Funeral of Phaustin

James, Krystina and Phaustin

Phaustin-Shaloom Care House tailor

The first photo above was taken just before Krystina returned to the U.S. in May 2013. The Shaloom Care House staff had a "going-away" party for her. There are only a few members on the staff at Shaloom, so we are all like "family". Phaustin, who is the shorter man on the right, was the tailor for Shaloom. He made the school uniforms each year for all of the children registered with Shaloom. He also made a skirt for me last Spring. I think he also made the dress which Krystina is wearing in this photo. If not, he certainly could have because he was a very talented tailor. On May 11, 2014, we lost Phaustin to an unknown illness. He had been at home or in the hospital since last October, trying to recover from whatever was troubling him. Because I was away at language school from August through December 2013, I only had a few months to get to know Phaustin, but in just that short time I could see that he was a kind, caring, good and happy person. I learned from others who knew him well that he had encouraged them, shared his faith commitment with them and was interested in the well-being of others. He was in the process of building a house in Mwanza,  and had planned to marry this year. I understand that he sacrificed a lot to build the house on a very small salary so that he and his new wife would have a place to live.

Phaustin's funeral was an experience I will not forget. Family and friends came from miles around and were a constant support system for the grieving, close family members. I have learned that most family members stay at the home of the deceased person for at least three days, and as long as five days, in some cases. Although this brings emotional support for the close family, it also brings an added financial burden to the family who provide food and drinks during this time. Food and drinks are even served to all who come for the funeral service. It is customary to give a donation to the family to help relieve this burden. 

There was a memorial service held at Phaustin's house in Mwanza first, where the catechist from his parish church led the mourners in prayer. Everyone was served a plate of rice and a cup of tea here and then all those in attendance took a half hour ferryboat ride to Sengerema, to the childhood home of Phaustin. Since Phaustin worked for Shaloom, which is a care facility under the diocese of Mwanza, two Land Cruisers, owned by the diocese, were provided to transport the body, and a few family and friends, from place to place as the memorial service progressed. Once we arrived at the family home, Phaustin's body was, again, placed in front of the house under a tent. Family and friends were given the opportunity to briefly pay their last respects to Phaustin. The coffin was only opened briefly, due to the fact that there are no services available in Tanzania to preserve the body. 

After about an hour we moved to the parish church for the funeral service. Most of us walked the long, rough path to the church, while Phaustin's body was transported again by car. Once we arrived at the church, the body was placed in front of the building for a period of prayer, and then brought inside for more prayers, readings and speeches. There was another brief period after the prayer service to view the body once more. It is customary for women to process past the coffin first, followed by the men.

 After the funeral service the coffin was transported to the cemetery. Final prayers were said at the grave site. The coffin was lowered into the ground with large branches and then covered with dirt. Everyone remained until the end. When we returned to the house, a meal of rice, beans, vegetables and bottled water was served to all. Many women had remained at the house to prepare the food. There were a number of huge kettles placed between stones, over wood burning fires, set all around the property. On this day I learned how to eat rice without eating utensils, which is very common here.

Good-bye Phaustin. May you Rest in Peace.