The Week

Last week, the Week, the time we have been waiting for and talking about for a very very long time. The last week of the Year of Faith, the last week of the current liturgical year, the week of my silver jubilee celebration in Kiabakari on coming Thursday, the week of the blessing of our three development projects, the week of the official opening of the said projects, the week of the fourth graduation in our pre-school.

The air in Kiabakari is ripe with anticipation. The church for the past two Sunday is fully packed, parishioners who grace our parochial church usually on major solemnities come to attend the Masses. People listen eagerly and attentively to announcements at the end of the Mass wanting to get the full picture of the coming celebrations.

Although I feel weariness and tiredness after many months of hard work on projects and other celebrations of the Year of Faith, adrenaline keeps me going. And the last Thursday recollection day in Bunda Carmel, filled with silence, prayer and the Holy Mass to Holy Spirit filled my heart and soul with calmness, inner joy, resolve, gratitude and spiritual power.

I enjoy phone calls, emails and messages I receive these days from well wishers and people willing to contribute towards the expenses of the celebrations. This spirit of togetherness, friendship and love is what makes these days so special.

Thank  you, Lord!

Divine Mercy Hill dressed for the upcoming celebrations

Silence Is A Way Of Communication

A couple of weeks passed since my last post. A lack of word is a word itself. A lack of post can speaks volumes. In my case it means an intense period of time for me, full of responsibilities, travels, things to do, matters to take care of, decisions, stresses, challenges and lot of work - on the upcoming jubilee, graduation, opening of projects, finalization of registration, insuring and servicing our donated motorcycles, drilling the borehole and water quality testing in government lab etc... And by saying - a lot, I mean A LOT!

Down The Memory Lane

As I await my old beat up truck to get fixed at Upendo Garage (repair of failing brakes, gear lever moving all over in the cabin and regular service and tightening bolts here and there), I have decided to work on the my silver jubilee missal. Went to post office first and was disappointed to find that the parcel with missal covers printed in Poland by Bożena, our Foundation CEO) has not arrived yet. Came to my favorite spot in Musoma then, fired up the macbook and opened the text file.

Interesting how such a simple work as proofreading and fixing styling and changing words here and there in my mission statement (call it extended CV) will evoke such a wonderful world of memories. Walking down the memory lane it has become...

Memories of my childhood, family, our small flat in Nowa Huta, my home parish, First Communion, Confirmation, my priestly vocation, friends and relatives. Kraków, Kona Street where my father lived with his parents and family (now Bandurskiego Street) before they moved to Krasinskiego avenue. I remember vaguely that house, the stairs leading to the main door, the entrance gate, the vegetation here and there...

Then Nowa Huta, kindergarten, primary school, secondary school, friendships, youthful follies and stupidities, dreams and visions of the adult life, fears and worries, hopes and achievements...

The reaction of my parents when I told then I was going to seminary, that I felt I had a vocation to priesthood... Reactions of my teachers and classmates...disbelief...

Then seminary life, first terrible weeks when my fears and expectations clashed heavily my the reality and I found myself packing and wanting to go back home...the conversation with my spiritual direction who asked me for patience and chance for the vocation... I felt so out of the place!

I took a leap of faith and gave the chance to the call...It was not easy... I am not sure I would want to go through the same experience for the second time... if I would manage to pull through... It was always about me, not about the seminary or the people who were making the seminary community. No, it was always about me, feeling strangely out of place, out of context...

The ordination, first pastoral experiences here and there, first parish in Sułkowice, then sudden switch to Jaworzno-Osiedle Stałe...challenging but wonderful years... learnt so much from so many... neverending gratitude...

Then the sudden vocation to missionary life in Africa... and the following preparations... with disbelief and pain of my parents, turned to be pride and support in the following years... Then the first pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi, the flight to Tanzania, the first days and weeks... such a steep learning curve... falling and standing up, till now...

And all that lies between from that first evening in Dar es Salaam on January 8, 1991 till today... As I go through the missionary CV and highlights of my missionary work in Tanzania, on one side I feel disbelief that God wanted to achieve so much (relatively - judging according to the size of my pond in which I swim) through such an awkward and shabby tool; on the other side I feel that I am still out of place here... somehow...difficult to explain... a misfit... yet belonging... unfulfilled yet, but weary and burnt out at the same time... feeling remorse and guilt, asking God for forgiveness, that He has to fight with this stubborn and crude tool of His choice... trying hard to do His Will somehow, but unsure if I really do so to His liking...

Walking down the memory lane... Unexpectedly, on this ordinary Monday morning, in Musoma, awaiting the vehicle, the silent witness and my old friend in my journeys for the past twenty years...

