Home again, Home again, Jiggity-jog!

Sisters Ellen and Jeanette, along with the Encounter Tanzania participants, arrived home to Milwaukee the evening of July 16, after almost 40 hours of travel. Sister Ellen and Jeanette were part of the Encounter Tanzania program during the first and also the final portion of their immersion experience.

The Encounter Tanzania group brought with them many, many greetings from our Salvatorian friends in Tanzania, numerous little gifts, a smattering of the kiswahili language, considerable jet-lag, and one case of malaria. Please make it a point to invite them to share some of their (combined!) 3,000-plus digital photos of their adventures! Sister Jeanette and Sister Ellen also took some digital movies and, eventually, will produce a wonderful glimpse into life in Tanzania via YouTube or some other method! Yay for digital media!!


And, of course, 

WELCOME HOME EVERYONE!

Final Submission: Soon we will be home!

 Go down for the explanation please.

We tried to help with chores as much as possible. The novices quickly concluded that we were out of practice with washing clothes in a bucket/wash tub as it took us at least twice as long to wash each shirt. They didn’t trust us to use the wood stove but did let us peel fruit and dry dishes. I “helped” Sr. Bonita with the pigs by filling a feed bag and blocking a pig who escaped its pen from leaving the building (sorry no picture of that one). Sr. Bonita took the single bucket of water I was carrying (she carries two at a time) before I got half way and wouldn’t allow me to try to carry the manure bucket to the garden.

Helping a Sick Child

 

On our first morning at Makulani, we went with Sr. Maxensia to the outskirts of the village where the 5-7 year old girls were completing a month of initiation. When we got there we found out that one of the girls was listless, feverish, and so weak she could not stand up. The dispensary at Makulani was not open as the only nurse was away. It was decided that we would take her to the hospital in Masasi in the sisters’ car. She was admitted with severe malaria. She received an IV and stayed in the hospital. Her grandmother stayed with her. After she was released from the hospital we visited her twice at her grandmother’s house and her grandmother came to the convent once to let us know that the girl was improving and thank us for our help and prayers. On the day we were leaving Makulani the girl was well enough to travel over three hours by bus to her home in Mtwara. She stopped by the convent before leaving to let us know she was feeling better.

Helping with Learning

While at Makulani we were asked to help the novices with their English. Although neither of us is a professional English teacher, we did our best. Our class started with a gospel passage and sharing. The novices then shared on a predetermined topic – family, vocation story, and ministry. We then worked one on one with each novice. Sr. Jeanette conversed with the novice to work with pronunciation and vocabulary. I reviewed pronouns and verb tenses using some of the pictures that are on this blog. All the sisters said they would miss us, but the novices set it to song.

Life in Makulani

 

The convent at Makulani is one of the few buildings in the village that has electricity. They have solar panels that provide enough power for a single light bulb in each occupied room as well as a few hours of television. 

More importantly, it provides the reliability that allows them to freeze produce and meat for later use. Sr. Maxensia is showing the freezer to Sr. Jeanette.

We were able to visit several families while in Makulani. Bibi (Grandma) Margaret is one of the seniors that the sisters visit regularly. 

Almost anywhere we went, a group of children would congregate and want to get into the picture.

Picking Beans!

We went out to the farm one afternoon to pick beans. A group of children wanted to come along. Four of them who were about 8-10 years came with us and picked as fast or faster than we did.

Makulani: Local Life

 

On Monday, July 11, 2011 the school started. The children at the local primary school wear uniforms (some of which are made by the sisters). Some are pictured walking across the football [soccer] field after school.

Playing Football

Going to the School

Local Children

Water is an issue for Makulani. The sisters’ well/cistern is a primary source for villagers who carry water in a variety of ways – buckets on heads, in hand, and on bicycles are the most common. Many times children collect the water from the sisters. People need to go further for water during the dry season.

Bibi Margaret and Life in a Drought Area

Here's a picture of Bibi Margaret (right, blue shirt)

 The water shortage is severe. Many hours are spent collecting water. It is carried by hand, on the head, on bicycles, or whatever way it can be! The convent has one of the only working wells in the area.

Traditional Initiation for Children

On Friday, July 8, 2011 the children of the village return from a month long experience of initiation in the bush. According to custom, the children cover their faces during the celebration until they are given a coin.

There was much celebrating beginning with Mass for the Catholic children. (Both Christian and Muslim children participated in the initiation experience together. Boys and girls were in separate locations.

Local brew also flowed freely for the adults. Sr. Maxensia would take a sip for all of us, but Sr. Jeanette did get to hold the bucket of brew.

