When you see the women, you see the heart of the church

These are the words of Canon Sudayi, the pastor of Chamwino parish on the day I met with his UWAKI group -- similar to our ECW in the Episcopal Church. The women truly are amazing - full of joy and faith -- yet live lives of great hardship. I met a doctor last night that told me that it costs $2000Tsh (Tanzanian shillings) to have a baby in a hospital -- about $1.80US -- but this is often way too expensive for TZ moms -- so many women die in childbirth and TZ ranks about 13th in infant mortality. Babies who are deformed or born with other defects (like a cleft palate) are often killed at birth. Women must walk hours to get water and tote it back -- all with a baby on the back and little ones at their feet. It seems to me that the women of TZ are among the most beautiful I have seen -- and their children as well. From the tall and elegant Masai people, and the more sturdy Wagogo people -- and a host of other tribes that have found there way here -- the people are good looking and so friendly and hospitable.

Today I spent time in two villages - way out of town. We drove for about three hours and ran out of paved road about twenty minutes into the trip. Bone jarring -- and my teeth just unclenched an hour ago. I attended two distributions of gifts for the Carpenter's Kids -- children who have been orphaned (mostly due to AIDS) who do not go to school, because their guardians cannot afford uniforms, books, shoes or a daily breakfast. The Diocese of New York USA spearheads this program -- and provides these things for 50 kids per village -- but there are lots more that need the help. The kids receive their supplies, go and change into their uniforms and return for a prayer and singing. It was very cool -- and I shook every one of their little hands -- some of them curtseyed -- some just gave me a very shy smile. Today they also got huge mosquiot nets and a lesson on how and why to use them. Some of the kids are orphans due to untreated malaria...

At UWAKI and during the meetings today, when I was introduced as a woman priest - "Mama Kasisi" -- the women burst into a beautiful song -- "mama barikia, mama barikia, mama barikia, mama! " they sang -- "bless you, mother" ... it was a song of blessing, a prayer -- truly inpiring and touching. Some of you know that I have a hard time with being called "Mother" -- but the sincerity, love and respect of these women in their song, somehow made it really special to be called "mama." The other words I heard over and over again, are "Bwana aisfiwe" --Praise the Lord. They use this like we say "the Lord be with you" -- to signal the start of a prayer or a sentence -- and everyone in the place responds "Amen!"

We ate lunch in both vilages -- chicken and goat and rice -- and the ubiquitous soda pop...you Atlantans will all be glad to hear that things go better with Coke in TZ, too.... these villlages are very very poor -- and hardly anyone speaks English -- and they are really far from anything -- but the portions were generous and filling -- and seemingly unending -- such amazing hospitality -- it is a blessing to be here.

My favorite memory of today - a very old woman came up to one of the young people on the staff at Carpenter's Kids -- a fair haired young woman, who was standing in the sun. This grandmother - bibi- took off her bandana - and offered it to the young woman all the while she was chattering in kiswahili. When we got a translation, it seems she was concerned that the young woman would get sunburned, so she was giving her a hat to wear.... everyone needs a grandma like that!

Tomorrow, I preach at the church of the first woman ordained in Tanzania - Mama Mary Kanyamala -- it will be a whole day affair. Monday, I spend with all the ordained women of TZ -- for a roundtable, tea and lunch. Then this portion of my trip will be over-- and I go to Msalato College of Theology to teach and to learn more, for sure.

New word for today: shikamoo -- which, losely translated is a greeting of great respect, it means something like, "I kiss your feet" -- and the response is "marahaba" -- which I think means, "back at ya" -- losely translated, of course!

Mungu akubariki! (God bless you)

P.S Another favorite memory -- Canon Sudayi encouraged me to dance with the women of the parish when I was invited to do so, in order to be "emptifying my stomach" so that I could eat more when the luncheon was served. Right on!