Such Faith

The Gospel of Saint Luke, chapter 7, verses 1 to 10, is read today. It is all about a simple yet powerful faith in Jesus and His tender merciful Heart, which is touched by the people's misery. It is all about Jesus' praise of such faith and His rebuke that He did not find such faith in the Children of the Chosen Nation:

Day Of Obligation

Twice a month in Kiabakari everybody, regardless of one's creed or belief, celebrates a "day of obligation" when people gather in one place around a sizable tree. This day of obligation is called - a market day (siku ya mnada - in swahili language). The dates on which this day of obligation falls are - each 6th and 23rd day of each month...

Peas And Cabbage

Today is a day like in the Polish saying - 'peas and cabbage'. Everything thrown together, not fitting or complementing each other. Real organized chaos...

At The Break Of The New Day

At the break of the new day. Sipping freshly brewed morning coffee. Reading bits and pieces of news on internet, yet focusing rather on things in my mind and heart. I wish the whole day stayed that calm and quiet... Unfortunately, in a moment the Saturday buzz will break out - the church, the office, Musoma unplanned trip, preparations for Sunday liturgy, finalizing construction work and payments, plus myriads of other tiny agendas here and there... Thank God for this morning hour of calmness, serenity and mood of prayer and mediation which gives me spiritual and mental strength to cope with onslaught of incoming responsibilities of the day...

When women didn’t eat eggs, wear trousers...

Monday, being an easy and laid back day off for me today, helped me to infuse my mind with some great stories I came across the web. It is sometimes a futile catch-up chase with the modern world for me, with poor internet connection in Kiabakari and busy schedule, which hinders my 'get in touch' with the world attitude. This time though, I have ample time on my hands as my beaten up truck undergoes repair and service and I sit with my macbook and go slowly through interesting pieces of journalism one by one. Among those I read an excellent and inspiring article, which comes along well with the just a week ago celebrated Women's Day and my Brother's art exhibition on the woman's theme. I copy and paste the full article for your convenience.

Woman. Mystery. Inspiration

This is the title of the exhibition of art by my younger and only brother, Christopher. He shared with me just a couple of days ago his joy of being able to go public with his passion for the mystery of a woman in his life, a mystery which has become an inspiration for him and for us, close to him. I know his passion for long and admired always his sensitivity to the beauty of a woman, a beauty of a female form and the mystery of a woman genius which inspires him and us all. I would like to share with you my joy of his first step towards public awareness of his artistic life and wish him all the best in pushing forward with his passion, fulfilling his artistic dreams and visions! Well done, Bro! The link to the info on his exhibition is here.

Clad In Warmth

Tomorrow is the 'exciting' Valentine Day. Yet another commercial twister to spin spending in a dead market season between Christmas and Easter. In Tanzania, Valentine frenzy picks up gradually year by year, copy&pasting what others have been doing elsewhere in the world. I don't celebrate Siku ya Wapendanao (as they call it here in Swahili language) as I believe love is an all-weather, all-seasons sensation, decision, attitude, feeling, commitment... not a once-a-year jerk of conscience reminding one to proclaim love to the loved one and then remaining as a living routine, blunt relationship devoid of spark, connection and passion...

Graduation Day - Pictures

Too tired, too overwhelmed, too high on emotions to write anything sensible after today's first ever graduation at our Pre-School in Kiabakari. So, just a quick post with a link to some sixty photos from the event. Hope you will like them and appreciate a huge amount of work put into the preparations of this historic celebration - on the side of children, sisters and parents. The pictures are here.

Grandmother

On January 21, we, Poles, celebrate Grandmother's Day. Sadly, both my Grannies are in Heaven now, still I do observe, pay attention and celebrate this day as I have lots to be grateful for having such wonderful Grandmas in my life. I was and am lucky, to be honest. My Grandmothers were the best ever Grandmas in the history of the humanity!

Independence

The 11th of November is a special day for Poles, celebrated as the Independence Day meaning the return to the map of sovereign European states after 123 years of foreign rule. Naturally, regaining independence is not an event that could be discussed in terms of one specific date in calendar but rather a long and complex process. This special date, however, marks a series of important events that gave the day a symbolic meaning: the Compiegne armistice is signed, ending long and bloody World War I. Most of German troops deployed in Warsaw since August 5, 1915, have been disarmed; Jozef Pilsudski, the architect and leader of Legions, the most esteemed politician at that time, holds talks on taking over power and re-creating the Polish state 'from the scrap'.

A New Day

I was unable to write anything yeterday, though the day was fully charged with emotions, happenings, travel, farewells and so forth... It was a very sad and traumatic day for me... Sometimes everything falls apart on its own merit, relations and friendships end, without any input from myself. It was one of those days... Thank God it's a new day today... This is the first friday of this month...I enclose my wounded heart in the Sacred Heart of Jesus... It is all I can do as the tears have not dry out yet...