The Outstations

The priests of St. Louis Parish and other communities here in Balaka are also in charge of celebrating mass at churches in the surrounding area which they call outstations.  They are a total of 21 outstations and they go do different outstations each week.  We have been invited to join them whenever we are free, so this week Gaby, Ewa, and I went with Fr. Cezary.  It was about 20 Km from Balaka a lot of which was dirt roads.  We were riding on the back of the truck so we had a good view of the houses and people as we went by.  We slowed down for a few people walking to church and they jumped on for a ride.  Before mass, they counted those receiving communion by drawing a circle in the the dirt and if you wanted to receive you put a small stick in the circle.  The church itself was very small and everyone sat on the floor.  After mass, they cook food for the priest and any guests so we were invited to eat.  We were brought to a small room with a few covered bowls beans, cornmeal, and  boiled eggs.  We took what we want and ate with our hands.  After finishing the meal, we thanked everyone and headed back home.  Father Cezary only speaks Italian and Chichewa so Ewa who speaks Polish, Italian, French, English, and Latin translated for us.  Gaby's goal is to go to all of the outstations before leaving in November.