Moments of God

Mount Kilamanjaro

 Nariobi safari walk in Nairobi national park

Moments of God. My plane ride from Tanzania to Zanzibar to Nairobi I had a really inspiring moment. We land in Zanzibar and the water looks beautiful looking down below. One can tell it is a a hidden gem. What I am curious about is the scuba diving there. I guess they have more species of dolphins in that area than any other place and they are quit active during the migration period. 

Flying from Zanzibar to Nairobi the Pilot announced that Mount Kilimanjaro is on our left. I look up and the sun is setting int he west and Kilimanjaro looked mystically, magical, and holy. It was sheer beauty. Everyone in the plane moved to the left side of the plan because it was only 1/4 full and everyone stared in Awe. I was looking at everyone’s faces and to see the awe and wonder. It was incredible sharing that grace moment with everyone. It was a holy moment for me. The mountain was snow capped and at eye level. An amazing mighty beauty. Impressive.

I visited Tangaza college in Nairobi because I heard about this Social Transformation MA program by Fr. Bob white a Jesuit priest. I met with him today and thought it was very fascinating. The man has an impressive track record as far as working in different countries and developing community based programs. His big focus is community based leadership programs. getting local people in rural areas, poor areas, and training them to be leaders and helps for there own community. To start community projects to improve the communties lives and help each other out. His big focus is on sustainability. I think this man is on the right track for the future of Africa. I feel fortunate to have met this man.

I arrived 6  hours early for my flight to avoid traffic. I am studying swahili and decided to talk to these people who are speaking french. The lady was from paris and the young man was from Congo. He is a refugee and he is moving to Tucson. I thought no way. Then I find out he is moving to kola street which is very near me. It was neat talking to him. He has leg problems and can’t bend his knees. The crutches and shoes he has are heavy steel. I said, call me as soon as you get to tucson and we are going to get you new equipment. I know southwest medical aid has a bunch of crutches and medical shoes and knee braces. It is amazing how everything is connected. So I was waiting with 26 refugees going to different cities in america. These people are from Congo, Somalia, and Ethiopia. the lady from paris is there escort to America. I find this all fascinating. 

Life is a fun journey filled with connections and moments of grace.

25,000 on my back

$25,000 on my back. I had the experience again, that is the first time was in 2012 of carrying 25,000 euros on my back. Fr. Patrick asked me to escort him to the bank in his thick Irish accent. I said, ‘Sure” He said, Bring your back pack”. I knew wha that meant the last time I was here. The Salvatorians are building and new dormitory and chapel at Jordan University College in Morogoro. There has been donations coming in from everywhere. So we went to the bank and sat for an hour. Then we left quick to the money exchange. In which we go through a gated door to the upstairs which is a spiral very tight stair case and enter through a tinted class door into a tiny room with a ceiling maybe 7ft tall, two desks and two Arab looking men. Fr. patrick pulls out the 50,000 Euro out of his bag.

The Arab man takes the money and puts it into the money counter to count the number of bills. 

The largest Tanzanian Bill is 10,000TSH which is equivalent to 5 USD. Now can you imagine how many bills we were carrying $50,000 in $5 bills. My backpack was plume full, there was no more room. Fr. Gregory’s back pack was plume full and Fr. Patrick had his bag empty. So there is three of us. Father Patrick says. “When we leave this place walk quickly and stay separate from each other”. I felt as if I was in a movie again on a mission to deliver money. I zip out the door and I am constantly scanning the people around me as I walk fast. I make sure I keep my distance from every single person. We are in downtown Dar Es Salaam which is fairly safe put people have been shot and robbed before. If anyone knew what we had in our bags we would be targets very fast. But everything went smooth as expected. So this was the second time I got to carry $25,000 on my back.

br. waste and me

Container Miracle

It has to be a miracle that we got the container and how fast we got it down to Namiungo.

