I'm due to leave Dar Es Salaam tomorrow. Due back HK Thurs  DV

Daily photo reports 
of my Africa visit:

Jan 25 Dar Es Salaam
Jan 19Arusha-Mwanza
Jan 17 Tanga/Namanga
Jan 16 Pemba-Tanga
Jan 15 Pemba flight
Jan 14 Clouds Media
Jan 13 (BBC/hospital)
Jan 11 (7 photos)
Jan 10 (10 photos)
Jan 8-9 (23 photos)
Jan 7 (30 photos)
Jan 6 (28 photos)
Jan 5 (53 photos)
Jan 3-4 (50 photos)
Jan 2 Jan 1  Dec 31  

   
Tanzania's elections are due to be held on the last Sunday of October this year. Please pray that Dr Slaa will help Tanzania follow Indonesia and Sri Lanka in electing a good president to counter long years of corruption ....for which aim of course he is not popular in certain sections of society ...his life is in danger. Jesus, please protect him!


Last night Dr Slaa  kindly made two special recordings for the inmates in HK (and for the general Tz community):
Audio 1 (English)
Audio 2 (Swahili)
He was visibly moved as he finished the recordings

Dr Slaa also wrote this encouraging message in Swahili for HK inmates - in my notebook of messages from the inmates' families
(click to enlarge):

Stop press: 2 women arrested Dar airport yesterday, attempting to take drugs to HK! ..probably unaware of recent publicity about danger of drug trafficking to HK ....Drug Lords using non-informed people

Isaiah 2

In the days to come, the mountain of the Lord's Temple will be specially blessed.

All the nations will come to it and say:
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, that he may teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths".

When they learn the ways of the Lord,
then the nations will hammer their swords into ploughshares,
their spears into sickles.

Nation will not lift sword against nation, there will be no more training for war.

O House of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!

Lord, please help world leaders do more for peace in our world

Psalm 4

At the end of this day I praise you, Lord, for all your love and help.

O people of the world, how long will you close your hearts to God? How long you will keep on chasing false goals?

Lord, you have put into my heart a joy that cannot be obtained by big meals and plenty of wine.

I will lie day in peace and sleep comes at once, for you, Lord, make me dwell in safety and peace

Thank you, Lord, for your love and help right through today

Recording

Galatians 5.19-26

When self-indulgence is at work, the results are obvious: sexual irresponsibility, sorcery, feuds and wrangling, jealousy and drunkenness

What the Spirit brings is very different: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, truthfulness, gentleness and self-control

You cannot belong to Christ Jesus unless you crucify all self-indulgent desires

Let us be directed by the Spirit. We must stop being conceited, provocative and envious

Holy Spirit,  increase your influence in my life

Recording

Recommended: check these readings early morning, think about them during the day, check them again at night. This habit gives us extra energy, courage, motivation, peace and compassion for each day

 Luke 7.18-30

John the Baptist, imprisoned by King Herod, heard  the news about Jesus.  John sent two of his friends to ask Jesus "Are you the promised One?"

Jesus replied "Go and tell John what you have seen today: the blind see again, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is proclaimed to the poor"

Jesus then spoke to the people about John: "Everyone who accepted baptism from John acknowledged God's plan. But by refusing baptism from him, the religious leaders thwarted what God had in mind for them"

Jesus, please don't let me do anything to thwart your plan for my life

Recording

My Islam File 
-  the videos I have watched
 and learnt from

ISIS is a wake-up call to learn more about Islam. I'm trying to learn more by watching videos like this one: Muhammad's life (with English subtitles ...and narrated in perfect English ...excellent for English students)

My weekly article in today's Ming Pao newspaper
with the topic: HK time and Africa time
is on Ming Pao website - click "Australian in HK".
Free access to article with recording today from about noon to 8pm HK time. Text without recording 

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Tuesday,  please bless the people of South Asia

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 22nd of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Zhejiang

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 8th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Sierra Leone