The boys were circumcised and both boys and girls were taught tribal traditions, customs, and respect.) We were introduced to the Muslim village elders who coordinated the initiation experience for the children.

For each boy a guide pole is made. We were honored with Sr. Maxensia to be given the guide pole by one family.

During the initial round of visiting, those who had just completed the initiation seemed to be practicing being patience. Later in the afternoon and during the weekend they were joyfully playing in their new clothes.

Soon to head for Dar...

Sisters Jeanette and Ellen are finishing up their time in Tanzania and soon will journey to Dar es Salaam to connect with their fellow Salvatorians from "Encounter Tanzania." Then, they will together fly back to the US, via Amsterdam, arriving in Milwaukee on (or near!) Saturday, July 16, in the evening. The group will be brought from the airport to the SDS-M Pro House via the St. Anne's van, and from there, exhausted but happy to be home, will go to their very own beds!

This note from Jeanette offers a brief summary:

For the first time I was able to download Update easily here in Tanzania. The computers here in Masasi have been working very well for us. The only problem is we have been here for only short periods. We had no computer access in Lupaso and Makleni. Fr Jim Wikert, the new pastor in Lupaso was considering going to an internet cafe in town until he can get internet set up at his home. We will be here overnight and start off for Mtwara tomorrow morning. I hope all is well with you in Milwaukee. We will be home Saturday evening.

S. Jeanette and S. Ellen meet the villagers and parishioners in Lupaso

S. Ellen, Fr. Jim Weyker and S. Jeanette after Sunday Mass (7/3/2011) at the parish church.

Woman lectoring at Sunday Mass. Notice the mural and the Altar Servers

Visiting with women and children on a mat outside a home. From left, S. Jeanette, S. Rosemary, S. Ellen. A boy of about 8 took the picture of us. He was very proud of his accomplishment.

Lupaso: Clinical Rounds

Twins in for their well-baby visit. Mom is on the left, but she has a young helper. The vaccinations are over so the tears are done.

S. Flora is doing discharge instructions with a lady with malaria and her family member.

Well baby visit.

Lupaso: Ministy in the Dispensary

The nurse/midwife saw many children for well baby visits. Here the infant is getting a vaccination. She also saw many women for prenatal visits. She only works at the health centre ( British/ Tanzanian spelling) a couple of days a week, so was not on hand for Tuesday's delivery. In the Tanzanian health care system, a Health Centre is between a dispensary and a hospital in the level of care.






S. Ellen was drafted to do patient registration. This became challenging if the patient had no English. She used their health card if they had one as a government employee.

E	llen was resourceful and either read Swahili questions provided her or grabbed a passing staff member to serve as interpreter.  A few spoke English or had prior paperwork that could be copied.

From Boston, USA: S. Barbara Reynolds

Dear Friends,


After Virginia left Amsterdam on a flight to Detroit with connection to Milwaukee, I enjoyed wandering around the airport in Amsterdam.  I had nearly four hours in Amsterdam, and used the time to explore the Airport Library, which had shelves of books in about two dozen different languages.  I found an interesting book in English, and sat in a comfortable chair for about 40 minutes to read.  I made note of the title and author, and may look for that book in the near future as it was interesting and well written.  Then I found the Museum, an extension of one of the bigger museums in Amsterdam, which had an interesting exhibit of paintings of Dutch painters.  I explored some more, and found that there are two areas (at least) where they have comfortable lounge chairs for those who need to sleep (or at least rest) between flights.  And I walked a lot ...

My flight left Amsterdam a few minutes late, and arrived a few minutes early in Boston.  Overall an uneventful flight, ... and I admit to sleeping more than staying awake.  I watched the movie The Devil Wears Prada, and found it interesting.  My seat companion was a young woman from Turkey who was coming to Boston to visit her sister.  We didn't talk much, as she was not comfortable conversing in English and I was too tired to make an effort at conversation.  We were comfortable seat companions, both sleeping, reading, and each watching a movie.  The plane landed just before 1 pm on Thursday afternoon.

My friends Tom and Kathleen met me where I came out from the Customs Hall, and brought me to Boston College, where the Clavius Group was happy to welcome me.  Tom is scheduled for open heart surgery on Thursday, July 14; both he and Kathleen ask for our prayers for a successful outcome.

At 4 pm on Thursday Ellen Ryan, a psychologist who specializes in gerontology, gave a lecture "Choose to Age with Spirit."  She shared some of the writing of older adults that she works with as well as some research on persons who have lived healthy lives past 110 years.  Her most recent book is a collection of poetry by persons over 70.  Ellen will lead a Faith Discussion on Monday night on "Writing as a Spiritual Practice in Later Life."

