In remembrance

It has now been 15 years since the passing of my younger brother Bill.  He was a vibrant 27 year old engineer until that unsuccessful brain surgery.

He is the second to the youngest sibling while I am second to the oldest.  I remember him as a bedimpled young boy who always goes with me to the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Shrine every Wednesday.  He was a freshman in high school while I recently graduated from college.  I'd wait for him to come home from school and we would go together to attend the novena to pray for my success not only in the board examination but also in my job search.

Our Mother of Perpetual Help

I remember he kept a garden in front of our house.  He had very nice santan flowers that are unmatched in the entire neighborhood.  A few days after his death, a neighbor came to ask for twigs.  My youngest brother told her, Bill is gone.  She was saddened by the news as she remembered seeing him always in the 5:30 morning mass in our parish church with my grandmother.

Almost everybody felt our deep loss.  It is not usual for a younger family member to go before the older ones.  So we grieved a lot on his passing.  It was tough for all of us specially that he was strong and healthy.  In the hospital, when the nurses were preparing to take him after he breathed his last, one male nurse expressed his sadness as well.  He said he was the one who admitted him.  Bill was just like any normal young man who walked in that day.  One can never tell there was anything wrong with him.

He was right.  We wouldn't have known if not for the involuntary crossing of his one eye which happened a few times.  He went to an eye doctor who found nothing.  My grandmother, who's a nurse advised him to go to a neurologist.  After a series of tests, they found a tumor in his brain.

In loving remembrance of Bill, I offer this prayer for the dead attributed to St. Ignatius of Antioch:

Prayer for the Dead

Receive in tranquility and peace, O Lord, the souls of your servants who have departed this present life to come to you. Grant them rest and place them in the habitations of light, the abodes of blessed spirits. Give them the life that will not age, good things that will not pass away, delights that have no end, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Increase our faith

I just came back Thursday from a week of R&R.  I was informed that a family member of my cleaning lady died so she was not able to come to my house since a few days back.  It was back to reality again.  I was  relieved that there was electricity in the evening.

However, in the morning, when I was about to prepare my tea, I noticed that the matches were damp.  I am not sure how it happened.  But I panicked because I would not be able to boil water for my bath.  It was quite cold, having rained the past several days.

I told myself, I am not going to give up.  I prayed hard for God to make a miracle.  I took out a matchstick and tried to start a fire.  After two or three tries, I was about to say it's not going to work.  But then at the back of my mind I was still not ready to give up.  So I took out a matchstick once more and voila!!!  I ran with the lit matchstick to get a paper making sure that it will start the fire in the charcoal stove.  Thank God, it did.  I was able to have hot tea and also warm the spaghetti I cooked the night before.  Today's gospel reading says:

If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,

you would say to this mulberry tree,

"Be uprooted and planted in the sea," and it would obey you.

 

Indeed, this experience is a testimony to God's word.  It may seem trivial, but it made my day.  Up to this day, it is still a challenge for me to cook with charcoal but I think I have improved so much.

The charcoal stove I am using to cook

 

International Day of Peace

On  September 21 of each year, the International Day of Peace is observed around the world.  It was established through a unanimous vote of the UN General Assembly, declaring a day of non-violence and cease-fire.  This year's theme is "Education for Peace".

It reminded me of the sad state of schools here in Africa.

A primary school in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

In spite of their circumstances, children are still very eager to learn.  As it is the only way out of poverty.

School children unmindful of the holes on the mud walls and roof of their classroom in the DRC

Students about to finish the day's class in DRC

There is so much to be desired.  Only that resources are always scarce.

Possessions

After three weeks, I still have not finished arranging my things in the house.  It is a small house with nothing much so finding a place for everything is a challenge.  When I was transferred to this duty station, I thought things will be a lot better.  For one, this place is a bigger town compared to the previous one, which is more like a village.  However, life has a way of bringing surprises.  So, what can I do but to stretch once again my coping powers and revise my strategy.

I realized some of the things I have cannot be useful here because of the limited availability of electricity.  I am not complaining.  After all, living conditions are quite difficult for most people in this place.  I just need to get by with the basic things and find ways to adjust to what is available.  At least, I am still able to bake and cook with electricity at night time.  

It's time to sort out my possessions and see which are really necessary.  I know I shouldn't be accumulating a lot of things since mobility and movement are expected in my line of work.  However, after some time, I get complacent.

Every change brings an opportunity to assess our lives and make new beginnings once again.

The house where I moved

I speak your language

I am fortunate to have the opportunity to learn and speak different languages.  In my years of living outside the country, I have observed that speaking the language of your host country brings you closer to its people.

