Society
Of The Divine Word

Two weeks later, I was sent to the Lutheran Language School in Morogoro, where I studied Kiswahili for three months. The school’s serene environment was ideal for learning, though one had to be wary of mischievous monkeys from the nearby mountains, always ready to snatch unattended belongings. Afterward, I practiced the language at a parish near Mt. Meru, where the chilly climate marked the beginning of my new life as a missionary priest.

My first assignment took me to St. Augustine Parish in Orkesumet, a small town in the Simanjiro District of the Manyara Region, Tanzania. Located 200 kilometers from Arusha, the town is predominantly inhabited by the Maasai people, renowned for their resilience and diverse livelihoods. While agriculture flourishes with crops such as corn and beans, livestock farming remains the primary source of income. The fertile land sustains both farming and herding, allowing the community to embrace modernity while preserving its rich cultural traditions.

Mission life in Orkesumet is unique, particularly the Sunday Mass, which involves a week of preparation. The parish choir practices almost daily, and on Sundays, people arrive in vibrant attire, offering thanksgiving through money, food, or even livestock. During one memorable Mass at a distant outstation, an elder presented a cow as an offering. The celebration is both lengthy and lively, enriched by the sounds of drums, improvised pipes, and rhythmic percussion, making for a profoundly uplifting spiritual experience.

Visiting the outstations is one of the most exciting aspects of mission work. The nearest outstation is a 30-minute drive away, while the farthest takes between one to one and a half hours to reach. The roads are unpaved and treacherous, especially during the rainy season when they become slippery. Traffic often consists of cattle, goats, sheep, and donkeys carrying water. Yet, the journey is an immersive experience in nature, offering glimpses of vibrant birds, wild deer, giraffes, zebras, gazelles, and wildebeest. Even slow-moving tortoises serve as a reminder of the Swahili proverb, “Haraka, haraka, haina baraka” (“Haste brings no blessings”). At the outstations, we celebrate Mass in simple chapels or under the open sky, where trees serve as both walls and roof. Confessions are often heard beneath the shade of a tree.

Orkesumet is a remarkable place where rain is truly a blessing. The community’s deep connection to nature is evident, as is their reverence for family traditions and their embrace of a simple yet meaningful life. Here, God is encountered not only in the people but also in the surrounding wildlife, making it an extraordinary and humbling mission field.

Peter Bulosan, SVD