Second Week in Tabora

I went to Victoria Samaga's graduation last Friday as planned. From Tabora to Nkinga is about 70 miles over dusty, rugged road. We averaged maybe 30 mph. The day began with a chapel service-- lots of singing and dancing; and in the afternoon the graduation ceremony itself.

The afternoon was totally disorganized. Some of the African men I met-- an optometrist at the mission hospital, and another man whose daughter was also graduating that day-- told me: "In Africa, everything is possible... but nothing is certain." The 1 pm graduation began at 3 pm and lasted three and a half hours. Lots of speeches songs, poems, skits, more dancing.

I have taken some pictures, but haven't yet figured out how to post them on this site from here in Tabora. In the pictures of me with the Samaga family, it looks as if I'm the only one not smiling. In some of them there's a thin-lipped New England smile, but in a lot of them I'm trying not to start crying (for joy) in front of everyone. Also I was dying of embarrassment from being thanked so many times for the Church of Our Father's role in sponsoring Vicky during her four years of nursing school

I'm keeping a journal, but I can't write fast enough to record all my impressions. I don't have the journal with me now, so I'll just shoot from the hip while I have an internet connection.

Without my journal, I have trouble remembering what happened on what day, but I believe it was Saturday that I went to St. John's parish in Isevya, a neighborhood of Tabora town. It is the site of a Compassion International project that will eventually be a primary school and nutrition program for 245 children. The priest, Fr. Shadrach, showed me a place on the grounds where he hopes to locate a fish farm. There is a freshwater spring there that would feed it. On that day, the women and children of the area were gathered to do laundry.

Saturday evening I spoke at a retreat for the 4 men who would be ordained priests on Sunday. Bishop Makaya had told me it was scheduled to begin at 4 pm, but that I shouldn't automatically come at 4 because he was worried no one would show up until 4:30. So maybe you can appreciate the Bishop's influence when I say that everyone-- ordinands and their wives and some children-- were all there at 4.

I greeted the gathering with some Swahili that I had carefully rehearsed. The Bishop gave me a grade of 80%, which was probably generous. I wonder what I said with the other 20%.

Mostly I talked about the costly love necessary to be in Christian community, and the importance of the priest's modeling of that love. People who know me know I'm only just learning to crawl in the the practice of that kind of sacrificial love; and I tried not to appear farther advanced in this than I really am. All of these men have been through a testing during their year as deacons working in parishes, and before that as evangelists and catechists.

Last Sunday there was one service at the Cathedral here in Tabora, instead of the usual 3. Four deacons were ordained to the priesthood. The preacher was a priest from the US who is planting a new Anglican congregation in North Carolina.

The Sunday service lasted 3 hours and 45 minutes. Two choirs, one clothed in traditional Maasai garb. Lots more dancing. Announcements lasted 45 minutes, I think. I was asked to stand and be recognized when the Samaga family offered thanks to God for Victoria's graduation. Later I had a longer opportunity to greet the congregation on behalf of the Church of Our Father and my family, and to assure them of the prayers of the Christians in Maine for the mission and ministry of the Diocese of Tabora.

One of the announcements was the treasurer's report. (Treasure dressed as a Maasai warrior.) I think he was reporting on the previous Sunday's offerings, and I think he said that from 3 services, with a total attendance of maybe 260, the total offering was the rough equivalent of $24. There is a lot of emphasis on tithing. If everyone is tithing already, they probably wouldn't be stressing it so much; but I also suspect that a lot of people gave sacrificially to contribute to that $24. Since Sunday, sacks of rice from people's fields have been piling up in the back of the cathedral. That, too, is part of their "pledge"-- pledging in kind. At Kailua (sp?) the previous Sunday, the congregation gave the Bishop a live goat. On his return he had it slaughtered and shared it among his staff.

On Monday we had a seminar for diocesan clergy presented by two visitors from the US, Fr. Jason Patterson (last Sunday's preacher) and Fr. Eddie Rix, speaking on behalf of the Prayer Book Society of the US, on Anglican worship and Prayer Book revision. It was a good day, and with a lot of very stimulating conversation.

Yesterday I tried to visit a building in "old Tabora" that for about 10 months back in around 1857 was the home of David Livingstone. Livingstone is highly thought of just about everywhere in Africa. The caretaker of the historical site couldn't be found. Someone told me he had had visitors the day before, and was spending the money he had received for admission on drink.

Tomorrow (Thursday) I leave with the Bishop for Kahama Deanery. Kahama is one of the fastest-growing towns in western Tanzania. Gold has been discovered there, generating some jobs.

Friday and Saturday we will be visiting various churches in the Deanery, and on Sunday there will be a confirmation-plus-ordination service in Kahama with C. Bradshaw preaching. Please pray for the Holy Spirit's help and my fidelity to God's word.

As part of my daily devotions I have been reading the letters of prayer and encouragement that Wendy put together in a book. Thank you all.