviews from yesterday.
News segment will be posted on YouTube, which I'll try to link in next day or so.
(despite many efforts and requests ...could not find...). Hope the publicity helps stop people from Kenya being tricked into drug trafficking to HK/China/Macau.

Cambodia's mothers behind bars
This moving story well describes a similar case here in Kenya: a single mother of 4, sentenced to six years or a fine of US$2,000. Unable to pay fine, has already served 7 months. Thanks to a kind friend in HK who has sent help, this dear mother should be free in a few days please God.

Yesterday's menu had the words of Psalm 84 "Even sparrows and swallows are your temple guests. They build homes for their young near your altar'. Well, yesterday morning when I attended 6.30am Mass at a church where I stayed overnight in Mombasa, there were not sparrows or swallows, but crows! ....and many of them. Flying all around inside the church. So loud that the priest and reader could not be heard clearly.

Jan 21: Yesterday 11 members of families of inmates in HK prisons joined me for a visit to the Nairobi office of the Chief Justice to petition for a prisoner transfer agreement with HK. From CJ's office we were referred to the Attorney General's office where we heard the good news that two weeks ago the AG's office had began implementing a prisoner transfer agreement bill signed last October by President Kenyatta ... which means I have the happy task of informing inmates in HK that they can now apply directly to the AG's office for transfer. I have the email address of the AG's office and I hope to forward a list of names by the end of February please God

As well as visiting CJ and AG's offices yesterday, our group also gave a number of media interviews which hopefully will help warn Kenyans about the danger of drug trafficking to HK ....and thereby stem the flow of drug mules to HK

Stop press: late night call from one of the families - national tv station had a 30 minute program last night devoted to the issue of Kenyan drug mules in HK prisons. DG!

Seniors Moment: after I collected my checked in bag at Nairobi airport last Tuesday afternoon (after flight from Mombasa) I noticed that the little lock on the checked in bag had something in it: the key

Yesterday in Nairobi I had a meeting with two members of a family who have agreed to be co-ordinators of Nairobi families of inmates in HK prisons.
Two other co-ordinators have been arranged on this trip - one in Uganda and one in Mombasa.
Co-ordinators' role is to help build up a support group, use WhatsApp to share info with the group, and to continue the campaign to warn people about the danger of drug trafficking to HK. God bless these co-ordinators!

This week has seen quite a bit of mainly light rain in Nairobi, but on both my washing days, yesterday and last Saturday, the rain held off and the sun came out for several hours. Hanging your washing out on an open line sure helps you stay a bit closer to nature!

This menu was prepared last night by the light of a pen torch ... Nairobi once again suffering from a power black out. And once again my trusty USB modem came to the rescue, because no wifi without electricity

I'm due to leave Kenya late this afternoon. Due back HK Sunday afternoon please God. It has been a marvellous experience being here in Kenya and Uganda. Thank you dear brother Oblates for lovely hospitality. Jesus, please bless all the people I've met over the past few weeks - especially the families of inmates in HK prisons - and the kind HK friends who made this visit possible. As the Pope in Kenya said: "Mungu awabariki" - God bless everyone!

This menu is being prepared at Nairobi airport, as I prepare to return to HK. Having met with 40 families of inmates in HK prisons, and having obtained new and vital information about the transfer of prisoners from HK to Kenya, and having done much campaigning to warn people about the danger of drug trafficking to HK, and having met so many wonderful people, and having eaten so much Ugali, what can I say except Thank you Lord (and thank you kind HK friends who made this trip possible)

After watching Africans dancing so well as they sing - in HK and now here in Kenya and Uganda - I now have a theory why Africans have dancing DNA: having been here a month, I'll sum up my theory in one word: mosquitoes! Hitting/chasing them makes you move all limbs!