Time To Say Goodbye...

This is my last post on American soil. In a few hours time I'll head to JFK airport to begin my journey back to where I belong...to Kiabakari. First, to Poland, to my Dad, relatives and friends. Then, to Tanzania, to get back home before Christmas. And after the New Year, I'll get down to work with whatever good people helped me with. We'll see how far it will take me in the realization of the projects lagging behind... I won't worry now, I will not worry then either. The Lord will provide. And I trust in His Mercy!...

Western Coast

Just  a quick post to let you know that I arrived safely to San Francisco and will stay in the area for a few days, almost a week, visiting friends I have known, liked and respected for quite a some time, years even, but never had chance to meet them in real life, same as it was the case with friends in Canada. Still with a heavy heart missing 'my' people in Canada and the country at large. I will never seize to thank for their kindness, hospitality and caring hearts. My heart stays with them, my prayers are and will be with them and the Holy Mass offered for them and the intentions dear to their hearts will be a part of my spirituality based on gratitude.

Kwaheri Ya Kuonana

KWAHERI YA KUONANA in Swahili language means GOOD BYE TILL WE MEET AGAIN. Just a very quick note, but fully loaded with emotions, sadness and feeling of inevitable looming over me. This is my last evening in Canada before I fly tomorrow early morning to Toronto and then to San Francisco to start a second chapter of my North American odyssey...

Kahnawake

A friend of mine took me this morning for a short trip to Kahnawake Mohawk Reserve on the other side of St. Lawrence River. I returned saddened with what I saw there. Since my childhood I have been a great fan of adventure books - in particular of Karl May - telling a proud tale of Natives in North America, then movies came along, especially 'Dances With Wolves'... but the reality of Natives I have witnessed today dealt a devastating blow to this lifelong beliefs and mental picture filled with my awe and respect...

Polish Radio 7 Toronto

Last Thursday, on October 21, 2010, I had an opportunity to spread more news on Kiabakari, Divine Mercy and my life as a missionary in Tanzania, when I was invited to talk about these issues on air in Polish Radio 7 in Toronto. Here is a link to the audio file of this radio talk. Hope you enjoy it in Polish language...

In Retrospect

The past three weeks in Canada - two in Quebec and one in Ontario - have been one of the best times in my life. Serious. My vague idea of what Canada is about has been immensely 'modified' and let's be honest - shattered into pieces, particularly in the area of people and relationships. Before I arrived to Montreal, I did not know a single person in real life. All my contacts were made in virtual reality, online, through social networks like Nasza Klasa and Facebook! It is amazing how well all this worked out in real life terms...

Berlin

The place I'm at, was called first the Town of Berlin, then the City of Berlin since 1854 through 1916. Then the Germans lost the First World War and the city become known as Kitchener. Nowadays along with the city of Waterloo and Cambridge, the three cities are called 'the tri-cities'. Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge is all about contrasts and symbiosis of the past and the modern...

Toronto.pl

Since I arrived to Toronto on Saturday, my state of mind is nothing short of amazement and awe, mixed with pride and respect for the people I have met in this city. So sad, that Polish community or better, Polish diaspora, in the United States of America stole a mainstream of news on Poles in North America. Polish community in Canada - in my humble opinion - has been living far too long in the shadow of its mighty big brother from the States and somehow deprived of its due glory and credit for its amazing history...

The Ambiance

Continuing along my today's mood for mental and aesthetic path of sights and sounds, let me turn the spotlight to the largest European country in the world (excluding perhaps the European part of the Russian Federation), which is the Province of Quebec in Canada. Since I arrived here, I still haven't felt as if I arrived to North America. The European ambiance of this province makes me feel as if I am still in Europe. As I am about to move to Ontario in a couple of days, let me share with you the ambiance and the beauty of this part of our world, especially with those of you who have never been to Quebec yet...

Scratching The Surface

That is exactly how I see it. Just scratching the surface of a little yet known world to me. The world of human ingenuity, charisma, talents, skills, passions and desires that drive people from the very young age to excel... Since I have arrived to Canada, this is what I've been doing...more rather by chance, by accident, that by a methodical process or approach. Scratching the surface of the world of talents, passions, charismas, dreams, notions, desires and lifetime goals in Polish diaspora in Montreal mainly, as I have been spending most of my time in this city...But I am absolutely certain that in Toronto and elsewhere in Canada, the picture is just the same...

The Kingdom Of Far Far Away

I am not exactly sure if it even remotely possible to mold my feelings and magical experiences of yesterday pilgrimage into any sort of words and ideas poured in to the form of this post... Mission impossible, I reckon... Yet I feel an urge in my heart to share with you how yesterday's mystical encounter with the Kingdom of Far Far Away has touched the very core of my existence and changed me...