Back in Zambia, my colleagues have been eager to teach me basic phrases in Nyanja and Tumbuka despite English being widely spoken.

Working in a multicultural environment also gives me the chance to learn basic phrases from different countries.  Like this colleague from Senegal, who would say, "Na nga def?" every time I meet him.  To which, I would be struggling to remember the correct reply, "Mangi fi rekk."

The cleaning lady in my house does not speak English.  So I have started to teach her short phrases.  She is very enthusiastic.  After two years, I am still far from being fluent in French.  I am working on it everyday.  I like learning languages.  It takes practice though.  My French teacher said maybe in two more months, I'll speak their language.

A man selling different herbs and medicines in Congo

Let your face shine on your servant

In August 2008, the choir I was leading moved involuntarily to another parish.  You can find the story behind that move in the archives.  After two months, I went to Africa.  Fast forward to 2013, I am still in Africa and the choir will be celebrating tomorrow five years of service to the Our Lady of Mercy Parish.  Some members have gone to live or work overseas.  Some new faces have come to replace the old ones.  But several of the members are still very much active in spite of their schedules.

The other day I was inspired by the following verses from Psalms 31:16-18.

Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.

Let me not be put to shame, O LORD, for I have cried out to you; but let the wicked be put to shame and lie silent in the grave.

Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous.

 

This was exactly how we felt five years ago.  I showed strength in the face of what they did to us.  Maybe because I was already expecting to leave the choir for the work in Africa.  However, the members were not.

 

But then God knows better and He makes all things work together for the good of those who love Him.  Today, I came across this verse (John 15:16) which further inspired me to persevere in my calling:

 

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

 

I continue to pray for our group which is now led by my younger brother.  May they continue to bear fruit and that God will bless their efforts as well. 

Sausage tree in South Luangwa National Park in August 2009

A home for me

After four months of staying in a hotel, I will be moving to a house in a few days.  Actually, I should be grateful because where I stay is quite comfortable.  Besides, they allowed me to cook in the balcony.  Where I am, most people cook with charcoal, including me.  Electricity comes only at night time from 7 to 11 pm.  Although I have an electric cooker, I don't think the electrical connections in the hotel is good enough.  It is better to be safe.  I don't want to cause a fire so I persevered with the charcoal.

After all, if I really want to experience the culture, then I should live it first hand.  I still struggle to start a fire.  It tests my patience.  I had to use a lot of matchsticks before I can build a fire.  I cannot complain. As compared to the rest, I have only a few inconveniences.

The hotel room: the steel door leads to the balcony

As I experience their way of life, I get to understand more why it takes a long time to be served food in restaurants here.  Also, I get to be less concerned with little imperfections in their cooking.  When I move to my accommodation, I think I will still be using charcoal to boil water for my morning bath.  Although, I am also thinking about buying another thermos so I can boil water at night time when there is electricity and keep it until morning.  In any case, I'll see.  Hope, I'll learn the technique soon enough.

Be as little children

When I was on vacation, I had an idea to write about my reflections on the daily bible readings.  I should strive to make it short but meaningful.  Something for those who are just starting the daily bible reading habit.  Since I took up this assignment, I always struggle to find time to do my daily readings.  There are just too much work to be done.  I know, I should find time but it is better said than done.  But then trying to stick to the habit is in itself a challenge.  Hence, the idea of having a short reflection.

Today's gospel reading is taken from Matthew 18: 1-5,10,12-14:

"Unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."

I remember as a child, life is simpler.  I have my parents and my grandparents to take care of serious matters.  I didn't have to think about where the next meal would come from.  All I had to do is do my share in the house, school and community.  These are often small tasks.  Who cares if I didn't get them done?  Of course, there are consequences.  Like if I didn't do the chore assigned to me in the house, then the elders will be mad.  At worst, I'll get some punishments.  If I didn't do the school homework.  Then, it would be embarrassing in class if the teacher found out.

What is good about being a child is that I always look forward to the next day.  Whatever happened today is just a memory.  If I had a fight with my siblings over some games we play, tomorrow is a new day to play again.  There is just no room for anger inside a child's heart.  I guess that makes children happier.  A child's innocence about pride, riches and status also contributes to that happiness.

As we grow into adulthood, we leave behind these virtues.  We focus on things that we think are more important. However, on the contrary, they make our life miserable.  We forget the value of friendships as we strive to make more connections which will benefit our careers and ambitions.

It's time to go back to being a child at heart.  No worries, no pain.  Only hope that tomorrow will be another day.  May the Holy Spirit instruct us how to live like children as we journey to the kingdom of our Father in heaven.

