This post is especially for all you IC TEX people. The road from Kampala to Gulu is completely paved, but not only paved, but good drainage ditches on both sides. The main roads in Gulu are also mostly paved. From town to Sacred Heart, out to Keyo, but not to Sir Samuel Baker. Yesterday we went to Lacekocot and they were building the road as we arrived. Isaac the road was better on the way home and we made it in 46 minutes! A lot of the roads in town, now also have covered sewer trenches and they are working on more. Uchumi is out of business across Uganda, but the brand new market is complete. Sankofa is in the same place, but is now called Elefante. The old Kope Cafe is now called Iron Donkey and another munu hangout. Their garlic bread with their Spaghetti and Meatballs is as good as any in the states. Heinz 57 is everywhere and I have not seen a bottle of Top Up. I am probably coming back again next year anyone else?
Today Hayley and I went to St. Jude's, we talked to a couple of new people in charge and there are several brand new buildings. Since we arrived unannounced, we did not get a chance to play with the kids. We decided to respect what they were trying to do. They did allow us to go to the Chapel. I prayed for Samuel and all the kids of St. Jude . I prayed that maybe the need for a St. Jude will be eliminated in the future. They are now making their own crafts and hope to open a craft store on their compound soon.
Kwo pi naka naka,
Oteka
Walk to Atanga SS
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Our New Family -- Part II"
Note:: Sometimes when the posts get long they are very difficult to edit on my iPad. If you have not read Part I,
In a mud hut down the longest "1 kilometer" road in Lacekocot, we still had the formality of a former British Colony. I was the 6th of the 8 scheduled speakers for this program. As they all praised me and thanked me, I also realize I could have done more for Ronald. As Ronald's uncle talked in Lwo, I realized that I wish I had gotten a copy of Marian Wright Edelman's A Measure of Our Success for Ronald. Ronald's uncle said it was the three of us: Ronald's mom, himself, and I who had helped this boy succeed. He wanted me to know that I was now a part of the family.
" This hut in Lacekocot was now my home." How do you follow that? It turns out I would use Marian's words, "Home remains as you go out to serve and conquer the world. And I always follow you wherever you go in spirit, in prayer, and in love. You are never alone." I began, "Home remains," I paused and Alfred translated, "Gang bedo,". I tried to let them know, that I not only accepted their invitation, but we WERE family.
This year I was watching the evening news and a refugee shouted at a Hungarian cracking down on the refugees, "We are human, you are human, why will you not help us." I do not think I will ever forget that man's face or his question. We can help each other and should help each other. There was not a time in my life when I was supposed to be "helping" people that I did not receive more in return.
In a small hut down a 1 kilometer road, we found an answer much different than the xenophobia in Brexit or the racism of Trump, we were family. It is what we should all strive to do. The fact that Hayley Kuehner was still sitting in her sturdy chair, made it even more special. The Kuehner's have through their kindness and their camaraderie have made me feel like I am part of their family. As I write this, either a man from Ghana or his American wife will be cutting my grass, hopefully while their two boys ride bikes down my driveway. If you are reading this, you a part of my family, and I could not have helped Ronald without you. Your help, your love or as my neighbor Alfred says, "just a conversation."
One Family--One Love*--One World
*for Hayley and all the ones who have sang our song.
In a mud hut down the longest "1 kilometer" road in Lacekocot, we still had the formality of a former British Colony. I was the 6th of the 8 scheduled speakers for this program. As they all praised me and thanked me, I also realize I could have done more for Ronald. As Ronald's uncle talked in Lwo, I realized that I wish I had gotten a copy of Marian Wright Edelman's A Measure of Our Success for Ronald. Ronald's uncle said it was the three of us: Ronald's mom, himself, and I who had helped this boy succeed. He wanted me to know that I was now a part of the family.
" This hut in Lacekocot was now my home." How do you follow that? It turns out I would use Marian's words, "Home remains as you go out to serve and conquer the world. And I always follow you wherever you go in spirit, in prayer, and in love. You are never alone." I began, "Home remains," I paused and Alfred translated, "Gang bedo,". I tried to let them know, that I not only accepted their invitation, but we WERE family.
This year I was watching the evening news and a refugee shouted at a Hungarian cracking down on the refugees, "We are human, you are human, why will you not help us." I do not think I will ever forget that man's face or his question. We can help each other and should help each other. There was not a time in my life when I was supposed to be "helping" people that I did not receive more in return.
In a small hut down a 1 kilometer road, we found an answer much different than the xenophobia in Brexit or the racism of Trump, we were family. It is what we should all strive to do. The fact that Hayley Kuehner was still sitting in her sturdy chair, made it even more special. The Kuehner's have through their kindness and their camaraderie have made me feel like I am part of their family. As I write this, either a man from Ghana or his American wife will be cutting my grass, hopefully while their two boys ride bikes down my driveway. If you are reading this, you a part of my family, and I could not have helped Ronald without you. Your help, your love or as my neighbor Alfred says, "just a conversation."
One Family--One Love*--One World
*for Hayley and all the ones who have sang our song.
Monday, June 27, 2016
Our New Family--Part i
Sitting in our living room, watching Hayley Kuehner fill up pages in her journal with her ubiquitous green pen, (I just asked her what ubiquitous means and now both of us may not know), and I am jealous. How does she find the words to write about our journey today and I am still at a loss. So let's start with details and see where the Mutatu ( large Van) takes us. Hayley, Ronald, and I had a breakfast at Cafe Larem. I gave Ronald a gift I had brought from America. It was a duffel bag that fit into a water bottle. When fully opened their was a pocket for the water bottle in the duffle bag. he was amused, and although it took some work, I was able to get the bag back into the duffle bag.
