Sow much teaching!

  

S Jenada took the lead today to teach colors. The sisters gave lots of examples and had fun quizzing each other.

It was a typical class until a pig got into the garden right outside our classroom and helped herself to lots of greens.

Everyone ran out if the class to shoo the pig away. And it was a very big sow!!

Anyway, once the garden was safe , they returned to class as usual. And our learning continued.

Day Nine

Happy Memorial Day to you all.

Today was a regular Monday for us. We got up at 5:30, went to morning prayer, then went to mass at 6 o'clock a.m. For breakfast we had the usual: toast, peanut butter, coffee. Sometimes we have eggs on Sunday. Next we did some wash to get it on the line for drying.

Our first class starts at 9 o'clock. 10:30 is a short break and then back to class from 11 o'clock to 12:30.

Lunch is at around 1 o'clock ,then we rest a bit. Our last class is from 3 o'clock to 4:30 in the afternoon. Then it is time to plan for the next day or perhaps take a walk. Then comes evening prayer and dinner at 7 o'clock p.m. We are usually under the mosquito nets by 8:30 and lights out at 9 to be ready for the next day.

Today was our 9th class. We are halfway through already. The sisters continue to be enthusiastic learners. We are so impressed by their hard work and service to each other.

Feast Day: Corpus Christi

Today is Corpus Christi Sunday and we visited a nearby community. The Lukaledi Community has five Salvatorian sisters. Two are teachers and three work at the dispensary.

They also have time to help in the Parish Church, have a garden, and care for chickens and pigs.

Today's pictures show the Corpus Christi procession through the village. It stopped at the school, dispensary, and convent for blessings and prayers. The children's dance, the singing, the incense, and the throngs of people created quite an amazing experience and witness.

We had a fun visit, tour of the school and dispensary, and a wonderful Feast. We are making new friends everyday.

Hooray for Electricity

It is Saturday and we have one two- hour class. The rest of the day is spent cleaning and washing clothes.

One of our projects this year is to once again compile the life stories of the sisters in class. This involves some word processing and taking pictures of each of them.

The good news is that the computer works and the pictures were able to be downloaded from the iPhone.

You'll see that the "desk" is my bed, where the electric outlet is. That blue thing hanging in the picture is my mosquito net.

Note to our blog readers: Do you text on your cell phone? Did you know Sue Haertel has a text plan on her phone that allows her to receive short text messages from you even while she is in Tanzania? How's that for the wonders of technology!

Her TEXT ONLY number is 414-520-8434. Texting charges will apply to YOUR phone unless your cell phone has a free text plan. Why not send Sister Jenada and Sue a quick hello note? Consider the time difference, though, so you're not texting her in the middle of their night time! HAHA

March! Dance! Jump!

Each day we have vocabulary lessons. 

Today we learned different ways to describe movement. 

Practice makes perfect.

Run, walk, march, dance, etc.

The pictures show partners working together to review ways to move. We enjoyed lots of laughter, speaking, and learning.

Learning sure is fun!

More than just vocabulary

Each day we read something from the reader that we prepared or from the workbooks. We are also very fortunate to have some picture books that the sisters enjoy.

Sister Bakhita and Novice Sara working together

Here they are working together to translate “Beatrice's Dream.” This book describes the life of a young girl growing up in a slum in Kenya. Spoiler alert: she does achieve her dream of getting an education and becoming a nurse!

Sister Edesia and Sister Anne-Marie reading together

The students work so well together and are learning lots of vocabulary as well as practicing their spoken English. We are very pleased with the amount of improvement, and this is just our sixth day of class.

Two weeks already!

We have been in Africa two weeks already. Time flies!

Inside the Chapel

Each morning we attend Mass with the sisters in he Chapel of Migongo mission.

On Wednesdays,  the mass is in English.

Sister Angelina reading the English Mass

We brought several "Living with Christ" booklets to share with the sisters. Yesterday in class we went through the responses. All went really well.

The chapel at the Mission in Masasi

Learning English

We teach three 1.5 hour classes each day. For one class, we group based on ability level.

Sister Jenada with her group.

 Sister Jenada works with beginners. Today, they built vocabulary and spoke in simple sentences.

Advanced Group working together.

Sue working with her group.

Sue has two advanced groups. We read stories from the textbook and then study vocabulary and grammar. Subject-verb agreement and verb tense are often part of the discussion.

Third Day of Class

(No picture received today- so S. Patrice used one
from last year! We call this "recycling!")

Today was our third day of class. We are so pleased with their progress! Everyone is working so hard and they are not afraid to try new  things. They help each other!

Sister Jenada has included a short prayer, mantra, for each day. This was very well received. And as S Jenada says, it is a simple way to keep themselves centered in God throughout the day.

Today we also started working on a time line for the Salvatorian Family. Again they were very engaged. The sisters are very hungry for prayer, meditation and knowledge about our founders.

Sunday: We live the Holy Trinity!

It is Sunday evening here, and we are filled with admiration for the Sisters in Africa and all they do.

They feed the poor, give shelter, teach the villagers farming and how to care for chickens.

Our day started at the parish Church. Fr. Benjamin, SDS was presiding. Two Sisters were Eucharistic ministers. After church we met the women in Sister Trojestina's group. They meet each week for prayer, crafts, and gardening. They were proud to show us their crafts: sewing, rugs, furniture making, etc.

They also showed us their garden. The group was full of joy and empowerment.

