Simanjiro – Glimpses of Inspiration, Sept 2007

Simanjiro is a Massai village, over three hours’ drive through the wilderness on a dirt track from the city of Arusha in Tanzania. On the last Sunday of August, I was concelebrating the 11.OO Mass with Fr. Eusebio in Simonjiro. It was an old zinc-roofed Church put up in the 1950s when the mission was started. It had a frame of rough timber, plenty of wide cracks letting in the light. The plain-wood shutters open in the window-spaces let a gentle breeze flow through the rickety building in the hot sun. A full gathering of the Massai people — all dressed with their traditional garb — “the Masai Shuka” a variety of red and blue and other colours – men, women, young people and children.

There amongst them were our group — the eleven visitors, 8 nurses and 2 doctors a research analyst/ journalist led by Patrick Browne- youthful and pale and very much at home in a setting of over 200 dark faces. A great sense of community and vitality gathered here – as we were led in song by a group of young people — all raising their voices in song, moving in rhythm — a joyful sense of celebration in prayer, music and worshipping God that was really uplifting. The Mass went on for an hour and 50 mins! I am telling you the truth. It was ten minutes short of 2 hrs! Our group did not mind! Sinead Cawley, Siobhan Coughlan, Deirdre Lyons, Orla O’Flynn, Siobhan McGrath, Marian Tighe, Niamh Keane, Gillian Chambers, David McGuinness, John Donnellan, and Patrick Browne – organiser and co-ordinator and general factotum.

How do you draw together a thousand glimpses -and that is all they are; the glimpses and memories a two week visit that marked a new milestone for me and for that group? I find it difficult. One needs to stand back from it all – and walk miles to let the story come together. Too close to it now. But there is one small symbol that gathered a lot for me?

It was during the homily of the Mass, Fr. Eusebio was talking away in Ki-Swahili and since I was not understanding a word. I had some time to reflect.

He spoke for 35 minutes!

In front of the altar across from me, I noticed a small circle of bright light on the dark brown floor? Was I seeing something? Was this a sign, a minor miracle about to happen! Where was it coming from? And then slowly I twisted my head and I looked up. And there is was the bright beam of light was coming from a big nail- hole in the corner of the tin roof! Nothing extraordinary but for me a powerful symbol – that circle of light  gathered so much together in a wild, barren and beautiful place.

Outside the church, all the people waited round in a circle and shook hands and thanked us for coming and thanked you for sending us to them. One elderly man, Clemens said “There were times here when I thought God had abandoned us. When I see all of you, I know He has come back to us with you …”

Come back, to that little circle of light on the floor!

Within the frame of that Circle of Light, I saw the new church walls and gables built up and ready for roofing; I saw a tall erect beautiful Massai woman walking with a container of clear fresh water balanced on her head, as she walked out of the Mission compound. That Well is there because of your generosity. A year ago, she would have had to travel a further 3 kilometres down to a shallow stream. And when the animals were driven away for grazing, she would wait until the murky water became clear and then she would try to get some clean water.

Into that circle of light, I saw the transformation of the little hospital; walls beautifully painted, new concrete footpaths, new guest-rooms for visitors — the work of what the Massai call “Three Wise Men” Tommy Forde and Michael Killeen from Carnaun and Mike Kelly from Clarinbridge who gave months of their time and skill working with local people. Beside the Mission House was the new Solar System to provide light and hot water and the Generator providing many services.

I saw the container – it made a journey of ten thousand miles – with hospital beds and blankets, medicines and school books, and an ambulance – all protected by a large bottle of Irish Holy Water! Or so, I was told!

In that circle of light, I saw, all the work of the previous groups who had come there and the impact it had made. Last year, Anne Conroy and Patrick Browne with their group; earlier in the Summer, Yvonne O’Brien and the medical students from UCHG and now Patrick Browne and the group that I was privileged to be with. And privilege it was to be with a youthful, and talented group bringing their medical skills with enormous compassion and dedication to help the sick and suffering.

Their companionship and friendship, their good humour all flowed through their caring hearts and skilled hands. No task daunted them, no trouble too great. And there too, were the two priests — Eusebio from the Philippines and Peter from India – their kindness and hospitality, their energy and commitment was in their witness and work.

This group of young people gave up their holiday time and paid their own way to take on this venture. But it was not a holiday. Maybe a strange kind of experience which will mark a milestone in their journey and make a significant difference. The heat, the restricted facilities, the demanding work in the hospital and clinic, the Flying Medical Service to the out- stations, posed a great challenge. One of the journeys by dirt-track was 73 kms to go out and bring in a young man with Rabies, bitten by a dog and despite their best medical efforts he died in the Clinic within two hours.

There was the grieving of a young mother and their children. The rest of the Masai then ran away – they are afraid of the dead. l recall another journey of over 100 kms to bring in by ambulance an old woman malnourished and dehydrated. She was recovering when we were leaving.

I will never forget the trip by road with Fr. Eusebio for a meeting in Nairobi. A journey of nine hours, by jeep to Arusha and then by bus crossing the border to Kenya. The border post took at least one hour for clearance. Meeting up with his colleagues in Nairobi remains a memorable experience – seven nationalities sat in for lunch. It gave a wonderful sense of the variety of men at the coal-face of mission. We had some discussion about planning for the future. But listening to them, was an inspiration for me.

The Superior, Fr. John from India was a most gracious host. But Fr. Tom Leyden stands out for me as one of the men that I will never forget. Maybe, there is a mild west-of-Ireland bias! One of the most insightful, wise, spiritual and good-humoured men that I have ever met. A native of Ballinrobe, did a degree in engineering in Galway, worked in England and then decided to join the Divine Word Missionaries and was ordained in 1971 and a class-mate of Archbishop Michael Neary. With Frs Eusebio, John, Tom and myself we talked late into the night!

“Let the favour of the Lord be upon us … Give success to the work of our hands” is a lovely Scripture phrase that gathers so many glimpses and experiences for me. No matter what work or service we do for people, it must all be underpinned by our intimacy with Christ and to recognise his face and presence in the people we set out to help.

I believe the Athenry-Simanjiro partnership it is a blessing on this parish at the present time. Our links with them is a blessing on both parishes. It is in the giving and receiving. Here, in Athenry it is in your goodness, your prayers and your faith, our rich culture and missionary tradition and spirit. You are blessed in your giving. Equally, the young people and I were enriched by the culture, the traditions, the faith and hospitality of the Masai people. They not merely shook and held your hand, they enwrapped their thumb around yours!

We were left with deep imprints in our hearts and spirits and pictures that will never go away. You are the circle of light for the people of Simanjiro. But they are no less a circle of light for us. We are all on the journey together in partnership and enriched by both traditions.

“Let the favour of the Lord by upon us. Give success to the work of our hands …” Fr Tony King