Nachingwea Parish--Wednesday

It is hot!!!! a cement building with a corrugated roof--large enough to hold 280.  Roosters are crowing outside in the cemetery.  Bottom of our albs are covered in the red dust of Masasi.  Church packed. People standing around the door and windows to hear and see.  Profound time of Pentecost this day as 80 candidates and their parents surged forward eagerly to be recognized and confirmed.  Their joy and love and faith--Holy Spirit filled the church.  Filled us.  Our Bishop preached a moving sermon.  I was invited to con-celebrate with the Bishops--an unexpected invitation at Eucharist--an invitation for the first woman to be at the altar in this diocese.  i believe I will not be the last.  A service of 4.5 hours followed by lunch and a meeting with parish officials.  Overwhelming.  Humbling.  Exhaustion.  Nothing to drink from 7:30-3:00.  Many don't drink though and many drink unhealthy water.  Thank you God for this opportunity to be blessed by the people and their ministry here as they work to provide food, water, education and health care.