Letter from Tanzania
August 2, 2010 by Websec
Filed under Past Events, Tanzania Project, This Week events
AMDG
The feast of St Ignatius, 2010.
St Francis Xavier Church, Mwanza, Tanzania.
Dear Everyone,
happy feast day!
As they say here, on meeting anyone: “How are you?” “We are fine”. I hope you are all well and continuing to enjoy the summer.
The five students from the chaplaincy – Bianca, Charlotte, Dominic, Katia and Nick – and I have been here for four days and it seems like “four-ever”, in a good way, of course! We had a lie-in this morning which made a huge difference to us all. Then we spent the morning and early afternoon walking around one of the local markets on the edge of Lake Victoria with a visit to the local ferry port, accompanied, chaperoned, guarded by one of the sisters, Sr Consolata!
In the afternoon myself and Charlotte and Katia gathered together about 40 of the boarders (there are about 240 who live on the compound during term time, either because they live far from home or are orphans) for some singing. I taught them, you’ve guessed it … the Jamaican Alleluia and they taught us a couple of beautiful Kiswahili hymns. Charlotte taught them a great little song about a happy Kukuburra and Katia a Holy Holy in Spanish – so very international. What a joy to be with such open, joyful and generous children.
Then this evening a beautiful Mass on the roof of the Jesuit community (what a sunset!) with about 50 friends of the community. A wonderful celebration led by Fr Raymond, the Tanzanian superior, who also did his tertianship in Australia – it is a small world! No Australian wine, unfortunately, but some very good local beers: Kilimanjaro, Serengeti and Safari!
Tomorrow I’m on the late, English speaking, Mass – 10.15am. The two Swahili Masses are at 6.30am and 8.00am. There are some benefits to speaking English! I will continue to keep you all in my prayers, as I did especially at Mass this evening. Once again, what a blessing it is to be a member of the Society of Jesus. Let’s continue to pray for vocations to the Society throughout the world, but especially in the British Province and regions and let’s pray for one another. Thank you for your prayers and support.
You are all very much in our thoughts. With our love and prayers and African lion hugs! God bless you,
Fr Simon SJ, Nick, Katia, Dominic, Charlotte and Bianca.
PS A memorable phrase someone said to us in the market today. “Welcome to Mwanza! Feel happy and never complain!” They seem to live by their words.