The fact we got the container and got it down to Namuingo is a miracle. I still can’t believe it. It was such a process just to get the container. I still dont believe it. I was in Namiungo for less than 24 hours and we received the container. Separated all the items between one hospital and 3 dispensaries. It was incredible. Seeing the joy on everyones face. All the postulates and candidates helped us unload the container and it made the process go so much faster. I feel just my presence and the container presence being there is a sign of hope. That is one thing Africa has is hope. You hear it in the way they talk but you especially hear it in there music. It was such a joyous day. It made my heart sing. 

It was well worth all the trouble. I think the total cost of everything was probably around $6,000USD. However two items in the container were alone $6,000 by themselves. that is the crash cart for the hospital and oxygen concentrator and the bone saw. I don't know how much in medical supplies but I would think well over $30,000 USD of medical supplies in that container. Lives are going to be saved. Proper equipment will be used. I think the orthopedic department will be really happy with all the splints, walkers, crutches, ankle supports and more. My time down there was too short. I am so thankful that everything worked out. I need to thank everyone for all there money donations and time to make this happen. It really was a miracle. The candidates and postulants got very excited when I opened a box of chocolate and vanilla biscuits. They love chocolate here. t was a joyous day. I probably received a 1000 thank you's that day. I feel very lucky to be able to help probably the poorest area I have ever been in my life. 

Then when I got back my phone started working in which I was very surprised. I turned it on and it worked and stayed on. Well see if it continues because the past three days when ever I would try to turn it on it would either not respond or turn on then shut off right away. 

I am just happy everything worked out before I had to leave. Today I head to Nairobi and then tomorrow i fly to America. 

 The great opening of the container . Drum role please

Mwizi - Container

Wow I left my phone and camera plugged in and the power went out. I use my phone as an alarm clock. I forgot to take them out when the power went out. When the power came on it sent a surge and blew my phone. So I will be emailing for now and when I am in the states I will have to get a phone. 

We got the container. I was so happy to finally get it. It has been quit an ordeal. It is costing about $1300 USD to transport it 15 hours down south and into the bush. I also had to pay taxes (which I had a tax exempt letter from the district officer of TUnduru) That is the district the container is going. that cost was $200USD. But then we had to pay for port fee and processing fee which was about $700. This does not include the fee I gave them at the beginning for speeding the process up which I call the bribe fee. Actually with all the fees I was $13 USD short so I opened the container and gave them a box of crackers. They were very happy at that point and felt proud of who they are and the work they do to deserve this. These government workers are thieves if you ask me. There is 6 of them in the office. All are on there phone. Some are slowly flipping through papers. DOING NOTHING if you ask me. I wanted to get a picture of these crooks and so I ask to take a picture and then they get all excited and act like they are busy doing something or working.

Maisha= Life.

I am just happy to get the container. This has been a real learning lesson for me. I was going to ride int he truck with the container and so the drie and his assistant to told me to sit in the middle. They want me to sit in the middle console of the truck for 15 hours on rough roads. I think not. I am nt sitting on hard plastic for 15 hours. I would need a new back and butt by the time I get there. So I got a bus ticket and I am heading to Namiungo today. I will be living on busses and planes for the next 5 days.

 Br. Adelaide one of the most humble persons I know

 houses in dar. You can see how people re living

 Went swimming at coco beach

 These are the TEC Tanzania Episcopal Conference who helped us with the container(Crooks)

 Our container

They went through our container and tested thing

Matembo and morogoro

So they said the container will be ready on Monday. That didn't happen. I just got it today but I will have to tell that story next. So I went to Morogoro to Jordan University college for 4 days to visit friends that I met there last time I was in Tanzania. It is amazing how much the place has grown. They have 3500 students now and many new buildings from the last time I was here. They are continuing to build a new dormitory for the seminarians and a new chapel. Uluguru mountain is beautiful in the background. I was very happy to see it agreed. I got many greetings. It was wonderful to remember stories from 3 years ago. I was only there for 2 months last time but everyone remembers me. I was so impressed.
I went to matembo which is where F.r Ferdinand Lukoa is from. It is on the other side of the mountain so I thought this is a quick trip. 4 hours the way the roads are. Wow. Long journey. But I was very happy to greet his mother in the village and bring gifts from america. I told her that her son is doing well in America and she was thrilled. It felt like going home when I arrived there and seeing the warm welcomes. It felt as if I picked up right where I left off last time. Life is good. Maisha mzuri.

