Disappointment

Yesterday I had a great, satisfying and productive day. But not today. Drove to Musoma with Sr. Mary, the headmistress of Blessed John Paul II Center for Education and Formation in Kiabakari, for the diocesan meeting of the department of education. On my way to the meeting hall I passed through the diocesan bookshop and spotted a brochure - in swahili - the history of the Christianity in the diocese of Musoma. Prepared for the last year's centenary celebrations in Musoma, though I came across this publication for the first time today. Nicely printed with bishop's foreword...

Desert

It's been a challenging, noisy, hectic period of time since Christmas. My whole self longs now for a seclusion, silence, quiet time to enter deeply into the spiritual desert of the sacred time of Lent. There is so much to do on deeper levels, there is so much to talk about with the Merciful One, there is so much to change and improve in my spiritual and daily life. Thank you, Lord, for my friends who visited recently. Thank you also for this time of meditation and inner warfare, which I need so much. May your Holy Spirit lead us deeper and deeper into the spiritual desert of Lent. There is so much to do to restore and reinforce our covenant with God we made on Baptism day. He is always faithful and keeps His promise. It is us who need to mend bridges and repair roads. Otherwise, on Easter Vigil we will utter lies holding our baptismal candles and renewing baptismal vows, while deep in our hearts we will know that our life speaks about something different. God has reminded us last Sunday forcefully about His faithfulness to the covenant He made with us. We have now forty days to make sure we keep our side of the covenant and renew sincerely and publicly our committment on Easter Vigil.

Baptized Fuel

Driving yesterday from Kiabakari to Mwanza was not without an unexpected setback. We put diesel to my old truck on Saturday at Kiabakari fuel station to get to Mwanza at least. Huge mistake. When the level of fuel went down, approaching Kisesa on the outskirts of Mwanza, the car started to choke on the fuel and stopped. Had to wait for a while, trying to restart the engine again. It happened a few times before I was able to crawl up to Buzuruga Bus Terminal and LakeOil Fuel Station where I add more diesel. The problem stopped and never reappeared again so far. Looks like they baptize fuel in Kiabakari, adding water or kerosene. Luckily the fuel pump was not damaged by this mixture. And I hope we will be able to drive back to Kiabakari without any problem. Keep your fingers crossed!

Rainbow

The First Reading of tomorrow's First Sunday of Lent Liturgy speaks forcefully about God's love and commitment to us and our salvation:

Crucem Tuam

The first Friday of the Lent. The first celebration of the Stations of the Way of the Cross in the shrine and in all outstation chapels. The reading of the first chapters of the Lenten Message of Tanzanian Episcopal Conference. The first charitable offerings in Lenten Campaign for the poor. The first recollection day of this Lent. The first penitential service preceding the Stations. The first Holy Mass following the Stations in this Lent. Crucem Tuam adoramus, Domine, resurrectionem Tuam laudamus, Domine!

Turning The Page Over

Low life symptoms today. Tiredness creeping again caused by sleepless nights and overwhelming sense of responsibility for my friends from Austria, visiting since last week's Tuesday till yesterday. They moved on in their safari, flying to Zanzibar, and me coming back home with two other visitors from Dar es Salaam, who came to visit Kiabakari and do some media work. Today is a reset day for me though, turning the page over and setting my mind for new works and challenges. Not able to do and accomplish much today, still I am grateful to God for what I was able to do under physical and psychological circumstances. Tomorrow will be better! Praying for all of you during this Lent and wishing you abundance of Lord's blessings and lights for this holy season.

Lake Victoria

The last set of pictures shot during the visit of my Austrian friends. This is time from the day trip to Lukuba Island on Lake Victoria, offshore Musoma. Click here. There are more pictures from Lukuba on my Facebook profile, in photo albums here (if you can't see, add me as friend).

Sunrise In Serengeti

The last day of our safari from Arusha to Kiabakari was in Serengeti National Park. We spent the night at Lobo Wildlife Lodge in the northern part of the Park. I could not sleep after the whole day of trouble with the vehicle and struggle to get my visitors to safety of the lodge. So, after the sleepless night I went out early in the morning to take some pictures of the lodge at the dawn. Check the photos here...

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Having spent the night in Karatu, some 14 kilometers from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area gate, we drove early in the morning to the Crater for a half day tour. A few pictures from the trip (click here)...

