I had never gotten the official approval from Bishop Ruwa’ichi to name our place The House of Prayer, until a few days ago. The Bishop came by unannounced with two guests he wanted to show the place to. As I was explaining the Vision for the  place, I said I have been calling the place “The House of Prayer”(Nyumba ya Sala in Swahili) without the permission of the Bishop, who was standing in front of us. He smiled and said that he accepts the name because it goes with the Vision. I asked him to give me his ‘stamp’ of approval by placing his hand on my head, which he did with smiles all around.

Two days ago Judy and I used our new home, although not fully completed, but functional enough for our needs to a  short reflection day. 26 people showed up  for the two hour reflection. I spoke on dreams, our people are prolific dreamers but with a dark negative sense on how to interpret them. Judy lead some body movement prayer exercises and a silent prayer session.

Overall the response was good and we are thankful for a good beginning in our new home. We are planning to have such a session with English speakers next month. After all we all dream and pray with our bodies.

This morning Judy and I walked down to the Lake that is a beautiful 15 minute walk from the House of Prayer. My favorite all time walk here in the city of Mwanza. Reaching the Lake we found the fisherman busy pulling in their nets by the shore. One invited me to join them pulling in their heavy nets, which I did for a few minutes.

Someone mentioned, ‘what is the Padri doing  pulling the net?’ I replied that Jesus was a fisherman (actually a carpenter but close) and that his first followers were fishermen. The fishermen around us smiled.

Later, as we walked down the beach greeting other groups of fishermen pulling in their nets, a man in a small wooden boat called out to me in Swahili, “Our Mother has come to visit us?” I answered that she has come to live with us. He answered, “Tell mother, welcome to Mwanza”.

Afterwards, Judy and I watched the work sitting on a log; at one point a catch of fish came in. As we were marveling at the catch a fisherman came by and dropped a fish at my feet and said, “A gift for you and mother; please pray for us.” Then another fisherman came to wash the fish and put a string on it so I could carry it back to the house.

Today, this morning, God came very close.

 

A couple of days ago, right after morning Eucharist, Judy and I invited the people to stay for ‘chai’. We have a regular group of people coming for the 7am Mass that we wanted to get to know a bit more and what better way than sharing some early morning tea.

Tea being roasted peanuts, oranges and tea made from plants in front of our house. In the States  we share donuts after morning mass, here peanuts and oranges. I wanted to serve bananas but Anna, one of the employees here at the House of Prayer said people don’t eat bananas so early in the morning; not a earth moving insight into the culture, but important enough to help the occasion be a success.

Like the first Christians who had Eucharist in their homes, then afterwards a meal together, body and soul, nourished and enlivened. The House of Prayer hopes to enflesh what prayer is ultimately about, relationship, with God, Self and Other.

After four months, I had my Resident Permit stamped into my passport. I now have two years to live and work in Tanzania before it expires. If I can just focus on “one day at a time, one step at a time, one moment at a time, one breath at a time”, the two years will take care of itself.

I am starting to get the word out that we can receive guests in the house I am living in. The two guests rooms are ready to welcome seekers.

Our new house continues on the road to completion, hopefully in a couple of months. Then the challenge will be getting furniture and an adequate water system.

I would like to thank the supporters of the House of Prayer for their contributions that helped very much make the above happen.

Finally, we put up our ‘bell’ that will call us to prayer in the morning and evening. The ‘bell’ is actually an old truck tire rim that we will bang with a large metal piece. The schools usually use this kind of a ‘bell’ to call their students. Perhaps one day we will get a real bell but for now I am thankful just to have a place and a community to call to prayer.

 

She comes walking slowly, the way the ancients walked; her ‘kitenge’ wrapped around her body protecting her for the cool morning breeze of Lake Victoria.

She sits feet outstretched on the prayer room’s ‘mikeka’ (mats), sitting close upon the earth, like the ancients used to sit.

She sits in majestic silence, never moving once as still as the ancient rocks that surround us; her Silence is the Silence of the Ancients, it is Primal. It is the Divine.

Today we had our monthly meeting with our builders. The first thing we do is walk slowly in and around the building. We were all impressed on how the building is taking shape. I am thankful for the beautiful fruit of a lot of work these past months. The combination of stone work and bright colors in the rooms in the lovely sitting of Lake Victoria combine to create a unique building.

As I mentioned before we will not have enough money to complete the building because of the cost overruns of the basement and foundation. I am looking at using some funds I was planning to use for the water tower and furniture. Eventually I will get the funds to finish but in the mean time I’m hoping  for the best. The water tower and some of the furniture will have to wait, for now.

Judi is doing very well blending in with our community. She will be a great blessing for our House of Prayer. Yesterday she guided the Thursday evening Swahili speaking Silent Prayer group. I appreciate her commitment to the contemplative life.