Keanes in Tanzania

After a full week visiting Stove Sites and other development projects in and around Sumbawanga we ended our stay by celebrating a mass with Father Chomba.  He dedicated the mass to the memory of my brother Brian, my Uncle Paddy, and my Aunt Breeda.  He even wore special commemorative Vestments donated by the Maggiorie family when Brian passed away.  The whole thing was special.  Mass here lasts 2 1/2 hours but it does not feel like it as the entire ceremony is full of amazing singing and dancing in the aisles and in the pews.  Father allowed us to present some presents to the Blind School Children as part of the service and afterwards we were able to join the parish in the dedication of their new grotto to Our Lady of Grace. Women of the Parish Sewed us special wraps and shirts for Mass.  Father wearing vestments provided by Maggiores. Our Lady of Grace Grotto dedication

After Sunday Mass we took three days to ourselves to enjoy some of the natural beauty and wildlife in Tanzania.  We stayed at an amazing place called   Katavai Wildlife Camp  where we were hosted by a great team including, Tim, our camp host.   The pictures and videos really do not do Katavai justice.  If you do nothing else please come visit this place; it is amazing, absolutely untouched. View from our Cabins Arrival in Katavai Susi with a Crocodile skull.  Plenty of live ones just on the other side of the truck as well. Elephant dung keeps away Ttse Flies.  Who knew?  Susi was our designated collector. Mock Charge by an Elephant

During our visit to Kizungu Village Susi and I celebrated our anniversary.  The Chief of the village mentioned during the ceremony for the Stove Project that one of his needs was the planting of new hardwood forests as theirs are severely depleted.  As our anniversary gift to each other Susi and I returned to the village the following day with Emma and 100 Sederalla Trees.  We planted 5 (One for each member of our immediate family) and left the chief with 95 more along with a nice gift for his wife and a few shovels.  The pictures below show us planting the 5 trees near the village well.  We hope to revisit here and watch these trees grow along with our comitment to Kizungu. Susi Planting a Sederella while a few Kizungu villagers try to figure out what the heck is going on. Emma trying to get a tree planted without disturbing her onlookers I am trying to show the locals that Mizungo know how to dig holes.  They were not impressed.