Lake Manyara National Park

Today we traveled from Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park. It took us a while to find Malarone tablets for my friends in Arusha, but we managed to get hold of them in two hours time. We reached the gate of the Lake Manyara National Park by midday and spent some five hours in the park. Then we climbed up the Great Rift Valley escarpment and arrived safely to Karatu town where we spend the night. Tomorrow morning we drive to Ngorongoro crater, then to Serengeti and will arrive, God willing, to Lobo Lodge by the nightfall. Some photos from today safari (click here)...

Eagle Has Landed

Having spent one day in Arusha for socializing with friends and fixing the ailing safari vehicle which suffered quite a bit during our safari from Kiabakari to Arusha on Sunday, yesterday (Tuesday) was a day to receive my friends from Ulmerfeld in Austria, arriving to visit Tanzania and Kiabakari. It was a logistic mess, to be honest. I checked before Tuesday several times with fly540.com airline offices about the airport where my friends were supposed to land. It was written on their tickets that it was Arusha airport. But they told me that in fact it will be Kilimanjaro International Airport. So, we drove to Kilimanjaro airport yesterday, some 50 km from Arusha. Then, I checked again with the airline and the booking office confirmed that they would land in Kilimanjaro, though the plane was late. Then Katrin called from Dar es Salaam (an Austrian volunteer from Ulmerfeld, working since this month in Dar) and told me that my friends called her that they landed safely in ARUSHA. Geez! And we were 50 km away awaiting them at Kili airport. What a mess! So, we drove as quickly as possible back to Arusha and met at the airport. I felt so sorry and embarrassed! They had to wait for some two hours, having arrived from -20 C or so in Austria to our 35+ in Tanzania... Thank God, the trouble was over and we checked into our motel, my friends got refreshed and then we drove to Cinema Complex in Njiro district in Arusha for late lunch in the food outlets of Cinema Complex. We came back late in the evening, got a few schnappes for a good schlaff and went to bed. Now, it is time to wake up, Agata and I prepared sandwiches last night for today's safari to Lake Manyara National Park. We bought water, soft drinks, sweets etc. prior to arrival of our friends, so I guess we are ready for the three days safari back to Kiabakari. Wish us luck, please, and say a prayer that we arrive home in Kiabakari safely and our guests have a wonderful time in the wild! God bless us all!

Tengeru

I am very happy to get the opportunity to celebrate the Holy Mass at Polish War Refugees Cemetery at Tengeru, near Arusha, and the to visit the last survivor of the Polish camp at Tengeru, still living in Arusha, Mr. Edward Wójtowicz. Here are some pictures of the day (click here)...

Safari Pictures

After thirteen hours long safari from Kiabakari to Arusha, with numerous breakdowns of our safari vehicle and brave struggle of our driver to fix broken shock absorber, leaking radiator etc, we finally got home to Moshono, to our SMA hosts' parish. As a pictorial of our journey, please visit the following ink to the pictures I took along the way (click here).

Safari

Time has come to hit the road. Up to this hour, as I write these words, I'm still in the thick of numerous matters, duties, responsibilities of the fast pace of parochial life in Kiabakari. But tonight all this will be done and dusted, and I will be ready for safari. First to Arusha, to be on the spot to receive long awaited friends from Austria, then coming back to Kiabakari with them slowly, showing them along the way the mesmerising beauty of Tanzania. I'm looking forward to these five days on the road. I feel I need to reset myself after the hectic past few months. Connecting with friends in Arusha, visiting Tengeru and saying Mass at Polish refugees cemetery, visiting Mr. Edward, the last Polish refugee alive in Arusha, receiving friends from Austria, immersing ourselves in Tanzanian nature and wildlife - I need all this...hoping at the same time that my friends will enjoy their Tanzanian safari, their stay in Kiabakari and the rest of their holidays in Zanzibar. I wish all of you a wonderful and blessed Sunday! God bless us all!

