This is my last letter to you from France. The time to depart from
this beautiful city of Paris has come at last. I will miss the caring
sisters of this community, the times we prayed together, ate together,
enjoyed each other's company.
I prepared a nice power-point
presentation for them to thank them and wish them goodbye. I inserted
the photos I took and it was touching. I also carry within my heart many
memories of the classes at France Langue, of the ladies who use to
come to chat with me so that I could practice my French.
The numbness and the tingling feeling in my hand and the pain kept
increasing inspite of the pain killers so the doctor prescribed an
infiltration of the cortizon injection; I still do not feel better but
there is nothing more I can do. I can repeat the injection three times
over but with a gap of two weeks. If this does not work I need to do a
small operation. You take care of yourself please.
The Provincial of this Province Sr. Isabel is here. She is a very
nice person. She gifted me the DVD of a Saint of Argentina for the
sisters of Mali. For the feast of the three kings we could ask for
whatever we want. I felt bad to ask because they are giving me so much
already so I said ' Give me something for Africa'. So they gave me a
PIX - very pretty that we can use there to take communion to the sick.
Also they gave me soap, gel, a little crib etc. I am giving away the
things that are heavy as I can not carry much weight to Mali.
I am
packing my things. I can carry two suitcases of 23 Kilos each and
besides the hand luggage of a few Kilos. The sisters here will give me
most probably some apples which I believe are very expensive in Mali.
A sister who had gone to Africa from Spain last year without knowing
a word of French will return to Europe and then study French in Paris
for a year or six months and only then return to Mali. Another sister,
Aurora from Argentina, came on the 12th to Paris to study French for a
year and then go to Mali. So now we will be a few more in Mali.
I am looking forward to my new life in the city of Bamako in the
country of Mali in Africa. The Regional Superior - Antonia phoned me
to wish me for Christmas and New Year and to welcome me to the dark
continent. She said my room is already prepared and she will search a
professor to give me French classes for one hour each day so that
increase in my knowledge.
I have a long way to go to master that
language. One of the gifts I received was a cloth to wrap oround the
waist like a lungi to protect myself from the mosquitoes and other
insects and be able to sit comfortably on the floor.
I am enjoying the last days here. I have only 3 days left. The
sisters went on 4th January for a picnic to Rheims but I could not go
because I had to go for my Visa to the embassy of Mali. I cannot
complain because I had the chance to go to many places and see many
things. I may go on the 14th. How I miss you all.
My ticket for Mali is on the 16th. My postal address is: R.R. Marie
Immaculée, Mission Catholique,Av Musa Travele,Quartier du Fleuve, B.P.
298, Bamako, Mali, Africa.
Once again Happy New year 2007,
with love,
Sr. Margaret Correa
