During the big celebrations at Mtoni Parish in Dar es
Salaam, Tanzania on Sunday, 11 February, 2001 everyone gathered in the church
for singing, dancing and gift giving. In the front were the chairs of the
honored guests. In the very middle a special chair was saved between the
outgoing pastor Maryknoll Father John Waldrep and the Chairperson of the Parish
Council Method Kamala for Cardinal Polycarp Pengo who was expected to come for
part of the celebration. During the first dance of the Bakhita Girls Group,
11-year-old Simon, the son of the parish rectory cook Lubango, came dancing up
on his own — rhythmically swaying and waving.

    Now Simon is a very special person. From birth he has been
partially mentally and physically disabled. His right hand is partially
paralyzed and he walks with a limp. So far he has not been able to go to school.
But he is a very good friend of John Waldrep and popular with all the
parishioners. Simon is often around the rectory and he and John always have a
good time together. Reaching the row of special guests Simon twirled around,
high-fived John and jumped up on the cardinal’s chair. The congregation clapped
with joy. Even though the cardinal was not able to come for the celebration
there was Simon proudly sitting in his chair smiling and waving through all the
songs, poems, speeches and procession of gifts. It was as though the words of
the Sunday’s Gospel had come true: "Blessed are you who are poor for yours is
the kingdom of God.”