THE JOURNEY HOME
THE JOURNEY HOME
Fr. Marino Shares the Story of His Long Journey Back Home to Tanzania
Dear Friends,
Peace
and blessings from Tanzania!
I
thought you might like to hear about my adventurous journey back to my
homeland. So here is the itinerary. As you may guess, I still suffer from jet
lag, but I’m improving daily.
Although
my chauffeur, Fr. Jonathan Ulrick, got me to the Pittsburgh airport in plenty
of time for my intended 7:00 p.m. flight to Dallas on Tuesday, May 7, American
Airlines had other plans, resulting in delays. The plane evidently had
mechanical difficulties, and the delays continued through the evening. We
finally took off for Dallas in the middle of the night on Wednesday, May 8.
When
we arrived in Dallas in the early morning of Wednesday, May 8, delays
continued, and eventually, my flight to Qatar was canceled. American Airlines
provided a two-day stay at the Hawthorne Suites/Wyndham Hotel just outside the
Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. I was grateful to be able to shower, sleep, and
prepare for the next leg of my journey.
I
returned to the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport refreshed and prepared for travel and
had the good fortune to meet Fr. Bob Marva, the Provincial Minister, who was on
his way to Papua New Guinea. We enjoyed a brief visit and then went our
separate ways.
The
14-hour flight to Qatar took off around 11:00 pm. on Wednesday, May 8. We
landed around 10:30 p.m. and had a 2-hour layover. We departed around 2:30 am
on Thursday, May 9. I thought the next portion of my travels would be direct to
Dar es Salaam, but instead, Qatar Air decided to give me a little tour of
Kilimanjaro and its environs. So, we sat in the plane, on the runway, while the
mechanicals were being repaired for four hours! It was a very long four hours!
Finally,
on Friday, May 10, around 1:00 p.m., I arrived at our motherhouse in Dar es
Salaam, safe and sound but a bit worn for the wear. Amazingly, my luggage
arrived safely, too. The lesson of travel is that “man plans and God laughs.”
I think God had a great big laugh as He watched me meander through airports,
hotels, land, sea, and sky as I made my way home. It was a long and arduous
journey, but I reached my destination successfully. My brother, Celestino,
joined me for the eight-hour drive to our village.
So,
I’m back home, adjusting to the inevitable jet lag, eating some traditional
meals, and reconnecting with our friars. On Tuesday, May 14, I left our
Provincial House in Dar es Salaam and am now at our family home in Kibakwe
Village in the Mpwapwa District of the Dodoma Region. I am at home with my
mother and one of my nephews. My nine siblings and their spouses will visit
over the next few weeks for a bit of a reunion. I know they will want to hear
about my adventures in the States, and thanks to you, I have many stories to
share!
Thanks to each of you, my dear friends, for your hospitality, generosity, and kindness during my time with you. It was the experience of a lifetime. Each of you has been a very special gift to me in your own way. I learned so much that will help me in my ministry here at home. Your presence in my life has created memories that will carry me through a lifetime. I treasure our time together and hope that we can stay connected through texts and emails. I will miss being with you, sharing stories, eating, and praying together. Your presence in my life is most memorable. Please pray for me as I will for you.
And now, three blessings for you:
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