 The new buildings for the seminarian students and chasel

 Fr. Lukoa's 3 month old niece, His mama with a computer to Skype with her son

 This is John Tiga Tiga who took me to his village. Very funny man. He will be ordained in 2 weeks

 We are wearing traditional Maasi Cloth . This is Fr. Baraka a teacher at JUCO

 There was a long and big procession from corpus christi

 The procession went from he college to the franciscans chapel next door

This is Br. Philip I worked with him for 2 months. New ambulance. He is a very funny man.

Money Talks

I have learned today money talks.  I have been working this whole week trying to get the Salvatorian medical supply container out of the holding area here in Dar Es Salaam. You go into these offices where they are camped and people are just sitting around flipping paper work trying to find the correct paper work. It is probably one of the most unorganized systems I have ever seen. They need to do things electronically in a database. Things seem so backwards here. It is amazing anything gets done. 

 We went to the TEC which is the Tanzania Episcopal Conference center. So a Catholic center who is helping us right! That is to do all the paper work correctly to get the container through all the appropriate checks. We give them the tax- exempt sheet and they say they need a letter from the Department officer of Tunduru district. I am pretty sure they already have this but I phone James Lazaro the clearing guy and tell him. This person in the office said this process can take awhile but if you have money it can speed up the process. I said , "How much they say 1.2 million shilling to clear everything and get it through TBS- Tanzania Bureau Standard which also works with the FDA and inspects the container , x-ray's the container what ever. But you have to have all the documentation for them to even inspect it. I don't believe this is all true because of this story today..... I ask Fr. patrick the treasurer here to borrow 1.2 million tsh which is $733 USD. Which SOFIA and Salvatorian Mission Warehouse are willing to cover. I go back to the TEC office with the envelope of money. Well things moved very fast. Next thing I know we get in a car and drive to down town Dar Es Salaam to the Tax Revenue office. We have to talk are way thorough security and then we get brought back to a lady in a cubicle desk. The TEC agent talks to her for 1 minute. Then she leaves and talks to two other people and comes back a minute later. She said everything is taken care of. 

Money talks. Out of all the hassle and bullshit. It only took one minute with someone high up on the food chain. Supposedly I will have the container by Friday or Monday. 

Money is the catalyst to everything. I realize if I hadn't given the money it would probably take months to get the container.

Always a learning lesson here. 

 Fr. Tesha learning how to play the steel drum. It reminds me of Jamaica or the Caribbean music

 This is the tax revenue building which we were in and out in  less than 10 minutes

 This is Fr. Africanus, Merten, Fr. Patrick , and Andreas. Two of them work for SOFIA- foreign aid

 Br. Sylvester turned this container into a shop for seeing things

 School children in Uganda

This is older picture playing in the pool with the children at St. Nicholas Center

Kampala Visit

I met up with Fr. Polykarp in Uganda. Took a long bus ride to kampala. Uganda has the best Mangos. They have 20 different types of mangos. It is mango season which is great. I went to the Shrine of Ugandan Holy Martyrs. It is a Shrine for all the Christians that were killed in Uganda 129 years ago. The king’s advisors said do not trust these white fathers coming into Uganda. They will bring down the kingdom so the king started killing all the Christians and there were many Ugandan Christians too already. The youngest one was 12 years old. He worked at the kings palace and the king wanted to have sex with him and he refused and the king had him put to death. There are many stories I think about 18 of them that they celebrate here. Well this week is a huge pilgrimage to the Shrine. about 2 million people will show up for the celebration of the martyrs. 

The people here are very friendly. Kampala is very crowded. i was here for only a short stay but had a good one. Everyone here also shouts MZUNGU. That is white man. Children like saying “good morning” to me. Nothing starts on time here. And everyone is late as expected. One of the funniest things I saw here was on a small 125cc motorcycle two huge bags of coal and a man sitting on top and the other driving the motorcycle. It looked like out of a cartoon. People are incredible here. The driving is crazy here as well. People must think they are invincible when they are in a car because no rules seems to apply. 

