Gare Mission Pilgrimage, Part 1

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Sorry for the absence. We were fortunate to be able to join 26 St, Theresa's parishners on a one day pilgrimage to Gare, about a 2 hr journey. We met everyone at the rectory at 7:30 am and packed ourselves into a chartered flowered-bedecked dala-dala. Dave and I were in the front seat with the driver and in the back were many villagers, ranging in age from infant to elder. All were excited and ready to go on this 51st annual event. It didn't matter that they were packed in like sardines, but instead of straight fish lined up in a can, these people were in various yoga positions in order to fit into the minibus. After a couple of stops to pick up more pilgrims and to buy air for the right front tire, we are bouncing along, singing and enjoying the comraderie. I had no back to my seat, but there were so many backseat backs that I had support. I think it was Fr. Richard's back behind me, but as I couldn't turn around...who knows?
After many kilometers on the main dirt road which I know I have described in previous blogs, we took a shortcut. This road, really trail, went up a steep grade where all the men had to pry themselves out of the vehicle and walk up the hill while we wazee and wanamke stayed in and prayed, while the driver shifted down and wished he had 4-wheel drive. But, pilgrim prayers work and soon we were waiting at the top for the walkers. All this time the driver kept putting his head our his window. I might add that both front windows are permanently down. He was checking on that same right front tire. I wondered why he didn't check the gas which read E, or the oil light which was RED, or the windshield wipers when drops fell. But, then I noticed that the wiper motor was gone, that the wipers were needed to hold the sprays of bouganvilla which gave us a festive touch. But, since the speedometer showed us going 10 KPH, I wasn't too worried...even if he had to bump my leg each and every time he shifted.
We made it to Gare Mission and joined about 2000 pilgrims, most of whom had walked, the Bishop of Tanga, and 14 priests and we walked outside aound the stations of the cross. There were many nuns in habits, secondary school students in uniforms, and others in colorful kangas or shirts for the 3 hr Mass. A large choir provided music from a covered pavilion at the top of the hill where the altar was. There were not enough benches, but we all had enough turf to sit or stand. It was really quite nice and not too sunny; in fact we had frequent light showers.
We had brought picnic items (part of CARE packages from home: power bars, chicken salad in a can with crackers, jerky, and mini-Snickers). We ate with Stefano in an empty classroom, and went to get our ride. Fr. Richard and Stefano were making arrangements for Stefano's interview at the seminary. When we reached the parking area, Anton told us our dala-dala had LEFT! There were 6 of us "stranded" far from home. Fr. Richard suggested a "short hike" shortcut that he knew so uphill we went. It was about an hour in our church clothes and shoes, but eventually we reached the top of the ridge and there was our dala-dala, still in flower, with our fellow pilgrims waiting for us. Lost in Translation was the knowledge that the driver had wanted to get the steep climb over before the rains made it impassable and while the passenger load was lighter. It would have saved us some anxious moments to know that as the day was turning to night, we had a ride still.
OK, we regrouped and went back up the road through a lovely pine, acacia, junipero, eucalapetus forrest to the main road and head for home. Did we make it? Log on later for further developments.
Lots of love to all. Dave and Wendy

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