Where has time gone?
Aug 31, 11:36 AM
Our days “spent” in Same and the surrounding areas of the Diocese of Pare are filled with new acquaintances, new activities and we are happy to find out, new friends. I (Todd) have some new jogging partners, depending on what time of day I go out, and Lori has some new play-friends who stop by and ask for her to come outside to play. It seems the children are the ones who are not affraid to break the barrier and in their honest way, begin friendships.
We have traveled the rugged, winding, dusty and many times rocky roads of the North and South Pare Mountains as we are learning about the parishes in the Diocese of Pare of the ELCT. Just as we return from one trip, another presents itself. We get invited to share in a Sunday morning worship and community meeting about cooperative saving, then the next day receive a phone call to come and talk to a southern village about their issues of lack of water and poor roads. Of course we are unable to do much about any of it, but to many villagers, having ELCA missionaries participate in their lives and issues seems to make a difference to them. We are treated as dignitaries and are required to speak to the leaders. We offer them our ears, but they want to hear what we have to say. Perhaps some day we will be able to make a promise or two and feel confident that we can help them with their issues. Right now, we feel the best that we can offer is our common bond in our Lord Jesus Christ, listening ears and to share a part of ourselves with them.
Where does it go, the time? In Tanzania, there is no Labor Day to mark the end of summer, no Monday Night Football to initiate the fall season. Bishop Msangi frequently tells his western visitors that we (westerners) have clocks, but Tanzanians have time. We fill our days with little things such as going to downtown Same to get a new soccer ball for the neighbors or taking a repaired sewing machine to a remote village. Acting as laisons for the SEIA Synod companion congregations has its own set of responsibilities, but almost every activity involves helping, supporting and working with the people of this area. Life can certainly be good.