 This is a picture with Fr. Polykarp's family. His dad is 92 years old

 This is a picture with Fr. Polykarp, his brother and family

This is a picture of a jack fruit. They are tasty but the mangos are better

 Funny Picture. a 125cc Motorcycle with two huge bags of coal and a man sitting on top. You can see the drivers feet on the bottom. Insane. One of the funniest things I have seen yet

 This is Saint Kizito. In late 1890's he was working in the king's palace and the king wanted to have sex with him and he refused so the king killed him. He is Uganda's youngest martyr. He was 12 yrs old.

 This is a mass of send off. The girl on the right is getting married tomorrow and the parents have a mass today giving there blessings to the daughter and sending her off from home.

Life is simple or can be

 The lutherans run an orphanage for single dad's or throw away babies. They stay there until they are 2 years old. Then they go back to the single father.

 This is christopher and me with my banana leaf hat. He is the sweetest boy

 I took the boys for one last bike ride. I will miss them terribly.

Ashram wearing a Colorado T-shirt.

There is a sense of Freedom I feel here. Life is really hakuna mata - no worries. I feel I don’t have to think or worry about anything. I am present to the people and the children and I can be me. I pick kids up and throw them in the air. I joke around with the kids and adults. I act goofy, I help kids go pee, I feed them I put them to bed and life is good. I took a group of boys who are ten to 12 for a bike ride to lake Victoria and I said they can go swimming so they took off all there clothes and jumped in having the time of there life and I didn’t feel I have to worry about anything. It is just life. I love it. They cry they get into fights they have problems but we deal with it and life goes on. 

The kids are always calling me, hanging on me, wanting me to pick them up. They fill some sort of void in me. Religious life is not difficult for me at all out here. I don’t even think about it.

In America I felt I wasn’t free. I was walking on egg shells. I felt at the seminary I was under a microscope being watched by faculty and especially other seminarians. I feel the public watches you if they know you’re a religious. One can’t live in fear but one has to be able to be themselves  and not worry about it. Why couldn’t I feel that as a religious in America?

People here are very social. Everyone talks to everyone. As a 7 in the enneagram this is a very 7 society and I fit in very well. Tanzanians or east africans must really struggle in America. I think individualism and privacy is very important as oppose to here. How do you talk to someone if there door is closed or even having the transportation to get somewhere. One can walk every where around here. People are out an about every where. I think the national past time is just sitting around hanging out. But in America that is laziness. One must be doing something.

I am proud to be Catholic over here. People take pride in being Catholic and are very active in the community.I do believe the churches that is all denominational churches are doing more for people than the NGO’s. But that is my opinion. being connected to religion I think offers something more to people that NGO’s cannot do. It is something deeper. I think it gives people hope.

Fr. PolyCarp has an interesting thought for me today. “God is Just because the people here in East Africa are poor but it is green here and plans are growing. None of these people could survive in Milwaukee. Truly I tell you they would all die in the cold. God is Just giving us good weather .”

There are plenty of things that I do miss. For example cheese and good beer but I can tell my body doesn’t miss it. I stepped on a scale the other day and I think it read 79Kg which I believe is about 174 pounds. So I have lost almost 20 pounds since I have arrived here. My underwear does feel looser but I feel I don’t look skinnier or any different. I walk more here but I feel I am a lot more active in America doing sports and other physical activities.

I do miss having easy access to internet and TV more for sports purposes though. Unfortunately out here I don’t really know what is going on in the world. Newspaper, internet,  and TV help with that. A crisis is going on in the world and one has no idea it is happening.

Leaving for Kampala

 Overview of St nicholas children's center

 We had an over night or they called it camping in the outpatient clinic because it was not in there rooms.