Pilgrim's Way

“By the grace of God, I am a human person and a Christian; by my actions, a great sinner; by my condition as a pilgrim without a roof, of the lowliest species that goes wandering from place to place. My possessions are a sack on my shoulders with a bit of dry bread and a Holy Bible that I carry under my shirt. No other thing do I have” Anonymous Russian

Sudden Change

I was about to go to church for the confessions and the Holy Mass with Divine Mercy chaplet as usual on Fridays. We have recollection days each Friday of the year since 1994. Then, suddenly, pastoral sister, Sister Jennifer, came to the rectory and said that everybody is one and noone remained in the church. What happened? They just announced in the village that a certain NGO brought maize for free and they started distributing it today. So everyone rushed to get sme. Thank God, I had a Mass with sisters in their convent this morning as usual on Fridays, so my day did not go without the Eucharist...

Ruling Supreme

Driving this time to Bunda and back, 70 kilometers in total, during the construction of the highway and in dry season is like driving through sand storm in Sahara desert. The fine dust rules supreme. It is everywhere, you feel it in your eyes, nose, mouth, hair... My old beaten up truck has no air conditioning working, so I need to drive with windows wound own, otherwise I would suffocate in the extreme heat. The skin of my face is completely dry and feels unpleasant, my lips which I instinctively lick from time to time to lubricate them and keep moist, developed fine cuts already which pain a lot. Time to use lubricative lipsticks, I guess :) I'm obsessed at the moment with a persistent thought of Zanzibar pristine beach, nice breeze, shadow under a palm tree and an ice cold drink...deep sigh...

Veni Sancte Spiritus!

Today we had a catechists' council meeting in the morning, finalizing details of the program and schedule for the Confirmation classes in all outstations of my mission. This afternoon we opened the Confirmation class in Kiabakari, in the outstations the classes will commence this weekend. All newly baptized during Christmas, all who received their First Communion at that time plus all those who have not been confirmed yet, though baptized long ago - start their spiritual journey towards the Upper Room, towards their personal, yet communal, Pentecost. Their Confirmation has been set for July 8 this year, on the final day of bishop's pastoral and canonical visitation of Kiabakari parish. On behalf of all of us, teachers and confirmants, I kindly ask for your prayers, so that God's Will may be fulfilled in the time of this spiritual journey. Veni Sancte Spiritus! Renew the face of our lives and our committment to You and Your Holy Church!

Fragile

We were supposed to have a deanery meeting today in my place. The whole deanery consists of only four parishes wih four priests in total. All parishes are single, meaning that all four of us live alone. I got a phone call from our dean hat he got an accident on his way to Kiabakari, his steering damper broke lose and he lost control of the steering wheel and hit he ditch. Luckily, he escaped inhurt, the truck needs a major repair though. Thank God he is ok and noone got hurt. Of course, the meeting is called off. Still, this event made me think of ow fragile we are and what a thin line we walk in our lives. Yet, we are held firmy in God's hands who does not allow that we suffer beyond what's necessary in His Providencial plans of salvation. It is so true! It is true also that my friend better look for a new car, if this old 20+ years old truck falls apart on its own. I think I myself need a new reliable vehicle as my truck is as old almost as his!

Journaling as a Catalyst

This is a very interesting and very important article touching a valid topic which might be close to you or someone close to you -  sent over to me by Melanie Bowen, a blogger and contributor to  Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance blog. I recommend you read it, share it and spread a word about it...

Turning The Page Over

In a few moments I'll get into my truck and drive to Musoma, to meet the bishop and hand over the office of the postulator. My 5+ years long journey as the postulator of the beatification process of the Servant of God Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere is coming to an end. The new postulator of the cause is completing a special course for postulators in Rome (which I never was ale to do, due to the - first - sudden death of previous bishop of Musoma, then - a long vacancy of the diocese, then - the studies of my successor) and upon his arrival back to Musoma, he will continue as a qualified person for this task. My job will be over. Mixed feelings fill my heart at this particular point of my life. Turning over such a long and important page of my service in the Church is never easy, believe me. Yet, I feel relieved that the cause will move on under the guidance of the properly trained postulator. I wish him well and pray for him and for the success of the whole process. Myself, I thank God for choosing me for this job through the bishop of Musoma who trusted in my integrity and professionalism and dedication, which I worked hard to prove throughout these past 5+ years... This was very important period of my life. And now I can repeat after Simeon in the temple...

Countdown

This Friday we expect the Polish Foreign Ministry, the Department of Development scheme of Polish Aid, to announce which development projects submitted for funding by non-governmental organizations passed positively and will be in fact considered for funding in 2012. My Foundation Kiabakari submitted one project - the onstruction of the center for volunteers. We need it badly. Please, join us in prayers and keep your fingers crossed that the project is accepted for funding. This would mean a lot for future volunteers and specialists coming to Kiabakari - their place to stay and work, area for seminars and workshops, courses and training of local personel and professionals. A completely new era of volunteers' committment in this part of the world.

