WINTER BREAK! (part one)

We closed Shaloom for the month of June for "winter break". June is one of the nicest months of the year, with regard to weather. The rains have ended and the temperatures are cool. All of the government schools close in June, so it was recommended that we follow the same program, even though Shaloom is a private school. I thought the kids were ready for a break, and so I decided it would be a good time to visit a few friends around Tanzania. The dry season is best for traveling.

Fastjet is a fairly new airlines, serving in Tanzania, Kenya and now Zambia, with very nice planes and exceptionally low rates, if you purchase your ticket a couple of months in advance. For the same price, you can take a 1 1/2 hour plane ride, or a 15 hour bus ride. I opted for Fastjet! On Wednesday, June 4th, at 8am, I flew  from Mwanza to Dar es Salaam to begin my three week vacation. One of my Benedictine friends, Br. Cassian, met me at the airport and we went to the Benedictine house close to the airport for lodging. There were no set travel plans for the next three weeks so my vacation unfolded one day at a time. All I knew for sure was that I didn't want to travel by bus alone, and there were certain people I wanted to be sure to visit. As luck would have it, or maybe it was Divine Intervention, Fr. Denis Ndomba was also staying the night at the Benedictine house, on his way from Kenya back to his monastery in Sumbawanga. One of the places I wanted to visit was Mvimwa Abbey in Sumbawanga! Fr. Denis and I had been close friends in the US during the five years he studied there. Last year, when he returned to Tanzania from the US, he was elected Abbot of Mvimwa Abbey. Abbot Denis made the arrangements, and him and I were on a bus to Mbeya at 5am the next morning!

Mountainous terrain during most of the journey

One of two stops along the way for necessities

The weather in Mbeya was much cooler than in Dar es Salaam! It was actually cold during the night and early morning, which was quite a relief from the heat in Dar. We stayed two nights in Mbeya at a Benedictine house, run by Br. Gasper Toke. Fr. Denis and I both needed a break from traveling before we got on another bus bound for Sumbawanga, a 6.5 hour ride. I spent the time leisurely wandering around the grounds and learning about the work the monks are doing to help the people in the area. Br. Toke received a grant, making it possible for him to have a well dug 80km deep, which provides an ample supply of water to the guest house and the gardens on the property. The water is also available for local people who are in need, at no cost. The gardens throughout the property are very well maintained by a woman who walked to the guest house one day asking for work. She told Br. Toke that her house had burnt down and she had no one to help her. All she wanted was to take care of the grounds for the monks, and get food in return for her services. She didn't expect any payment. Br. Toke was so touched by her humility that he hired her for a small salary, food and medical attention, when necessary. John, the cook, has been working for the Benedictines for many years. I met him in 2008 when he was working at St. Placidus house in Dar es Salaam. I think he is one of the sweetest men I've ever met. He's always smiling and giving hugs. He baked mandazi (sweet biscuits) for Fr. Denis and I before we left for our bus ride to Sumbawanga. He does his best to keep the guests comfortable and well fed.

St. Benedict House

gardens in the back of the house taken from the second level

Br's Guido, Bonzi, & Damian, me. Abbot Denis & Br. Gasper

St. Benedict House chapel

watering pond for the gardens

 

well and water tanks

The gardener

John, the cook

Br. Toke took me for a visit to a local vocational training center, where the students are all either physically or mentally challenged. There are currently 29 students enrolled and boarding at the center. We were greeted by Sr. Anna Marie and five of the students. The remaining students were visiting with their families for the month of June. The two sisters who run the center have a special arrangement with a priest in Sumbawanga. The priest searches out these special children in his parish so that they might have an opportunity to attend the training center. These children are almost always "pushed aside" by the family and society in general, and never considered when they reach the age to begin an education. The children range from 12 to 18 years of age. When the priest locates a child, he notifies the sisters and the sisters make the 6.5 hour ride to Sumbawanga. They go to the home of the child, meet with the family and try to persuade the parents to allow the child to go to the center, get an education and learn a trade. The children are given a basic education and then taught gardening, tailoring or carpentry skills. The center also maintains a large vegetable garden and cultivates corn, which they grind into flour on site. They also raise chickens, which provide them with eggs to sell or eat.

Br. Toke with Sr. Anna Marie and the students

Working in the garden

Br. Toke with some of the students near the corn field

Sr. Anna Marie and Michael

Carpentry students and teacher

At 6am Saturday morning, Abbot Denis and I were on a bus bound for Sumbawanga. Watch for the next posting to learn what transpired during the following days.