Latest News at Shaloom

We currently have 14 students...eight girls and six boys. The girl's names are Dolli, Casi, Magi, Aglipina, Justina, Naomi and two Mwaju's. We call one Mwaju Mkubwa (big), and the other is Mwaju Mdogo (small). The boys are Thobiasi, Shalo, Boniface, Omari, Jeremia and Peter. Buseleke was the name of the student who lost his mother in April. He has moved away to live with extended family and no longer attends our Shaloom kindergarten class.

Recently, we had a new chalkboard made for the classroom. The previous one was in pretty rough shape, with nails protruding all along the edge. I thought, since the carpenter I've been dealing with gave us a good price, within our budget, it was time to upgrade. In Kiswahili, a skilled person is called a "fundi". Our fundi's name is Kharidi. He also replaced a door handle and lock on our classroom door. He's kind of a "jack of all trades". His shop is close by and so it's easy for him to drop by whenever we need help with anything at Shaloom! We appreciate him very much!

Kharidi replacing the door handle

Using our new chalkboard

Rehema works with the children who are struggling a little.

These students are enjoying more challenging work!

We like to have the students use their imaginations from time to time, so we bring out a large basin of wood scraps and the children build houses. This activity seems to be one of their favorites! I enjoy watching their creative minds at work.

Dolli, Justina and Mwaju Mdogo

Magi

Jeremia with Justina and Mwaju Mdogo

 

Aglipina, Casi and Mwaju Mkubwa

Naomi

Peter

Boniface

Shalo and Omari

Thobiasi

More recently, we planted seeds in large, plastic cups. I wrote the student's name, and the type of seed planted, on the outside of the cup. I brought several packages of seeds with me from the US. There were watermelon, tomatoes, green peppers, carrots and a variety of different types of flowers. Most of the children chose watermelon seeds, but some did ask for carrots, tomatoes and green peppers. The students put a few small stones in the bottom of the cups for drainage, and then they went to the gardens outside the classroom and filled their cups with soil, using tablespoons I brought from home. Finally, we planted the seeds and put some water over the soil. The cups are kept in the classroom for safe keeping, when school is not in session. When we are in the classroom, we set the cups outside in the sunshine. Once the plants reach a healthy stage, each student will take his or her cup home to plant in a garden of their own. We are asking for prayers that our seeds will bear fruit.

Rehema with Thobiasi, Shalo, Mwaju & Boniface

Naomi, Dolli, Casi and Thobiasi

Magi, Naomi and Dolli

Peter

Omari

Young gardeners

Hopefully, we'll have a favorable update soon on how our plants are doing!

WINTER BREAK (part three)

June 11, 2014...Next on my travel itinerary was a visit to St. Joseph's Seminary in Kaengesa, Sumbawanga. I had been friends with the late Fr. Revocatus Ndasi, Rector of the seminary, who passed away in 2011, from injuries sustained in a car accident. During my visits with Fr. Ndasi at the seminary in 2008 and 2010, I also became friends with Fr. Cosmas Makasi, the Vice-Rector of the seminary. Fr. Makasi was one of the many priests who came to Mvimwa Abbey to con-celebrate at the funeral mass of Br. Barnabas. After the luncheon, Fr. Makasi and I left for Sumbawanga Town, with a few other guests, to stay at the Libori Center, a lodging facility run by the diocese. There was another funeral mass the next day for an elderly diocesan priest at the cathedral in town.

Libori Center Lobby

Lobby

Libori Center courtyard

Lobby

 I was behaving like a tourist when we dined at the center, because I was so impressed with the artwork on the walls  that I couldn't control myself...I had to take photos! I appreciated Fr. Makasi's tolerance of my strange behaviour. He didn't even move to another table when I asked if I could take a photo of our "fish and chips"!