Jesus, please give peace to the world's trouble spots, especially:
Nigeria (Boko Haram), Sudan, Central African Republic, Somalia (Al Shabab), Israel-Palestine, Iraq-Syria (Isis), Ukraine

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

Daily photo reports 
of my Africa visit:

Jan 25 Dar Es Salaam

Jan 19Arusha-Mwanza
Jan 17 Tanga/Namanga
Jan 16 Pemba-Tanga
Jan 15 Pemba flight
Jan 14 Clouds Media
Jan 13 (BBC/hospital)
Jan 11 (7 photos)
Jan 10 (10 photos)
Jan 8-9 (23 photos)
Jan 7 (30 photos)
Jan 6 (28 photos)
Jan 5 (53 photos)
Jan 3-4 (50 photos)
Jan 2 Jan 1  Dec 31     

Click to enlarge this map of Tanzania

Meal last night with family of a Tanzanian inmate in a HK prison...another 7 years before they see their son/nephew. May there be no more Tanzanians going to prison in HK .... no more heartbreak for families in Tanzania ... and may those incarcerated in HK be reunited with their dear families as soon as possible

Isaiah 1

Listen, heaven and earth, for the Lord is speaking:

"The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master's crib. But my people have rebelled against me.

I am tired of your hypocritical lives,
tired of offerings given with dirty hands.

You are so greedy for profit, always looking for bribes.

Take your wrong-doing out of my sight. Stop doing evil. Learn to do good.

Practise justice towards the poor.
Help the oppressed, the orphan and the widow.

Then, though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow."

Lord, please help me "wash my hands" by doing good for poor people 

My recording of this reading

Psalm 3

When people make fun of me for believing in you, Lord, I deeply remember how you are my help and my shield.

Even when the whole world seems against me, I can go to bed and sleep easy, knowing that you protect me.

O Lord, please rescue me from people who plot against me.

Lord our savior, please bless everyone who needs help.

Lord, thank you for your protection and help

Recording

Galatians 5.13-15

Serve one another in works of love, since the whole of the Law is summed up in the command "Love your neighbor as yourself"

If you go in for non-stop criticism and personal attacks, you will destroy the church community

Jesus, help me avoid unfair/unnecessary criticism of other people

Recording

Luke 7.11-17

Jesus and his disciples went to a town called Nain.  Many other people went with them. 

As they reached the town, a dead man was being carried out for burial, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow

When the Lord saw her, he felt sorry for her. "Do not cry" he said. Then he said "Young man, I tell you to get up"

The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him to his mother

Everyone was filled with awe and praised God saying "A great prophet has appeared among us. God has visited his people"

Jesus, please give me the faith to pray that dead people will come back to life - you who once told your disciples "to raise the dead"

Recording

A Response to Father Gabriel Daly, O.S.A. of Ireland

 Hard times return as China bids to bring its economic miracle to an end

Very popular local football team in Tanzania is "Simba". But only when I saw their emblem, a lion, did the Lion King penny fall: in Swahili "lion" is "simba"!

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Monday,  please bless the people of Europe & Russia

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 26th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Xinjiang

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 26th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Togo

Jesus, please give peace to the world's trouble spots, especially:
Nigeria (Boko Haram), Sudan, Central African Republic, Somalia (Al Shabab), Israel-Palestine, Iraq-Syria (Isis), Ukraine

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

Daily photo reports 
of my Africa visit:

Jan 19 Arusha-Mwanza
Jan 17 Tanga/Namanga
Jan 16 Pemba-Tanga
Jan 15 Pemba flight
Jan 14 Clouds Media
Jan 13 (BBC/hospital)
Jan 11 (7 photos)
Jan 10 (10 photos)
Jan 8-9 (23 photos)
Jan 7 (30 photos)
Jan 6 (28 photos)
Jan 5 (53 photos)
Jan 3-4 (50 photos)
Jan 2  Jan 1  Dec 31     

I've now been in Africa for several weeks. Maybe my eyesight is failing (it doesn't fail in HK!), but not once have I seen a massage parlor, pornography for sale, street prostitutes etc

Click to enlarge this map of Tanzania

c.f. Readings for "Sunday 3"

Jonah 3.1-10

Lord, please help me avoid bad behaviour

My recording of this reading

Psalm 24

Lord, help me know your ways

Recording

1 Cor 7.29-31

Our time is growing short. Those who have wives should live as though they had none, and those who mourn should live as though they had nothing to mourn for.

