I did not tell anyone here at Mabatini (the parish that I started with the people) that I was coming except for a very few people. But with physical sightings and the help of cell phones the word that I had arrived spread like wild fire. The youth came the first evening, then the numbers started to increase that I did not even have to leave the parish grounds because everyone was coming to me.

A mixture of surprise and delight was felt by all. Hugs, not just a handshake were in order as we looked into each others eyes so happy to be together again. I am humbled at the sincere joy of the people to meet again. I am also grateful that my inner heart response is one of Joy also.

I told the people at the morning mass that I came back to Mabatini to greet them as a sign of respect for the 10 years of life an work together. I am remembering and realizing that we truly had something special, unity in diversity. The people could not prepare dances and songs to receive me because I did not tell them when I was coming. But their joyful embraces and heartfelt gratitude to see me again was matched by my own joy of being with them again. I am struck by the fact of just how special our time was together.

This Gospel from yesterday’s Sunday readings has touched me very much. First Jesus, ‘withdrew to the border region of Tyre and Sidon’. Jesus broke down the borders that humans put up by going to an area no self-respecting Jewish teacher would go because it was ‘pagan territory’. I hope the House of Prayer could be a place where anyone would feel at home. I also was struck on how Jesus himself grew in greater awareness of his mission by his encounter with a ‘pagan’ woman. I hope I can be open to change when life ‘interrupts’.

The Canaanite woman touched me by her lack of fear of what others may say, her perseverance and wit (she is the only person in the Gospels who got the better of Jesus in a debate). She engaged Jesus fully and creatively and she would not let go until she got help for her child.

As I return tomorrow to Tanzania to begin a new adventure in faith, I go with the inspiration of this Gospel: to go the borders to break down any separation of humanity, to engage life in all the events and people that I encounter daily, to put aside my timidity to be free to live out God’s Will for  me, to persevere, to never give up when I discern God’s Will, and finally to have fun, use humor and wisdom to ‘win’ the day. All is in God’s  hands anyway.

When the first generations of Maryknoll Missioners first came to Tanzania beginning in 1946 they came by ship. The safari (trip) lasted between one and two months. There was much time to reflect and pray about the new adventure of faith. The new missioner used the time to prepare him or herself to meet the many challenges that life in Africa offered. Now one can get to Africa in 21 hrs in the air. Only time to go to the restroom and read a newspaper while one is waiting for a change of airplanes in Europe or Dubai.

There is a 11 hour time difference between California and Nairobi, Kenya. The experts say that for every hour difference it will take one day to get over jet lag. Another words for 11 hrs one needs 11 days to get into the rhythm of life in the new home. So, the first work of a missioner it to get over jet lag by getting out in the sun, drinking a lot of water, forcing oneself to eat when everybody else is eating and sleeping when everyone else is sleeping.

One has to accept the limitations of one’s BodyMindSpirit. You are not a machine that just turns on a switch and one’s bodily functions automatically working in concert with the pace of your new home. One is out of rhythm. The challenge is to be able to contemplate and accept one’s being out of step for a few days. Good practice for being as one Maryknoll priest says we are, misfits always a bit out of step in a foreign land.

I landed in Nairobi, Kenya yesterday evening after a short (5hr) flight from Dubai where I got an overnight hotel room after a 16 hr flight from San Francisco. The Nairobi airport had a big fire last year that destroyed much of the passenger terminal and the baggage claim area. The temporary area for Immigration, Customs and Baggage claim is in what will be the new parking lot. It  is much too small for the volume of traffic  coming through. Getting through Customs was pretty chaotic, in a manner it was a blessing for me because the Custom agent was so overwhelmed with the number of passengers and the tight space I just gave him my custom form a slipped by without a word.

Many African governments struggle with infrastructure throughout society whether it is health, transportation, education,

or business infrastructure. Coming from the USA it can be a shock and frustration to the traveler. One looks to the African’s patience to see how to handle the situation. Sure one can complain and get angry and sometimes that even helps. But for the most part one continues to learn patience as a way of life.

I am writing this at a hotel close to San Fransisco International Airport. A funny thing happened on the way back to Africa. When I got up to the ticket counter at the airport yesterday to check my bags and get my broading passes I was told that because my passport is expiring in Nov 2014 I would not be able to travel to my destination Nairobi, Kenya.

The Kenyan government now has a policy of not allowing entrance if one’s passport has less that 6mos before it expires. The agent suggested I book another ticket for a flight two days in the future, while in the meantime I would go to the US Passport Office and get a new passport. To make a long story short, I was able to get a new passport in 8 hours and am ready to travel tomorrow.

All this was a good reminder to me of the challenges life presents in general and Africa in particular. I’m learning the importance to accept first anything that happens and then respond to whatever in the Peace of Christ. Not easy but as the saying I choose for my ordination card, “Jesus, Master of the Impossible” says, I’m not the one trying to do the impossible.

Why this new website when I haven’t even started making one brick for the House of Prayer? The thing is, anything worth doing starts with a Vision, a Dream. I have been dreaming, visioning for something like a House of Prayer since I entered my community (Maryknoll) in 1982. This past year of Sabbatical has only affirmed and made real the possibilities for this Dream. I am very grateful for the people and places who have inspired me to continue on this path of making the Vision a flesh and blood reality.

This website with a blog will help me to keep in contact with you who come to visit us here as we embark on yet another New Beginning on this adventure in faith to live out God’s Will by being responsible for the Dream/Vision. So while the physical infrastructure is not present, the spiritual one is and this website is just a small step of putting flesh on the Vision/Dream.

When I went to get my haircut this morning in preparation for my return trip to Africa the barbers ask me right away, “What about Ebola? Aren’t you concerned?” I said I’ll be on the other side of Africa (East Africa), while the Ebola is in West Africa. More bad news for Africa. Indeed then, why go back?! I  believe there is such a thing as a call, a vocation, a unique path each person is gifted with to live a full life. As a follower of Christ I am very much aware of how the inclusive unconditional love of Christ is  very much needed in our broken world today. This vocation is has an aspect of it living and working in solidarity with the poor.

I leave for Tanzania on Sunday and am in the midst of last minute preparations to depart. I’m hoping to live more simply in this new work, although I just sent over 80 books by regular mail for a library at the House of Prayer. It’s funny I’ve done this many times in my 24 years in Africa but in a way it seems like the first time. And in a way, it is, this is a new adventure, a mystery to be lived into. I hope you will join me.

Here’s my latest newsletter:   Summer-Fall 2014