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I will forever remember the warmth, beauty, and kindness of the people I encountered in Tanzania. The staff at INUKA made me feel as if I was part of their team. And you have seen how the Catholic communities welcomed me to their celebration of the Eucharist; I will forever remember their faith and joy, and their thoughtfulness in presenting me--their honored guest--with gifts. The sacrifice they make in tithing for the Church is humbling, and the manner in which they dress for Church puts us to shame (they truly put on their Sunday best when they go to worship the Lord).

On Saturday, February 21, I boarded a very small plane for the first of my three flights to get me to the Lake Manyara/Ngorongoro Crater area. After landing on a dirt airstrip in Lake Manyara (again, thank you for the prayers; nervous flyer), my guide, Nahto, drove me into Lake Manyara National Park. The park covers some 125 square miles including 89 square miles of lake surface.

Earlier today, Fr. Nestor drove me 3-1/2 hours to Mbeya, where I boarded a flight to Dar es Salaam. I was greeted at the airport in Dar es Salaam by Oda, a police officer and longtime friend of Fr. Nestor. After leaving the airport, we picked up Fr. Nestor’s sister, Sr. Beatrice (an oncology doctor in Dar es Salaam). Sr. Beatrice had to make sure that I arrived safely to my hotel for the night; I love her thoughtfulness and kindness.

Yesterday was my last full day in Wanging’ombe. And in many ways, it was truly a celebration of the great progress made at INUKA since I arrived three weeks ago today. It was so fitting that on my last full day, I was able to see the new Outpatient Building (funded by Hope for Tanzania) full of patients seeking treatment. Ya Munga Mengwi, God can do a lot … if only we do our part to advance God’s plans and desires.

Yesterday we departed the rectory at 6:45am to make the 4 hour plus journey to Fr. Nestor’s birthplace and to have the opportunity to meet his parents, Pius and Ernesta. We traveled southwest from Wanging’ombe to the Livingstone Mountains. Whenever Fr. Nestor travels to see his parents, he brings them supplies due to their remote location in the mountains.

Yesterday Fr. Nestor and I travelled eighty minutes to con-celebrate the 8 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of the Diocese of Njombe. The cathedral offers four Masses on Sundays: 6, 8, and 10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. (preceded by an hour of Sunday School for children at 3 p.m.). Although my reputation as a confessor has widely grown in Tanzania, Fr. Nestor and I did not need to hear confessions prior to Mass, because a time for confessions is offered on Saturdays at the cathedral.

There are approximately 350,000 Catholics in the Diocese of Njombe. There are 115 Diocesan priests and 9 Religious Order priests. There are 49 parishes, but as you have learned, each parish has a number of Out Station Churches in the villages. Yesterday, I was at the Cathedral Parish in Njombe; the Cathedral has 10 Out Station Churches in the villages in which the priests of the Cathedral must provide services including Mass. The Parish in which I am residing in Wanging’ombe has 15 Out Station Churches.

Breakfast is basically the same each day; you can expect a hard-boiled egg or a very thin plain omelet and some form of bread. Mandazi is a dough consisting of wheat flour, eggs, milk, sugar, and yeast, deep fried until golden brown. This is like an old-fashioned donut without the hole, icing, or sugar coating. Fr. Nestor eats his mandazi plain, while I like to slice it into sections and eat with jam.

The nearest water source for the rectory in which I am staying is 40 kilometers (25 miles) away. Water is directed to communities at particular times. You cannot assume that you turn on a faucet and water will flow. In fact, it is far more common to turn on the faucet and not to have water. Tomorrow will mark two weeks in which I have been residing in the Parish rectory in Wanging’ombe. To date, I have taken one regular shower (turn on the shower and the water comes out the nozzle; I should have appreciated that moment more when it happened!).

Yesterday was another joyous day as we witnessed the Dedication and Blessing of the new Outpatient Building at INUKA (fully funded by Hope for Tanzania of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church). The Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Njombe, Bishop John Ndimbo, presided at the Mass, Dedication, and Blessing.

Yesterday we began our day with 7:30 a.m. Mass at the Parish in Wanging’ombe (the Parish where I am residing; also where the INUKA Hospital is located). Last week, we traveled to a Secondary School to celebrate Mass after the Parish Mass. Yesterday, Fr. Nestor wanted me to experience Mass at one of the 15 “Out Station” Churches (located in villages) served by the Parish.

There used to be a popular television program called, “Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?” hosted by Jeff Foxworthy. Yesterday I discovered that “I’m not stronger than Sr. Moly.”

INUKA is buzzing with activity as the INUKA staff and construction workers prepare for the dedication and “Blessing” ceremony of the new outpatient clinic scheduled for Monday, February 7th. The Apostolic Administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Njombe will be present to Bless the new outpatient building and celebrate Mass.

I have spent the last couple of days encountering the staff and families at the INUKA Rehabilitation Centre. INUKA was founded in 2011 by the late Bishop Alfred Muluma of the Catholic Diocese of Njombe, Tanzania.

When I awake the second time to begin the day (the first time was at 4 a.m. due to a rude, loud, obnoxious goat outside my window that kept me up for some time) the electricity has been restored (but still no water), so bucket shower it is.

Greetings! I had two uneventful flights to get me to Tanzania, but unfortunately I was not able to sleep on either flight (20 hours in duration). After I had my antigen test when I arrived in Dar es Salaam, I was met by a security guard who had my photo on his phone. A police officer friend of Fr. Nestor’s arranged to have these two security guards get me through customs and to my luggage.