DAY 4 - Sunday July 9th
Even though it was the Lord’s day I skipped out on mass. I will definitely go at least once to see the beautiful church and hear the wonderful music, but yesterday’s service was all I could take. I just have my own way of being spiritual and can’t stand the up and down ritual of the Catholic religion.
Today the only thing on the schedule was having tea and snacks with Sister Eddie Ann and Lilly, the Sisters of the Holy Cross who are primarily the ones who got us here. We drove about 5 minutes further outside of town then we had before, and arrived at their beautiful compound. It was so big and nice, I was amazed. It had a small garden for food, a nice flower garden, several little patio areas, a car port, and a pregnant village/guard dog to boot. It was great to pet a dog – they are surprisingly scarce here, and their howls are different – a bit like the Deckers’ greyhounds in New Mexico, who bark in unison. The dogs in Uganda sing and howl all through the night.
Inside it was even more spectacular. We had a brief introduction in the “parlor” room, which had a piano in it. Whitey told me she could only play one song, and I knew which one she was talking about. Luckily she could only play the top part and I said I knew how to play the bottom part. “Hearts and Songs” I think it’s called – the one everybody knows. I struggled to get the 2nd part of my section, but after trying hard to remember I finally got it. When I realized the keys, I felt so stupid because it is the easiest rhythm and it had taken me so long. I also tried to play fur elise. If I had had time alone I could have gotten it, but everyone was in the parlor and it wasn’t sounding very good. Lilly asked me if I wanted the music, and I told her it had been so long I wasn’t sure if I remembered how to read it. Sad. I have been thinking about learning the piano again, and that was the first time I had played in years. I really think I’m going to do it.
Sister Eddie Ann told us a bit of background on the Holy Cross involvement in Uganda and her experiences here. The first school was set up in 1968, and she arrived in 1972 as a teacher for the school next door, St. Maria Geretta’s. Idi Amin’s war got to in Ft. Portal in 1978 I think she said, and most of the churches and NGOs left. She and a few sisters were the only ones that stayed, and they have been in that house there ever since. She said it was only a few rooms to begin with, and the kitchen didn’t even have cupboards. Some brothers from another parish built them these beautiful stained wood cupboards, and they were filled with everything you could ever need.
We had snacks in the small gathering area – peanuts, popcorn, tea and soda – exactly what Sara had offered us during our Uganda orientations in the States. We took a tour of the house after snacks. The compound was never ending. In the section below there was a long hall that housed 10 bedrooms for the sisters and visitors. They were so nice – each had a bed, a sink, a desk and a lamp. Sara said that’s where she and her husband stay (in separate beds, mind you) when she visits. What a joy it must be for those sisters to have a small place of their own. Down the hall is a small study that leads to the cutest little chapel I have ever seen. There were enough chairs for about 15 people, and a small alter at the front. On the wall Rachael noticed that Mary was black. Thank goodness they got it right over here, I thought. Also on the wall was a picture of Father Basil Moreau, who helped found the Holy Cross. We all recognized him because the stupid new dorms on campus are named after him.
We paraded around the garden and took lots of photos. The one in front of the house came out really nice. We also met a man who makes greeting cards out of banana fiber, and he began to explain the process. He is amazing, he started out by saying “as an artist…” – he learned how to do this when he was about 13 years old and has been doing it ever since, and he is so good that he supports his family with the profits and also taught them how to do it. Many what an artist he is. He said gets the designs straight from the patterns in the fiber and manages to put them on the cards without loosing any of the design. It’s funny – that is the first memory I have of the craft sale – buying just a few greeting cards for Christmas, which I didn’t even send because they were so nice. It was the beginning of an adventure that would lead me all the way to Africa. Full circle to say the least.
We said goodbye to the sisters and got back home around 6ish. The lord must have blessed the house while we were gone, because the electricity was back on. Ian and I both darted off the terrace and plugged in. As much as we love the stillness of Africa, we love our toys.
