Sunday School, Mbeta village
Last weekend (September 25-27) I went with Bishop Makaya and some of his clergy to Ulyankulu Deanery. There are 4 Anglican parishes-- 17 congregations in all-- whose members are Burundian refugees, 2,000 of whom were settled there after the 1972 tribal war in Burundi between Tutsis and Hutus. After 37 years, the United Nations and the governments of Burundi and Tanzania have decided to resolve their status. About 5% have decided to return to Burundi; 90% have applied for Tanzanian citizenship; and another 5% could get sent back to Burundi involuntarily because they didn't apply for Tanzanian citizenship before the deadline.
They've been told they're being relocated, but they don't know where or when. All development and new building in the area, such as school expansion, has been halted. Most of the "settlers" were born in Ulyankulu and don't know any other home. The Tanzanian government's "one Tanzania" policy will probably be to relocate them as far from Ulyankulu (and Tabora) and from each other. This is how it minimizes the cultural distinctives among the 120-plus ethnic groups already in Tanzania.
Mothers' Union kwaya, Mbeta
I preached Friday afternoon in Nsigara and Sunday morning in Mbeta. In addition to the usual teaching on the Holy Spirit, to coincide with the Confirmation service, I preached to encourage them during this in-between time, when their patience and faith are being tested; and to call on the Holy Spirit's help to forgive the tribe (Tutsis) they've been taught to consider their enemies.
New friends in Mbeta
Dear Fr. Chuck,
ReplyDeleteI truly enjoy seeing the photos you select to post. I especially love to see the children. How hard it must be to be in limbo for the families of Ulyankulu.
Forgiving the Tutsis. What a tall order it must seem for these people. It reminds me of a question a friend (who was deeply hurt) asked me recently: What is forgiveness, really?! Is it forgetting? Is it acquiescing? It seems so hard to do when we are hurt so deeply. I told my friend, "God tips things upside down. He forgives us when we least deserve it. That's all I know." But, I understand the difficulty. It's easy when you are not the hurting one who has been robed of dignity, honor, loved ones, and even life itself.
I hope there can be forgiveness even in this generation among the people of Burundi.
In faith,
Wendy