I'm Back

I'll post some updates soon. First, however, I have to dig out from the pile of mail, etc.

Look for some posts soon.

Gone Fishin'

Well, not fishing; but I am going on retreat.

Count on lots of pictures when I return -- they're all ready for posting, but our internet connection is slow, slow, slow.

Friendship

Enjoying the companionship of Fr. Martin Schreiber, SJ, of our Detroit Province. I've known him since 1994, when he was a recent graduate of St. Ignatius High School, Cleveland, and attended my ordination at Gesu, University Heights, OH.
He and his remarkable parents have been been a constant encouragement in my vocation, most recently my accepting the invitation to work here in TZ. So could to spend time with him here.
I'll post some snaps of his visit -- when I remember to take my camera on one of our outings.

Folks at Kiwanja cha Ndege

Here are some of the folks I interact with every day. Below is Malasi, the scholastic working on the OLQP project, with Gladys, the parish secretary/bookkeeper.

Above is Regina and Christopher. Regina works in the office and is also a catechist. Christopher is a parishioner working as a temp.

Teaching Positions

That's our advertisement for teaching positions in the bottom right corner. Published Monday, Wednesday, and Friday this week in The Guardian, one of the two major English papers in Tanzania.

District Inspections

Inspectors at the district level (the level of local government between municipal and regional) were on campus this morning. They were pleased with what they saw.



Below you can see the progress on the foundation for the next wing of the classroom block.

Lions on the Move

That's the title of a recently published study of African economies conducted by McKinsey & Company.

The report states that

While Africa's increased economic momentum is widely recognized, less known are its sources and likely staying power....While poor government policies,war, and other events could disrupt growth in individual countries, our analysis suggests that Africa's long-term economic prospects are quite strong.

Among the conclusions of the report -- actually more than a conclusion, a refrain:

If Africa can provide its young people with the education and skills they need, this large work force could account for a significant share of both global consumption and production.

Readers know, however, that I'm not a proponent of education simply as a contributor to development. There are great examples of educated folks who are evil and corrupt. What is needed is an integral education -- an education that is concerned not just about information and skills but about living an upright life, about caring for the common good, etc.