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Written by Daniel Orr
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Monday, 01 August 2011 12:15 |
We arrived in Dar esallam without incident a few hours ago, and without sleep. The party consists of :
Joe Bridges - member New Life Uniontown, Chair of the Commission on Global and Domestic Mission, recently retired professor of communications and broadcasting at Malone College.
Linda Heitger - member of New Life Uniontown, Co-chair Episcopal Health Ministry Task Force, maternity nurse, grew up in St. Paul’s Canton, (She is carrying 20 lbs. of medical textbooks, and a stuffed animal she is photographing )
Sarah Super prep Schendel - member St. Michaels in the Hills in Toledo, very recently retired counselor .
Patty Peacock - member Christ Church Oberlin, accountant, organized person, eager to volunteer person.
Ann Schwan - member Our Savior Akron, Mother of four, most pleasant person.
Daniel Myself Orr - Rector St. Paul’s of Sandusky County
Brendan Knoblauch - Member of St. Paul’s Cleveland Heights, enormously persistent/patient exmarine midwife of this relationship with the diocese of Tanga in Tanzania, economics/philosophy major from John Carol U., entering Case Western MBA program in September.
Brendan has worked for more than two years; now we are finally here to begin to grow this as a diocesan partnership. It is a luxury arriving with Brendan to meet us - speak Swahili with drivers and waiters, explain everything from food to church background, and to tell us how to use the enormous pile of bills our $200 gives us.
Linda had the insight of the trip so far. Sunday’s Gospel was Mt:15, feeding of 5,000. Before we flew out of Dulles airport we found a chapel and held a beautiful Gospel conversation and Eucharist. We were asking what the gospel has to do with us. Linda said that we were not really feeding anyone with our presence, but gathering the food that would feed our diocese. Dr. Bower and Nurse Heitger have a specific job. The rest of us are simply getting to know people, experiencing the place and tell ing the stories. How well we tell the story will determine how well the diocese is able to engage. May our hearts, minds, and eyes be open.
We stay at “Econo Lodge”, not like you may imagine, but spacious with a view of roof top clothes lines, water barrels and plants. There is a Mango tree below the window and we have heard the Muslim call to prayer several times during this Ramadan week.
We all go to Korogwe tomorrow.
May get to meet the Bishop-elect.
Daniel
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