 Myself, Nazalius and Joseph went for a steep bike ride

 This is Daniel who has autism. I founded it funny he had a twins shirt. The peace sign in mere luck

They make sandals out of old tires

My time at St. Nicholas house really went fast. I love the kids here and they are very entertaining. There is never a dull moment. But there are times where you need silence and have to escape the noise and chaos. It will be hard leaving. It has only been a month but I love these children. Spending every day getting them out of bed. Dressing them, helping feed the ones that need help. Singing songs with them, going on walks and bike rides. playing, reading with them. Praying with them every night has been a treat. The children here are very happy and get a lot of attention. They are getting the medicine and physical help they need to grow in strength mentally and physically. I have a feeling a few will be able to walk on there own in the future and with out St. Nicholas they wouldn’t have been able to. I know quit a few of these children are alive because of St. Nicholas house. I am thankful for my experience here.

They had a going away celebration for me on Sunday. It was very touching. The older boys couldn’t speak because they are so sad to see me leave. I am the only adult male here. I know they really look up to me as a role model. I didn’t realize how much of an impact I had on them this month. I plan to come back some day. I am going to miss the children here. It has been a wonderful experience. 

I will be heading to Kampala Uganda to visit a friend for a few days and then I fly to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. I thought the plan ticket was cheap until I saw the taxes but oh well. The plane ticket was $73 USD which is s 3 hour flight or a 24 hour bus ride from where I am to Dar and the bus ride was $35 USd so I thought why not fly it is hardly more. Well the taxes and everything else is also about $100USD which I was very surprised but it will save me time. The container that I helped sent with medical supplies just landed in Dar Es Salaam. That is the main reason I am heading out there sooner rather than later. I hope we will be able to receive the container but I know clearing it is a challenge. 

Poor Education

Wow Tanzania has a poor education system. Classes are in English because it is the business language. I was told that Public school teachers send there children to private schools because of the poor education. I was not impressed by the private school I attended. The theme of the school is “Fear God and gain wisdom”. It is a Pentecostal school. The school motto just doesn’t sit right with me. Any ways the books that they are using has misspelled english words in it. Most of the questions sound funny. There are even incomplete sentences in the text books. The last sentence on a page was Cashew nuts are grown in the coastal re- . The sentence was not even finished. One question was something like if the economy is good it is easy for someone to get a job? I was looking for the answer in the text book and it was definitely no where to be found. This was a question for a 4th grader.  I don’t think there is a simple answer to that question. One of the kids had a question how fast is the speed of sound? The answer was not in the text book. We can’t google it because we don’t have internet here. Maybe I am being to critical. 

Well Dan hit me good today. He is a 6yr old with Autism and you never know when he lashes out. He is always hitting things and children. If you ever put anything on a table infront of him he has to knock it off. He can never let anything just sit there. I took my eye off him for one second and he slapped me on the forehead. He is one strong kid. Unfortunately his parents as a really small child thought he was possessed and took him to a witch doctor. The family didn’t know what to do. He is at St. Nicholas and has been here for  4 years now. Danny loves plastic bottles. He loves throwing them and he loves hitting people with them. He also loves being spun around. Danny the tornado. You never know when he will strike. The hardest part for Danny is it seems he can’t talk. So it is hard for him to tell you what he wants. He is a very entertaining child to be around. 

Anthony asks me everyday if we can go for a bike ride. He probably asks me 100 times everyday. He is very persistent, My answer every single time is Maybe (Labda) That is probably the word I use the most here. I feel sorry for Anthony. His parents left him with his hands tied up as a baby. Some one found the child and brought him to the hospital. Anthony definitely has some sort of mental disability but I am not sure what. He means well but he doesn’t always act well around others. Every child here is unique and fun to be around.

 This is witness. She is a bundle of energy. I love her dearly. She always comes to me to be held. However she has pulled on my beard at least 3 times and it hurts. It is time to cut it off.

 This is anthony. He is wearing his boyscout uniform. He loves riding bicycles

 This is Mwesiga. He has some sort of mental disorder but I am not sure what. I took him for a walk and he got ecstatic.

 This is Irene and she just got baptized.

This is the night guard and he is wearing a badgers coat.