Well I am back in Entebbe and will fly to the UK in two days, so this odyssey, and this blog will soon be over.
There is SO much I haven't told you, due to lack of time to write and only intermittent access to the internet, and also because I have been trying to process all I have been learning and experiencing as I go. Maybe I'll write after I get home when I'll have more time to think through all this trip has meant. In general, though, it has been even more beneficial than I had ever imagined, and I have much food for thought, and discussion with Jack, for which I am most grateful to God.
In the meantime, I have one more adventure to tell you about.
Two days after the land-transfer trip to Bunafu, Camille and I were back in her truck and on our way to the official opening of the brand new TMU Secondary School 2 hours away in Bunalwenyi. I had got up early that morning to continue to paint the compound gates before the sun got too hot to work, by about 9:30 am, and was trying to scrape the worst of the dark grey paint from my fingernails as we bounced over the usual deeply rutted red earth road. We travelled past fields of new maise, a couple of towns and lots of little compounds of round thatched huts and small semi-naked children who would wave enthusiastically and shout, "Jambo. Howareyou? Howareyou?" as we lurched by.
I was expecially excited because this is the Rescue Unit where I had worked on my first M. trip to Uganda in 2005, and I was very much hoping to see the two sisters, Rose and Gladys, now 13 and 10, with whom I had fallen in love on that visit, and to give them the little gifts I had brought.
When we turned the corner on the track to the site of the new school, I was startled to see TMU's huge yellow and white 'Big Top' tent. It was an interesting contrast to the natural bush for miles all around it. Apparently they had been holding the classes there until the school could be built. Behind the tent was the school. The basic brick building has been built, and the metal sheeting roof is on, but it still in need of plastering inside and out, there are as yet no windows or doors, an earth floor, and no steps up to each doorway... which made getting in to each classroom an interesting climb. I was given a tour of the school, going in to each of the 4 classrooms and greeting the children in Sec. 1,2,3 and 4. They already have almost 400 children registered, and more are expected. Consequently they are already overcrowded, and are considering building some temporary classrooms until more brick ones can be built.
The children attending the school are all orphans serviced by TMUganda from several of their Rescue Units around eastern Uganda. Interestingly they are thus from several different tribal backgrounds and language groups. So, the rule is that only English can be spoken as a common language (it's Uganda's official language anyway, and it is essential for success that every child become fluent in it), and it also helps prevent tribal cliques and promote community harmony. Amusingly, if a child is caught speaking their tribal language, they have to give up one of their shoes, and hop for the rest of the day! We were there in the late afternoon when the confiscated shoes were being returned to their chagrined owners.
Behind the school is the DORM - one of the three that we at St. Stephen's raised funds to build through the "Safe Haven $100 Challenge!" some 3 years ago, as some of you will remember. The other two dorms have been built in Zambia (we are still awaiting photos). This new one in Bunalwenyi is the "Lasalle Community Safe Haven" dorm for which funds were specifially raised by Steve Francom's class at the school where he teaches in Lasalle - yay Steve! I am thrilled that this dorm is being built here at Bunalwenyi - it is much needed by the orphan girls who are attending this school. The building is actually two dorms with a Matron's Unit in between. So far it is housing 60 girls, but more are coming. The matrons are Bible School graduates. They live with the girls, and they supervise them, help with their schoolwork, teach them how to grow crops for food to eat, sewing etc. They already have a little garden where seedlings are growing.
The opening ceremony was quite long, and hot under the big top. It was attended by lots of interested local parents, and local, area and government officials who all made speeches in Lusoga. Some of it was translated to us in a whisper. Camille also made a speech. It was clear that everyone was very enthusiastic about the school and what it means to the area. There is no other S. School for many miles in all directions - let alone a free one. Much support was offered by the officials, but whether that translates into action - who knows! A major common priority was for the 3-acre area to be completely fenced. This would prevent neighbours encroaching on the property, but more importantly it would protect the children, especially the girls, from possible abduction, rape and murder.
When you get to know the culture a bit more, you become aware that many of the Ugandan people are trapped in superstition, and, out of ignorance, poverty, lack of alternatives or avarice, use the services of a local witchdoctor to try to obtain what they want/need. Unbelievably, but appallingly true, there are cases of child sacrifice, usually girls, in which the child is captured, murdered, and sometimes body parts used, to try to appease “the gods” due to illness, or, a desire to get riches.
TMU currently has no idea where they could get the money or labour needed to complete this necessary fence. (I might have some ideas....!)
The important officials were then led away to be given a traditional meal, after which we lesser mortals were offered the meal too. For the first time in my experience, though it is the preferred method of eating for many, even upper-echelon, Ugandans, no cutlery was offered and we all ate with our fingers. I was somewhat messy with lack of recent experience, but it was kind of fun to mush the matoke up with the greens and rice with my fingers and slurp it around in the gravy!! I did have to avail myself of the offer of water and soap before signing the visitor's book.
We were able to have a very brief visit to Rose and Gladys. Rose came running into my arms, and Gladys hung her head as though she was about to cry. But we had warm hugs, and they enjoyed my little gifts, so it was nice. I do hope that they will learn English soon because it is frustrating not really to be able to communicate with them. Hopefully Rose will start attending the new school next year, so she'll be speaking English there.
Well, Blogees, I am actually now writing from the UK where I have enjoyed visiting my Mum, my sister and my brother, and tomorrow I will return to Montreal.
For those who have followed this blog - thank you! I hope that it has been interesting for you. I would love to receive your comments - e-mail (jjstafiej@gmail.com) is maybe better than trying to do it on the blog, which some have found problematic.
I will publish at least one more edition before I close this blog, and send more photos too.
God bless you all,
Ja Ja Jello
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