First though we must stop at the Convent just outside Mwanza. We had planned to go to Mass in the morning but it rained so hard we could not go out and the power went out. So after breakfast Sr. Chrispina asks Sr. Bene when the car will come to take us. Sr. Bene announced that she would be taking us on the Daladala and the Bajaji. Sr. Chrispina made a worried look but we assured her we were comfortable to travel on the local bus, especially with Sr. Bene. We were glad actually because having to go in the taxi I think it is quite the expense for the sisters. Plus I wanted to know what it's like to go in the Daladala bus.
Sr.Bene does many things. She happens to be the superior of the convent under construction plus of all the sisters who live alone in this region. Also as Sr. Chrispina says...she handles all the money. I think she is also the secretary for women religious at some level above just diocesan. Anyhow I can see why she is chosen for all these things. But the other sisters say she works too hard.
You should see her with the workers who are building the convent. She closely oversees every little step and her room is stacked with papers and building plans. I think the workers are not so skilled but she has no qualms about telling them to rip something apart and do it over. I think this happens most of the time actually. They are paid to complete the projects not by the hour so it takes time but in the end with Sr Bene it will be done well.
God bless her though. If she is not there such as when she was with us, things go missing and also are done poorly. So everyday we have to go check in and there is something to correct. But she told half the workers not to come and only the more known ones so that nothing is stolen. What a job! But they listen to her without fighting as if she was there own mother. She certainly is not intiminated by these men or probably most people :)
They are building a small kingergarden too. It's mostly unfinished and they have no desks or books or anything yet but they have a chalk board. Sr Gisella is there teacher. She has about 40 kids. The sisters charge very little for the school and according to Sr. Bene the kids are learning more efficiently than the more expensive school accross the way. She is hoping to get the kids chairs and maybe some play things soon. For now Sr Gisella runs all around the yard with them.
Sr. Gisella is pretty chill. One night we were joking as we wandered behind Sr. Bene and Philo that those two are a good pair. They are charging ahead on the path in the night intensely talking as we giggle and follow LOL.
On our adventure around the city we went in the Bajaji and sister took us what up in the hills to the Augustinian Monastery. They have these large open rocks up there and they have saint statues on the tops and the way of the cross. Here is sister Bene looking her best. Kind of like St Therese don't you think?
Like Sr Chrispina, Sr Bene was good to ask questions about the church and family life in Tanzania. She is brutally honest about things. No beating around the bush with her. She shared with us some of the difficulties people face in married life. Particularly she spoke about unfaithfulness in marriages. Also about lack of self knowledge which leads to unchastity and well as she put it...how men can be so stupid and also how women can be too. LOL. But what she told us rings true as humans are humans everywhere. But it was good to hear the particular ways this plays out in Tanzanian society.
Then we had a very unexpected thing happen. Fr Witness who we know from the Kayanga diocese contacted us and says he wants to pick us in Mwanza because he is studying not far from there. We told hi
m he better talk to Sr Chrispina because she is hosting us and we don't want to take too much time away from her. Anyhow it seemed it would work out but sister suggested that Sr. Bene go with us because it would be overnight.
m he better talk to Sr Chrispina because she is hosting us and we don't want to take too much time away from her. Anyhow it seemed it would work out but sister suggested that Sr. Bene go with us because it would be overnight.
We were glad she came because it was quite the adventure....but more on that later. We have to board the plane.
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