“Ora et Labora, Sala na Kazi, Prayer and Work” Two BVC Alumni Capture Mathare Through the Lens of Humanity

Nestled in a quiet Collegeville house, BVC alumni Peyton Reece and Sam Rengo labor in what has become their creative refuge. What was once an ordinary bedroom now hums with the energy of a studio, computer monitors glow like votive candles, hard drives stack like hymnals, and the walls are papered with storyboards and handwritten notes. Black-and-white stills from Nairobi’s Mathare valley hang like icons, reminders of a story still unfolding.

In January 2025, Reece and Rengo returned to Nairobi to film a documentary in Mathare, one of the city’s oldest informal settlements. For six weeks they followed the lives of four boys and their mentor, Robert, a social worker and community leader. The film does not seek to diagnose or solve, but to see, to witness daily life as it is lived, with its contradictions of joy and fatigue, laughter and loss.

The idea took root a year earlier, during the 2024 BVC Nairobi Experience, when Reece walked through Mathare for the first time.

Back in Collegeville, the thought persisted. He needed a partner, someone fluent not only in Swahili, but in creativity. Rengo, then finishing his volunteer year in Hanga, Tanzania, was the obvious fit.

“People sometimes assume I was just the ‘language guy,’” Rengo says with a smile. “But this was a true collaboration. Every frame, every scene, we had to share the same vision.”

Reece agrees. “Without Sam, this project wouldn’t exist in the way it does. His ability to connect across language and culture opened doors I never could have. He was fearless in places where I hesitated.”

In Nairobi, their partnership was tested and proven. They moved through Mathare’s alleys with cameras and open hearts, guided less by a shot list than by intuition. “We had a few contacts of individuals in Kenya to work with and a rough vision,” Reece admits, “but mostly we trusted the process.”

When they returned home, that same intuition shaped their editing. The Collegeville studio filled with the low murmur of footage looping endlessly on screens. Storyboards multiplied; sticky notes marked scenes of stories coming to life.

The pair describe the process not as linear, but circular, returning to scenes again and again until the film itself revealed its shape.

In their rhythm of long nights and early mornings, the two found an echo of the Benedictine pattern they once lived, not as a neat metaphor for “prayer and work,” but as a discipline of listening and attention. The editing table became a kind of lectern, their footage a modern psalter of ordinary holiness.

Asked what the project has taught him, Rengo pauses. “If I could change anything, I’d shut up more,” he says, laughing softly. “Sometimes your past self gets in the way of what could’ve been captured. I’ve learned to listen longer and notice more.”

Reece nods. “You learn by doing and by failing. We started this with no blueprint, but we’ve learned to trust the process, and each other.”

As this article goes to print, Reece and Rengo remain immersed in the initial drafts. Their first public screenings, however, will not be in Minnesota, but back in Mathare.

Reece agrees. “Seeing Robert watch the film for the first time, that’s the moment I’m waiting for. Everything else is a bonus.”

After those private screenings, the film will premiere in the United States in spring 2026. For now, two former volunteers continue to listen to the hum of footage, to the rhythm of the edit, and to the quiet call of a story still speaking.

Current Volunteer Update

“Benedictine Life in the Land of Eternal Spring” by Jonathan Hill for The Record, October 2, 2025

It was very overwhelming during our first few days of work, and I remember feeling very unqualified to stand in front of a room full of high schoolers and teach them a second language. After all, I was never an education major! However, after some time, practice, guidance from fellow teachers, and encouragement from students, I’ve fallen into a rhythm, and it is one of the most rewarding jobs I’ve ever had. In about a week, the school will finish its academic year, and I already cannot wait to be back in the classroom with our students in January.

As I write this, I am in the process of applying to grad school, and while I am still not completely sure where I am called to be next year, I know that for these next several months, I am called to be here. Being amid this vibrant circle of students, monks, teachers, pilgrims, and locals has given me yet another example of what the Benedictine value of community living can and should look like.

So, Bennies and Johnnies, I sincerely hope you take the time to consider how you can make a positive change in the world by serving others, whether in college or afterward. As a senior last year, one goal that I, and many of my classmates, had was to do something bigger than ourselves. In my opinion, one of the best ways to fulfill this goal, especially as young adults, is to go out into the world and be of service. Whether it’s the BVC, another post-grad volunteer program, or even just a week-long service trip, there is a wealth of options available when it comes to making positive change in the world. If you find yourself experiencing that inner voice or gut instinct to serve others and make that positive change, don’t ignore it. Listen to it. Allow yourself to think about it, and if you genuinely feel called and compelled, don’t be afraid to go for it! Speaking from experience, you will be inspired and renewed by the lives you encounter, and the work you do will give you a new perspective on the world you never knew you needed.

2025 Annual Homecoming Brunch

This past September, the BVC hosted its annual Homecoming Reunion Brunch, welcoming nearly fifty attendees who were past volunteers, friends, family, and those who hold the BVC close to heart. Volunteers returned to Collegeville to reconnect with the people and place that shaped their journeys.

We were blessed with a wonderful range of cohorts represented. Freshly returned volunteers were greeted by alumni eager to hear how their former sites had changed or remained the same. Thank you to all the families, friends, and volunteers who continue to share in community with us here at Saint John’s.

After sharing stories and laughter over brunch, the group headed to Clemens Stadium to cheer on the Johnnies in their Homecoming matchup against Augsburg. With ease, Saint John’s claimed victory in a commanding 63–0 win… Johnnie football reigns supreme!

Thank you again to everyone who joined us in celebration. We look forward to gathering and sharing in community with you again soon.

Recruitment for 2026-2027 Cohort

Autumn has begun to shed its final leaves as we ease into winter here in Collegeville. Recruitment for the 2026–2027 cohort is now underway, beginning earlier this year with the rollout of new and updated promotional materials.

Our current volunteers have been sharing their stories and experiences through a weekly column in The Record, the student newspaper. Alumni on campus have also been generous in reflecting on life beyond their service year, helping current students imagine what comes next.

Informational meetings in upperclassmen housing, Johnnie Bread nights, Abbey events, and moments of shared prayer have all sparked new interest in the BVC. These efforts to reach students at different points in their journey have already yielded promising results.

With our current offers, we look forward to sending another incredible cohort to sites across Europe, South America, East Africa, and North America. We’re eager to introduce the 2026–2027 cohort to our community and highlight another year of Benedictine values taking root at Saint John’s.

Promotional Video Shown on Gagliardi Jumbo-Tron

Video created by Peyton Reece and featuring Ethan Riddle ‘25 and Zach Staver ‘24

“…the Lord says again: “Who is the man that wishes for life, and desires to see good days?””
— Rule of St. Benedict, Prologue

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