Those who are enjoying life should live as though there were nothing to laugh about; those whose life is buying things should live as though they had nothing of their own; and those who have to deal with the world should not become engrossed in it. 

I say this because the world as we know it is passing away.

Lord, help me know the shortness of life, that I may gain wisdom of heart

Recording

Mark 1.14-20

Jesus went to Galilee and proclaimed the Good News from God. 

"The time has come" he said "and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News."

As he was walking along by the sea of Galilee, he saw two fishermen Simon and his brother Andrew.  Jesus said to them "Follow me and I will make you into fishers of men".  Simon and Andrew then followed Jesus.

Going a little further, Jesus saw two more fishermen James and his brother John. He called them also to follow him.  They left their nets and boat and followed him.

Jesus, please bless all the people who work full time as "fishers of men"

Recording

 Australia and China open skies in major air pact

c.f. my file:
Near Death Experiences

      Will science prove there is a heaven?

For 30 years as an English teacher in HK and China, I have tried to help people say "hello" instead of "harllo".  No such problem here in Africa. Here no one says "harllo". Everyone says "haaaaaaaaarrrrllo"!

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Sunday,  please bless the people of Africa

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 25th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Ningxia

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 25th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Comoros

Jesus, please give peace to the world's trouble spots, especially:
Nigeria (Boko Haram), Sudan, Central African Republic, Somalia (Al Shabab), Israel-Palestine, Iraq-Syria (Isis), Ukraine

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

Daily photo reports 
of my Africa visit:

Jan 19 Arusha-Mwanza
Jan 17 Tanga/Namanga
Jan 16 Pemba-Tanga
Jan 15 Pemba flight
Jan 14 Clouds Media
Jan 13 (BBC/hospital)
Jan 11 (7 photos)
Jan 10 (10 photos)
Jan 8-9 (23 photos)
Jan 7 (30 photos)
Jan 6 (28 photos)
Jan 5 (53 photos)
Jan 3-4 (50 photos)
Jan 2  Jan 1  Dec 31     

BBC has kindly made available the radio interview with me on January 13. It's 24 mins long - hope it does a bit of good to stop drug traffickers going to HK. File is here 

A long but happy day yesterday, meeting with local prison social worker Grace (first photo) who, after I've gone back to HK, will follow up contact with HK inmates' families - and then with Grace meeting four families of inmates, three of whom gave ok to post photos on www.

Kind man in first photo is supporting his own four children and the two children of his imprisoned brother, for the younger of whom he can't afford school fees. This website has made donation to enable younger child to start school next week. God bless kind donors who made this possible

Click to enlarge this map of Tanzania

Sirach 51 
(final reading from Sirach)

When I was young, before I became a traveler, I prayed for wisdom.

Thanks to wisdom, I have been successful in my work. And so I finish this book by praising the God who gave me wisdom:

I give thanks to you, Lord and King, and praise you, God my savior.

For by wisdom you have protected and supported me, and rescued me from so many troubles.

I will praise you all my days, and gratefully sing your praises.

Lord,  thank you for the wisdom in this book. Please give me wisdom for each day

My recording of this reading

Psalm 2

Why are the nations revolting against God? Why won't the nations accept God?

O kings and rulers of the nations, listen to God's voice.
Serve the Lord with love and honor.