Soon, we hopped into the van for our journey north to Lacekocot, the village of Atanga SS. Sunday, arrived via motorbike and introduced us to our driver for the day, Opiyo Samuel. Soon, we were heade past Sir Samuel Baker to Atanga and Lacekocot. The road was not paved, which is kind of strange now as the road from Kampala all the way to Gulu is paved and many of the roads are now paved. The roads in Gulu, now also have covered trenches for the rainwater. So many improvements in northern Uganda, many of my fellow teachers would not believe it.
So we left at 9:30 and arrived at 10:46 a.m. Not bad, but kind of slowed up by many speed bumps and unfinished roads. I had promised Sunday when I contracted for this trip that we would need to be in town for 2 hours, he kind of implied that 3 would be okay. So as soon as we met Ocwa Alfred in town (Alfred had taught at Nerinx January 2010). I informed him that we would have short time and would need to be on the road by 1:46. Surely, (those that have been to Uganda, know this) we could be less than 3 hours for a meal and to say hi.
We started out at Alfred's house, he now has 4 kids: Mercy, Samuel, Joshua, and Faith. We were soon greeted by tea mad by his wife and also got chipati and great pineapple also. Ronald's uncle showed up and it looked like we were well on our way to being done in less than two hours. I do not want to sound impatient here, but I thought this was our contract with the driver and we wanted Hayley to see the Athletics competition (Track & Field) at Pece Stadium. We had a great breakfast and took a few picture, but then Alfred asked if we could take more pictures on our way out of town, so his wife could "organise the children".
We left Alfred's to go see Ronald's family in the village. It would not be a problem as it was only 1 kilometer away. We passed through the town center, it looks so different, as the road bisecting the center was now vastly improved. Many were working hard to finish it as we left, heavy machinery (almost non-existent 10 years ago on my first visit) was now littering the town center. We stopped at the roadside market to buy some fruit and literally 10 women were inside the windows of our vehicle trying to show, why their mangos were the best. We then turned onto a small dirt road, think driveway. I was about to suggest that we should just park the vehicle and walk. The road had gone from 5 feet wide to 3 feet wide, and soon there were just two tracks with foot high grass in between, surely the road had run out. But we traveled down this road for another 10 or 12 minutes, the foot high grass between the tracks was now taller than the van and we continued to move forward. At least 4 times Hayley and I looked at each other like we had reached our destination only to move past the new group of round huts.
We had reached the huts of Ronald and his family. We were escorted into a hut where there were 3 green plastic chairs. Hayley, the driver, and I were escorted into the plastic chairs. A wood chair that sits 14 inches off the ground was found for Alfred. A small thatch chair was brought into the room and I told Hayley to sit in it to show how it was much stronger than it looked. She stayed there and Ronald's uncle took the green chair. A mat was brought in and Ronald's grandmother and mother sat on the mat as Ronald settled into the room. Now it was time for speeches.
We would have 7 speeches altogether, as more family members crowded in the door. Ronald talked about how he first met me, and how I was truly a gift of God. As Ronald spoke, Ocwa Alfred translated his words into English. Sometimes his translations were twice as long as the original Lwo words. Ronald, his grandmother, his mother, his uncle, and his brother all took turns thanking me for providing money for Ronald's college education.
Soon, we hopped into the van for our journey north to Lacekocot, the village of Atanga SS. Sunday, arrived via motorbike and introduced us to our driver for the day, Opiyo Samuel. Soon, we were heade past Sir Samuel Baker to Atanga and Lacekocot. The road was not paved, which is kind of strange now as the road from Kampala all the way to Gulu is paved and many of the roads are now paved. The roads in Gulu, now also have covered trenches for the rainwater. So many improvements in northern Uganda, many of my fellow teachers would not believe it.
So we left at 9:30 and arrived at 10:46 a.m. Not bad, but kind of slowed up by many speed bumps and unfinished roads. I had promised Sunday when I contracted for this trip that we would need to be in town for 2 hours, he kind of implied that 3 would be okay. So as soon as we met Ocwa Alfred in town (Alfred had taught at Nerinx January 2010). I informed him that we would have short time and would need to be on the road by 1:46. Surely, (those that have been to Uganda, know this) we could be less than 3 hours for a meal and to say hi.
We started out at Alfred's house, he now has 4 kids: Mercy, Samuel, Joshua, and Faith. We were soon greeted by tea mad by his wife and also got chipati and great pineapple also. Ronald's uncle showed up and it looked like we were well on our way to being done in less than two hours. I do not want to sound impatient here, but I thought this was our contract with the driver and we wanted Hayley to see the Athletics competition (Track & Field) at Pece Stadium. We had a great breakfast and took a few picture, but then Alfred asked if we could take more pictures on our way out of town, so his wife could "organise the children".
We left Alfred's to go see Ronald's family in the village. It would not be a problem as it was only 1 kilometer away. We passed through the town center, it looks so different, as the road bisecting the center was now vastly improved. Many were working hard to finish it as we left, heavy machinery (almost non-existent 10 years ago on my first visit) was now littering the town center. We stopped at the roadside market to buy some fruit and literally 10 women were inside the windows of our vehicle trying to show, why their mangos were the best. We then turned onto a small dirt road, think driveway. I was about to suggest that we should just park the vehicle and walk. The road had gone from 5 feet wide to 3 feet wide, and soon there were just two tracks with foot high grass in between, surely the road had run out. But we traveled down this road for another 10 or 12 minutes, the foot high grass between the tracks was now taller than the van and we continued to move forward. At least 4 times Hayley and I looked at each other like we had reached our destination only to move past the new group of round huts.
We had reached the huts of Ronald and his family. We were escorted into a hut where there were 3 green plastic chairs. Hayley, the driver, and I were escorted into the plastic chairs. A wood chair that sits 14 inches off the ground was found for Alfred. A small thatch chair was brought into the room and I told Hayley to sit in it to show how it was much stronger than it looked. She stayed there and Ronald's uncle took the green chair. A mat was brought in and Ronald's grandmother and mother sat on the mat as Ronald settled into the room. Now it was time for speeches.
