Farah na amani! Joy and Peace!
This is the traditional Christian greeting here in Tanzania, and it’s
one of the first phrases I’ve learned since arriving here about a week
ago! Greetings from Bukoba!
My journey here started in State College, Pennsylvania where I’d been
staying with my parents for the month of May, having moved out of my
apartment in the DC area. While Mom headed to California to visit my
brother, Dad drove me down to Washington, where I boarded a plane for
London. My next flight took me to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Next I flew
to Mwanza, a smaller city on the Eastern side of Lake Victoria. My
fellow OCMC Missionary, Michael Pagedas, welcomed me to town and we
spent a couple of days resting there before taking an overnight ferry
across Lake Victoria to Bukoba!
I’m living in a house belonging to the Orthodox Church , right next to
Twelve Apostles Orthodox Church, quite a fitting name since my first
Sunday Liturgy here fell on the Feast of Pentecost! Between Matins and
Liturgy, Kneeling Vespers and the Churching of a mother and child, the
service lasted about four hours! Quite a welcome! I now know a few
more phrases in Kiswahili: “Bwana hurumia,” means “Lord, have mercy,”
and “Amina” means “Amen!” I’ve also learned that “Karibu!” means,
“Welcome!” and everyone here says it to me! “Asante” means, “Thank
you!” and I say that word more than anything else!
The weather here is a balmy 75 degrees, with blue skies and sunshine
all day, every day. We’re officially in the “dry season,” so I’m being
diligent about sunscreen and hats, as we’re very close to the
equator . Outside the house are palm trees and roses in the front
garden, as well as an avocado tree in the back yard! We’ve had
guacamole for dinner a couple of times already!
Speaking of food, the diet here consists mostly of carbohydrate
staples like beans and rice, and potatoes. We eat those every day for
our main meal, and usually have some type of fried bread for
breakfast. I’ve eaten pineapple and guava so far, and vegetables are
usually green peppers, tomatoes, and eggplant. Dairy is fairly non-
existent, although you can buy eggs here. Meat is rare in our
household diet. We do have access to bottled water, which I am
drinking almost to the exclusion of anything else!
Each morning the church bells awaken us for Matins, which is served at
7 am, and every evening we hear Father ring the bell for Vespers at 6
pm. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, we go to Liturgy.
I’m blessed to have a copy of the Divine Liturgy with Kiswahili on one
page and English on the next, so I am able to participate a little.
I’ve been made most welcome in the congregation by many people, but
especially by Simeon, our priest’s 16 month-old son. Simeon toddles up
to me any time I enter church and either grabs my fingers to hold my
hand or throws both of his arms around my knees until I pick him up.
He’s been a delightful companion, as he’s in about the same language-
development stage as I!
I have so much more to tell you, but I’ll save it for another update.
Overall, I am well and am almost adjusted to the time change, I’m
making small journeys into town to learn my way around and accomplish
chores and errands, and I am blessed to live with dear friends and
missionaries from the United States, so I am well supported by people
who’ve been here for nearly a year.
Thank you so much for your prayers and support over the past year! I
wouldn’t be here without you, and I am so excited to begin my ministry
as a nurse and more importantly as a loving witness for Christ! You
are in my prayers and I ask for yours! Glory to God for all things!
In Christ,
Maria
P.S. Check out the OCMC website or my Facebook page for videos and
pictures of my commissioning in Washington, DC and of life here in
Africa!
This is the traditional Christian greeting here in Tanzania, and it’s
one of the first phrases I’ve learned since arriving here about a week
ago! Greetings from Bukoba!
My journey here started in State College, Pennsylvania where I’d been
staying with my parents for the month of May, having moved out of my
apartment in the DC area. While Mom headed to California to visit my
brother, Dad drove me down to Washington, where I boarded a plane for
London. My next flight took me to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Next I flew
to Mwanza, a smaller city on the Eastern side of Lake Victoria. My
fellow OCMC Missionary, Michael Pagedas, welcomed me to town and we
spent a couple of days resting there before taking an overnight ferry
across Lake Victoria to Bukoba!
I’m living in a house belonging to the Orthodox Church , right next to
Twelve Apostles Orthodox Church, quite a fitting name since my first
Sunday Liturgy here fell on the Feast of Pentecost! Between Matins and
Liturgy, Kneeling Vespers and the Churching of a mother and child, the
service lasted about four hours! Quite a welcome! I now know a few
more phrases in Kiswahili: “Bwana hurumia,” means “Lord, have mercy,”
and “Amina” means “Amen!” I’ve also learned that “Karibu!” means,
“Welcome!” and everyone here says it to me! “Asante” means, “Thank
you!” and I say that word more than anything else!
The weather here is a balmy 75 degrees, with blue skies and sunshine
all day, every day. We’re officially in the “dry season,” so I’m being
diligent about sunscreen and hats, as we’re very close to the
equator . Outside the house are palm trees and roses in the front
garden, as well as an avocado tree in the back yard! We’ve had
guacamole for dinner a couple of times already!
Speaking of food, the diet here consists mostly of carbohydrate
staples like beans and rice, and potatoes. We eat those every day for
our main meal, and usually have some type of fried bread for
breakfast. I’ve eaten pineapple and guava so far, and vegetables are
usually green peppers, tomatoes, and eggplant. Dairy is fairly non-
existent, although you can buy eggs here. Meat is rare in our
household diet. We do have access to bottled water, which I am
drinking almost to the exclusion of anything else!
Each morning the church bells awaken us for Matins, which is served at
7 am, and every evening we hear Father ring the bell for Vespers at 6
pm. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, we go to Liturgy.
I’m blessed to have a copy of the Divine Liturgy with Kiswahili on one
page and English on the next, so I am able to participate a little.
I’ve been made most welcome in the congregation by many people, but
especially by Simeon, our priest’s 16 month-old son. Simeon toddles up
to me any time I enter church and either grabs my fingers to hold my
hand or throws both of his arms around my knees until I pick him up.
He’s been a delightful companion, as he’s in about the same language-
development stage as I!
I have so much more to tell you, but I’ll save it for another update.
Overall, I am well and am almost adjusted to the time change, I’m
making small journeys into town to learn my way around and accomplish
chores and errands, and I am blessed to live with dear friends and
missionaries from the United States, so I am well supported by people
who’ve been here for nearly a year.
Thank you so much for your prayers and support over the past year! I
wouldn’t be here without you, and I am so excited to begin my ministry
as a nurse and more importantly as a loving witness for Christ! You
are in my prayers and I ask for yours! Glory to God for all things!
In Christ,
Maria
P.S. Check out the OCMC website or my Facebook page for videos and
pictures of my commissioning in Washington, DC and of life here in
Africa!
