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Published: March 17th 2013
Peter's House
Shares with EliahIt is one thing to visit a village church and pastor’s home on a Sunday when everything is at its Sunday best, but it is another thing to visit during the week and spend two days and a night to truly appreciate the village life. I had such an opportunity on Thursday and Friday, February 28
th and March 1
st. At about 10 am I drove my little 4-wheel drive Rav4 to the village of Chikola, about two hours from Msalato on a rough dirt road eroded somewhat by the rains, where I visited my friend Peter Fumbi, one of our recent graduates and the pastor in this very rural village.
Peter lives in a comfortable house (the taller gray brick one in the pictures) that he shares with a blind man that he met when he first came to Chikola. There is also a long low mud building running down from the end of Peter’s house where he does most of his cooking and which is home to a very old woman who somehow takes care of herself. Her son owns the house that Peter rents. Of course the village has no water except what
Old Woman
Lives next door is fetched every day from nearby water holes; and no electricity. So the cooking is all done with wood or charcoal. Sounds like fun camping every day, but this is a way of life for those living in the village and everyone just accepts it as normal living.
When I arrived in the early afternoon, Peter was preparing a wonderful lunch of ugali, a staple in the villages made from maize flour, beans cooked with sliced onions and tomatoes, and a dish called mlenda, a local delicacy made from tender pumpkin leaves and ground nuts. It took Peter a long time to prepare, but it was so good; worth the wait. Peter has become quite a capable cook since he is living in the village without his wife and son who are staying at Msalato. He quite humbly attributes his culinary accomplishments to Nelly who he visits nearly every weekend. Nelly works in the office on campus and lives in two small rooms with their son Amani, her sister Eva, Peter’s cousin Mary and a homeless girl, Joanita, whom they have taken in and are sending to school; a cozy arrangement, to say the least.
After lunch and
Eliah
Thinking about projector a bit of a rest for me - my usual afternoon nap - we headed across the way to the church where the choir was practicing for Sunday’s service. We filmed their practice with my camera to show later that evening on the ‘big screen. One of the participants was a mentally challenged gentleman who felt called by the music and joined in dancing with the choir. He moved pretty well and was readily accepted as part of the regular choir. He later tried to sell me some rocks that he had collected from a nearby field and stacked behind the church. But his price was too high, so I woefully declined.
As the sun was beginning to fade, we were finally able to recover from the heat of the day and begin the afternoon games - football and netball. This ritual had just been resurrected from a long hiatus, as the players did not have a football or a net ball. Peter, with support from all those fine folks who have donated to our mission, bought a couple footballs and a net ball with two ideas in mind. First he wanted the afternoon games to resume and secondly
Rob's Lunch
Ugali, beans, mlenda he wanted to change the village mind-set from Friday being ‘Pombe (the local hooch) Friday’ to ‘Sports Friday’. Drinking pombe to excess is a real problem in the villages. With much perseverance from Peter, the games have resumed, and more and more folks are joining the Friday games, both as players and spectators. On that Thursday, there were about 150 players and spectators, and then at the more official game on Friday we figured there were at least 200 participants. It is amazing to see the village come together like this, but I still have to tell you about an even more amazing event that took place later on Thursday evening.
After the games on Thursday, everyone went home for something to eat and then returned that evening to take part in watching the advertised and announced viewing of the film ‘The Jesus Story’. As most villagers had never seen a film before, the excitement about this event was enormous. And with all Peter’s evangelism and baptisms since his coming to Chikola, everyone was anxious to view the story of Jesus. After managing to get something to eat, Peter and I were rushing around getting the generator and hunting
My Bed
Peter gave up his bed for petrol to supply the video equipment with electricity. When we finally arrived at the church there was already a crowd of about 300 visitors from all over the village. We had trouble getting the speakers working, so in the mean time we showed ‘The Ten Commandments’ which kept them happily occupied even without sound. Soon the speakers were working and we started the Jesus Story with sound in their native Chigogo language. To make sure they understood the story, Peter stopped the film at critical points to explain important facts. At the point of the crucifixion, it was obvious how many were touched by this event they had heard so much about. And to see it actually played out as if it were real, had a huge impact. The evening didn’t finish until 1:30 and not one person left early. Many of the children were sleeping on the ground. For many months, it was Peter’s dream to show this film to his old and new believers and he was genuinely thrilled with the results. It was truly a blessed event.