We would have 7 speeches altogether, as more family members crowded in the door. Ronald talked about how he first met me, and how I was truly a gift of God. As Ronald spoke, Ocwa Alfred translated his words into English. Sometimes his translations were twice as long as the original Lwo words. Ronald, his grandmother, his mother, his uncle, and his brother all took turns thanking me for providing money for Ronald's college education.
Saturday, June 25, 2016
Sometimes the Answer was There All the Time
I cannot think of anything that I could tell you, right now, that would bring you more joy than becoming a teacher. I am not even sure if there are 15 and 16 year olds that are reading these words,. But if there are --become a teacher. Haley, the little devil herself, will be working this year teaching English with my great friend Jessie, How lucky those kids will be. Haley will show up every day giving her best and then go home and start to think and plan how tomorrow can be better. She will know each kid by name and then start to take more time. She will learn more about each student, so they can share a laugh or a favorite book. It is sometimes hard to predict how the future will turn out, but I know what will happen in Haley's school, because I have seen this one excel in every one of her actions for the last decade. Mike Barry once fought to keep Haley in his car on the ride home from Biloxi. Why not? Who else would you want your young impressionable daughter to emulate? Sidenote: How stupid was it that a certain school in Webster lost out on this first round draft pick? Their loss, west county's gain.
Each day that I enjoy being a teacher, I think of so many great kids that I have taught, each one of them is special in their own way. They have grown up to be dentists and lawyers and physical therapists and nurses. But oh . . . when they become teachers!! There is an 8th grader in North West County somewhere that has no idea that, in just over a month, will meet their favorite teacher of their life.
Each year lately I tell myself that I am going to have to make time to check in with a Detroit teacher nicknamed Country. I first saw who she was when she crawled under a "house" on Wisteria Lane in Biloxi. There was so much trash and debris under that house that I thought it may be a couple day project, imagine my surprise when I came back at 10:30 and it was done. So I do not know the whole story here, other than she is helping students that others sometimes forget in the city of Detroit. I do know she has learned her selflessness from two wonderful parents who have helped improve the lives of people in St. Louis. I can only imagine what is happening in her classroom.
I have seen only one of my students teach and I am so happy that I took the long way home from Biloxi via Mobile to see Miss Hagerty amaze me with her questions and compassion in her classroom. She was constantly asking questions that enhanced and brightened the learning of her students in a quick and challenging way. Her classes were always moving and the students were keeping up, mostly because they wanted to be a part of this wonderful learning parade. As I left Mobile that day, I kept hearing tornado warnings on all of the radio stations. They kept warning towns and counties, and I was screaming at the radio, " What highway? What mile marker.?" As I drove uncertain into the Alabama day in the Smart Car, I all of a sudden was calm. If my little red car got sucked into the cyclone, I had gone out on a damn fine day.
Sitting across from me in our Ugandan living room is Hayley. She is small in stature but large in almost every way. For some reason I am thinking about Mario, but she really does attack her passions by punching her fists in the air and jumping over turtles. Julius, our Ugandan friend, has arranged for her to teach at a Ugandan primary school, Favor of God. Each day she exits ready for her next day. I would love to see her teach in this setting, but a large white man is cause for much disruption and besides I can already picture the scene.
My mom prays for me all the time, usually to take on the employment struggles of the last couple of years. I have joked that maybe they are going to have to change the words of the Memorare since we have prayed it together so often without "success".
Mom, sitting in Uganda, I just figured it out Mary has been answering our prayers all along. She just decided to do it by bringing these people, these blessings into my life. And she answered our prayers in such a bigger way. As Father Boyle says we cannot begin to comprehend the infinite power of God. So I think, Mary has answered our prayers in the best way possible by putting these wonders into the classrooms full of children. Can there be a better answer?
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.
Each day that I enjoy being a teacher, I think of so many great kids that I have taught, each one of them is special in their own way. They have grown up to be dentists and lawyers and physical therapists and nurses. But oh . . . when they become teachers!! There is an 8th grader in North West County somewhere that has no idea that, in just over a month, will meet their favorite teacher of their life.
Each year lately I tell myself that I am going to have to make time to check in with a Detroit teacher nicknamed Country. I first saw who she was when she crawled under a "house" on Wisteria Lane in Biloxi. There was so much trash and debris under that house that I thought it may be a couple day project, imagine my surprise when I came back at 10:30 and it was done. So I do not know the whole story here, other than she is helping students that others sometimes forget in the city of Detroit. I do know she has learned her selflessness from two wonderful parents who have helped improve the lives of people in St. Louis. I can only imagine what is happening in her classroom.
I have seen only one of my students teach and I am so happy that I took the long way home from Biloxi via Mobile to see Miss Hagerty amaze me with her questions and compassion in her classroom. She was constantly asking questions that enhanced and brightened the learning of her students in a quick and challenging way. Her classes were always moving and the students were keeping up, mostly because they wanted to be a part of this wonderful learning parade. As I left Mobile that day, I kept hearing tornado warnings on all of the radio stations. They kept warning towns and counties, and I was screaming at the radio, " What highway? What mile marker.?" As I drove uncertain into the Alabama day in the Smart Car, I all of a sudden was calm. If my little red car got sucked into the cyclone, I had gone out on a damn fine day.
Sitting across from me in our Ugandan living room is Hayley. She is small in stature but large in almost every way. For some reason I am thinking about Mario, but she really does attack her passions by punching her fists in the air and jumping over turtles. Julius, our Ugandan friend, has arranged for her to teach at a Ugandan primary school, Favor of God. Each day she exits ready for her next day. I would love to see her teach in this setting, but a large white man is cause for much disruption and besides I can already picture the scene.