Two years ago

Now, I understand.  I was able to make a connection to the miracle that happened today.  It was two years since I arrived to take up my assignment in Congo.

I had to go through Entebbe.  The instructions say that the following day, someone is going to pick me up in the hotel.  At 9:00 am, I called the contact person, asking why no one has come yet.  There was a mistake!!!  It was a Sunday and obviously, there was no work.  He was probably sending the same message to newcomers.  Unfortunately, I arrived on a Saturday afternoon.

As I was ready to go, I inquired in the information desk about the closest Catholic church.  The lady was kind enough to call a motor taxi to bring me there.  She said it was not far and I can go on foot.  Only that the mass had already started so it would be best to go by motor bike.  I dared take the motor bike ride to Sacred Heart Parish.  I am glad I took a photo right after the mass.  Whenever I am in Entebbe, I find time to attend mass here.

Sacred Heart Parish after the Sunday mass 14 August 2011

Inside the Sacred Heart Parish

A Miracle

It has been four months since my last post.  As I have previously mentioned, I was relocated to a new duty station.  Life has been difficult.  In fact, as of this writing, I am still staying in a hotel near our office.  A month ago, I signed the contract for an accommodation, when I learned that my colleague who was staying there will soon be leaving for a job in Afghanistan.  It turned out he will be leaving middle of August, which is a few days from now.

Anyway, I was not able to post anything because personal blogs are blocked here in the office.  And there is no reliable internet connection here except for that one.  I don't know what happened today.  I was browsing the internet.  Then one link led to another until I realized I was on a personal blog.  It dawned on me that if I was able to access this blog then maybe I can also get through my blog.

Voila! So here I am, typing my post entitled "Miracle".  For after exactly four months, I got the chance to write something.  Let's just say that probably someone has unknowingly unblocked some websites which gave me this opportunity.  Maybe it was a coincidence.  I'd rather call it a miracle.

Yes, miracles still happen when you least expect it.  Hope it continues for a while...

Last few days...

Yes, I am now into my last few remaining days in this part of Congo as I will soon be moving to another duty station.  I was informed of the proposed transfer as early as February.  I was excited and happy that only after 20 months I am getting a new assignment.

However, as the end draws near, I get mixed feelings of sadness and nostalgia.  I have no idea how the news went around so quickly that when I left for some days off in the last week of March, a few of my colleagues came to my office to say goodbye.

Never mind if they don't speak English and I don't speak their language.  I got the message just the same. I had to keep a straight face to betray the emotions I am trying to hide.  Tears welled up in my eyes as the oldest man in my team turned around after saying goodbye to me as I prepare to go for a vacation during the holy week.  They probably thought I am going quietly and not coming back anymore.

That started the nostalgic feeling.  I thought it would be easier to go and leave this place after all the many challenges I had.  I guess I will have to agree that saying goodbye is always difficult no matter what...

Happy 6th year!!!

What a coincidence!!! I had just posted my first entry for the year 2013.  Then I just felt like browsing past entries until I finally reached my very first post dated 05 February 2007...

I didn't plan on posting today.  I just had a few minutes to relax when I thought about my blog.  I searched for it but couldn't find it.  I felt sad as I thought it could have been deleted already after a long time of inactivity.  Then, I logged on my google account and from there found my way back to posting an entry.  I just thought that somehow if I start writing, I could come up with even a short post.

It was a nice feeling reading old posts.  It's like reliving past memories.  There were times when I thought if it was me who wrote that post.  As if someone did it for me...Maybe because I have grown wiser with years or maybe because at the time of writing I didn't feel the impact of my thoughts.  Now, as I read through some of the posts that I have totally forgotten, I feel inspired and motivated.  I hope my readers felt the same as well.

For that reason, I am glad I followed the nudge.  Coincidence or not, I wish myself a prolific sixth year in blogging.  Looking back, I thank God for the opportunities to write and share my thoughts.  May God bless me with the inspiration and time to write again.  To God be the Glory...

Not Giving Up

Only one post last year!  I am not giving up.  I'll try to write more this time.  No matter how many times I fail, I will try again. 

I just came back to Africa from my country, where I spent the holidays.  It was truly enriching and refreshing to spend time with family and friends.  I had a very tight schedule since I was out of the country for the past 16 months.  Even before I arrived, I had already written down the things I should do so as not to miss anything.  But then it seems, time flies and before I knew it, I had still some things undone.

Probably, it was not the best time because Christmas season is always so frantic. There was not a day I did not leave the house to do shopping, follow up documents, and of course to have my medical and dental check up.

A week after I arrived in Africa, I think I am settling down again to the slow and quiet lifestyle.