Art Obin and Richard Sudlik in Zambia

. There are certain days that we never forget. For those of us old enough, the day John F .Kennedy was shot qualifies. Today September 11, 2001 is one of those days. All of us have the image of the Twin Towers seared in our minds. But for Fr. Art Obin and me the day has special significance. We watched the events unfold half way around the world. We were visiting our mission in Zambia as representatives of the Provincial Council. For us these two realities will always be linked.

When I tell people that I went to Zambia they ask if I enjoyed the trip. Enjoy is not a word that I would use to describe a trip to Zambia. Are we glad we went? Certainly. Were we impressed? Without a doubt. Did it change our view of Oblate life? A giant yes. Would I go again? Beyond a doubt. But Zambia is not an easy place to visit. Zambia is one of the poorest countries in Africa The western province where the Oblates minister is the poorest province. Just traveling from one place to another is a trial. What the folks in Zambia consider a good road, we in the United States would consider poor. What they consider poor, we would consider not to be a road at all. I saw a level of poverty that I I had never experienced before. And yet I saw a faith in the people of Zambia that was certainly impressive. One of the moments that I will always hold dear is preaching in the Church at Lukula (with the help of a wonderful translator) and seeing the presence of Christ. I said to the people, :”I can’t understand what you are saying, but I can feel the faith that we share.

What is it that impressed us? First of all it was the dedication of the American Oblates in Zambia. These men have left what they know to enter into a different culture. In a very real way they have laid down there lives for their brothers and sisters. They have made flesh again today the missionary spirit that was the inspiration of our founder, Eugene deMazenod.

What also impressed us was the energy of the Zambian Oblates. This is a very young group. The Zambian priests are only a few years ordained. The seminaries are full. The future is bright. Another memory that Fr. Art and I will cherish is the smiling face of Fr. Patrick Chiso, a young Oblate priest, who took a week to drive us around Zambia. If we had done the driving I don’t know where we would be. What struck me throughout the week was how close I felt to this man who was so different in background from me. What we did share was our Oblate life and that was certainly enough.

So did we enjoy our trip? Again the word enjoy might not apply. But Fr. Art and I would be able to utter the words of Peter after the Transfiguration on Mt. Tabor-“Lord, it was good for us to be there”.