As our trip was coming to an end I found myself counting the days. At the beginning it seemed like there would be an infinite number of days to spend with our new friends. Then we had to say goodbye to our friends in India and I realized things could not go on forever. Since coming to Tanzania we have been moving around so much that it felt kind of the same, always new people and new places. But as I started getting emails about our departure flights...it became more of a reality that we would be going home soon.
In God’s providence we were to have maybe our most unexpected adventures with Fr. Nova and we were in such an isolated and beautiful part of the country that it just about took up all the space I had in my head and my heart. No time or space but to be anywhere but exactly where we were. This sort of situation is my jams! I feel peaceful in the unknown and the unexpected, nothing to be stressed about because you have no idea what will happen. That’s sort of always true of life, but for me this kind of moving around and meeting new people is certainly my joy. I am exceedingly curious and love to learn new things and this part of the trip was a bottomless pit of brand new and also perplexing experiences.
It probably goes without saying that as we drove further and further up into this diocese I saw many sites I have never seen before. That’s pretty much true everyday, but this was especially true here. This place is distant but it’s certainly not unpopulated. A few things to see are that the cattle here have enormous horns. We ask why and they say just because they do and that the horns have no purpose. Also sooo many Banana trees. Now everywhere we have gone since day 1 has Bananas but they don’t call this region the Banana capital for nothing! It’s also my first time eating raw coffee beans right from a tree. And well, the most amazing thing was the view. All day we drive high up steep hills and then down the other side into deep valleys. I wish the pictures could do it justice but they don’t. Our destination was Murongo and it lies deep in a valley and from the hills you can see Rwanda and Uganda. Both are less than 20km away. However there is a national park all along the border, mostly to protect the border and to be able to dissuade those arriving on foot from either of these countries. But during the Rwandan Genocide there were many many refugee camps in the towns father took us too. He says many of the Rwandans returned to there country but you still see quite a few around. You can see that the men all carry large sticks because culturally they were pastoralists, so even on their way to church when they are not with animals the men carry what looks like a walking stick.
Of course by the time we arrived at Murongo parish it was dark :). We cleaned up and reported to the main living room only to meet the parish priest and a group of parishioners who had assembled for dinner with us. Fr. Nova didn’t mention there would be guests for dinner haha. Fr. Valerian says the parish has a motto and that is, Guests are a Gift. Fr. Nova and Fr. Valerian have a young man living with them named Pius and it was his 18th birthday so they were having a party for him. They invited some catechists, Pius’s mom and young sister along with the young ladies that work at the rectory. They have been sending Pius to school. He’s quite bright but never went to school and is just now completing grade 6. From what I understand the young ladies that work there along with Pius all come from difficult family situations and that is the reason they were chosen to come work at the parish.
Someone had given the parish a bottle of sparkling wine at some point, maybe a foreigner I think. So they have kept it for some time because no one wanted to open it because of what they had seen in movies when they open champagne. I was nominated to open it! Thank goodness my family has trained me well in opening such things. Shout out to uncle Bunny! I said it was probably going to dent the ceiling and asked if that was okay. They said yes but I don’t think they believed me. I carefully scouted out all the ceiling lights and picked a good spot to aim. I told them if you don’t shake it, it wont spill everywhere but will still shoot out :). Anyhow it was a fun moment and Fr. Nova made a toast. They also made a cake, something which they did for our benefit as they don’t eat cake. They asked how they should eat it after everyone had a piece..I said I dunno just pick it up and shove it in your mouth..and they laughed and followed suit.
After the party, we gave Fr. Nova his gifts we had brought. He was particularly touched by the ciborium we gave him. He has been using a small metal container in his mass kit for the last 24 years and he was so thrilled to have a real ciborium that was small and portable to bring to the missions. The next morning at mass he brought the ciborium, pyx and holy oil container and blessed them all with all the congregation present. Because the priests travel so far on Sundays the parish mass is quite early. When we arrived for Mass a little before 6am the church was already super packed and it was still dark outside. Definitely some of these people have walked for over and hour in the dark to get here. They are a pretty new parish and are building a church basically over top of the existing church which was an out station. It’s pretty cool to see. We asked Fr. Valerian if they have a good choir, he said yeah they are trying but it’s just okay because they are a new parish. But from my Canadian perspective they are pretty fantastic. Choirs here are serious business and I think the standards are very very high.
At the end of mass Fr. Nova spoke to everyone about us and we introduced ourselves. Philo said some beautiful things to them and encouraged them. I often am not saying much in these situations, because well, I get all choked up so I try to keep it short :). There was something about this moment too. Like we had made it all the way to see our friend and his people and now we were together after many many years of knowing one another and praying for eachother. The mass was said for the soul of our Madonna House sister Linda Lambeth. Fr. Nova loves Linda Lambeth and he gets kinda choked up himself just speaking about her. She was the first person he knew at MH and she really took him on and he is forever grateful. He loves MH so much and well we love him too. It was a culmination of sorts for our trip. It’s hard for me to really describe this experience of mass in this place and the sun rising during mass.
We had a picture with everyone after mass.
But the day quickly is speeding on! We have another mass to get to. Usually Fr. Nova has more than that but today there will be just one because we are with him and must travel on. We had a quick breakfast with two of the Catechists. Philo asked one why he is a Catechist. He said because his father was and his grandfather was and it is in his blood. The priests tell us they could not do their ministry without the help of the catechists. Philo says they are like John the Baptist because they prepare the way but Fr. Nova says no no they not only prepare they actually bring Christ to the people. Both are true I think!
The second mass was at a secondary school for the students.who are boarders. Some could have gone home earlier in the week because they were finished exams but they stayed on because Fr Nova was coming with us. Their formator is a super excellent dude. Fr. Nova says he's one of the best YCS teacher formators. He asked us all sorts of pastoral questions about youth and faith culture in Canada.
The school itself was not so awesome. It was in not so good condition and if I remember correctly I don't think the kids here do so well because they don't have the resources or people educated enough to teach them. All the same it was great to meet them and YCS executive. One of the students asked how he could become a missionary. Philo gave a great answer. She said you better start now by loving and serving your neighbors, your fellow students. And that you must fall deeply in love with Jesus.
Before we left Murongo we went to the young catechists house. He is married with 3 small kids and is a farmer. He is still building the house as time goes on. He was proud for us to meet his family. Maybe to us he seems super poor he is doing okay for himself it seems. He is the only one of all his siblings to go to school and is obviously pretty bright because his English is super good and he wouldn't have learned that well in public school. He seems like and industrious guy. Also he sometimes walks 50 kms to out stations to teach catechism and pray with people. And this is a mountainous place! Being a Catechist in Tanzania is no joke!
It seemed like the end of the day but actually it was only time for lunch. We had lunch with Fathers cousin. She was quite the lady. She is a seamstress and trains other young women and also does catering. Soo yes Lunch was super yummy. She is also a single mother with two kids. Again Fr Nova is super proud of her. He said a few years ago because she was doing so well some people in town where jealous and they tried to acuse her of being Rwandan and not a lawful citizen. Father said he defended her and helped prove her citizenship. Actually one of there grandparents was from Rwanda so that's how the rumors and accusations came about.
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