Dispatch #5
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September 6, 2008, 1:05 am
Filed under: Africa, Anglican Church, Anglican Missionary, Anglicans United, Bus ride, Dodoma, God, Jesus, Lake Victoria, Praise the Lord, Priest wife, Tanzania, anglican, connectionkenya, friendship, interesting, jesus chirst, missionary, religion, worship | Tags: Add new tag, anglican, Anglican Church, Anglican Missionary, Anglicans United
Filed under: Africa, Anglican Church, Anglican Missionary, Anglicans United, Bus ride, Dodoma, God, Jesus, Lake Victoria, Praise the Lord, Priest wife, Tanzania, anglican, connectionkenya, friendship, interesting, jesus chirst, missionary, religion, worship | Tags: Add new tag, anglican, Anglican Church, Anglican Missionary, Anglicans United
Dispatch 5 – Last Dispatch for this trip
From Station Dar es Salaam in Tanzania
Summer 2008 Fr Francis Wardega
I am at the airport, awaiting the flight that will begin my journey back to home in Michigan. The work here is finished for this trip. We heard so much, “Please come back. This was so good. Stay longer.”
The work finished with five days of teaching at Buigiri Bible School. The plan was that I would ride back and forth in Bp Chidawali’s Toyota Hiace minivan. The plan fell apart when the minivan fell apart. I ended up making the journey to/from the school in what is called a“dolla-dolla” a small bus. A small crowded bus with all seats and the aisle full. A small crowded bus with all seats and the aisle full that often included people and chickens and ducks! Thank God cows were so big that they required two tickets! Because the law prohibits standing in the aisle, the people doing so would sit on the floor whenever we were stopped at a police checkpoint.
My Bus
Classes ran much better than the minivan. There were seven full time students, one child, and one frequent drop in student. Their names were Timoth, Rhoda (and her five year old son, Nicodemus), Leticia, Aloyce, Japheth, Sospeter, Enoch, and Eliah. Who were they? One person described himself as a part time priest and a part time peasant. (In Tanzania, every July 7 is a holiday called Peasants’ Day) Another person was a carpenter. Most lived in simple mud and stick huts with dirt floors, no electricity, and cooked outside over an open fire. Their Anglican faith was the bright light in their life.
Buigiri School
They learned the basic beliefs and practices and teachings of the histo ric Anglican Christian Church. They had many misconceptions. They also learned of the ethos of ordained ministry and how that is different from that of an independent minister. Their excitement grew every day. They sensed what was happening – they were learning new things and understanding them. It was making a difference in their thinking. The class on ordained ministry was especially moving to the priests, life changing. They were eager to return to the their parishes and deaneries and pass on what they had learned.
Final Exam Taking
On Sunday Aug 31, I celebrated the liturgy and preached at Christ the King Cathedral in Dodoma, with Bishop Chidawali. Actually, the Holy Spirit celebrated. In very clear ways, the Holy Spirit affirmed the complete love of the Father for the people there, poor, hot, struggling, people of God. It was glorious. Music here was different than in Mwanza – a different rhythm, mainly in minor keys, almost a mournful, wailing tone.
Dodoma Class
There was much contact with local Anglicans who were vitally interested inthe details of the Jerusalem GAFCON gathering and in the details of the Lambreth Conference. We talked long about the future of the Anglican Communion and possible steps that they could take as faithful Anglicans in a diocese where the bishop was not
faithful.
faithful.
Bishop Chidawali
I would be remiss if I did not pass on to all of you who have supported this ministry and this mission trip the profound thanks and grateful hearts of the people who have been served here. Everyplace I have been told – pass on to the ones who sent you here how grateful we are to them and how much we appreciate what they have done for us. What we have learned will be immediately used and will have a long lasting affect on our churches and our people. Thank you so much!
Thank you for your support. God and you make this possible. Please keep on supporting this mission. Please sustain this good ministry. It works! Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord!
Fr Francis Wardega Office of Foreign Missions
Missionary Priest in Africa 18401 Canal Rd
www.connectionkenya.wordpress.com Clinton Twp MI 48038
E-mail: jambofrfrancis@yahoo.com USA-248-345-2651
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