Bugisi

At last we have been able to come to Bugisi, to visit Fr. Janusz Pociask, Polish volunteers Monika and Jola, and to see what 50 years of organized, painstaking development of generations of missionaries and volunteers brought to this cursed area (as we were told by our hosts - the local chief gave the first missionaries this land as it was presumed to be cursed or damned) which eventually - due to the ardeous work of so many - has become a blessed land... Thanks be to God for giving us this fantastic opportunity to pay respect to White Fathers, Maryknoll Fathers and now - SMA missionaries and volunteers... Thank you Father Janusz, thank you Monika and Jola, thank you, good and hospitable people of Bugisi. God bless you all!!!

Eight Routes Up The Mountain

As the majority of solemnities of the liturgical calendar which occur on weekdays are moved to the nearest Sunday in Tanzania, today we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints. The Gospel of today's liturgy speaks of Eight Routes up the mountain of God (The Eight Beatitudes).

Calm Before The Storm

Friday morning, right after the Holy Mass in Our Lady of Perpetual Help chapel in the shrine. A quiet breakfast and a growing feeling of incoming storm. The calmness of the morning may be quite deceiving... In a couple of hours a 'hell' will break loose and everybody will be up to elbows deep in preparatory works, cleaning, decorating, cooking, meetings, last minute planning for the Sunday Silver Jubilee of religious vows of Sr. Mary Chongo, the superior of sisters' community in our parish. We expect some two hundred guests participating. This is a serious celebration and I gather mental strength to cope with it calmly, efficiently and professionally. Of course, the Lord is the Master of the Ceremony and we pray for His blessings so that we may do whatever we can to make this day a great success. Prayers as always very much appreciated!

Ordnung Muss Sein

The first two weeks after my return to Kiabakari were a bit stressful and overwhelming. The calmness returns finally and things look like they fall in proper places, with everybody busy in their field of responsibility. Denise and Thomas in the school, Agata and Zuza in the health center, working on the project. Myself busy with craftsmen and construction workers at the health center, the school and at home.

We meet at the table mainly, for meals and sometimes in the evening for a chat or to watch something - a movie, news on TV or a concert on DVD.

Dust settled down, calm restored, sense of purpose, sense of belonging, sense of responsibility of each one of us. There is time for everything now. Prayer, work, rest, moments together and seclusion. 

This is the way I like things to be. Ordnung muss sein!

Just a few quick photos taken today from my construction frontline. 

Busy Little Bee

Recalling words of Commodus from 'The Gladiator' movie, it feels like being a busy little bee these days (maybe not that little, but still busy!) with several things going on. I'm kinda disappointed that I cannot come here to post more frequently, as I would wish, but the reality is just this. No time at the moment...

Nyerere Day

Today is Nyerere Day, October 14th. The day Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, the Father of the Nation, the first president of the independent Tanganyika, then United Republic of Tanzania, passed away. In a few minutes I will drive to Butiama to concelebrate a Holy Mass with Bishop Msonganzila and diocesan clergy for the commemoration of this day. Then, the national celebration at Butiama stadium with the president Kikwete and other top people in the country. It is drizzling, a miserable day indeed, but hopefully it clears soon. Here are links to my posts from last year Nyerere Day, please, visit them (here and here)...

Gotcha!

Z in da house. What a relief to all of us who were apprehensive ballistically if she would make it to Mwanza yesterday! Zuza arrived yesterday evening, tired but happy to reached her final flight destination. We got her at Mwanza airport and spent a night in SMA regional house at Bwiru, Mwanza. Our hosts, the superior in particular - Rev. Fr. Janusz Machota, have been extremely helpful and hospitable, making us feel at home completely. What a great people they are! We'll be driving back to Kiabakari in a couple of hours, visiting Fathers of the Congregation of the Resurrection at Kahangala, on our way, for a few minutes and a cup of coffee. Hoping to reach Kia by lunch time. Then immediately back on project tracks making up for a lost day. Prayers appreciated for our journey back to Kiabakari!

Stuck In The City

Came to Mwanza this morning, some official business and shopping. Ready to meet a volunteer flying from Krakow to Mwanza via Frankfurt, Addis Abbaba and Dar. She missed the plane from Frankfurt and will arrive tomorrow late in the evening. Ouch. Unexpected extra day in Mwanza and ruined plans for tomorrow afternoon with an important parochial meeting scheduled and some other things. Project opening delayed one day. Domino effect. Let it be. It's beyond our capability. Poor Z.

Close Encounter

The final hours of the week, the evening hours of Saturday, belong to my favorite times of every week... Reflecting upon the upcoming Sunday Liturgy of the Word day by day throughout the week, bring the culmination of this intense encounter with the Living Word of God to the finale at this time of the week... everything taken care of, being alone and withdrawn from the daily chores, I can face God closely in His Word... I love this encounter and always look forward to this moment... for me the Sunday liturgy is not only a sacred meeting with Christ in Eucharist, but first in His Word, proclaimed in the midst of the community of the faithful. Thank You, Lord, that You continue to speak to us day by day and Your Word cleanses us, fortifies us, enlightens us, nourishes and strengthen us...

Contradicting Feelings

It's been one week since I came back home to Kiabakari. I have a contradicting feelings tearing me apart. On the one hand is the feeling of resurfacing and taking control of things and plans here in the mission. On the other hand though, I feel as if I am drowning gradually in things and matters arising which I have to face and take care of one by one, helping my volunteers at the same time and organizing further steps in the school and health center development and participating in the projects running in the mission, supervised by volunteers... Prayers appreciated! Have a blessed weekend. My thoughts and prayers are always with you! God bless us all!

Intense

The last few days have been a bit on a hectic and intense side. A couple of busy days in Dar es Salaam, then flight to Musoma on Sunday afternoon, first encounter with German volunteers who arrived to Kiabakari on September 19 and have been undergoing a crash course in swahili since then...

Reactivation

Back to where I belong. Kiabakari. At least for the time being... Hard to get back to blogging having been thrown back into the thick of parochial matters and setting up things and rules for the engagement of our volunteers from Germany and Poland... It will take a few more days to get it done, so keep your fingers crossed, please! And pray for us too! After that I hope my regular blogging will be back in place.