Blessed are the nations that love the Lord

Let all the nations love you, Lord. Let all the nations love you

Recording

Galatians 5.1-6

When Christ freed us, he meant us to remain free.

Stand firm then and do not return to a life of slavery to Jewish Law

As a Christian, it doesn't matter if you are circumcised or not. What matters is faith that is put into loving action

Jesus, help people whose lives are being damaged  by unreasonable religious laws

Recording

Luke 7.1-10

Jesus went to the town of Capernaum. In the town there was a Roman soldier, a centurion, who had a dear servant who was sick and close to death

Having heard about Jesus, the centurion sent some Jewish friends to ask Jesus to come and heal his servant

The Jewish friends said to Jesus "He deserves this of you. He is friendly to our people. He is the one who built our prayer hall"

Jesus went with them,  but before they reached the house the centurion sent some servants with the message "Sir, I am not worthy to receive you into my house. This is why I didn't come to you personally.  Just say a word, and my servant will be healed"

When Jesus heard these words, he said to the crowd following him "I have not found faith as great as this man's"

When the messengers got back to the house, they saw that the servant was healed and in perfect health

"Jesus,  I am not worthy to receive you.  Say but the word and I shall be healed"  (Communion service prayer)

Recording

David Timbs

Pope Francis has challenged the Bishops to snap out of their collective amnesia and to liberate themselves from the years of blind obedience, supine compliance and micro-management imposed on them from 1978 to 2012

Brian Johnstone

At guest house where I stayed at Namanga last weekend, the registration form had a space for "tribe". I told the staff that I don't belong to any tribe and that "Tribe" is not used in Australia, HK etc. But they insisted I fill in the space. So, being from Brisbane, for "tribe" I filled in "Queensland"!

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Saturday,  please bless the people of Central & North America

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 24th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Inner Mongolia

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 24th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Zambia

Jesus, please give peace to the world's trouble spots, especially:
Nigeria (Boko Haram), Sudan, Central African Republic, Somalia (Al Shabab), Israel-Palestine, Iraq-Syria (Isis), Ukraine

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

Daily photo reports 
of my Africa visit:

Jan 19 Arusha-Mwanza
Jan 17 Tanga/Namanga
Jan 16 Pemba-Tanga
Jan 15 Pemba flight
Jan 14 Clouds Media
Jan 13 (BBC/hospital)
Jan 11 (7 photos)
Jan 10 (10 photos)
Jan 8-9 (23 photos)
Jan 7 (30 photos)
Jan 6 (28 photos)
Jan 5 (53 photos)
Jan 3-4 (50 photos)
Jan 2  Jan 1  Dec 31     

Click to enlarge this map of Tanzania

Sirach 44-50

It is good to remember the famous people in history who had a special love for God.

Remembering their faith and their love for God will give us courage for our daily lives.

They were human and made mistakes,
yet they persevered in serving the Lord.

People like Abraham, Moses, David. Let us try to imitate their faith and courage.

Lord, please give me courage to live each day as I should 

My recording of this reading

Psalm 1

Happy the person who avoids evil and evil entertainment.
Happy the person who reads and meditates on God's words.

Such a person is like a tree planted beside a river, getting plenty of nourishment, bearing plenty of fruit.

Such a person is on the Way of Life.
People who do evil are on the Way of Death.

Dear Lord, please help me do good and avoid evil

Recording

Galatians 4.4-6

When the appointed time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born a subject of the Law, to redeem the subjects of the Law, and to enable us to be adopted as children of God, brothers and sisters of his Son

The proof that we are children is that God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts: the Spirit that cries "Abba, Father"

Jesus, help me understand how I have been adopted,
how you are my Brother

Recording

Luke 6.46-49

In his teaching, Jesus said "Why do you call me 'Lord', yet do not do what I ask you to do?

