‘‘We go out every day to beg because we are beggars. We beg from companies, shops, door to door, from the market, and also from parishes,’’ says Sr. Grace Samuel, the sister in charge of Little Sisters of the Poor Nyumba ya Wazee in Mombasa.
This is indeed the picture that unfolds as I take a stroll through the streets of Kongowea market on a sunny humid Thursday morning. I encounter two sisters each holding a khaki woven basket and moving from one stall to another begging for foodstuffs. Some of the sellers drop a few of the items they are selling in the sisters' baskets while others just ignore them.
But the Sisters are not bothered by the disregard; they just go on and on. It is their way of life after all! funny, right? Who would dare engage in such a humiliating activity? But this is the kind of life the Little sisters of the poor have freely chosen. In Sr. Grace’s words, ‘‘Begging calls for humility. If you think about yourself, it is hard, but when you think about whom you are doing it for, then you are able to do it.’’ The Little sisters of the poor beg not for themselves but for the elderly men and women who are needy and neglected. They are indeed servants of the poor.
A walk into the "Little Sisters of the poor Nyumba ya Wazee" convent located less than a kilometre away from Makupa roundabout reveals this reality. The one-storeyed house with two parallel blocks linked by the kitchen and dining area partially forms an enclosure as if with open arms ready to embrace anyone that comes around. The elderly men and women hosted here can attest to this. They have found a home at Nyumba ya Wazee.
Mama Agnes from Makueni narrates how she found herself at Nyumba ya Wazee back in 2007.
‘‘I was very sick back home but my only child who is a man could not take care of me on his own. So he brought me here in an unconscious state. I only began to understand what was happening and where I was after I regained consciousness much later. Unfortunately the sickness was so severe that it left my lower limbs paralysed. But I appreciate the sisters here.’’
She rains gratitude upon the Little sisters of the poor whom she describes as ‘children of God with a Godly heart.’ ‘‘I thank God because here, I’m well taken care of like a child is cared for by their parent. We eat five times a day and we never miss fruits. Personal and room hygiene is observed to the letter! We have a church here and the priest comes every day to feed us with the word of God.’’ She recognizes the fact that the sisters take care of them but she is more grateful to the workers who she notes are closer to them and always attentive to their needs. Agnes has found a home at Nyumba ya Wazee, ‘‘Here, I have found my brothers and sisters with whom we have formed a family and we are happy,’’ she says with a grateful smile on her face.
On a sunny humid morning, this home is a beehive of activities. While some sisters are either wheeling or supporting the elderly to the ‘makuti’ shade in front of the house for a moment of fresh air, others are busy cleaning their rooms to ensure that the environment is conducive enough for the vulnerable family.
Founded in 1939 in France by St. Juan Jugan, the Little Sisters of the Poor who are now in more than 30 countries and they strive to keep alive the spirit of their founder. They therefore run their homes solely through donations from well-wishers.
The Uniqueness of Nyumba ya Wazee
When asked what makes Nyumba ya Wazee different from any other similar house, Sr. Grace notes, ‘‘some of the people who come to this home have never experienced love. Therefore, when they come here, we welcome and make them feel that they are part of our family.’’ The home is inclusive as the sisters recruit the needy and abandoned elderly irrespective of religion or country of origin. Their main focus is the elderly who desperately need help. As Sr. Grace notes, ‘‘We are very open to the needs of the church.’’
Holistic Care
The elderly at Nyumba ya Wazee receive holistic care. Apart from meals and personal hygiene, the sisters here ensure that their medical needs are catered for. In one of the rooms at the facility, I encounter Dr. Nestor Mwasaru and Sr. Sherryl attending to medical needs of the elderly. When asked what he does at the facility, Dr. Mwasaru responds, ‘‘most of the elderly here have chronic illnesses and conditions associated with old age. So we do periodic reviews where we see them at least once a month and change medication when it is necessary.’’
Since 2014 Dr. Mwasaru has been volunteering his services at Nyumba ya Wazee as a way of giving back to the community. ‘‘All through my practice I have always wanted to do voluntary work. It is one of my passions and sometimes when I talk to wazees, they feel so good even when I don’t give them any medication. But when you assure them and show them some love they feel so good.’’ Dr. Mwasaru is motivated by the fact that his presence at Nyumba ya Wazee makes the elderly happy and gives them hope.
The chapel at Nyumba ya wazee is big enough to accommodate all the residents at this home. Besides, they have Holy Mass every day and the elderly are free to attend if they wish to. The Little Sisters of the poor coordinate with entities within and without the church. On our visit, we meet guests from the disciplined services visiting the home to drop some food items and have a brief sharing with the elderly. We also encounter the archbishop of Mombasa wheeling some of the elderly members at the facility. The joy on their faces is evident even as each one wishes to have alone time with His Grace. Martin Kivuva Musonde.
Fun Moments
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. The Little Sisters have heeded to this call by allowing fun moments for the elderly. In the ‘makuti’ shades outside the Nyumba ya Wazee, a designated physiotherapist throws a ball randomly at the elderly seated in a row. This is not only for medication but also for fun. In the afternoon, the shade is filled with chit-chats, giggles and laughter as the elderly engage each other in Chess, Ludo and other indoor games. They find this exercise exciting.
Aid Appeal
Even though the Little sisters are working hard to ensure that the elderly have their needs, the home is not without challenges. The house which has been in existence since 1969 needs constant maintenance. The Sister in charge of Nyumba ya wazee in Mombasa therefore appeals to well-wishers who are willing to support the home to reach out.
Those willing to support with medication or food stuffs are also welcome to donate in support of the apostolate of the Little Sisters of the Poor. An act of charity will go a long way in fulfilling the biblical phrase, ‘when I was hungry you gave me to eat, when I was thirsty you gave me to drink….’ Referring