Sister Maxensia showing part of the  harvest.

Then, we drove to Makulani to visit the Novitiate. Sister Sophia joined us and Sister Felisiana drove. 

Novitiate House

During Novitiate, the Sisters learn to cook, garden and raise chickens and pigs. This is important because most of the convents and missions involve farming to be self-sufficient.

The tractor works great!

We heard many stories about ways the Sisters reach out to the poor villagers. They have helped them in so many ways. One time, many in the village would have starved if the Sisters hadn't shared their food and taught them how to grow crops.

Sister Sophia, Sister Maxensia, and Sister Jenada
learning about bio-gas.

The Sisters use solar power for electricity and bio-gas from their pigs to power their stove. They live the Salvatorian mission in a concrete, life-giving way!

Practice, practice and practice!

Today, being Saturday, we had only one class. The sisters cleaned, did laundry, and did other projects.

S. Jenada and I spent time planning lessons. It looks like we will have two groups, beginner and advanced.

In our dining room there are two long tables. Our English class sits together at one and speaks English during meals. they are trying very hard and they remind each other "English only!"

First Day of Class

Today was our first day of class. We have 10 students, seven from Tanzania and three from the Congo.

Sue teaching.

It was a joyful day with singing and questions and lots of reading, writing, and working together.

S. Jenada teaching: First Day of Class

Skill levels vary, and everyone is trying hard and speaking some English already.

We are impressed with how well they work together and help one another. It is going to be a great experience for all of us.

Sisters working together.

Mgongo and More

Teachers at Mgongo, including Sister Felisiana, SDS (left)

Thursday: after Mass and breakfast, we visited the grade school near the mission. Sister Felisiana, SDS teaches there. There are over 600 students and 15 teachers. The children were happy and well behaved.

Sue and the lead teacher at Mgongo
Grade School

We planned for class and met the sisters from throughout Tanzania and the Congo who are arriving for the class. We start on Friday- can't wait!!

This afternoon we were given a tour of the gardens. The sisters grow many fruits and vegetables for themselves and to sell -  bananas, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, oranges, tangerines, and much more!

S. Maria Trojestina Abela in her garden.
That's a banana plant behind her!

It's Wednesday!

We began our day celebrating Mass in English- the custom on Wednesdays. It is great to hear the improvement in the Sisters' English!

We spent time doing our laundry. Everything gets ironed, as you can see in the picture.

Next came planning time in the classroom. We are eager to get started!

We are happy to hear that there are 17 sisters who are presently students in high school, college, and advanced degree programs. 

Sister Jenada has been meeting with individual sisters, inviting each to share their reflections on the impact of their educational experiences.

The Roof!

Isn't this exciting!

They are assembling the roof on the school at Buyuni!

Arrived in Masasi

Here we are in Masasi!!

We are having dinner at the regional house with Sister Sophia, Sister Seselia, and Sister Paula.

Lots of fresh fruit: mango, banana, payaya, avocado- yum!

Our bus ride to Masasi took only 8 hours. The road is paved all the way.

We have settled into our rooms and are ready to start preparations for classes, which start on Friday.

It is great to see so many friendly faces. What a welcome! A fine reunion!

Pentecost Sunday

Pentecost Sunday, we went to the English Mass at the parish church. They have three Masses each Sunday - very well attended. Each Mass lasts at least 1  or 2 hours. Lots of singing and harmony.

The sisters help in the parish with religious education and as Eucharistic ministers.

Fr Jim Weyker is in Dar es Salaam. He leaves tomorrow for Milwaukee. Today we visited for a few hours.

And tomorrow morning we leave very early on the bus to Masasi. It's been a great visit with our Sisters!

Another Interesting Day

Hello, friends!

Another interesting day. Sister Mecky took us on the Dali Dali (small bus) to buy our tickets for our trip to Masasi on Monday.

She knows the best places for tickets. It even has an air conditioned waiting room. Tickets for the 8 - 9 hour drive cost only around $20.

We enjoyed conversation with the sisters and a bit of planning for our class. Sunday is Pentecost and we will walk to the parish church.

We've joined in evening prayer which is in English this week. And ends with a rosary in Kiswahili. Words are sounding familiar. What a privilege to share this time with the sisters

Only our second day here?

How can this be only our second day here? The sisters have been wonderful! Very welcoming.

Several sisters here speak English quite well. One, S. Palida, was a novice during in 2014, and an English beginner and now she's quite fluent!

Today we went with S. Mecky to see the progress on the school in Buyuni. The roof is being put on.

Wish we could send pictures, but at the moment we are technically challenged. More tomorrow!

Salvatorians Depart for Tanzania 2016!

Tickets. Bags. Camera. Cell phone. Malaria meds.
Check!

Nope, Sue did not take this picture.

May 10, Salvatorians Sue Haertel and Sister Jenada Fanetti departed to spend time with our Salvatorian Sisters in Tanzania.

Sister Patrice, out in South Dakota, will be relaying their cell phone messages (texts) and their photos (sent via email whenever they can get to a computer with internet access) so each of you can join in!

Here's the first text Sue sent, upon their arrival:

Hello from Africa! We arrived safely. All is well!

The plane ride was comfortable but long. Sister Mechthilidis picked us up at the airport.

Today is Wednesday. We will rest and prepare for our travel to Masasi.

I  hope you received my earlier messages for the blog. 

(S. Patrice's note: Nope, this was the very first one!)