We had Mass at 5:30 pm, and then two of the couples here (Tom and Kathleen, and Jack and Ruth) took me out to dinner where I had soup, salad, and a glass of wine.  I was in bed by 9:00 pm, and slept soundly through the night.  I got up about 6:30 am (conscious that it was already 2:30 pm in Masasi) feeling refreshed.  I was able to do all the things that one needs to do when arriving on a campus as a visitor -- get my ID, register my computer and get passwords for the internet, and do a load of laundry.  Then I attended three lectures (on various topics in mathematics) ... and participated in Mass at 5:30 pm.  By 8 pm, I was aware that it was past midnight in Masasi ... and went to bed early again.  I slept well for about 3 hours, woke for about 3 hours, and slept again.  I got up about 5:30 am and took a long walk.  It felt good to walk, and I realized how much I missed being able to take long walks in Masasi.  Now I've had a shower, eaten some breakfast, and made a cup of tea.  This being Saturday, things here are rather unstructured -- nothing really scheduled until Mass at 4:30 pm.  I will relish the unstructured time!

As soon as I send this message, I will take time to pray ... My room here is in a corner apartment on the fourth floor.  My windows look directly into the tree tops, where there are several families of birds of various kinds.

I think that this will be my last entry for the blog, as it tells of my re-entry back into the US and seems a good place to end.  Sending these reflections for the blog has given me an opportunity to reflect on the experience of traveling to Tanzania to work with our sisters there.  Now here at Boston College, I'm scheduled to give a talk on Tuesday on "Integrating Values into the Teaching of Mathematics," and then Mission Appeal talks next weekend.  So I need to settle in and do a different kind of writing.

You each continue to be in my heart and prayers in a special way.

Peace,
Sr. Barbara Reynolds, SDS

Lupaso Dispensary: Jeanette and Ellen

Dorothea is dispensing medications to a long line of patients. Here she is instructing a man with malaria on how to take his medication.

 Yesterday I had the privilege of helping out in minor ways at a birth of a healthy boy. He had his cord wrapped around his neck, but Dorothea, the nurse handled things expertly.

Jeanette

A Note to the Birthday Girl

 Dear S. Ellen,
Birthday greetings from all of us as you celebrate your July 9 birthday in Tanzania!! 

PS. This is the only way I could figure out how to send you a CAKE!

7/7/11 Home Safe and Sound: S., Virginia and S. Barbara

Today, both Sister Virginia and Sister Barbara landed safely and happily back in the US. They flew together from Dar to Amsterdam. Then, Sister Barbara waited for her flight to the US, where she will spend some time with her "Clavius Group" of mathematicians before returning to Milwaukee.

Sister Virginia's plane to Detroit, USA was ready to take off as her plane from Dar was landing! So, she and six other passengers SPRINTED from one end of Amsterdam's airport to the other to catch the plane!

She made it.. .but her luggage did not.

She arrived in Detroit, and then to Milwaukee, after good flights and by Thursday afternoon, was already home. Her luggage arrived only hours later, hand delivered to the door!

Welcome back and a special grateful thanks to our Tanzania Education Initiative missionaries!

Lupaso: S. Jeanette

The memory of S. Mary Jude is fresh in the joyful clapping of this 86 year old gentleman, Muheya. "She is my friend", he says. Muheya had been sick in bed for three days. He told us he came to the Lupaso area in 1939 to attend the 1st secondary school in southeast Tanzania. He married and stayed here. He has many grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. One of his grandsons is a priest in this diocese. He sang a Latin Gregorian hymn for us.

Throughout our trip I realize we stand on the shoulders of the USA Salvatorians that did missionary work here. S. Mary Jude's presence surely lives on the boiling water that rinsed all our dishes.

More pictures from S. Jeanette and S. Ellen (June 30)

Sister Charity

Here is the procession between the two churches.

6/30/11 More photos from S. Ellen and S. Jeanette

Here is how folks are able to watch television. This home is the traditional style.

A close up of Jacki and his mother. This is the family of the carpentry teacher.

The Lupaso Mission operates the Vocational Training Center with consists of Carpentry and Tailoring. Sr. Rosemary teaches tailoring. Sr. Salome John is the administrator and teaches business practices. Pictured is Sr. Rosemary with the wife of the carpentry teacher and son,

 

 

 Bread is baked every Saturday in the Masisi solar oven donated by our former Sr. Therese (Judy) Martin. Sr. Angela also uses it to bake wedding cakes that she sells as a source of income for the region.

A typical home in the Lupaso area.

People are watching football (soccer) on TV in a traditional outside gazebo like facility with the help of a satellite dish.