My mom prays for me all the time, usually to take on the employment struggles of the last couple of years. I have joked that maybe they are going to have to change the words of the Memorare since we have prayed it together so often without "success".
Mom, sitting in Uganda, I just figured it out Mary has been answering our prayers all along. She just decided to do it by bringing these people, these blessings into my life. And she answered our prayers in such a bigger way. As Father Boyle says we cannot begin to comprehend the infinite power of God. So I think, Mary has answered our prayers in the best way possible by putting these wonders into the classrooms full of children. Can there be a better answer?
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Just a little what's new
Another couple of good days. Hayley taught again at Favor of God for the second day. Yesterday, she was the first white person in the history of the school to teach a class. Hayley blurb: "I taught geometry and English again today for the P4s. I'm starting to get used to being called 'madame,' which is a little more fun than Miss K. At break time when the kindergarteners were playing I walked out and stopped by a few little ones playing on the ground. They don't know much English aside from "I'm fine" so I figured playing instead of talking would work out better. I got on the ground and drew a smiley face in the dirt. In a matter of seconds I had a swarm of probably 20 or so kinders. They were laughing so hard at it that I ended up drawing a whole person on the ground and they decided to name it Michelle for the sole reason that that was the name of the 2 foot tall human on my arm at the moment. The second I stood up, I had almost all 20 kinders hanging on me. They honestly wanted nothing more than to hold onto my hands and click the buttons on my watch. After 10 minutes of that, I made the (sort of) mistake of twirling around one little one who had my finger. I think I spent about 15 minutes twirling kids to the point that I thought they were going to yank my fingers off! Just another great day in Gulu!"
After dropping her off, I was going to meet Melissa at Gulu University to return her phone that ended up in my possession. We decided Gulu U. was a good half way point. With not a lot to do at 8 a.m. I just started walking, at 9:12 Melissa called me and was just waking, no problem I figure it would take her about 15 minutes to get ready and with a boda I would see her in 25 minutes. Apparently her Statistics teacher did a poor job of teaching her either mean or median, as I walked almost to her from door to deliver her phone. So hopefully, 2 hour and 26 minute walk helped me get in shape. Kristine got in town today, so the three Teacher buddies reconnected as Sarah was also there. We started out in The Iron Donkey (the former Kope cafe) and ended up at Cafe Larem. Hayley even got in a little "girl time" with Sarah as they wandered off to shop. Hayley and I are contemplating some traditional dance performance at 9:30, but is poring a 7 a.m. So who knows.
After dropping her off, I was going to meet Melissa at Gulu University to return her phone that ended up in my possession. We decided Gulu U. was a good half way point. With not a lot to do at 8 a.m. I just started walking, at 9:12 Melissa called me and was just waking, no problem I figure it would take her about 15 minutes to get ready and with a boda I would see her in 25 minutes. Apparently her Statistics teacher did a poor job of teaching her either mean or median, as I walked almost to her from door to deliver her phone. So hopefully, 2 hour and 26 minute walk helped me get in shape. Kristine got in town today, so the three Teacher buddies reconnected as Sarah was also there. We started out in The Iron Donkey (the former Kope cafe) and ended up at Cafe Larem. Hayley even got in a little "girl time" with Sarah as they wandered off to shop. Hayley and I are contemplating some traditional dance performance at 9:30, but is poring a 7 a.m. So who knows.
Monday, June 20, 2016
Too much or too little
Micah Center in Biloxi, Walt Disney World, Gulu... My last three weeks have been something great and not without these worlds colliding. Most people who read this blog are used to everyone over the age of 14 having a $600 iPhone and 14 might be too old as primary school children are not asking, begging for new phones. Occasionally those with the cell phones collide with those without, it is never a happy experience.
Story 1. A high school kid is told not to bring her cell phone to a homeless shelter and she complies, but somehow that afternoon after meeting another high school friend she brings her phone to swap numbers and probably pictures and probably 5 more things that an old guy does not know about. Some guy with too little takes the phone when seeing it on a chair. An hour of tears and sadness and thanks to electronics we get the phone back. The kid who brought the phone is a great kid who made a mistake, the man who took it also a mistake. And to be fair to our student a lot of her tears were of regrets and embarrassment. She spent a week helping those with too little and did a great job. A good cop helped us get the phone back. Another cop said, "You should go nowhere near the homeless shelter, those people are thieves, liars, drug addicts and the worst people in the world." After we got the phone back, I asked to talk to the 2 young students who witnessed this whole story. I have a different story to tell, " The people that come to the Micah Center are troubled, they have made mistakes, and will make more mistakes, but we believe they still need our love and support, our help, and our prayers. That is why we drive 10 hours each year, because we believe in a different story."
Story 2.. I had a wonderful time celebrating my parents' 60th anniversary in Orlando. One of the days we spent in Epcot, where all of the people visiting talk like they are actually in different countries. "We love Mexico." "There is a fun restaurant in Germany" "Let's go the pub in England." Here is what I would love to see in EPCOT, a real world trade-off exhibit. You could have a coke in Uganda, if you spend the next 7 hours working in the sun to earn it. Or you could have 5 potato chips in India if you spent two hours mopping the bathroom. The India story is a guess, but I know two Ugandans, my friends, intelligent and bright young men, who are happy in their new jobs and will earn about 124,000/= (ugandan shillings) this month that is less than $40 dollars for a month of work. I will try to help them with something before I leave, but . . .it will be too little.
