Nature About To Explode

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.

Year Of Faith in Kiabakari

In a couple of hours I will see managing director of the printing press in Mwanza, to discuss printing needs of Kiabakari parish and shrine for this year. I will collect also printed posters to be distributed in parishes, convents, institutions of Diocese of Musoma and outside the diocese, with the schedule of liturgical special celebrations of the Year of Faith in Diocesan Shrine of Divine Mercy in Kiabakari. The poster along with my letter and a special brochure will be dispatched the next week. At this point of time, I wish to express my gratitude to Miss Agata Krupa for design and graphic works on the poster. Judge for yourself the professional work she has done.  Click on the image to enlarge. Thank you, Agatka!

Polish Christmas in Lake Zone

On Friday, December 28, 2012, we had a second Christmas in our Polish community of Lake Zone. This time the venue was SMA regional house in Bwiru, Mwanza. Some twenty people attended. It was a marvelous time and a great initiative which we must preserve and continue. Enjoy a few pictures I took on that day.

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!

Long Goodbyes

I don't like them. Don't like the outbursts of emotions, teary eyes, sobs, long stares and inability to let people go... So it was brief yesterday, to not let my emotions, tears and sadness to show. Just a few words and a quick embrace, and they were gone into the check-in in Mwanza airport.

Sweet And Sour

Safely back home after a quick trip to Mwanza and to Dar - with Mare and Mare staying in Mwanza for two days, to get a feeling of the second largest city in Tanzania, and me hopping to Dar for business and coming back to collect M&M and drive back to Kiabakari. Everything would be perfect if not stomach bug which first got Marjanna, then Marija and now me. But I know the reason at least...

M&M

Thank God Marianna and Marija arrived safely to Dar es Salaam yesterday. Thank God for Brother James and Sister Ewa who met them at the airport and gave shelter overnight and brought them back to the airport for the morning flight to Mwanza. Thank God for bringing me safely to Mwanza. Thank God for Father Janusz and the whole SMA community at their regional house in Bwiru, Mwanza, for allowing me to stay with them overnight and giving me a great company. Thank God for M&M safe flight to Mwanza and our first ever meeting and breaking ice there. Thank God for our safe journey to Kiabakari and our first ever lunch together at home...God is great. Always great!

Lenten Exercise

These days drive from Kiabakari to Mwanza has become a genuine lenten corporal exercise. Well, not only corporal, but mental as well, as most of drivers have no clue about driving and traffic rules. It's sheer madness, especially bicycle riders and motorbike stuntmen...

Drizzle

Sitting in the couch in the sitting room of the rectory in Kahangala, waiting for my host, Fr. Andrzej Mądry, CR to come back from his pastoral duties in the parish. Drying after the whole day spent in Mwanza City in the drizzle. The rain which accompanied me all the way almost from Kiabakari to Mwanza, turned into drizzle in Mwanza itself and refused to go away...

The Metropolitan

After the time of anxious anticipation who might be the successor of the late Archbishop Anthony Mayala of Archdiocese of Mwanza, which is the Metropolitan See of the Province of Lake Zone to which the Diocese of Musoma belongs too, not so long ago we have been told that the Holy Father Benedict XVI has elected Rt. Rev. Bishop Yuda Thaddeus Ruwaichi, the Bishop of Dodoma and the President of Tanzanian Episcopal Conference, from the Order of Capuchin Friars, to be the third native Archbishop of Mwanza.

Precision In Constant Changes

I should have known and choose to fly to Mwanza instead of Musoma... I should have known! Aaaargh! It happened again... Precision In Constant Changes should be the new name of Precision Air. I was all in smiles when checked in to Musoma and sitting comfortably in the domestic departures lounge waiting to board ATR 42 enroute to Mwanza via Musoma at 1.30 pm. Then, precisely at 1.30 pm THEY announced. The plane will be delayed two hours due to technical problems. Ouch! So, here I am, continuing my wait and training yet another time in patience as Precision Air won again... With a cup of coffee and veggie samosas...

Random Snippets

Yeah, random snippets on my way from Kiabakari to Dar es Salaam via Mwanza today. If you are chicken hearted or sensitive, please do not read further after this first paragraph as some images may be disturbing to you...You have been warned!