Shaloom Mission: EASTER IN TANZANIA

THE LORD HAS RISEN, ALLELUIA!!

My first Easter in Tanzania was memorable. Now that I have lived here for over a year, I've come to know that very little in Tanzania is like it is back home. Our Easter celebration began Saturday evening at 8pm with the Vigil. The electricity was out, as it often is, so it was very dark at the school where we celebrate mass until our new church is built. A fire was started outside the building and the Easter candle was lit. We processed into the classroom with the choir singing and those who had candles lit them, as well. The first three readings were read by candlelight. Between the third and fourth readings, the power was restored. After the homily, Fr. Janusz, our SMA Regional Superior, baptized five young adults. Baptisms and weddings are generally celebrated during the Christmas and Easter Seasons. There were many more baptisms celebrated at our two larger SMA churches. The adults are baptized during the Vigil, while the babies are baptized during the Sunday morning masses. We were very happy the electricity continued to work through the end of the mass. With all the singing, dancing and preaching, the mass ended at 11:30pm. In spite of the few challenges we experienced, it was a beautiful celebration!

Venant, our Catechist, reads

Corine, SMA Dutch lay missionary, reads

Fr. Janusz baptizes one of the candidates

The Easter morning mass began at 9am. There were only two babies baptized at this mass. The choir performed beautifully and at the end of mass they continued to sing as they processed outdoors. They also did a special little performance outdoors. The small children played with the drum, adding their part to the festivities.

Klemente, Juvi & Ana

Following the Easter morning mass, Corine, Mara and I drove to the village of Malimbe to celebrate with another lay missionary, Marga, and her boys. Marga is a Dutch lay missionary who has been running a project, with her husband, for street boys called Upendo Daima (Unconditional love) for the past 15 years. Approximately 60 of these boys live at a 4-acre center called Malimbe Family, where they are given food, shelter, an education and, most importantly, love. 25 boys are currently staying at the Back Home House, where the Upendo Daima staff try to reunite the boys with family. The boys are taught acrobatics, dance and other activities. These young boys have had more hardships in their short lives than most people have in a lifetime. It's great to see the work that Marga, her husband and the staff are doing to try to improve the lives of these kids. On Easter, all 85 boys performed for a group of about 40 guests, including staff members and visitors. After the boys performed, the staff served a meal to everyone. Following the meal, the boys and some of the visitors colored approximately 150 eggs with felt-tip markers. Then the eggs were hidden outdoors for all of the boys to find and eat. We also did some dancing. Everyone seemed to have a great time!