God had a different plan.

“My goal always was to go back and educate kids,” he said. “But when God is asking you to do something, you need to do it. I felt like he was saying to me, ‘I need you to do one more thing: Join the Army.’”

Two years later, Kanai wears the rank of captain and serves as a chaplain assigned to Fort Lewis. The 43-year-old Roman Catholic priest ministers to soldiers of a country that gave him a green card and an opportunity to further an education.

And on Thursday, nine years after he arrived in the United States and six weeks after returning from a deployment to Afghanistan, Kanai took the oath of citizenship at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services building in Seattle.

Kanai and 40 other service members, spouses and veterans from 29 nations participated in the ceremony. They raised their right hands, swore loyalty to the United States and pledged to defend the country against all enemies.

They listened to speakers, posed for photos and ate sheet cake decorated with the American flag.

Citizenship, Kanai said, was a natural step after his military service.

“I was ready to give up my life for my country,” he said. “I’m ready to become an American.”

He hadn’t given serious consideration to moving to the United States until about 10 years ago. Kanai had been a priest for almost five years, the last two as assistant superintendent of Catholic schools for the Archdiocese of Nairobi.

He wanted to study for a doctorate in education to help strengthen the school system, and he asked the archbishop if he could travel to the United States should he win a green card.

The archbishop agreed, knowing that the State Department awards 50,000 visas – out of more than 6 million applicants – each year. Many people apply every year for decades and never receive a visa.

Kanai was selected in his first attempt.

He arrived in the United States in 1999. He received his doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Dayton in Ohio in 2006.

Kanai, then 40, reported to basic training that summer.

He was assigned to Fort Lewis, technically as a member of the Reserve placed on active duty. The Archdiocese of Nairobi told him he could minister to soldiers for three years before both sides re-evaluated his assignment.

In December 2007, he deployed to Afghanistan. He traveled around the eastern part of the country to celebrate Mass, hear confessions and counsel soldiers. He wears the combat patch of the 173rd Airborne Brigade but also served with soldiers from the 101st Airborne and 1st Infantry divisions.

He witnessed a transformation in the soldiers’ beliefs.

“Many who had faith, their faith got deeper,” he said. “Very deep. Not all of them, of course, but the experience of deployment strengthened the faiths for many.”

Life in a combat zone also had an effect on Kanai.

“My faith grew, too,” he said. “You are human. You sometimes have fears. But you learn to accept them and survive them and thrive in them. And that’s through prayer, through belief in God.”

Kanai returned to Fort Lewis on Oct. 4. He’s settled into the routine of being one of four Catholic priests assigned to the post.

His agreement with the Archdiocese of Nairobi to minister to American troops ends next year.

He is one of only 106 Catholic chaplains serving on active-duty status in the Army and one of 296 priests in the armed services, said Monsignor Ronald Newland, the chancellor for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA.

But Kanai’s future isn’t totally his decision.

“I have many bosses,” he said with a laugh. “God. My bishop. My bosses in the Army. But certainly, I would like to stay. I love it. It’s a great job.”

Scott Fontaine: 253-320-4758

blogs.thenewstribune.com/military

Photographer Peter Haley contributed to this report.

Faster route for military

President George W. Bush signed an executive order in 2002 expediting the naturalization of noncitizens serving in the military on active-duty status during wartime. Since then, 42,981 members of the armed forces have been naturalized. Here’s a breakdown of

 • aturalizations by fiscal year:

20022,572

20034,659

20046,327

20057,136

20068,538

20075,895

20087,854