Walk to Atanga SS

Walk to Atanga SS

Monday, June 30, 2014

Sometimes We Forget

     Okay so there is often so much to make me laugh or smile in Uganda.  It could be things like Father Leonsyo telling me near the end of the ordination speeches that we have 3 more speeches and then we eat, which of course translates to 9 speakers, several of them came back to the podium more than once to add on to their completed speeches.  This is Uganda. I did not understand the speeches because they were in Lwo, but I can guarantee that each of the speakers mentioned a couple times during their 10 to 12 minute speeches that they were going to be brief.

      They had different school groups perform. One of them was called the Crusdaders and looked like a combination Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts program. The tribal dancers again amazed at how they are feverishly moving for 17 minutes at a time and the only break is about a 7 second break as the whistle blower signals a new dance. The star of the show was a young girl of 5 or 6 who led a group of similar aged students. She grabbed the wireless mike from the MC in mid-stride and either sang or recited a skit for at least 10 minutes. She danced and had elaborate gestures and must have memorized the whole act, because she never stopped singing or talking. She had a microphone, but I am not sure she needed it. I have some video, but it is from far away and will have to share with you later. Beyonce has nothing on this Acholi 10 year old girl.

     So Mass ended and I walked alongside the priests per Leonsyo's directions. We then marched back to the stage, now stripped of the altar, led by two different dance groups. I was now onstage with the priests, town and government dignitaries and what appeared to be a mad man. (The Acholi call him a mad man, and I will use their words for the rest of the story, when they say it, they say it with humor, they say it with acceptance, they say it with love).  It looked like some parishioners scolded the mad man and tried to get him to stay away from the stage, but I saw the Archbishop just reach out and touch his shoulder in a kind way. So when the priests, bishops, and dignitaries were being introduced the mad man stood up several times and took a bow. At least 12 or 13 people spoke for about 3 hours.

       The crowd was content and still seemed to be listening intently two hours in. When the Archbishop was introduced and rose to speak the madman followed him to the podium. It was time for the keynote speech by the Archbishop, the highlight of this three hour program.  As he approached the podium, the mad man went with him, Knelt respectfully at his feet, and asked for the microphone. The Archbishop gave it to him and the madman gave a four minute speech on non-violence (I was told). Father Boyle's words that we "stand with the marginalized, so there will be no more margins; stand with the demonized, so the Demonizing will stop; and stand with the disposable, so we stop throwing people away."---never were modeled so well. Thank you Archbishop John Baptist Odama for showing me how to treat my brother....no matter what No matter what.  This man full of dirt with raggedy clothes, spread love with his words.

      I found out today they call the man Forget.

 Sometimes we love each other, and sometimes we forget.

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Seeing the face of God

     Today was an amazing day. I had plans to be at the ordination at St. Joseph's Cathedral and later meet Father Leonsyo. I thought my sleep patterns were getting better, but I managed to crawl back in bed for 5 minutes after breakfast and woke up way too late. I hurried to the bath at the end of the hall, showered quickly and put on as much deodorant as my body could stand. I definitely knew I would sweat today. Shirt and tie on, I found a boda boda to take me the Cathedral. I knew the regular road was being worked on, and I thought we would take the back roads, but this boda driver elected the main road. Probably a big mistake, I am always hoping that I will not  be tossed off the boda for e eighth time.

    For some reason they are now large moguls in this road, don't ask me why, but an unsteady boda driver and a fat man are not usually the recipe for success at the Ugandan X games. He also did not have sunglasses so when the big trucks came down the road we were both buried in a cloud of dust. I did not fall off and we go to the Cathedral, very dusty but safe.

    As sometimes happens at these ceremonies, I was greeted immediately by a friendly face. Okello John Kennedy who is a teacher at Layibi College (it is a high school) welcomed me and introduced himself.  THIS LAST SENTENCE IS WRONG.  His name is Okello John Kenneth and if you read the more recent posts, I have lunch with him.  I. was amazed at the pageantry, the bright colors of the dresses, and the spirit and passion in the way the people of Gulu sang the hymns. I was really in awe and tried my best to follow the responses in English when the entire service was in Lwo. I was trying to figure out how to go to Communion down the center aisle. I wanted people to see that I was there because I knew I had friends there that did not know I was in Gulu. As I was thinking this, a young woman came and got me and told me I was supposed to sit up by the priests. I was quickly moved behind the altar and to the other side.