Story 3. This story is very similar to the first story. A Surface tablet was taken from a friend on the bus from Kampala to Gulu. A thief, maybe with too little, maybe not, took it. I jumped on the bus after several other attempts to find it and pleaded with a whole bus load of Ugandans to please return it. I told them it meant a lot to my friend. It did not work, the thief still has it. The Ugandans on the bus responded differently, and I really do not know for sure because they were talking in Lwo. Some were sad and ashamed that this could happen and maybe some were perplexed because in their whole life had nothing even close to the value of this small tablet, I was discouraged also because, I pretty much looked into all of the faces on the bus, and the one I wanted to respond did not. They had too little in most of our world, a Surface tablet is too much. There was not a good ending to Story 1 or Story 2. But Story 3 has people in it, people who had shared a classroom, and had shared a laugh, they had struggled together to write stories and solve math problems. Like myself and many of you who have seen different parts of the world, know we have too much. I think if you asked the person who lost her Surface she would agree. After we settled in and talked to the Priest, the teacher with too much walked down a path, heads turned of a group of girls preparing for their studies. The first student with too little came running down the path and embraced her teacher with a hug of joy and so much good laughter. The teacher hugged each girl and greeted them by name, although they had been apart for 10 months, their joy and their embraces erased that time, and they now stood shoulder to shoulder jumping up and down. Then another girl in a bright red sweater with several tears in it came flying down the path with arms open like she could reach the 50 feet between her and her teacher. Hayley and I joined our friend as the walk continued and 5 boys greeted their old teacher with shrugs. The teacher was explaining to us the difference between boys and girls, when a group of Senior 4 boys cam running up the path to greet their beloved Madam. One boy with too little stayed behind and he was fidgeting with something. He walked up and said, "Madam, this is for you." He extended his hand a gave her a small stick that he had used to pierce 5 leaves. This "flower" was quite simply ......too ______
Story 1. A high school kid is told not to bring her cell phone to a homeless shelter and she complies, but somehow that afternoon after meeting another high school friend she brings her phone to swap numbers and probably pictures and probably 5 more things that an old guy does not know about. Some guy with too little takes the phone when seeing it on a chair. An hour of tears and sadness and thanks to electronics we get the phone back. The kid who brought the phone is a great kid who made a mistake, the man who took it also a mistake. And to be fair to our student a lot of her tears were of regrets and embarrassment. She spent a week helping those with too little and did a great job. A good cop helped us get the phone back. Another cop said, "You should go nowhere near the homeless shelter, those people are thieves, liars, drug addicts and the worst people in the world." After we got the phone back, I asked to talk to the 2 young students who witnessed this whole story. I have a different story to tell, " The people that come to the Micah Center are troubled, they have made mistakes, and will make more mistakes, but we believe they still need our love and support, our help, and our prayers. That is why we drive 10 hours each year, because we believe in a different story."
Story 2.. I had a wonderful time celebrating my parents' 60th anniversary in Orlando. One of the days we spent in Epcot, where all of the people visiting talk like they are actually in different countries. "We love Mexico." "There is a fun restaurant in Germany" "Let's go the pub in England." Here is what I would love to see in EPCOT, a real world trade-off exhibit. You could have a coke in Uganda, if you spend the next 7 hours working in the sun to earn it. Or you could have 5 potato chips in India if you spent two hours mopping the bathroom. The India story is a guess, but I know two Ugandans, my friends, intelligent and bright young men, who are happy in their new jobs and will earn about 124,000/= (ugandan shillings) this month that is less than $40 dollars for a month of work. I will try to help them with something before I leave, but . . .it will be too little.
Story 3. This story is very similar to the first story. A Surface tablet was taken from a friend on the bus from Kampala to Gulu. A thief, maybe with too little, maybe not, took it. I jumped on the bus after several other attempts to find it and pleaded with a whole bus load of Ugandans to please return it. I told them it meant a lot to my friend. It did not work, the thief still has it. The Ugandans on the bus responded differently, and I really do not know for sure because they were talking in Lwo. Some were sad and ashamed that this could happen and maybe some were perplexed because in their whole life had nothing even close to the value of this small tablet, I was discouraged also because, I pretty much looked into all of the faces on the bus, and the one I wanted to respond did not. They had too little in most of our world, a Surface tablet is too much. There was not a good ending to Story 1 or Story 2. But Story 3 has people in it, people who had shared a classroom, and had shared a laugh, they had struggled together to write stories and solve math problems. Like myself and many of you who have seen different parts of the world, know we have too much. I think if you asked the person who lost her Surface she would agree. After we settled in and talked to the Priest, the teacher with too much walked down a path, heads turned of a group of girls preparing for their studies. The first student with too little came running down the path and embraced her teacher with a hug of joy and so much good laughter. The teacher hugged each girl and greeted them by name, although they had been apart for 10 months, their joy and their embraces erased that time, and they now stood shoulder to shoulder jumping up and down. Then another girl in a bright red sweater with several tears in it came flying down the path with arms open like she could reach the 50 feet between her and her teacher. Hayley and I joined our friend as the walk continued and 5 boys greeted their old teacher with shrugs. The teacher was explaining to us the difference between boys and girls, when a group of Senior 4 boys cam running up the path to greet their beloved Madam. One boy with too little stayed behind and he was fidgeting with something. He walked up and said, "Madam, this is for you." He extended his hand a gave her a small stick that he had used to pierce 5 leaves. This "flower" was quite simply ......too ______
Sunday, June 19, 2016
Old Boys II--Julius and Geoffrey
Somehow, Julius became acquainted with other teachers in Invisible Children Teacher Exchange. I also remember him asking me and others to attend a show of music and traditional dance. For some reason I did not go, I regret that decision every time I see Julius. Julius might be the most caring and helpful person I know in Gulu. It seems that every time I am in Gulu, Julius comes and helps me do something that becomes many times easier than if I woud have attempted it myself. He is always ready and is always prompt. He is always very dependable, in other words a great friend to have. An American group, I think maybe out of Texas, has hired Julius to work at their radio station and help out with their Christian ministry. Hayley and I are meeting Julius today to work on a program for Hayley possibly.