Something extraordinary out of utterly ordinary day...

Enchanting...

What Better?

When worries - about people one cares for and loves, about important issues and challenges in one's life - reach unbearable intensity and one feels helpless and deeply hurt by the one's inability to shelter them from harm, what better can one do than to immerse and hide all the people, all that matters and oneself in the Ocean of Divine Mercy and to whisper - Jesus, I trust in You...?

"Commit your way to the LORD;

trust in him and he will act"

(Psalm 37:5)

White Plate White Mug

On my to-do-list for today in Dar es Salaam there was a quest for food warmers / food servers for our new kitchen in health center and in new pre-school. I went to Kariakoo to search for them. Found them here and there, but what caused my heart melt were white plastic plates and mugs I bought from the wholesale Chinese shop for the pre-school dining hall. 

As I was holding a sample plate and a mug in my hands, my mind went to the opening day of the new pre-school, November 22. On that day we will not only have the ribbon cutting ceremony at the gate, but also the short sample of 'a day in new pre-school' which means - first lesson in each age group, breakfast in new dining hall and first games in our new playgrounds. 

I felt touched by the mental picture of some one hundred happy pre-schoolers sitting at the new tables in dining hall and having their first breakfast served from the new kitchen, equipped with modern stuff. Nice nutritious breakfast served on new white plates and a mug of freshly brewed tea for our little ones... All effort that went into the planning of the project, waiting in anticipation for the announcement of the Polish Ministry for Foreign Affairs - if the project passed or not, then the entire construction process up till now - it was worth it. 

The picture of our pupils enjoying their first day in their new pre-school is priceless. And melts my heart. Grateful to God and so many grand people of good will - from the donors through our Foundation Kiabakari to the task force - who made this possible, who made this happen. 

Touchdown

Finally, after a couple of months of communication, paperwork and pushing through bureaucracy and unexpected twists and turns on the way, the first container with donated goods for our health center, pre and primary schools and for our neighbors - Resurrection Sisters at Chief Wanzagi Girls' Secondary School - has touched down in Kiabakari this morning. The offloading work went smoothly and things are securely stored for the time being as we finalize the development projects and make space for the equipment to be placed where it should be.

Gratitude to God Almighty for His blessing and Providence, thanks to Resurrection Sisters in Melbourne, Australia, in particular, Sister Hermina, and to all people of good will involved in the whole process in Australia, my friends in Dar es Salaam who helped with clearing process and finding the solid transporter, my classmate in Austria who donated two thirds of the money needed for the payments in clearing and forwarding process and to all who prayed for the safe journey and arrival of the container to Kiabakari. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart! Certainly, the donated items will help us immensely in providing better healthcare and education at grassroots level in rural Tanzania. 

Zipping Up My Travel Bag

In a few hours time I will be on my way back to Kiabakari via Mwanza. As I zip up my travel bag, I wrap up also the evaluation of this short trip to Dar es Salaam. It has been one of the most intense and exhausting visits to the business capital of Tanzania. Flew in on Wednesday with a short to-do-list hoping that I will be able to tick off at least half of the items on it. I am grateful to Almighty and Merciful God and to kind persons who helped me on the way, that most of the important issues I was able to complete.

The container with school and medical supplies for our health center, pre-school and primary school in Kiabakari is finally on its way to Kiabakari, hoping to reach the destination tomorrow evening or on Tuesday. All due payments settled, paperwork completed. I am grateful to our parishioner and the chairman of the development board of Kiabakari, who was instrumental in making sure that the container clearing and forwarding process went smoothly.

He's been also helping me with the registration of Honda 110 motorcycles which came in last year container. When I am back in Dar, I am sure this process will also be completed and I will come back to Kiabakari with registration cards and number plates for the motorcycles, allowing us to start using the vehicles for the benefit of our mission pastoral work, school and health center facilities.

The registration of our pre-school and primary school has got a new impetus and - although I will have to be back in Dar in a few days again - I am hopeful that in a short time we will see the issue solved positively and successfully.

I used this opportunity of being in Dar to deliver invitation cards for my silver jubilee in Kiabakari to my friends and benefactors, especially those who helped me in fundraiser in March this year. I will be extremely happy to see at least some of them attending the jubilee celebration on November 21 in Kiabakari and the official government and diocesan opening of the development projects, completed by that time - on November 22. I was able to collect the special color brochure (500 copies) with the program of that day, printed beautifully in Dar.

So, feeling happy and accomplished, I zip up my bag and set off to the airport to go back to Kiabakari to wait for the container and finish the paperwork in the district offices to come back again to Dar for a couple of days to push the registration process of our schools ahead and finish other project matters.