Artwork in the dining room

Fish & chips

Following the funeral mass at the cathedral, Fr. Makasi and I visited the orphans at St. Martin de Porres Orphanage in town. The orphanage was founded by the White Sisters from Europe about 50 years ago, but was taken over by the Sumbawanga diocese about 12 years ago. Sr. Marietta explained to us that when a mother dies in childbirth, the procedure is that the center takes the baby until he/she reaches 2 years of age. At this time a family member is supposed to take the child into their care but, unfortunately, many times the children are forgotten and remain at the orphanage. Sr. Marietta is one of three sisters who run the center, with the help of a few volunteers who work mostly with the infants. There are currently 48 children at the center, ranging in age from 2 weeks to 12 years. More than half of the residents are infants. The orphanage is operated with very limited funding from the diocese. Fr. Makasi and I were quite surprised when we stopped at the gate of the orphanage and three little boys ran to open it for us. I think the oldest was about 6 years old. They were SO excited to see us! I guess they don't get many visitors. There were so many children holding our hands and touching my arms, that I could hardly walk! I was so moved by the patience and care that was given to these children. We went back again the next day for another visit and brought along a few necessary supplies. Thank God there are such loving, caring individuals as these women!

Entrance to the orphanage

Sr. Marietta

Some of the happy residents!

Volunteers helping with the infants. The baby on the left is 2 weeks old.

Next on the journey is St. Joseph Seminary...home of 300 students, hopefully some of whom will go on to the major seminary.

MVIMWA ABBEY(part two of winter break)

June 7, 2014...Abbot Denis and I left St. Benedict House at 6am and were on the bus, headed for Sumbawanga, by 6:30. While we were traveling on the bus from Mbeya to Sumbawanga, I was trying very hard to relax and enjoy the ride. The view of the mountain landscapes were really breathtaking, when I was brave enough to look! Unfortunately, my fears often got the best of me and I found myself petrified, praying that the disasters I was envisioning wouldn't come true. I thanked God when we arrived safely at the Benedictine House in Sumbawanga for lunch. After lunch we rode by private car another 1.5 hours to Mvimwa Abbey. When we arrived at the Abbey, we learned that Br. Barnabas, one of the monks who is a member of the Abbey, had been traveling from Sumbawanga to Mbeya that same day. The bus he was traveling in was parked on one of the mountain roads when it was struck by a truck. The brakes on the truck had failed as it was coming down the hill. The bus was in its path. Br. Barnabas was one of three people killed in the crash. I had the pleasure of meeting Br. Barnabas in Dar es Salaam in 2010. He was the guest master there at St. Placidus House, and was such a pleasant person.

 I felt so sad for all of the monks, as they tried to process this huge loss to their community. The following day was Pentecost Sunday, a special feast day for the abbey because the patron of the abbey is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Mass was a beautiful celebration, in spite of the air of sadness throughout the church. Following the mass and a quiet breakfast, the big task of cleaning up the grounds began. The monks knew there would be a large gathering of people for this sad occasion.

Pentecost Sunday Mass

Father Abbot Denis

Br. Gwalbert (founder of abbey in 1979) & Abbot Denis

Jean with Br. Gregory - monk who made sure the guest's needs were met

I was so grateful and impressed because, in spite of all that was going on, many of the monks made sure to find time to show me around and see that I had a nice visit. My close friend, Fr. Lawrence, took me all around the grounds and explained many of the operations of the monastery. Even though I had visited Mvimwa Abbey in 2008, there was still much I hadn't seen and some new additions.

Jean with Fr. Lawrence Ntiyakila OSB

Many banana plantations

Banana winery & store run by local women

As the day of the funeral approached, food preparations began. Many of the local people, as well as visiting religious sisters, helped with the preparations. 

On Tuesday evening, the body of Br. Barnabas arrived at the abbey. 

The funeral mass followed on Wednesday, the feast of St. Barnabas, the apostle! I was honored to be part of this whole experience...to witness such love and dedication to a fellow brother.

Eternal rest grant unto him, Oh Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.