In February 2025, Sister Constance Marie Tomyl, a general councilor, and Sister Mary Berenika Komorowska, accompanied by Sister Catalina Marie Batres, the treasurer general, embarked on a mission trip to Our Lady Mother of Africa Province in Kenya. Their visit, from February 17 to 26, included a tour of the mission in Kipsing, where they witnessed both the challenges and the resilience of the local community.
The Kipsing nursery school, located in a dry and expansive scrubland, serves as a beacon of hope for the children of the Samburu people. In this region, access to clean water is limited, and the small water tank outside the school building provides water for both drinking and handwashing. Inside the classroom, dedicated teacher Philip—who dreams of becoming a priest—strives to educate the children, despite the challenges posed by termites, which have eaten through one of the classroom doors.
A glimpse of the school’s kitchen shows the stark reality of daily life in the region, where resources are scarce but hope is abundant. During their visit, the sisters brought bread, freshly baked at the Deo Gratias Bakery in Embu, which they distributed to the children and their mothers.
In addition to their work with the children, the sisters shared a moment of connection with the mothers, offering bread and tea during the morning break. As they sat with the Samburu people in their manyattas—traditional huts made from natural materials used by nomadic families—Sisters Constance Marie and Mary Berenika shared in the warmth of their hospitality. A Samburu woman, with her infant in her arms, demonstrated the family dynamics of this pastoralist community, where cattle, goats and camels are the primary means of sustenance.
This mission, while crucial to the local community, faces its own set of challenges. The cancellation of USAID funding could significantly impact the ongoing efforts to support this mission, making it more important than ever to bring attention to the needs of the people in Kipsing.
