As a practical part of practicing our Intercultural living, the participants of Formation for Mission program, had a moment of recreation to share the richness of our cultures from India, Rwanda, Congo and Tanzania. Knowing that every culture has its grace and sin, we celebrate and embrace the richness of every culture. Through singing and dancing, which is an important element in culture, we learn to value and appreciate one another.
The different entertainments enriched our reflection during this Easter season, which is a moment of grace and gratitude to God who offered His only Son to save the world. We also took time to admire the beauty of creation and work of art through the dances. All the Sisters performed their talents the best way they could full of joy and vigor.
Missionary Experience Shared Out
Sharing the joy of being in an International community, we visited our Novitiate at Polisingisi- Arusha on. Upon arrival, we found the novices with their formators waiting for us and they welcomed us with songs and dances. After a warm welcome, we proceeded to the main chapel and prayed the Divine Mercy chaplet.
Thereafter, we had an opportunity to interact with the novices, whereas Sr. Antoinette Tuombe, on behalf of the sisters who are undergoing the training of formation for mission presented in brief what we have learned in various sessions. Only the first-year novices were in the Novitiate as the second years Novices are in community experience. On the way back to Laki Tatu we visited our sisters at the Leadership Community.
Finding God in Nature
Early Saturday morning of 24th April we had a day out, and we visited Ngorongoro National Park and crater. It was a great privilege to appreciate the wonders of God in His creatures. At the entrance of Ngorongoro conservation area, the monkeys came to welcome us to the park. In this adventure, we were lucky to see at close different animals such as lion, zebra, elephants, buffalos, deer, gazelle, and flamingos among others. It was good to see that animals at the park are living together in harmony.
On the same tour we visited the Maasai people who are living in the park. We had a moment to interact with them and they shared with us the richness of their culture, including the dancing, food and living style. We were amazed at how they could live in harmony in a large family of more than 60 people. We had time to enter into their traditional houses as well as visiting the students in the family’s school.
This program of formation for mission is very enriching as it helps us to understand different cultures before going into new missions. By living together, we also get to know each other. It is by appreciating who we are that we accept to go out and share the joy of the Risen Lord with His creatures and take care of all that He created.
Text: Sr. Innocente Mukandagijimana SAC & Sr. Francine Nzabakurikiza Dusenge SAC
Photos by courtesy of the participants.
