Until next year . . . . . .

Sue is home safely from her adventure. S. Barbara is in Rome. What an incredible experience! And a big thank you to S. Nelda who has posted our messages every day. And thank you to all of you for accompanying us on the journey. That's it until next year. Blessings and peace.

The airport in Amsterdam

A quiet day . . . a day for saying goodbye

It was a quiet day of resting and packing. Saying goodbye is always hard. The friendships we've made are remarkable. Sue lands in Chicago on Friday afternoon, and S. Barbara is heading to Rome.

This flower arangement
greeted us when we got to
Dar es Salaam.
Flowers from the garden.

More dreams come true

Today we went to visit more wells donated by St. Pius. The wells we saw were donated in 2015, 2016, 2017 and this year. We were able to be present at the installation and celebration of one of this year's wells. The people gather, old and young, singing and waiting patiently as the last well parts are bolted on. Then there's the anticipation as the well handle is pumped up and down . . . and water pours out--clean and plentiful. What a blessing for the people of the village!

The village chairman spoke. There are 5000 people in his village, and this well is a dream come true. One woman said, "I am a mother, a grandmother, and a great grandmother, and I didn't think I would live to see this day."

Attaching the base, ...

... attaching the pump handle, ...

... S. Barbara attaches the sign, ...

... and it works!

Handing the first bucket
of water to a woman

Thank you to James and Nova
for your incredible work for SWLD
and for taking such great care
of these last two days

Well, well, well, well

After a good night's sleep, we were picked up by James and Nova from SWLD (Safe Water for Life and Dignity). We drove toward Morogoro and stopped at four wells on the way. These wells are in rural Tanzania and were donated with funds from St. Pius X Parish. The people from the villages joined us in celebration of clean, safe water. We heard stories about what it was like before the well was dug, and after. The people at St. Pius X Parish can feel very proud of their generosity, and I felt very humbled representing them at the wells. The pictures will show more.

The first well

The sign posted
on each well

A good road on the
way to the villages

Another well

Even though it's almost
dark, people greeted us
at the well

Joyful greeting

The sun sets at 6:00,
and we had one more
well to visit

Back in Dar es Salaam

Today we woke up at 4:00 a.m. to get ready for our 10-hour bus ride to Dar es Salaam. A few Sisters got up early to bid us farewell and to say, "See you next year." The bus was large and the ride was long and hot, and here we are in Dar es Salaam where we were welcomed by S. Agnes, S. Mecky, and S. Ava. S. Sophia and S. Paula are also here from Masasi, and it was great to see them again.

No pictures today. We are exhausted and getting some rest. More tomorrow.

Last day in Masasi . . . for this year

Today is our last full day in Masasi. After Mass we worked on packing our suitcases. We had many conversations with the Sisters, and Fr. Mukasa took us to Rock City for a beer and conversation. It is hard to leave this wonderful place and these incredible people. We continue to say, "See you next year." Tomorrow we will leave Masasi on the early bus and head to Dar es Salaam.

S. Seselia pealing oranges for us

Our last dinner with the Sisters

Papaya and oranges for dessert

Afternoon snack of papaya
with S. Angelina

Michael the wood carver stopped by to
sell us some of his wood carvings

The last class

Today was our last class. We sang and had an hour of review where the students became the teachers. There was lots of laughter, and maybe some learning. There were speeches, and the students received certificates celebrating their participation. There were also promises to continue to practice their English. The ability level in English speaking, reading, comprehension and writing improves every year! There is high interest and a high level of engagement.

Our class

Sr. Antoinette from The Congo
reviewing the verb "to be"

Novice Theodora
reviewing opposites

The goodbyes begin . . .

This is our last week of classes, and we are getting ready to head back to Dar es Salaam on Monday. We will say goodbye to Mount Migongo, and we have been staying at Migongo Mission. It is a beautiful place. The pictures show a bit of the mission here.

Mount Migongo -- can you
find the cross on the top?

Regional house

Chapel and residence hall

Salvatorian radio tower

Kindergarten

A veritable feast and fine fellowship

We have enjoyed the variety of food. Home grown and tasty! The pictures tell the story.

At the table

Fried cassava root

Fish

Cooked banana

Spaghetti

Beans

Ugali

Greens

A kind of eggplant dish

Fill your plate and enjoy!

"Lights . . . camera . . . action!"

Today we videotaped our "how to's." Lots of new vocabulary and practice speaking. We learned how to cook rice, do laundry, and clean a room.

New vocabulary for
the laundry

Watching their productions
on the iPad

This year's writing project

Each year we do some project involving writing. It could be a newsletter or a short autobiography of each sister. This year we are writing about the Sisters in Tanzania and The Congo -- about their apostolates. And since we have two novices and a candidate, we are also including formation. The pictures show us hard at work.

S. Barbara, S. Bekhita and S. Sara
working on a piece about farming

The novices and candidate
 working with Sue

The Sisters from The Congo
working together

S. Barbara hard at work
typing the pieces

Nourishing the body . . .

The Sisters grow much of their food. They really do a fine job of growing and harvesting, and we are enjoying their good work!

Bananas

Bananas, up close

The beans we eat
every day

Papayas growing

Oranges -- they are
sweet and juicy!

Sunday at Magumuchila

Today after Mass we met with S. Sophia. We shared plans for the future and worked a bit on the computer. Then we met Fr. Mukasa, who showed us his new parish and the cashew plantation that, for many years, Fr. Jim Weyker cared for. Fr. Mukasa helped us find a special tree that Fr. Jim had shown us last year -- a tree with a hole going all the way through the trunk. Fr. Jim Weyker, if you are following this blog, please know that you are very much in the thoughts of the Sisters here. They remember you fondly and miss you. You were a wonderful chaplain to the Sisters, and they wish you all the best in your retirement!

Working on the computer
with S. Paula and S. Sophia

Inside the parish at
Magumuchila with Fr. Mukasa

Cashew trees
at the cashew plantation

Fr. Mukasa showing us
the special tree