Gaudete In Domino

Not being completely computer savvy I am not having luck with putting pictures on the blog.  Check back after Tuesday to see the whole show.

Finally, we made it to Matamba and had an incredible welcome by the students, teachers and pastor.  When we get pictures we will load them on.  The challenge to date has been finding internet access which is why we have not posted before.  As I write this we are trying to access my bag that has school ipad and some of my other items. Tonight we are staying the priests' house and I think it will be more relaxing evening.  We have been on the road a lot.  It is a great distance from Dar es Salaam where we landed to Matamba which is up on a hill in the highlands.  It is the end of the dry season and we had just a little rain today which will help with the dust and the crops that will soon be planted. Our flight was uneventful but long.  The entire trip was 22 hours.  We had about 31/2 hours in Amsterdam.  It was good to be able to get up and walk around.  We found the gate for our flight to Tanzania and then went looking for a place tha...

Just trying out the iPad I will be taking.  I hope to be able to use it to keep in touch.  Thanks St. Mary's School for the loan.  Now I just have to get a SIM card in Tanzania to get wireless access. Next stop the airport.

Today is travel day.  We leave Owatonna around noon for a 3:15 flight out of Minneapolis.  We arrive in Amsterdam tomorrow morning and finally arrive in Dar es Salaam at 9:40 p.m.  Since there is a 9 hour time difference it will actually be about 1 p.m. Tuesday Minnesota time.  The travel time is 22+ hours with an almost 4 hour layover in Amsterdam.  We also stop in Kilamanjaro on the way although we don't change planes.  I hope to get a picture of the famous mountain.  I am almost finished packing.  In addition to our regular luggage we are taking a lot of items for the children of Matamba.  We have ditty bags for their personal items.  We have pens.  I am taking a lot of my empty medicine bottles for the hospital which the pastor has built.  But most of all we are taking a lot of love and prayers.  Thanks to all who made financial contributions and items for us to take. Thanks also for all of the love and ...

Habari (Hello) to all.  I am reactiviting my blog as I prepare to go to Tanzania.  I am traveling to Matamba where I will visit our sister parish and school.  Fr. Augustine Mbichi, the associate pastor of the parish, has built St. Monica's School.  It has been a blessing for our parish and school to support his work.  Many of his students are orphans, left without parents by the AIDS epidemic which continues to sweep Africa.  Fr. Mbichi has done an amazing job of founding a school, building the school facilities, hiring the teachers and staff, provided food, clothing, books and housing for many of the students.  There are students who have parents but many do not but still must wear a uniform and have books.  Fr. Mbichi has also built a dormitory which houses many of the students and he provides food for many of them as well. I leave on Monday, October 22 from Minneapolis.  We fly to Amsterdam and then on to Dar es Salaam.  It is a 2...