Amani na salama! (Peace and all good!)

As many of you may already know, we are Franciscan Associates of the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity.  We recently returned, from a two week trip to Tanzania in which we were blessed to stay with our Franciscan Sisters at St. Clare International Mission.  We were honored to travel the “coast” from Bukoba to Mwanza with Sr. Dilsa Graff, Mission Minister, visiting all of the Tanzanian communities, which together comprise the Mission, and to personally see all of the various ministries that the Sisters are involved.

Over the years we had heard bits and pieces about the Mission and that there were communities in Mwanza and Biharamulo; but we never realized that those were simply the two largest communities and that there are actually seven communities (soon to be eight), and 49 Sisters, spread throughout Tanzania:
* Bukoba
* Biharamulo
* Katoke
* Buziku
* Kigera
* Mahina (Mwanza)
* Butimba (Mwanza)
* Buseresere (future convent)

The Mission is thriving and is receiving many responses from young women who feel called to serve God as a Sister of St. Francis.  There is an active formation team working with aspirants, postulants, and novices; all in discernment processes and/or who are preparing to take their first vows.

The Sisters’ ministries are countless; many are teachers and nurses, some are laboratory technicians, dieticians, or are in medicine.  There are too many to elaborate on them all but we would like to share with you three ministries in particular that we visited…

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St. Nicholaus Children’s Center

The first is St. Nicholaus Children’s Center, in Kemondo (Bukoba), which is a boarding home to many orphaned and disabled children.  Through this ministry children receive much love, medical care, and occupational/physical therapy they need.  Here, the children are also taught basic skills and staff assists those who are able in being able to attend local schools to receive education.  As with most ministries of this type, the challenge is funding for projects and obtaining medical equipment, etc. that is needed at the center.

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Kindergarten School

 

The second is a day kindergarten class in Buziku.  The school was built by and is operated by the Sisters.  At this school, they teach Montessori curriculum which has proven to be extremely successful, and upon completion, the children are far more advanced than the children attending local government kindergarten classes.  This is a wonderful accomplishment, but it also comes with its many challenges.  Currently, the school is only kindergarten and upon completion, the children must attend primary school elsewhere – the children are so much more advanced that for the first couple of years they are repeating material they have already learned in kindergarten.  The goal of the Sisters is to build their own primary school to compliment the kindergarten class.  However, as is true with any project of this type, funding is needed for construction of the school.

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House of Mercy

 

LEFT TO RIGHT: Sr. Rut lovingly introduces us to the kids at House of Mercy.
An inpatient hospital wing at the clinic.  A photo of some of the residents outside of their rooms.

Lastly, we would like to tell you about House of Mercy located in Kigera… Being at House of Mercy was truly one of the most touching experiences for us as this home consisted of lepers and disabled homeless individuals and families.  Many families have been living there for quite some time and had even given birth to children – some also with disabilities and some who are healthy.  As a result of the increasing number of children, our Sisters in Poland helped to remodel a room that was transformed into a kindergarten classroom for instruction – a wonderful blessing!  Additionally, basic healthcare has always been an issue for House of Mercy.  The Poland Sisters also assisted with funding for the remodel the existing dispensary/heath care center – a much needed service.  There is so much need at House of Mercy that to know where one starts to make a difference can be overwhelming.

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The sisters working in Tanzania under the charism of St. Francis of Assisi are pouring their heart and soul into each and every person they come into contact with – from the poorest of the poor, to lepers and orphans.  We could just feel the love of Christ radiating from each and everyone one of them.  We so much loved being with them and are praying for God to show us how we can be an effective part of the Mission in Tanzania going forward.  Please join us in our prayer for discernment of God’s will for us in how we might serve and work with the Tanzanian Sisters of St. Francis.

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Kris & Dean