Deo gratias for this trip, goodbye Dar and Indian Ocean shores, praying for the safe return to Kiabakari and God's blessing for all of us for this week! Continuing to light the candle of hope for my people in Kiabakari! Take care!

Determination And Resolve

Everybody knows what these two nouns mean. According to the online dictionary Merriam-Webster determination is a quality that makes you continue trying to do or achieve something that is difficult, while resolve is a strong determination to do something.

These two qualities or virtues are among the most needed for me in this particular time of my life and the celebration of the Year of Faith in Kiabakari, full of various events and challenges.

As I continue with dealing and sorting out of different issues and items on my long to-do-list here in Dar es Salaam, it is the state of mind and heart which I have been luckily experiencing - determination and resolve. 

There is a lot of expected and unexpected obstacles coming up while I circle around the town trying to tick the items off the list. But I do not get discouraged or put off. Yesterday was the best example of this attitude. And at the end of the day, although my stomach gave in under huge stress of dealing with people who are not well known for their truthfulness and willingness to fulfill their pledges, I was happy in general, and satisfied.

We will see how things pan out today. Starting with the courtesy visit to the Cardinal Archbishop of Dar es Salaam, continuing with the final stages of the payments and clearing of the container with school and health center supplies from Australia for Kiabakari. Then, later on, a few meetings with important to me people.

The Psalm 37 comes to mind in such a situation like today where very little depends on me, and most of the other parties - "Commit your way to the LORD, trust in him and he will act" (Ps 37:5)

May the Good Lord grant us a peaceful, happy and successful day.

No Vacation

Looks like my blog has been quiet for some time, almost one month now. Whenever I want to sit down and type a few lines, things come up and I have to dive into deep water of current challenges and responsibilities. Luckily, I have started to seen the light at the end of the dark tunnel and soon will come back to more regular posting.

Development projects are in the final stage which demands my presence daily at construction sites as the finishing works depend heavily on the esthetic taste of the project client. Registration process of our pre- and primary schools has to begin anew after mistakes done by the people responsible for preparing the report for the ministry. This takes time and resources. Hopefully, in the couple of weeks the brand new report will be submitted again in the Ministry of Education. Today we made another good step towards the completion of the report.

Visitation of the statue of Our Lady which travels around the diocese in each parish in the Year of Faith has reached us in Kiabakari on Wednesday. Tomorrow is the day to hand it over to our neighbors in Mugango Parish. It has been a time of grace and intense prayer with the pinnacle which was the diocesan pilgrimage of Catholic women of the diocese on Saturday and Sunday with night vigil. Today the statue is at Sisters' convent and after evening Mass there, I will be the last one to welcome the statue in my house chapel, where it will stay with us till tomorrow morning.

Health center equipment for the project has started to come by road transport from Dar. The last part of the shipment we expect to receive soon if not this week then the next.

The parish after the visitation is turning its attention to the next point in the celebrations of the Year of Faith. This will be my silver jubilee of priesthood on November 21, with the consecutive official opening of the completed projects - done by the District Commissioner of Butiama District with the representative of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The preparations to both events are well underway. This will be a summit of all my personal efforts of the entire year. Please. keep us all in your prayers, so we succeed!

I guess, this will be all for today. Praying for you always, dear readers of my blog. Stay blessed and happy!

Twenty Years Of Butiama Parish

Yesterday, our neighbors in Butiama, celebrated their twentieth anniversary of the birth of their parish. Fr. Maciej Braun, CR - the parish priest of Butiama - asked me to take a few pictures of the event. You can see them here.

Serengeti Day Trip

Our surgeons and water engineer went for a day trip to Serengeti Western Corridor on Saturday. I was there to take pictures for them. You can see samples by clicking here.

Mindblowing!

Hernia Project In Kiabakari

A few pictures of one of the hernia surgeries performed by visiting Polish surgeons in our health center during the Hernia Surgeries Project under the umbrella of the District Medical Officer of Butiama District in cooperation with the Diocese of Musoma and Foundation Kiabakari. Warning: Although the most drastic and graphic images have been avoided on purpose, still be warned that some of the pictures show the operation from a close distance. See the pictures here.

Meanwhile In Mwibagi

The reconstruction of the church destroyed in thunderstorm and twister nine days ago has begun (reinforced concrete beam ready, preparations of roof beams underway). Due to the help from our member of parliament, Hon. Nimrod Mkono, who donated roof sheets, timber and nails for roof work, and the contribution from other source, we will be able to finish the job in short time and bless anew the church on Sept 29, the Solemnity of Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Patron Saints of Mwibagi church.

Blue Monday? Nah!