     This was an outdoor service with at least 3000 people. Now at the beginning of communion they are sitting me in the front row of dignitaries under a shaded tent. You are a visitor, and we know you are our friend....so we will give you best seat. As I was so humbled, communion had begun I walked to take my place in line and I see both a professional videographer and a still camera moving their tripods quickly so they can have film of the tall white guy taking communion. I was immediately overwhelmed by the moment and a tear slid down my cheek. I felt like sobbing, but refocused on receiving the Eucharist and returned to my seat. I do not know how to describe the Mass and the songs and the dancing and the War chants in the middle of the hymns. I feel it is a scene that only God can create.

     The festive dress and the respect shown by the elders, the songs and the praise of the young people and the choir. the rows of nuns earnestly praying together. This was a Mass and I felt so strong in my Faith and such a kinship with the people of Gulu. Father Boyle tells a story where after listening to the story of redemption from one of the Homies, the flight attendant breaks down and cries. The youn man is confused and sorry that he made the flight attendant cry. Father Boyle reassures the young man by saying that is okay my son. "Some people cry when they see the face of God." ........
 

Saturday, June 28, 2014

One picture--two boys

      Hopefully the picture uploaded to the right. I spent an hour trying to upload it in Diana Gardens. A bar and restaurant that has moved up the street a bit since my first trip to Gulu. In my first week 8 years ago, it was my friend Aliker David who loudly told the crowd of teachers and Ugandans that he wanted to walk behind big John so he could watch me "defend my mass".

     Anyway, I am sitting at Diana Gardens enjoying a 1.5 liter of cold water and watching the Internet wheel spin and spin with no pages loading. My attention goes to the World Cup soccer where they are showing a "feel good" story about how the World Cup is helping brazilians. It helps the people of the ghetto, because they are on a hill and can see one of the stadiums from their corrugated metal shantytown. Are you kidding me? Food, health care and a path to education are not needed if you can see a stadium from your shack.

     I think you can see a picture of 4 boys holding a flag. Today, I had lunch with two of them. One is a young man whose only family is an elderly grandfather he rarely sees. He has essentially found a way to put himself through school all of the way up until Senior 6. In Ugandan schools you have to pass a test at the end of the fourth year of school to move on to the last two years at Advanced level. He did this, but at the end of Senior 6, his marks were very poor and he cannot go on to the University. What he would like to do is either repeat his Senior 6 year or more probably have to repeat Senior 5 and 6, and there is no guarantee that his results will be better. I am going to try to tap into a network of Ugandan friends to help him, but many, many prayers are needed. I wish I had the resources to make his life better, but sometimes, actually quite often poverty sucks. And I literally mean sucks here as it takes away the passion and the dreams of great, bright kids.

       The second boy has always been amazingly friendly to me. He somehow got to know several of my teacher friends in past years and then I got to know him as well. He is always helpful, always working hard, and on at least 3 occasions did me a big favor to create a special memory for my friends. Two years ago, he was the head boy of a small school here. The head boy and head girl are amazing students...think Student Council president on steroids. Even as head boy, he had been sent home from his school and told not to come back without paying school fees. On that trip I was out of money and had already committed money to other students. I made one phone call home and Jack Magee made sure enough money was in my account and Julius was back in school that week. I am happy to report that Julius graduated from Senior 6 and will start at Gulu University in mid August. He actually went to a bank and convinced them to give him a loan to pay off his high school debt. So financial struggles are not over for Julius, but he has a job working with Favor of God church and they have even lent him a motorbike to make doing his job easier. So the day ended when Julius gave me a ride home. He is now my all-time favorite boda boda driver.
   

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Looking at Stars --One at a time

     One child at a time. It seems so simple, that we sometimes look past its simplicity. Over the last few years, I have had the great fortune to work with one child at a time. These alleged "struggling" students were able to shine quite brightly when they worked by themselves. Parents have gushed over my abilities to help their daughters, but I think anyone who committed to spend the time and learn and listen to the student could have done the same thing. It is a challenge for teachers to teacher students one at a time when you have over 100, but it is possible. And needs to be done. And all it takes...is to simple care. And then what a joy it can be to sit back and see these amazing students shine, and how they do shine!

      "I see in my students what they do not see in themselves, until they do." Quote stolen from Father Boyle. Today, I started to work with a young man in Gulu. His name is Isaac. And in him I already see kindness, and diligence, and a smile, and if I listen closely I can start to hear his dreams. Isaac is preparing to move across the world and learn in a high school in Oregon. He is going because Educate for Change a.k.a. Kristine and Laura simply care. The amazing thing is I am now watching World Cup in the northern Uganda night.

