With Jesus in the Desert

What sacrifice are you making for Lent? Is it to give something up, add prayer or make a resolution? Every year, I try to find something for each category, in order to celebrate the season of Lent fully.

This year, everything is flipped upside down. Instead of living in excess (like so many Americans do), I live very simply here: no sweets, little Internet, zero Netflix, etc. I also attend daily Mass, rosary and have time for personal prayer. Since being in Kenya, I have felt like I've been in Lent the whole time! The comforts I'm so used to are absent from my life, which has allowed me to love my neighbor better and discover God more easily.

But, I'm a rule-follower, so I was determined to find something I could sacrifice. Ash Wednesday was fast approaching and I still was unsure what could be trimmed out of my life. On Fat Tuesday, we journeyed over sand and stone for hours, while dust puffed in through the cracks in the vehicle, settling in every crease. The greatest feast at that moment was the cold water and soda waiting for us in North Horr.

The next day, my body was tired and trying to adjust to the weather. Normally, Ash Wednesday would be a time for fasting and prayer, but at that time I was too exhausted to make an effort in prayer. Instead, the events that unfurled for me were my prayer!

For example, we didn't have traditional fasting on Ash Wednesday. Since we had just returned from down Kenya, the sisters had to eat the fruit and veggies that we brought before they spoiled. So, I was told to eat well. Then, that evening after Mass, we went to the oasis in the middle of the desert, a project by the Salesian fathers. They had built a swimming pool, lounge area and sold cold drinks. I was overjoyed to get to swim! The water was cool and refreshing, the company was fun and engaging and my heart was content.

North Horr is actually an oasis itself--
they have no water problems!

As the stars and moon began to shine, I floated on my back, feeling guilty for having such a great time on a day that should be full of sacrifice. Yet, God

My sketch from the pool. It was one of those things
a camera cannot capture.

was listening to me. In that moment, I realized the significance of this Lent: I needed to discover the oasis in the desert. Instead of giving something up, I was asked to search for the joy in the midst of sacrifice. Sometimes, this is harder. It requires constant effort to find reasons to be grateful when living on mission. It goes beyond "don't eat chocolate" to "find Jesus, especially in the desert."



So far, I have been amazed at how beautiful and present God has been during this Lent. Sure, most of my meals consist of beans, maize, and cabbage, but sometimes we have chocolate (for Women's Day). And maybe it is difficult to communicate with friends and family back home, but I have made some great friends here in Kenya. And maybe the water in Embu rarely issues from the pipes, but there is beauty in experiencing poverty that is a reality for many people.

This Lent, I am excited to continue to be with Jesus in the desert and discovering the oasis of His mercy.