A few pictures from today. Boring, depressing Monday? No way! Our surgeons continuing with surgeries in the health center, clinic day for mothers with children, development projects underway and closing slowly to its completion. A good and busy day. We do not know blue Mondays here in Kiabakari.

Kiabakari Hub

'I think I like what I see' - I murmured to myself upon opening the attachment of the email of the creators of the internet gateway to Kiabakari who sent to me another version of the main page. I liked the way they translated my vague ideas into something creative. I hope by the end of this year to have an internet hub with all pieces together in one place. An official website of Kiabakari with interactive info on Comprehensive Vision of Kiabakari, Divine Mercy shrine, Health, Education, Parish, Sisters, Foundation Kiabakari, Guests/Volunteers and Development Projects. This should be starting point for anyone who wants to know what Kiabakari is all about, where we came from, where we are at now and where we want to go and how. Our dreams, vision, passions, daily life, ups and downs. Life in its fullest.

Meanwhile In Mwanza

Power down, thunderstorm in. How I missed this sight and sound! So many months without rain in Kiabakari, only one rain a couple of weeks ago. As I await the time to go to the airport, a bit worried about the weather and the incoming plane from Nairobi with our guests, two Polish surgeons who have landed safely in Nairobi (we exchanged text messages a while ago), I enjoy the sight and sound of the thunderstorm in Mwanza. Here is a short mobile phone video clip which sadly cannot translate by far the might of this weather event.

Pictures From Construction Sites In Kiabakari

As you know well, for a few months now, three development projects funded by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the scheme of Polish Aid 2013 are being realized in Kiabakari. Here are some pictures of the current state of their completion as posted by Foundation Kiabakari on their Facebook timeline (click here).

Please, continue to sponsor our projects through your kind prayers, well wishes. Keep your fingers crossed as well, humanely speaking. Our aim is to complete all three projects by the end of October, well ahead of deadline which is the end of the year. And this despite continuous problems with water in Kiabakari and drought in Tanzania. I am proud of my construction teams, supervisors and suppliers. Well done, so far.

Inguinal Hernias In Tanzania

I woke up early this morning in my favorite room at SMA Regional House in Bwiru district of the city of Mwanza. In a couple of minutes two young Polish surgeons will land in Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and then after a couple of hours they will board the Precision Air flight to Mwanza. They are expected to land here in Mwanza at 9.20 A.M. I will pick them up and we will drive straight to Kiabakari, hopefully, God willing, reaching their final destination around lunch time. Then after a short rest and settling down in their rooms, we will have a first meeting with the staff of our health center, to get to know each other, prepare the theater, newly purchased autoclave machine (I brought it from Dar es Salaam especially for this project; it is brand new and never used so far), other operating tools (brought by the surgeons themselves) and select employees who will work directly with the surgeons. We will set up procedures for the upcoming hernia surgeries and will hope that people affected by this ailment will shop up starting tomorrow, Monday, September 2.

The government of Tanzania via District Medical Officer of Butiama District will finance the procurement of all needed medicine and dressings. We, as the health center and Foundation Kiabakari, will sponsor internal health center costs, so instead of paying a lot, the patients will contribute as little as 15 Euros (of course the will pay in Tanzanian shillings) for the surgery.

Sławek and Przemek will have only two weeks to perform as many surgeries as possible. On my part I did everything that was possible under circumstances and with the financial resources I had in my disposal, posting announcements everywhere in the Region, spreading word through friends channels, via Radio Victoria and government and church healthcare institutions. We will see if this effort brings some effect.

As always, I count very much on your kind prayers and well wishes for the success of the project. And it is my hope that this Inguinal Hernia Project in Kiabakari will be the beginning of the new chapter of healthcare in Kiabakari - opening the avenue of visiting doctors and specialists of various kinds according to the priorities of health problems of our communities in Kiabakari, Butiama District, Mara Region and beyond. Already people ask for cardiologists, dentists, eye specialists, gynecologists, physiotherapists, diabetic specialists etc to come. The needs are huge. Let's spread the word about this. It is a noble cause!

For Polish readers (but you can also use Google translator) an article on our surgeons adventure in Kiabakari (click here).

Caring Healthy Arms

This is the title of the exhibition of pictures and artifacts prepared by my Foundation Kiabakari at ŻyWa Pracownia located in Krakow's Kazimierz district as a global education effort to spread the news and knowledge about the ongoing development project 'Upendo Unaojali' in Kiabakari. I am very pleased with a huge work done by our team under the leadership of Miss Bożena Koczur. I hope and pray and humanely I keep my fingers crossed as well for the success of the exhibition and good media coverage. If you happen to be in Krakow in this period, please come and see for yourself!

The links to the event - Facebook (click here) and Internet (click here).