This article was written by Lew Grobe who has just begun his candidacy here at Saint John’s Abbey.
When I went to Tanzania, I anticipated being immersed in a very foreign land and culture. And while I noticed that out social, polictical, and economic tendencies couldn’t be more different, I came to see how very similar we really were as people. The Tanzanian villagers and I shared our humanness: we shared similar pains and emotions in our daily experiences. This discovery helped megain a better sense of self, community, and humanity from a global persepective. It enabled me to realize what is really important and to live my life accordingly. Hanga village, located in the remote bush of southwest Tanzania, is home to more that 7,000 people, 1200 of which are students at one of the four schools supported and run by the African Benedictines. I was sent to Hanga Abbey to teach at one of the schools supported by the Saint John’s Benedictine Corps and the Center for Mission. My work involved teaching English to first year students at St. Benedict’s Secondary School. My class had about 150 students (ages 14-43) in a 25′ by 25′ room. There were 5-6 students packed at each desk. The students did not have books, handouts, or electricity but were intensely curious and eager to learn. When the rain pounded on the tin roof and flooded into the room, the students were still engaged in their lessons.
The immense effort for these students to attend class at all was in itself astonishing. They awoke at 5 am to prepare food and water getting to school by 7 am. They attended class until 2 pm and would return home for lunch arriving back at school for private study until 7 pm. Then back home again for dinner and studying until 11 pm.
I was saddened to learn that many of my students would not return after their first year because they could not afford the school fees. The tuition of $350 per year was enormous for students where the percapita inncome was $320 per year. In an attempt to help, I began “Phoenix Rising” – a cross-country bike trip, to raise a $25,0000 scholarship endowment that would enable Hanga students to complete their secondary education. So far this has been very successful.
While the Tanzanians in Hanga were incredibly poor, I encountered their happiness, joy, and overall zest for life even with their many hardships. They praised God for the very little that they had been given. I discovered more and more about what is really important and am determined to live my life according to the values formed though my Hanga experience. ~ You can learn more about this bike trip and the Phonenix Rising Endowment at Lew Grobe’s website www.hangaabbey.org/index_files/rising.htm
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