Anyone who comes to me and listens to my words and puts them into practice, is like a man who built his house on a solid foundation. That house was so well built that even floods could not damage it

But anyone who listens and does not put my words into practice, is like a man who built his house without a foundation. As soon as floods came, the house collapsed"

Jesus, please help me put your words into practice; help me apply them in my daily life

Recording

10 years ago today

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Friday,  please bless the people of South America

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 23rd of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Guangxi

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 23rd of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Djibouti

Jesus, please give peace to the world's trouble spots, especially:
Nigeria (Boko Haram), Sudan, Central African Republic, Somalia (Al Shabab), Israel-Palestine, Iraq-Syria (Isis), Ukraine

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

Daily photo reports 
of my Africa visit:

Jan 19 Arusha-Mwanza
Jan 17 Tanga/Namanga
Jan 16 Pemba-Tanga
Jan 15 Pemba flight
Jan 14 Clouds Media
Jan 13 (BBC/hospital)
Jan 11 (7 photos)
Jan 10 (10 photos)
Jan 8-9 (23 photos)
Jan 7 (30 photos)
Jan 6 (28 photos)
Jan 5 (53 photos)
Jan 3-4 (50 photos)
Jan 2  Jan 1  Dec 31     

Click to enlarge this map of Tanzania

Today I'm due to meet four more families of Tanzanian inmates in HK prisons

You might remember my photos with Evans at Clouds Media on January 14. Well, on the Airbus flight from Mwanza to Dar Es Salaam yesterday, the latest TravelSmart magazine had this most interesting feature story about Evans: (click to enlarge photos)

You might also remember photos of Samuel on Jan 10,  Jan 11 and Jan 13. Last night his street-sleeper friends told me they took him back to Amara Hospital last Friday and he died at the hospital on Saturday (...HIV + TB). Friends are going today to wash the body and arrange a funeral service .... assisted by a HK inmate's relative who had  visited Samuel at Amara, with this website's kind donors picking up the bill (from donations already received. No need for more at this stage).

Sirach 42-43

What an amazing world we live in! The Creator sure did a good job programming everything!

Great is the Lord who made the sun, the moon and stars.
What a beautiful creature is the rainbow!

The seasons, the rain, the snow, lightning and thunder: all proclaim the glory of God.

How great is God who has made such an amazing universe.
How can we praise and honor him enough?

Dear God, thank you for creating the world. Please help us live the way you want us to live

My recording of this reading

Psalms 149-150

Sing a new song to the Lord. Let the praise of God be always on our lips.

Praise God in his holy temple. Praise him in the heavens.

O praise him with sound of trumpet.
Praise him with lute and harp.

Praise him with drums and dancing.
Praise him with strings and pipes.

Let everything that lives and breathes,
give praise to the Lord our Creator.  Alleluia!

Lord to you we say every day "Allelu -ia" ("praise God")

Recording

Galatians 3.26-28

Through faith in Christ Jesus, you are children of God.

When you were baptized, you entered into a special relationship of friendship with Christ

This relationship cancels out old labels like Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. These old labels have been replaced by a new one hanging around your heart: Made in Christ

Jesus, help me better understand our relationship

Recording

Luke 6.39-45

In his teaching, Jesus said "Why do you notice the splinter in someone else's eye, but don't notice the plank in your own eye?  Deal with your own faults before you start correcting other people

A good tree does not produce bad fruit. A bad tree does not produce good fruit. The fruit tells you what sort of tree it came from

So with people: their words and actions tell you what their heart is like - good or bad

Jesus, please help me be a good person, producing good fruit

Recording

- appeal for peace and reconciliation in Niger

10 years ago today

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Thursday,  please bless the people of S.E. Asia & Pacific

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 22nd of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Zhejiang

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 22nd of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Rwanda

Jesus, please give peace to the world's trouble spots, especially:
Nigeria (Boko Haram), Sudan, Central African Republic, Somalia (Al Shabab), Israel-Palestine, Iraq-Syria (Isis), Ukraine

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

Daily photo reports 
of my Africa visit:

