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.