Geoffrey, I have known since the beginning, it only took me four years to realize that he had grown up as a child of the streets, and has amazingly put himself all the way through secondary school. Yesterday, he was telling Hayley that he made a choice away from the "dirty" life and decided to live the good life. Geoffrey has had a real tough time and I am dismayed that I was not able to help him in the past. Now he has made some great strides and is the groundskeeper at a 24 hour clinic. The people there are realizing what a smart young man he is, and they are expanding his duties. At the same time, he is getting a business certificate of study. I am very proud of the young man he was, he is, and he will become. I will be praying for him with the others. I wish I could somehow open a business in Gulu and put these 4 guys in charge.
Hayley and I got up at 7 a.m. We finally got power last night after our first 26 hours without power in Gulu. We took boda bodas to Catholic Mass in a class room at Gulu High. It is my favorite thing to do in Gulu. Jumping in now I will let Hayley describe her thoughts, "Just like everyone I have met, the students at Gulu High were very welcoming and friendly. I feel like I've used the word "friendly" a lot lately but it's because so many of the people I've met or simply said hi to have been friendly. You just don't find that very often at home. We were clearly a little lost walking around the school's campus so a young girl left the protestant mass she was sitting I to walk us over to the catholic mass in another classroom. Surprise, surprise another extremely friendly person! I was in awe for the first few minutes of mass. The singing and chanting blew me away. The students seemed so passionate about their worship. There wasn't a priest available so a small nun led the mass. At the end they invited us to stand up and speak and thanked us for visiting them. It's not even noon but I've already had the best day. Also shoutout to free wifi at small coffee shops."
Geoffrey, I have known since the beginning, it only took me four years to realize that he had grown up as a child of the streets, and has amazingly put himself all the way through secondary school. Yesterday, he was telling Hayley that he made a choice away from the "dirty" life and decided to live the good life. Geoffrey has had a real tough time and I am dismayed that I was not able to help him in the past. Now he has made some great strides and is the groundskeeper at a 24 hour clinic. The people there are realizing what a smart young man he is, and they are expanding his duties. At the same time, he is getting a business certificate of study. I am very proud of the young man he was, he is, and he will become. I will be praying for him with the others. I wish I could somehow open a business in Gulu and put these 4 guys in charge.
Hayley and I got up at 7 a.m. We finally got power last night after our first 26 hours without power in Gulu. We took boda bodas to Catholic Mass in a class room at Gulu High. It is my favorite thing to do in Gulu. Jumping in now I will let Hayley describe her thoughts, "Just like everyone I have met, the students at Gulu High were very welcoming and friendly. I feel like I've used the word "friendly" a lot lately but it's because so many of the people I've met or simply said hi to have been friendly. You just don't find that very often at home. We were clearly a little lost walking around the school's campus so a young girl left the protestant mass she was sitting I to walk us over to the catholic mass in another classroom. Surprise, surprise another extremely friendly person! I was in awe for the first few minutes of mass. The singing and chanting blew me away. The students seemed so passionate about their worship. There wasn't a priest available so a small nun led the mass. At the end they invited us to stand up and speak and thanked us for visiting them. It's not even noon but I've already had the best day. Also shoutout to free wifi at small coffee shops."
Saturday, June 18, 2016
Blog Name Correction: "Magee and Hayley in Uganda"
Going to Africa has been something I have wanted to do for about 8 years. I wanted to go as a freshman in high school but didn't know how to make that happen. I found a program at Mizzou that was going, but I think that nearly gave my mom a heart attack when I told her about that. So here I am so many years later sitting in a coffee shop in Gulu, Uganda trying to use the free wifi next to one of the best teachers I've ever had.
Mr. Magee and I must be quite a sight walking down the streets. Everyone just stops and stares (and laughs) at his height and I'm usually a few feet behind trying to walk/jog to keep up. An even better sight--us riding bodas (motorcycles). This is the easiest way to get around here. For my first time getting on one, Mr. Magee told the driver that it was my first time and to go slow so he told me "sit like a man," meaning to sit normally and not side-saddle, which I definitely would have fallen off doing. What I've loved the most so far is meeting people and speaking with them. What better way to meet a person than holding on to them for dear life! The boda drivers have been so kind and welcomed me to Uganda. It is so different than getting into a cab at home and barely speaking with the person driving. I wish people in the US took the time to be kinder and more personable to strangers.
Our first few days in Kampala we stayed with a friend of Melissa's, Annitah, and her family. I've never met a nicer, friendlier, subtly-sassier person. She tells it like it is and treats you as though you are already a friend. It was the best introduction to Africa I could have had and it has really set the tone for all of the people I have met. I have met some of Mr. Magee's former students and friends here and I have already been able to see them on the street and say hello to them again as though I have known them for more than 24 hours. If this is how the first week has been, I can only imagine how awesome the next two weeks will be and I can't wait to find out!
---Hayley
Mr. Magee and I must be quite a sight walking down the streets. Everyone just stops and stares (and laughs) at his height and I'm usually a few feet behind trying to walk/jog to keep up. An even better sight--us riding bodas (motorcycles). This is the easiest way to get around here. For my first time getting on one, Mr. Magee told the driver that it was my first time and to go slow so he told me "sit like a man," meaning to sit normally and not side-saddle, which I definitely would have fallen off doing. What I've loved the most so far is meeting people and speaking with them. What better way to meet a person than holding on to them for dear life! The boda drivers have been so kind and welcomed me to Uganda. It is so different than getting into a cab at home and barely speaking with the person driving. I wish people in the US took the time to be kinder and more personable to strangers.