Jan 19 Arusha-Mwanza
Jan 17 Tanga/Namanga
Jan 16 Pemba-Tanga
Jan 15 Pemba flight
Jan 14 Clouds Media
Jan 13 (BBC/hospital)
Jan 11 (7 photos)
Jan 10 (10 photos)
Jan 8-9 (23 photos)
Jan 7 (30 photos)
Jan 6 (28 photos)
Jan 5 (53 photos)
Jan 3-4 (50 photos)
Jan 2  Jan 1  Dec 31     

Click to enlarge this map of Tanzania

Yesterday I was privileged to be given a tour of Saint Augustine University. Why "Augustine"? Becaue Augustine from Africa!

Yesterday was spent in Tanzania's 2nd largest city, Mwanza - at bottom of Lake Victoria on map at left. Many photos taken, but not convenient to post them. Photos will make Tz inmates in HK prisons very happy

To be honest, I wasn't sure if I would get to Mwanza ...long way, many flights etc. But presence of Jesuit priest friend as well as families of HK inmates persuaded me to make the trip.

And how blessed was the Mwanza trip: for yesterday I had two meetings with family of Tanzania's prime minister ...and was able to do what HK inmates commissioned me to do: lobby for a prisoner transfer agreement to be signed between HK and Tanzania (like the one signed between HK and Nigeria). Thank you for a prayer for this intention!

Sirach 40-41

Wine and music cheer the heart, but better than wine and music is the love of wisdom.

Do not speak sharply to people.
Do not ignore people who greet you.

Do not gaze at another man's wife.
Do not carry on with a single girl.

Lord, please help me control my speech and my eyes

Psalm 148

Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights.

Praise him all his angels, praise him all his spirits.

Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, shining stars.

Let them praise the name of the Lord.
His word gave life to all of them.

Praise the Lord from the earth, sea creatures and all oceans.

Praise him fire and hail, snow and mist,
stormy winds that obey his word.

Praise him all mountains and hills,
all fruit trees and cedars.

Praise him all animals, wild and tame, reptiles and birds in the air.

Praise him all earth's kings and peoples,
earth's princes and rulers.

Praise him young men and maidens,
old people together with children.

Let them praise the name of the Lord.
He is the praise of all who love him.

Lord our God and Creator, you are worthy of all praise

Recording

Galatians 2.16-20

What makes us God's friends is not obedience to the Law, but faith in Jesus Christ

I have been crucified with Christ, and I live now, not with my own life, but with the life of Christ who lives in me

The life I now live in this body, I live in faith: faith in the Son of God who loved me and who sacrificed himself for my sake

Jesus, help me understand how you live in me, and I live in you

Recording

Luke 6.27-38

Jesus said to the people

"Love your enemies. Do good to people who hate you. Pray for people who are unkind to you. Treat others as you would like them to treat you

Be compassionate as your heavenly Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned

Grant pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and there will be gifts for you. The amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back"

Jesus, bless (..name..) who was unkind to me

Recording

A gathering of peoples
The papal plea for reconciliation in Sri Lanka, a place where there has been violent inter-community conflict over many years, as well as his request for social justice in the Philippines,  show us a fellow human being willing to speak his mind in a courageous manner

Kenya police tear-gas primary school children in playground protest
Children as young as eight choke as tear gas canisters are fired by police at protest over seizure of their school playground

Recommended by
 a reader in Australia

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Wednesday,  please bless the people of East Asia

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 21st of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Yunnan

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 21st of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Benin

Jesus, please give peace to the world's trouble spots, especially:
Nigeria (Boko Haram), Sudan, Central African Republic, Somalia (Al Shabab), Israel-Palestine, Iraq-Syria (Isis), Ukraine

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

Daily photo reports 
of my Africa visit:

Jan 19 Arusha-Mwanza

Jan 17 Tanga/Namanga
Jan 16 Pemba-Tanga
Jan 15 Pemba flight
Jan 14 Clouds Media
Jan 13 (BBC/hospital)
Jan 11 (7 photos)
Jan 10 (10 photos)
Jan 8-9 (23 photos)
Jan 7 (30 photos)
Jan 6 (28 photos)
Jan 5 (53 photos)
Jan 3-4 (50 photos)
Jan 2  Jan 1  Dec 31     

Click to enlarge this map of Tanzania

Today I am in Tanzania's 2nd largest city, Mwanza - at bottom of Lake Victoria on map at left ...and due to meet  families of inmates in HK prisons.