After dinner I worked as much as I could and then it was time for our pow wow. Sara got me all excited about the future of this program and the work we were going to do here and also when we return to St. Edward’s to blow them out of the water.
Today the only thing on the schedule was having tea and snacks with Sister Eddie Ann and Lilly, the Sisters of the Holy Cross who are primarily the ones who got us here. We drove about 5 minutes further outside of town then we had before, and arrived at their beautiful compound. It was so big and nice, I was amazed. It had a small garden for food, a nice flower garden, several little patio areas, a car port, and a pregnant village/guard dog to boot. It was great to pet a dog – they are surprisingly scarce here, and their howls are different – a bit like the Deckers’ greyhounds in New Mexico, who bark in unison. The dogs in Uganda sing and howl all through the night.
Inside it was even more spectacular. We had a brief introduction in the “parlor” room, which had a piano in it. Whitey told me she could only play one song, and I knew which one she was talking about. Luckily she could only play the top part and I said I knew how to play the bottom part. “Hearts and Songs” I think it’s called – the one everybody knows. I struggled to get the 2nd part of my section, but after trying hard to remember I finally got it. When I realized the keys, I felt so stupid because it is the easiest rhythm and it had taken me so long. I also tried to play fur elise. If I had had time alone I could have gotten it, but everyone was in the parlor and it wasn’t sounding very good. Lilly asked me if I wanted the music, and I told her it had been so long I wasn’t sure if I remembered how to read it. Sad. I have been thinking about learning the piano again, and that was the first time I had played in years. I really think I’m going to do it.
Sister Eddie Ann told us a bit of background on the Holy Cross involvement in Uganda and her experiences here. The first school was set up in 1968, and she arrived in 1972 as a teacher for the school next door, St. Maria Geretta’s. Idi Amin’s war got to in Ft. Portal in 1978 I think she said, and most of the churches and NGOs left. She and a few sisters were the only ones that stayed, and they have been in that house there ever since. She said it was only a few rooms to begin with, and the kitchen didn’t even have cupboards. Some brothers from another parish built them these beautiful stained wood cupboards, and they were filled with everything you could ever need.
We had snacks in the small gathering area – peanuts, popcorn, tea and soda – exactly what Sara had offered us during our Uganda orientations in the States. We took a tour of the house after snacks. The compound was never ending. In the section below there was a long hall that housed 10 bedrooms for the sisters and visitors. They were so nice – each had a bed, a sink, a desk and a lamp. Sara said that’s where she and her husband stay (in separate beds, mind you) when she visits. What a joy it must be for those sisters to have a small place of their own. Down the hall is a small study that leads to the cutest little chapel I have ever seen. There were enough chairs for about 15 people, and a small alter at the front. On the wall Rachael noticed that Mary was black. Thank goodness they got it right over here, I thought. Also on the wall was a picture of Father Basil Moreau, who helped found the Holy Cross. We all recognized him because the stupid new dorms on campus are named after him.
We paraded around the garden and took lots of photos. The one in front of the house came out really nice. We also met a man who makes greeting cards out of banana fiber, and he began to explain the process. He is amazing, he started out by saying “as an artist…” – he learned how to do this when he was about 13 years old and has been doing it ever since, and he is so good that he supports his family with the profits and also taught them how to do it. Many what an artist he is. He said gets the designs straight from the patterns in the fiber and manages to put them on the cards without loosing any of the design. It’s funny – that is the first memory I have of the craft sale – buying just a few greeting cards for Christmas, which I didn’t even send because they were so nice. It was the beginning of an adventure that would lead me all the way to Africa. Full circle to say the least.
We said goodbye to the sisters and got back home around 6ish. The lord must have blessed the house while we were gone, because the electricity was back on. Ian and I both darted off the terrace and plugged in. As much as we love the stillness of Africa, we love our toys.
After dinner I worked as much as I could and then it was time for our pow wow. Sara got me all excited about the future of this program and the work we were going to do here and also when we return to St. Edward’s to blow them out of the water.
posted by Jake McCook @ 6:44 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home