Even after our late night, the next day began at daybreak. Well, I slept a little longer than
Storage
Charcoal, etc. Peter, but I was up pretty close to daybreak. Again Peter started the day by lighting the fire, boiling up the milk for tea and then serving up chapattis with the hot tea for our breakfast. After enjoying breakfast and cleaning up, it was off to visit the local high school (Form I to IV – grades 8 to 11). Here we joined the vice-principal who took us around to the classrooms where we met and exchanged greetings with the students and teachers. It was really refreshing to walk into a classroom where the students, all dressed in clean school uniforms, stood up to greet Peter and me. Many of the students were a little tired from their late night at the movies, but were still enthusiastic to hear about Canada. Peter introduced himself as the local pastor and invited them to his church on Sunday, hoping to attract some newcomers. After visiting the classrooms we had a good conversation with the vice-principal, exchanging teacher stories from his perspective in Africa to mine from Canada. There were many similarities and quite a few differences. The main challenge with teaching in Tanzania is attracting and keeping teachers in a profession with
Choir Practice
Practice on Thurs. low salaries and little or no suitable housing for them within the villages. And these teachers don’t choose where they get to work, but are assigned their positions by the government. Along with this, they face the challenge of very large classes and few supplies. But those that stay are dedicated and work very hard to do their best. I have great respect for the teachers I met that day.
When it was mid-day and ‘Pombe Friday’ was well under way, we went to one of the local markets. Here many vendors were selling their wares and many others were in make-shift shelters selling and drinking pombe. This is where Peter went to work greeting the patrons, laughing and joking with them and even buying a round for many. They were amazed to see a pastor in the pombe parlor, but were very pleased to have him visit without being critical. However, Peter did take the opportunity to invite everyone to his church on Sunday. We’re sure that after we left they would be discussing the visit of the very friendly pastor and maybe even some would come to check out his church on Sunday. Peter has a gift
Movie Night
300 visitors for Jesus Movie of the gab and an amazing way with everyone he meets from the old and sick to the young and healthy. This remarkable young man is very dedicated to his call to ministry and it is evidenced by how much he has accomplished in his short time as the Anglican pastor of Chikola.
Then it was time to return back to Peter’s place and head straight across the street to the soccer and netball games. When we arrived, there was already a crowd of about 300 waiting for the official game to begin. Once the game began everyone was busy watching or just hanging out at the game with their friends. It has been a great accomplishment for Peter to change some mind sets from just sitting around and drinking pombe all day Friday to becoming involved in this more productive sporting event. At half time Peter and I came to the center of the field and were immediately surrounded by all the players and spectators. We said a few words about how pleased we were that sports had resumed in Chikola and that so many people were involved. As a thank you to our Mission in Chikola for
Peter
Looks happy doesn't he soccer balls, netballs, a pump, and a number of books to support new bible study programs for the nearly 500 newly baptized in the village since Peter’s arrival, I was presented with a goat. Yes a goat. It is a real honour to receive a goat. It is highly valued in the village, and so they wanted to show their appreciation. It is African culture to show gratitude in this way. So yes, Jeannie and I (on behalf of all our mission supporters) are now proud owners of a goat and he is a cute little fellow, but he is also going to be dinner around Easter time.
After all that, Peter and I then said our goodbyes to everyone and Peter came back to Dodoma with me for his weekly visit to the family. Peter returns to Msalato every Friday evening to be with his family for one precious night. For Peter also has a commitment to work at Compassion in Dodoma on Saturday mornings and then do his street kid’s ministry on Saturday afternoons. From there he must return directly to Chikola Saturday evening to prepare for Sunday worship services. And for all this Peter last month
was paid Tsh 14,500. That’s about $12 and in any economy that’s not much money. What a life, but Peter is not complaining because this is the life to which he has been called.
It was a short time in Chikola for me, but an eventful and memorable one. Peter was the consummate host and because of that I really learned a lot about day to day life in a rural Tanzanian village and the ongoing challenges of a rural parish minister in that environment. It will always be one of the highlights of my stay in Tanzania.
Have a blessed Easter
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Audrey
non-member comment
Chikola
Loved reading your story. So interesting. Great pictures.