Monday, November 5, 2007

Some First Experiences


I experienced some firsts this past week and they had enough newness to make them interesting.
I heard my first confessions and shortcomings and sins are the same world-wide. People are well-prepared for the sacrament. Later that same day, I had the opportunity to bless a man’s new car.

I presided and preached at a funeral of a parishioner on Friday. The man died in his mid 50’s from diabetes and was an electrical engineer. He and his wife were active in Marriage Encounter and that community was evident as the supporters of the wife and family. Their dress identified them and they sat together as a group. Following the dismissal, the casket is taken to the rear of the Church for viewing and then the family and friends take the body to the cemetery. The small Christian communities provide the burial service.

Father Bert Otten, SJ came to visit last week. I lived with Bert at SU until his retirement from the Engineering faculty and his move to Zambia. He is working on appropriate technology projects in Chikuni, which is the Jesuit center south of Lusaka. He was in Lusaka to gather equipment that could be used to ventilate and cool a bush computer classroom.

Jesuits world-wide are preparing for the 35th General Congregation in Rome this January. The community gathered last week to discuss some of the topics that will be discussed in Rome. This community is unique in that both Zambia/Malawi province delegates live in this community (the Provincial and the Formation Assistant). There were over a dozen participating in the discussion and the conversation covered familiar concerns. There will be additional meetings in the next six weeks.

Another first was a foray to the local shopping mall. I believe that there are very few familiar items that one could not get in Zambia. The stores are modern and well-equipped and many folks were shopping. As in the US, these are not the places that the poor shop; but they are well frequented by the middle-class. Starbucks, McDonalds and Kentucky Fried Chicken have not established themselves in Zambia; however Subway is here. I joined the pastor for coffee at a shop owned by a parishioner that was superior to most in Seattle.

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