       And to my right, I can see Isaac is watching the World Cup with a smiling, hardworking crew of high school kids from Oregon. Surprise, surprise a group of high school students is working above expectations in helping others. Several of the students will be classmates with Isaac in Oregon. They are talking and laughing, and one of the Oregon students had her 18th birthday tonight. So many memories, for all these young people. I usually can look into the Gulu sky and see so many amazing stars.

        The Ugandan night is breathtaking with its plethora of stars. I am outside watching World Cup and look up and see no stars. Is it too cloudy? Or am I just looking in the wrong place. There are many, many stars here tonight.

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Friendship along the way

    On my way home this afternoon, I met a young man named Malcolm along the way. He immediately walked towards me with a smile and greeted me like we were long lost friends. There are so many students that I have taught over the years, and the remember me because of my height. It turns out that this young man, Malcolm was none of these. Malcolm told me almost immediately that his father told him before he died, "Make friends along the way, introduce yourselves to strangers, because often friendships can happen."

     What a tragedy that young man was not with his father, but what remarkable advice his father had left him. We need to be intentional in our dealings with others. The 9 new people I met in Biloxi all left me with something. their wisdom and their kindness along with their willingness to listen made this trip one of the best ever. How do you become friends with someone in a week. first, you have to step through some comfort zones and what is normal in our culture. You have to ask questions and then listen to their answers. but then as my friend Malcolm says maybe, just maybe we have friendship along the way.

      I saw Robert today who lived on Murdoch for a month and taught at SLUH. He told me that he now has three children and the older two were growing up fast. He inquired about the health and welfare of my mom and dad. We have made plans to get together for dinner with the whole family. Lunch today at Alulululu was a great start to the summer. Tomorrow I have lunch with a young man at a crossroads in his life, so there will be two of tomorrow eating pork that can greatly benefit from your prayers.

       Especially prayers from my new friends Dan and Mike and of course the wonderful Mais Agua de Fria, the always smiling Digger Girl, the courageous Rattlesnake, the always helpful Scooter, the compassionate H.I.T.T., the amazing Kate, and the ever ready Scout.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Waiting for Big John

    Get out and see the world and when you do talk to people along the way. Open up your mouth and introduce yourself to strangers. So many smiles will happen.

       My first trip to the continent of Europe was not that successful I deplaned in Amsterdam and rushed immediately to my Entebbe plane. We then sat on the plane on the Tarmac for almost two hours before they told us we needed a new plane and walked to the other side of the airport to do this.

        So my friend Kristine had arranged for me to be greeted by a driver at EBB. He was there at 10:25 PM, I arrived there at 2:10 a.m. Robert, the driver, acted like I was the poor one doing him a favor. His attention to detail and to my happiness was amazing.

         How many of us would have reacted to someone over 3 hours late with such helpfulness and grace.

          Time to go to check in to my room at the Cosmo guest house. Oteka

Saturday, June 21, 2014

A Rebel, a knight, a marker, an angel, a red knight, a saint, and a bear

“Scripture scholars contend that the original language of the Beatitudes should not be rendered as "Blessed are the single-hearted" or "Blessed are the peacemakers" or "Blessed are those who struggle for justice." Greater precision in translation would say, "You're in the right place if...you are single-hearted or work for peace." The Beatitudes is not a spirituality, after all. It's a geography. It tells us where to stand.” ― Gregory Boyle, Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion.

     So tomorrow, I start the journey again. I believe He has told me again to stand in Uganda. That is the geography I see. I join my good friends Kristine and Laura who have now committed their lives to the sharing of knowledge wrapped in love. And I join Ronald and Geoffrey and Julius and Collins and so many students who have amazed me with their determination. I stand with them in kinship. I go with the support of so many, and I vow to live simply so more of your dollars help our friends in Uganda. You, my friends, know I can not do what I do without you. Each gift of $20 or the really big ones fills me with pride and is so amazing to me. I hope someday I can return your gifts in some way. Humbly, you may still contribute as the miracle of the Internet will allow these funds to find me in Uganda. Www.gofundme/mageeinuganda And most importantly I go with all of you, my feet will be on the ground, but all of you are with me.

     My wonderful mom and dad who have inspired me with how they live the Gospel. My students...my students. Do you know how much you have inspired me? You are so amazing and each day I taught you I learned something new. You have taught me more kindness, more dilligence, more laughter, more compassion, and most of all you taught me how to love. Better, stronger love that can only come when we listen to each other.

 So if you are a Rebel, a Knight or a Marker.
 An Angel, A Red Knight or a Bear.
If you are a Saint (or even a sinner)
You are THE ONE who opens my heart
 And teaches me to care.

 oteka John