“But what is wrong with this vehicle?” Fr. Franco Cellana asked aloud after trying to start it yet again. He had done it seven times and the eighth and the ninth didn’t work. Not even pushing it to jump-start could work. The workers of Mukothima mission had been of great help in pushing the car, but even themselves were sure that the vehicle would never start even if a hundred attempts to jump start it were made. What complicated issues was that the vehicle’s engine system was new to most of us and therefore not even the instructions of brother Gaetano through the phone from Nairobi would help. Things were just too technical for us to see the problem. Everybody wished that Br. Gaetano was present in person.
We were sure that he was able to solve the puzzle of a brand new vehicle moving from Nairobi to Meru very well, only to refuse to start the following day when people are ready to leave.
It was 28th June 2008, and we were we had just finished the celebration of Consolata the Patron (or is it Matron) of Mukothima girls’ secondary school in Meru, and now we were prepared to leave when the vehicle gave us a negative nod. Fr. Cellana was supposed to preside another ceremony at Tuthu the following day, a celebration which was aimed at commemorating one hundred and six years since the Consolata Missionaries arrived in the place. The vehicle was now the greatest obstacle and time did not seem to have pity on us.
Finally, Fr. Cellana communicated with Fr. Makau from Runogone in Meru, who came to pick us. What should have been a journey from three started at six. Anyway, with Fr. Makau arriving at Mukothima mission, we found our way to the pastoral animation centre of Runogone where we had the night. After a good night sleep, the following day we cruised to Murang’a, after Fr. Makau allowed us to use their vehicle to Embu, where somebody was to meet us with Fr. Cellana’s car, which had been left in Nairobi when we decided to use the ‘rough-roaded’ Land-rover. By half past eight we were waiting for Mr. Waweru (a driver at the regional house, whom we were informed would bring the vehicle) at the junction of Embu-Kutus way. After some delay of almost half an hour, the man arrived followed by Brs. Gaetano and Miguel, who were going to Mukothima to resuscitate the ‘sick’ Land-rover.
While Mr. Waweru returned the vehicle of Runogone, we saw our way to Tuthu in Murang’a. A quarter past ten we were starting the ceremony at Tuthu, the place where, as we have mentioned, the first four Consolata missionaries had their first Mass a hundred and six years before.
The Mass which was co-celebrated by Fr. Mugo the Parish Priest of Tuthu Parish, was very vibrant. While appreciating the steps the community had made over the years, Fr. Mugo challenged the community to look further ahead, and to assess critically each gain that had been obtained with a view of improving it even more. Fr. Cellana thanked the community for its evident acceptance of the Christian faith, but encouraged it to spread the same seed of evangelization by living the gospel values in their families, and by praying for the religious vocation. The Mass ended at two, after which we headed back to Nairobi, obviously after a delicious meal in the Parish house at Kanyanyaini. We arrived at Nairobi at half past six, happy that we had successfully completed the mission of that weekend, but also happy that Br. Gaetano had successfully resuscitated the broken down Land-rover and was also heading back to Nairobi. Our happiness was crowned when the two, Br. Gaetano and Br. Miguel arrived at the regional house just as we entered the dining room.
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