Our first few days in Kampala we stayed with a friend of Melissa's, Annitah, and her family. I've never met a nicer, friendlier, subtly-sassier person. She tells it like it is and treats you as though you are already a friend. It was the best introduction to Africa I could have had and it has really set the tone for all of the people I have met. I have met some of Mr. Magee's former students and friends here and I have already been able to see them on the street and say hello to them again as though I have known them for more than 24 hours. If this is how the first week has been, I can only imagine how awesome the next two weeks will be and I can't wait to find out!
---Hayley
Old Boys -- Ronald, Amos, Julius, and Geoffrey
So in Ugandan schools, the alumni are the Old Boys, or as I once heard Ronald say, "I am an O.B. of Atanga SS ." These words are uttered with such a sense of accomplishment and pride. I am an O.B. Of St. Louis University High school and I hope that I will say that in pride some day when I meet a SLUH guy in Gulu.
So this is a story about the O.B. s. the boys I have each known for a long time. Each with their own stories each with their own dreams. Ronald was a student that was handed over to me by two Americans I have lost touch with Josh Robinson and David Heimeck. They were the first group of teachers to spend a whole week in the village and really be a part of the community of Lacekoyot and Atanga SS. Ronald so impressed Josh and David that they immediately talked to me about how they could help him in school. They knew that I had done small bit for a boy named . . . Amos. Ronald has been a part of my life ever since, he is one week away from completing his studies as a graduate of the Gulu University. Ronald has overcome many obstacles to do this, and now we need some prayers to help him find a job then a career that is worthy of his character and perseverance.
Amos is really one of the first Ugandans I have ever talked to. If you read this blog, you will remember the debate I had with Amos over how the chickens found their way home at night. "John, do you not see that the chicken has two eyes!" Amos was a very sharp primary student when I first ment him and originally went to Kampala to find a better education, but was sidetracked several times due to school fees and other obstacles. He is still a bright, energetic young man who has now found his way back to Gulu. He has a job at the Churchill Courts, a luxury hotel in Gulu, and is working towards using this job to move onto better things or maybe go back for additional schooling. Today, Hayley and I had to move our 120 lbs. of luxury from our nice hotel ($45 a night) to our regular Gulu accommodations at the Cosmo House ($7 a night). Amos was going to arrange to have a truck meet us to do the moving. At the last minute it started to rain so Amos switched the truck to a car so our stuff would stay dry. I tell you this one is sharp.
Tomorrow-- Julius and Geoffrey
So this is a story about the O.B. s. the boys I have each known for a long time. Each with their own stories each with their own dreams. Ronald was a student that was handed over to me by two Americans I have lost touch with Josh Robinson and David Heimeck. They were the first group of teachers to spend a whole week in the village and really be a part of the community of Lacekoyot and Atanga SS. Ronald so impressed Josh and David that they immediately talked to me about how they could help him in school. They knew that I had done small bit for a boy named . . . Amos. Ronald has been a part of my life ever since, he is one week away from completing his studies as a graduate of the Gulu University. Ronald has overcome many obstacles to do this, and now we need some prayers to help him find a job then a career that is worthy of his character and perseverance.
Amos is really one of the first Ugandans I have ever talked to. If you read this blog, you will remember the debate I had with Amos over how the chickens found their way home at night. "John, do you not see that the chicken has two eyes!" Amos was a very sharp primary student when I first ment him and originally went to Kampala to find a better education, but was sidetracked several times due to school fees and other obstacles. He is still a bright, energetic young man who has now found his way back to Gulu. He has a job at the Churchill Courts, a luxury hotel in Gulu, and is working towards using this job to move onto better things or maybe go back for additional schooling. Today, Hayley and I had to move our 120 lbs. of luxury from our nice hotel ($45 a night) to our regular Gulu accommodations at the Cosmo House ($7 a night). Amos was going to arrange to have a truck meet us to do the moving. At the last minute it started to rain so Amos switched the truck to a car so our stuff would stay dry. I tell you this one is sharp.
Tomorrow-- Julius and Geoffrey
Thursday, June 16, 2016
An Undelivered Message
Today, as I was getting my phone reconfigured, I found 3 messages that made no sense. Eventually Melissa reminded me that Claire had my phone last, Claire never got them and although, I did not go back to read them, I remembered they were loving and caring. Claire missed these messages, but I do know that Claire knows that she is loved. The proof is simple, she loves her life as a caring and loving person and that my friends does not happen accidentally.
But I think about the ones who do not receive their messages. Sometimes as we see in the Micah Center in Biloxi, not receiving those messages can have long term effects on men and women. As I am thinking of these ideas, I am challenged by the words of our hostess, Anita. In the middle of Kampala she is working all day for the Jesuits, and then comes home to cook us a magnificent dinner even after she had to work late. A good accountant, a great cook are not her best talents that I have seen in my day and a half here. We have not met all of her children as several are at boarding school, and different cousins and others seem to pop up constantly to be of service. Her best talent is that every member of this family is loved and encouraged. Anita introduced herself as being a Happy Ugandan when we first met her and she has earned that statement, but mostly because she makes others happy with her constant attention and love. Today, we saw mostly the younger two, there was a little girl who never ran out of energy. Hayley definitely found a friend. and there was a little boy who has very special needs and who laughed when his siter ran even though he could not. Anita talked about some of her obstacles in raising her son in Uganda. She has had choices, but always seem to have taken the most courageous, the most loving path. Tonight after the long work day, and he wonderful meal, she then heated water for all of us to shower. There is no doubt that family and friends of Anita and Allen always get their messages delivered.
Today is my parents' 60 th wedding anniversary and their messages of love were always delivered. So tomorrow we leave for Gulu with my new 3 week family of Hayley, Ani and Melissa (will join in 2 days). We take the love and the strengths of our own families in America and our new family in Kampala to Gulu. Hopefwully if we do our best we can deliver a couple messages to the students of Gulu.