Last night one of the Jesuit fathers whose hospitality I am enjoying in Mwanza told me he heard my BBC interview a few days ago. Only link I can find is this one (in Swahili). If anyone can find the audio interview in English, please let me know (jdwomi@gmail.com ). Aim of interview was to alert people to danger of drug trafficking to HK/China/Macau

See Jan 19 photo report at left:
five flights in small planes yesterday!
And ...meeting with guys from China!

Sirach 38-39

All healing is a gift of God. To obtain healing:  pray to the Lord, ask forgiveness for sin,
then follow the doctor's advice.

Mourn for the dead  and honor their graves, but do not let your heart be controlled by grief.

Ordinary working people have little time for study. But the Lord blesses everyone who studies wisdom.

Lord, please heal my friend (..name..) who is sick

Psalm 147

Praise the Lord for he is good. Sing to our God for he is loving. To him our praise is due.

The Lord builds up Jerusalem and brings back Israel's exiles.

He heals the broken-hearted and binds up all their wounds. The Lord raises the lowly, and humbles the wicked.

He fixes the number of the stars. He calls each one by name.

Our Lord is great and almighty. His wisdom can never be measured.

He covers the heavens with clouds. He prepares rain for the earth, making mountains sprout with grass and with plants to serve our needs.

His delight is not in horses nor his pleasure in warriors' strength.

The Lord delights in those who love and honor him, in those who wait for his love.

It is right and fitting to praise and love you, Lord our Creator

Recording

Galatians 2.11-14

Not long after this, when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, since he was in the wrong

He had been accustomed to eating with non-Jews, but when some friends of James arrived - people who insisted that all believers should be circumcised - he kept away from the non-Jews

When I saw that Peter was not respecting the true meaning of the Good News, I said to him in front of everyone "You have no right to make non-Jews adopt Jewish customs"

Jesus, help me understand that it's sometimes ok to criticize top Christian leaders

Recording

Recommended: check these readings early morning, think about them during the day, check them again at night. This habit gives us extra energy, courage, motivation, peace and compassion for each day

 Luke 6.20-26

Jesus said to his disciples : "Blessed are you who are poor: yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who are hungry: you shall be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now: you shall be happy

Blessed are you when people hate you because of me:
your reward will be great in heaven

But alas for you who are rich: your consolation is only in this world.
Alas for you who have plenty to eat: you shall go hungry.
Alas for you who laugh now: you shall mourn and weep"

Jesus, please help me to give more time and importance to the things that really matter

Recording

 Half global wealth held by 1%

Recommended 
by a reader

My Islam File 
-  the videos I have watched
 and learnt from

ISIS is a wake-up call to learn more about Islam. I'm trying to learn more by watching videos like this one: Muhammad's life (with English subtitles ...and narrated in perfect English ...excellent for English students)

My weekly article in today's Ming Pao newspaper
with the topic: I am now in Africa
is on Ming Pao website - click "Australian in HK".
Free access to article with recording today from about noon to 8pm HK time. Text without recording 

10 years ago today

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Tuesday,  please bless the people of South Asia

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 20th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Sichuan

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 20th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Gambia

Jesus, please give peace to the world's trouble spots, especially:
Nigeria (Boko Haram), Sudan, Central African Republic, Somalia (Al Shabab), Israel-Palestine, Iraq-Syria (Isis), Ukraine

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

Pope Francis:
Thank you Holy Spirit

Inspiring photos:

