Answering God's Call

Furaha ya mtoto aijua mzazi.  It's the parent who knows the child's joy.
If there is one common bond Father Ambrose Wanyonyi and Father Tyler Tenbarge share, it’s the blessings of families that nurture and support the call to the priesthood.  Born 8,000 miles apart, their stories start with hearing and responding to God’s call at very early ages.
I was fortunate to meet the family of Father Ambrose on June 10, one day before his priestly ordination.  Three years have passed since he last saw his mother, Gertrude Nakhanja, in person.  Accompanied by her niece, Leah Wanjala (who graciously translated from Swahili), and their pastor, Father Christopher Wanyonyi, Nakhanja successfully completed her first journey from Kenya to the United States, which included long bus rides, yellow fever injections and multiple plane transfers.  
Father Ambrose’s mother speaks Swahili, not English.  But no language barrier could suppress her excitement.  She smiled, laughed and danced when discussing the next day’s ordination.  
Father Ambrose’s mother happily shared memories of his growing up.  “When he was around one year (old), he was a good boy,” recalled Gertrude with a smile. “But when he grew up and was around 10 years (old) he was to tend the cattle.  He would leave the cattle and they would find him in the church praying.”
Kenyan pastor Father Christopher joined in with laughter. “His dad always wanted him to stay with the cows, but (Ambrose) was always sneaking in to go to the church.  But God was preparing him to be a shepherd of human beings, not cows.  Good thing.”
Father Ambrose grew up immersed in the Catholic faith.  His mother is active in the Catholic Church in Kenya, serving as a reader, altar server and community leader.  The church where Ambrose served as an altar boy was only meters away from the family home.  He was always curious, with many questions for the priests and his parents about God.   His father encouraged Ambrose to join the teachers college to become an educator, but Ambrose was drawn to the seminary, where he loved studying philosophy.
Father Tyler Tenbarge’s parents also recall a young boy who always wished to become a priest. After his  ordination, Susan and Mark Tenbarge took a moment to share their memories of raising a son looking towards the priesthood while growing up in Gibson County.
 “He always told me he was going to be a priest,” said Father Tyler’s mother, Susan.  “He’d go a year without saying a word about it, but he always came back to it.”
His father, Mark, recalled a different impression. “I didn’t always see that,” he said. “After one year at Purdue, (Tyler) said he wasn’t going back next year.  I thought he would go to Indiana State or another university, and he said he was going into the seminary.  I wasn’t expecting that…and for the longest time I didn’t say anything because I was sure he was going to change his mind.  But then when I watched his speech (as a retiring national FFA officer), as he gave his retiring address about what was inside, I knew.  I knew it was right.”
“We always had a lot of priests to our house for meals,” Susan said with a smile. “Tyler and Trent (his brother) would stand in the window, and the priests would always come in really nice cars.  I said, ‘You become a priest, I’ll buy you a really nice car.’  So Tyler asked if he was going to get a car now.”
“It wouldn’t be fair to the others,” Mark said with a grin, “We have six kids…he already gets more attention than the rest because of it.”  
Most of that attention may stem from Father Tyler’s grandmother, who has been waiting on this moment for a long, long time.  She had dreams of one of her 10 children becoming a priest; and when that did not happen, she pinned her hopes on her grandchildren.  
 “You know how folks say people have a will to live?  When he said he was going to be (a priest) it just made her day,” shared Mark. “She is going to be 91.  She was just hoping all along she would be here.”
Both parents agree that Father Tyler’s communication skills and ability to connect with youth are great great attributes.  They recall seeing him meet with youth at the University of Southern Indiana.
“The kids just flock to him.  Young kids like him,” Mark said.
“Tyler’s just a people person,” Susan added with pride.
It is clear that the faith and formation of these two new priests have been enhanced by loving, faith filled families.  The blessings these families have bestowed upon the Diocese of Evansville are greatly appreciated, and our prayers are with them as they continue to support the newly ordained priests.
Imana aguhe umugisha – God bless you.