Riding Waves

Five hours long meeting of the association of diocesan priests with the bishop participating normally would make me want to jump out of my own skin frustrated, with boredom and exhaustion blended together. Yet the vicinity of the Lake Victoria just behind the conference room wall and the sound of waves crushing against it soothed my soul and mind immensely. Closing my eyes and riding the wavetops, allowing my imagination and fantasy to float me around the world and people. I was saved.

Three Crosses

Just a quick post. My homily for today's Sunday. In kiswahili language, so, please, use Google translator provided at the right sidebar of this blog to read in your native language...

Five Balls

The internet came back on Vodacom in my corner of the world, so I am able to post my yesterday's reflection / homily I gave at the conclusion of the recollection day at Resurrection Sisters convent at Buturu, some 10 km from Kiabakari. This is the full text in Polish (below). Please, use Google translator provided at the right sidebar for your language version...

Shabby Tools

Going through my photo albums, I came across these pictures (below). Twenty years passed since I took the first one in January 1992. The remaining two are the recent ones (taken a couple of years ago). Looking at them I cannot but pray in gratitude to God who made all this possible using us, shabby tools. Surely, there is nothing impossible to God. Please, praise the Lord with me for His power and might, for His love and patience towards us, for His eternal plan towards Kiabakari and all people who have been already touched by the Message of Divine Mercy here. Misericordiam Domini in aeternum cantabo!...

Clean Up

Finished my morning duties - morning confessions and Holy Mass for catechumens, vocational and Holy Childhood groups, then confessions and a Holy Mass in Butiama (the parish priest, Father Maciej is away for a few days, so I've been helping there for the last three days), then a meeting with a preparatory committee for the upcoming popular mission parochial retreat in June (as a spiritual preparation for the bishop's pastoral visit in the first week of July)...

Throats

I wonder to what extent the venerable custom of blessing throats on the feast day of Saint Blaise (February 3) is still observed in our parishes worldwide. In our diocese of Musoma, I think it is mainly us, Polish missionaries, who are still faithful to this wonderful custom and to the popular piety at large... It is a pity that so many pastors have become so imprudent and lighthearted to deny the faithful these great devotions and blessings which surely stir the spirit of the piety, strengthen our faith and make us secure in God's hands...

Twelve Years

This is a period of time I have been waiting for Robert, one of my parishioners, to finally mature to the decision to become a catechist. It took me many years and a lot of efforts to convince him gently that this is his right vocation in the Church. He was very hesitant and afraid that he is not worthy of it. So, I was very happy to hear him on Wednesday announcing publicly, during the prayer meeting of his Small Christian Community, his decision to start the journey of formation, prayer and study to become a catechist with missio canonica. Thanks be to God! Surely, the Lord's mill turns its wheels slowly but surely. Please, pray for Robert to become a dedicated, wise, humble, zelous and holy servant of God...

With Clear And Resounding Voice

My church waited for 15 long years to get a decent professional P.A. system in place. At last we were able to purchase (half of the amount came from Xmas envelopes, half from benefactors) a good quality system in Mwanza and it took us full week to install and test it along with strengthening all church doors with extra security measures to deter any prospectove thieves... Now we can praise the Lord with clear and resounding voice... I am so happy and relieved!

The House of God

The time has come for the House of God to move ahead in its construction process. Started years back, corner stone laid by the late Bishop Justin Samba back in 2006, shortly before his sudden death, it waited for this moment for some six long years...

School Books

It's been a good first day of the new month. Drove to Musoma, collected school books for standard three and four future students (we have only standard one and two classes so far), drove back home and put them to store to wait for the next year and the next. All this due to the generosity of our sponsors of educational adoption program of Foundation Kiabakari. Well, not everybody fulfills his or her obligation, that is why I told the bookstore owner that I will pay in full by the end of this month. I simply have not enough money to pay for the books. The money flows slowly into the foundation account. I do hope by the end of the month we will have enough to pay for the books... Thanks be to all who pay in time and allow us to move ahead! Here are some pictures of the books I brought home today.