Link
Link		Links 01  02	Link
Link	Link		Link
Link	Link		Link
Link	Link

Newness, harmony, mission

Engagements of Pope Francis

Zenit.org - reports from Rome

This website's kind bloggers
(past and present)
with archives of articles:

Bakhita
 Hazel C
 Daniel Daring
Inigo Joachim
Brian Lewis
 Judith Lynch 
  Martin Mallon
Chris McDonnell
Bill Mulcahy 
Des O'Donnell
Darlene Starrs
 TASMAD
David Timbs 
Peter Wilkinson
   Harry Winter 
  John Wotherspoon

This website tries to stop "tanks"
(war, global warming, exploitation of the poor, globalisation of indifference, liturgical "reform of the reform" & other anti-Vatican II forces etc)

  Weekly Archive  of main page menus

Previous archives 
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Previous Bible Blogs of this website

Previous Smiles file

John W: Previous Daily Blogs

The unjust treatment
 of Bishop Bill Morris

Hans Küng:  Letter to bishops  

Revolution to stop authoritarianism 

Fr Joseph Ratzinger: 
Writings on Vat II 

Robert Mickens:  
Vatican Implosion

Nicholas Lash:     Vatican II: 
Of Happy Memory - and Hope?

Robert McNally:  
Crisis & Criticism in the Church 

Priests 9 Masses a day
 - need to ordain married men

Why are women not being
 ordained to priesthood?   (updated)

A Call to Action
Assn Catholic Priests Ireland
Bp Pat Power
Bp Geoff Robinson
Bruce Duncan
Catalyst for Renewal
Catholica
Catholics for Ministry  
Catholics for Renewal 
STANDUP4VATICAN2
The Swag
VII - Voice of the Church
We Are Church

Excellent articles on Mission
  Hugh McMahon SSC

Imposter Priests
- refusing to pass on the teaching of Francis' The Joy of the Gospel

My Islam File

Political leaders who live(d) a simple life style and care(d) for the poor

HK Democracy File - essential reading

HK Asylum Seekers File

IS (ISIS) File - Essential Reading

Gaza File - essential reading

----------------------------

1998 ICEL Sacramentary

Misguided Missal 

The new translation
Ghastly process/result

Ron Schmit:
 1962 Mass a condemnation of Vat II

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 Sacred Space  Daily prayer online.
Available in 19 languages

Jackie Evancho  - To Believe

Pray-as-you-go.org
Daily prayer with beautiful music

Whole text of 1966 Jerusalem Bible

The Last Supper -  Bohdan Piasecki 
(click to enlarge)

Bob Welsh - My Christmas Eve

 A Tale of Two Brains

The Story of Jonah 
as Told by The Cutest Little Girl
(gets even better as it goes along)

YouTube from KLM!

North Africa refugee boat - Link

Abortion Survivor’s Letter
 to the Abortionist

Tribalism lives on, 
for better and for worse

Video: Sydney Peace Prize Lecture by Julian Burnside  

16 Documents of Vatican II

This website's 
Reflections on the 16 documents
 of Vatican II

Be careful of junk reading re Pope:
Chancery report in English
Chancery report in Chinese

Why I collect rubbish for Pope

Taking a stand

Navigation Aids      

  Standing up to bullies

"Reform of reform" agenda

Too Western/European 

Abortion - a true story

The evil of compulsory celibacy

Link between compulsory celibacy
 and sexual abuse

"Same-sex marriage": 
two elephants in the men's room     

     Near Death Experiences

Globalisation of Indifference

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To publish an article on this site please contact Fr John Wotherspoon omi:   jdwomi@gmail.com  

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  please contact: jdwomi@gmail.com

John W's other sites: 

www.doctorjesus.org

www.riccicenter.com 

www.simplebible.info 

www.china8.org 

  www.jesustower.com 

www.oneminuteenglish.com 

China Library
 - essential reading for anyone interested in China's Christian history