Sunday at Magunganya and St. Bridget's Secondary School

On Sunday we accompanied Fr. Frank to Makunganya, one of the eight outlying churches that are served by the three priests here at Namitembo. Fr. Frank doesn’t drive anymore, so we were driven by a young man who made what might have been a very bumpy ride as smooth as possible.

When we arrived, there were a few minutes before Mass, so Chet and I went for a walk. We saw a nearly completed house, Bob and Diane's we think, that will be the home of a teacher. People walking to church greeted us with smiles. Our Chichewa is still very limited, but a warm handshake and a willingness to try to speak the language seems to work in any language. Most people know some English, so we can usually communicate.

When the bell rang we took our seats on benches at the back of the church. Immediately two chairs were brought for us. Then the group of girls began dancing two by two up the aisle. Those in front, six and seven year olds, wore white dresses. Their delicate steps and arm movements were in perfect synchrony with the rhythm set by the choir. Fr. Frank followed them and the Mass began.

The choir sang in many-part harmony, and mothers cared for babies, nursing, providing small distractions and eventually putting them to sleep. At the Offertory, a number of small wooden boxes were placed on a table in front. As the name of each small community (limana) was called, its members went forward to place their offering in the appropriate box.

Afterward, Chet and I were invited to join Fr. Frank in the sacristy for lunch. We were served rice, hard-boiled eggs in tomato sauce, fried fish and nsima. Nsima, the staple food in Malawi, is a thick maize porridge. It is served with sauces or other foods, which are called relishes. We thought the nsima tasted like Cream of Rice.

On the way home we stopped at St. Bridget Secondary School. One of the Form 4 teachers gave us a tour. We visited the Mike Foy Memorial Hall, named for the former principal of Assumption-St. Bridget School in Seattle. Mike visited here in 2006. He was a passionate supporter of education and of the people of Namitembo. I think he would be pleased to see this lovely new hall dedicated to his memory.