We've been w/o power for four days so I came to Mukono early Sat. a.m. to blog, check the P.O., visit the ATM and the grocery and change the scenery! Corky said he has a new appreciation for my little trips to Mukono after his matatu ride.....it is quite an adventure (ordeal?) - if you see him, be sure to ask. Nothing like being "up close and personal"!
We had a good weekend - pretty slow but fun. Last Friday I took Corky all over town to distribute flyers about the U.K. Doctors' Eye Clinic next week and it was pretty hot and think it was quite the walk for him! Sunday nite the kids had a special musical tribute and farewell party (he supplied sodas and cakes and they loved him!). Then we had elections for "officers" - it's a tradition in boarding schools that PH hasn't done for awhile...took several hours but was very spirited! Monday a.m. I taught English while he packed, etc. and then after lunch we took the PH truck to the airport - with some stops for "sister errands".....we dropped him off about 6 p.m. and came back to Kampala to pick up Sr. Sara, who was in the very center of town in the wholesale district picking up bakery supplies. The traffic was so bad we were just stopped - got back to Nkokonjeru at 10:30!! Corky made it home just fine and had a short customs stop in Minneapolis....think he's glad to be back where things work!!!
Tuesday was CBR day, but Sr. Juliet wanted me to go with her to the dedication of a new village school donated by some Americans through Educate Uganda Foundation....very impressive function and a beautiful 6 classroom structure! Previously they'd just had an open wood shed.
The lunch was catered by some former local boys who now work w. a caterer in Entebbe and they had wonderful food - the best of which was a hamburger/tomato/macaroni casserole and a salad w. head lettuce!!!
Came back around 3 but the kids still wanted to do math class - I must really be amusing or they are terribly bored! In the midst of that the man from Kampala came to work on servicing all our sewing machines and he got them all tuned up - great improvement!
Wednesday a.m. we had a huge wind storm - which is why we still don't have power. I had plans to type and copy forms for next week, plus a bunch of other lists/forms, etc. but that will have to wait! I went to 6:45 Mass to get ashes and it was very nice by candle light and lantern till the sun rose!
Taught Public Health Weds. a.m. - Shari was sick - and I was out of ideas, so we talked about "leisure time"...well, didn't call it that (not in their vocabulary) but, time when you are looking for things to do. I brought things so they could play some games - cards, a local game called Ludo (like Parchesi), Uno...some did some drawing, some crocheted....it actually was lots of fun!! (they also have no word for "fun"). I mused that Americans often work very hard at having fun and we always need "stuff"....Ugandans usually just sit around and talk tho' they did love the "stuff".
The little girl, Anastasia, who has sickle cell, diabetis and is HIV positive, is not doing well...she's at the hopspital and vomiting blood....may be TB, but they can't take an X-ray because there's no power. It's the type of thing that happens to HIV positive people - the side infections. Please pray for her - not sure what the resolution will be - she's so ill and thin - but she wants to live.
Thursday was the Katelemwa Clinic - long day. Got to PH at 7 a.m. and the kids were already mopping the floors. We had a smaller turnout than in November - not sure why - planting season? date change? word is out that PH is no longer paying for hospital stays w/o a contribution? Don't know, but it was still good and the the PTs could take a lot of time w. people. Some of the children are really disabled, but there was one 12 year old boy who'd had malaria at 4 and a high fever, causing brain damage and his legs were paralyzed. He was bright and walked w. a walking stick, but had never been to school (tho' his siblings did)....he and the dad were well dressed and the dad asked the PT, "Can you make him normal?" I wanted to yell at him and say, "look at these other kids - he is 'normal'...he can walk and talk and is bright"....I didn't say it but tried to really encourage the dad to send him to school.....boy has lots of potential!
Thursday night we had a Mass at PH to swear in the new officers. Father gave a really nice sermon about role models and leadership (I got a few words of the Lugandan)....kids are really enthused...many dressed up!!! And they had a special supper w. meat and fish and rice!!! BIG EVENT!
Friday, the craft teacher started - teaching bead making, which the kids want to know tho' the market is saturated!!! She is supposed to alternate w. bookkeeping/basic math - we sparated the kids by ability level at the teacher's request. I quarreled w. the bookkeeping teacher about being on time and staying for both his classes, and turning in a lesson plan -he had lots of excuses! Holly stopped by - she had a great time climbing in the Rwenzories...even got to use ice axes, crampons and ropes to scale the ice and rock.....not my idea of "fun" but she was thrilled!!! Sr. J took me along again to Stelal Maris (local girls' primary - the "up the hill" school)...she was Guest of Honor at their game and sports day and was embarrassed! It was really fun - the girls competed hard - grass lanes w. oil marking the lines, a sand pit for the high jump landing, but great enthusiasm and effort!! And it was HOT - sun was intense!!! They compete by "houses" - dormitories - and it's very spirited!!!
Piggery is going slow....Joseph (the builder) was sick, then a neighbor died.....I can never fathom the lists of reasons they have for not working......just get it done!!!! But Fred hopes he will finish this week.....think Fred is tired of me calling him asking "will Joseph be here today?"! Then I want to do some research at local places about the best type of pig to buy. Sister wanted to slaughter one of our existing pigs for the feast on Thursday, but the little boys have been helping take care of them and they each "have" one and when she suggested slaughter, they all cried!!! So she bought meat!!!
Hope you are all well and seeing signs of spring...hear it's been a LONG winter in Minnesota! Thanks for all your good wishes, thoughts, prayers, letters.....means a lot. Have been away from home for a year....I'm still really enjoying my site and the people here, tho' another year seems long at this point! There are frustrations - as in any job - and I don't really get the culture - don't know if I would if I lived here all my life - so I'm usually a little out of step - but they are tolerant! This will be a busy week with the U.K. Opticians here for their clinic...hope the turnout is good. The word is out! Will let you know next week!
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