John.
But I think about the ones who do not receive their messages. Sometimes as we see in the Micah Center in Biloxi, not receiving those messages can have long term effects on men and women. As I am thinking of these ideas, I am challenged by the words of our hostess, Anita. In the middle of Kampala she is working all day for the Jesuits, and then comes home to cook us a magnificent dinner even after she had to work late. A good accountant, a great cook are not her best talents that I have seen in my day and a half here. We have not met all of her children as several are at boarding school, and different cousins and others seem to pop up constantly to be of service. Her best talent is that every member of this family is loved and encouraged. Anita introduced herself as being a Happy Ugandan when we first met her and she has earned that statement, but mostly because she makes others happy with her constant attention and love. Today, we saw mostly the younger two, there was a little girl who never ran out of energy. Hayley definitely found a friend. and there was a little boy who has very special needs and who laughed when his siter ran even though he could not. Anita talked about some of her obstacles in raising her son in Uganda. She has had choices, but always seem to have taken the most courageous, the most loving path. Tonight after the long work day, and he wonderful meal, she then heated water for all of us to shower. There is no doubt that family and friends of Anita and Allen always get their messages delivered.
Today is my parents' 60 th wedding anniversary and their messages of love were always delivered. So tomorrow we leave for Gulu with my new 3 week family of Hayley, Ani and Melissa (will join in 2 days). We take the love and the strengths of our own families in America and our new family in Kampala to Gulu. Hopefwully if we do our best we can deliver a couple messages to the students of Gulu.
John.
Monday, June 6, 2016
In Praise of 2 Wonderful Colleagues
I just read my last post of 2 years ago, and wow the tone was sad and dark, but also I still remember that day when an argument cost 2 young boys their entire wages of the day. Today, I have a much different take on our world after spending a week with 34 great people.
“Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” Muhammad Ali
It is always interesting when your students become adults, the funny part is that they always struggle with calling me John. They will say it, but then often resort to the giggles of the 14 year old student that I first met in E14 so many years ago. The trip to Uganda this time is going to be amazing, mostly because I get to share it with two amazing young women, Melissa and Hayley. My friend Andy just three days ago cautioned our group about the overuse of the word amazing today. So I think about it, and without reservation will use it with complete conviction--these two are amazing.
A junior in high school on our trip to Biloxi said this, "Hayley Kuehner is everywhere, I truly do not understand how she can be in so many places all the time. And she knows everyone, and is nice to everyone." Too bad this rookie has not seen Hayley in Joplin or Moore, Oklahoma or the Bronx where she leads with a confident stride of a giant. I know where she gets her kindness from, but she definitely adds to the lessons from her parents with her own"Beanie" brand. She is everywhere, and I cannot wait for my Acholi friends to meet her.
I never will forget Caitlyn W saying, "Everyone at Rockhurst is ding great, and there's Hop." We both laughed because judging Melissa on a scale of regular people is kind of not correct, she is definitely far right tail on the standard Normal scale. With all of her talents in mathematics and science, she chose to go back to Uganda and Ocer Campion to teach Ugandanshow to write better paragraphs, because that is where the need is and was. Somehow on our way to Biloxi between mm96 in Missouri and Canton, MS Melissa had fought the Internet and got Hayley on our exact flights. I am quite sure only a one in a million could have done this. Hayley and Melissa know each other, but not all that well, but Melissa of course dropped what she was doing and put her whole focus into this task. In planning this trip, the two of us have sat down for several long conversations and I am now even more impressed with a student I call "the smartest kid I ever taught" (with possible apologies to Maggie C. Who I just saw shine again in Biloxi). Melissa's courage and resilience are inspiring and her stories will cause me to be a better teacher.
Wrote this in a lobby as I am waiting to get a Meningococal shot that costs $290. Ouch! I think I will cry when I get this one.
“Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” Muhammad Ali
It is always interesting when your students become adults, the funny part is that they always struggle with calling me John. They will say it, but then often resort to the giggles of the 14 year old student that I first met in E14 so many years ago. The trip to Uganda this time is going to be amazing, mostly because I get to share it with two amazing young women, Melissa and Hayley. My friend Andy just three days ago cautioned our group about the overuse of the word amazing today. So I think about it, and without reservation will use it with complete conviction--these two are amazing.
A junior in high school on our trip to Biloxi said this, "Hayley Kuehner is everywhere, I truly do not understand how she can be in so many places all the time. And she knows everyone, and is nice to everyone." Too bad this rookie has not seen Hayley in Joplin or Moore, Oklahoma or the Bronx where she leads with a confident stride of a giant. I know where she gets her kindness from, but she definitely adds to the lessons from her parents with her own"Beanie" brand. She is everywhere, and I cannot wait for my Acholi friends to meet her.
I never will forget Caitlyn W saying, "Everyone at Rockhurst is ding great, and there's Hop." We both laughed because judging Melissa on a scale of regular people is kind of not correct, she is definitely far right tail on the standard Normal scale. With all of her talents in mathematics and science, she chose to go back to Uganda and Ocer Campion to teach Ugandanshow to write better paragraphs, because that is where the need is and was. Somehow on our way to Biloxi between mm96 in Missouri and Canton, MS Melissa had fought the Internet and got Hayley on our exact flights. I am quite sure only a one in a million could have done this. Hayley and Melissa know each other, but not all that well, but Melissa of course dropped what she was doing and put her whole focus into this task. In planning this trip, the two of us have sat down for several long conversations and I am now even more impressed with a student I call "the smartest kid I ever taught" (with possible apologies to Maggie C. Who I just saw shine again in Biloxi). Melissa's courage and resilience are inspiring and her stories will cause me to be a better teacher.
Wrote this in a lobby as I am waiting to get a Meningococal shot that costs $290. Ouch! I think I will cry when I get this one.
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