Last Night in Uganda

There are so many stories of courage and perserverance that have rushed to my eyese this trip and now run around inside of my head and will always be nestled warmly in my heart. This time and for the last few times it starts with Kwoyelo Ronald. "Kwoyelo" means troubled life. It was the name his parents gave him at birth, and has aptly described the obstacles that Ronald has fought and won. He is a determined and serious student who greeted me each time I met him wearing a shirt and tie. He will be taking his Senior 6 exams in November which will be the sole determination of whether he goes to the University level and what kind of education he will be allowed to attain. Ronald sees in his current classmates the educational experiences he would have loved to have had. And he knows his first 11 years of education in a small village have not prepared him, but he just puts his head down and works harder. His mother and Uncle greeted me in my last hour in Lacekocot and wanted to join me in a feast they had prepared for me. Due to time, I regretfully had to explain why I had to turn down their generosity. As I looked into the weathered face of Ronald's mom, I saw his smile and his quiet determination in her eyes. I know Ronald well, but not nearly as well I would know my Nerinx students. I do know that there are many students both young men and young women with similar stories, and someone told me last night that it was not fair to help just one. She may be right, but it is not possible for me to sit back. I have not had a teaching job for a year, because I cannot be silent when I see injustice.------------------live simply, so others may simply live-------------------------My assets are small and the bank of Magee makes Greece look stable, but I have walked around Ugandan often carrying the equivalent of two months pay for many Ugandans. It is simply unfathomable to try to understand these differences. My young friend, Geoffrey, who has been on his own since he was 7, was about to be kicked out of the room he lets when he is not boarding at the school. He has never asked me for anything but a pen and a few sheets of paper. He told me this story. He needed one month for back rent and one month's rent. The total cost was less than what I am going to pay for King Edward's chicken in my first meal in St. Louis. I had one final meal with Geoffrey and Julius before I left. There was a photo studio (Glamour Fotos) along the way and we stopped to get our photo taken. On the way home from the Pork Joint we picked up the photos. As I said goodbye to the two boys, Geoffrey reached out and hugged me. I realized or realised as they spell here, that what Geoffrey has missed all of these years the most was not food or shelter, but hugs. There is nothing quite like the constant hugs of family. It is the fuel for the heart, and if our heart is full we are capable of anything. And if our heart is empty....... Both Geoffrey and Julius showed up for my traditional salute to the leaving teachers. In the hectic end to packing and loading the bus, and trying to organize the bus. I forgot to hug Geoffrey. ........(go to Facebook for pictures of Geoffrey and Julius)

In homage of Memento.... Sort of

I am now siting at the Acholi Inn for about the fourth time in two days. I got here through the rain and the mud. We had a brief downpour which really messes with the roads and the ability to walk. Gulu is also on one big hill so all of the water from the whole town flows towards Uchumi store and the bottom of the hill. But I managed with the help of a crafty boda boda driver. I just left Ronald at the bus station, he has completed his second term and now heads back to Lacekocot for a much deserved rest. Ronald, of course, showed up in a tie, and his green sweater vest from Sir Samuel Baker School. We talked some, ate at my favorite place, Alulululu Pork joint, and we talked a little. Ronald is such an amazing young man, and several of us have pushed him along the way with some fees paid here and there. It tears me up that I cannot help every student, but we are trying for Ronald to be the one starfish we choose to throw back in this ocean. I will have to write more of his story later, his is the big story of this trip and I have to think longer to give it justice. ............ But there has been so much WONDER in these days that I have to keep writing. ---> http://simplyliveit.wordpress.com/2012/08/01/simply-believe-in-wonder/ ..............I met Ronald after I took a boda boda on the hilliest ride back from Sacred Heart. The motorcycle was whining on several occasions as moving the large American proved difficult for this bike. I had not seen Sacred Heart in several years, the students have always been amazing, but now the landscape and buildings were also. Some were built by the Japanese government, but the large three story building was built by Invisible Children. I had just visited thanks to an invitation from Ashley, who charges through life smiling and laughing along the way. No teacher college or training tells you how to develop the spirit or the kindness of this one. Each moment she was on campus, students walked towards her with a curiosity and an inquisitiveness. I think it might be impossible for a young girl at an all girls' school not to learn or be moved by Ashley's smile or her openness. I watched as one student approached her and gave her a necklace that she had made for her wonderful teacher. Rachel and Meegan, the proud Canadian, joined Ashley and I on my tour of Sacred Heart. I once said that everyone wants to be tall, curly-haired and left handed. Rachel rocks 2 out of 3 of those and laughs out loud about every 11 minutes. In her free time, she is amazing science teacher in Ohio. Meegan charges through life like she is going to mountain bike from Vancouver to Alaska(and after reading this she might just try). They are joined at Sacred Heart by Debbie. If you want to know more about the amazing students of Sacred Heart scroll down to a post in July 2009. (Those 10 and this school remains lodged in my awesome memories) Wonderful students in uniform who smile while they walk and are amazing learners. I thought for a moment in one Sacred Heart student, I saw the smile of Claire Minnick, and I thought definitely I heard the laughter of Amy Welin in another, and then I saw one quickly move for building to building very serious about completing the next task--did she really have the walk of Hayley Kuehner? And then I realized the uniforms were red and I saw a skinny girl laugh out loud exactly like Chaley Poth. I wanted to take so many pictures, but I decided to take a picture of the three teachers at the base of a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It seemed like such a good place to start. ..................... And then I turned, "Is that the Chapel?". "Yes it is, there is almost always girls in there praying." said one of my friends. But I did not really hear, I walked towards the Chapel. I saw the most wonderful sign in the center of the Chapel (see Facebook) and moved inside. There was a lone student at the front right of the place, holding a large bass drum of some sorts and playing both sides of it as she sang. Her voice was soft and amazing. Songs to God have such a beauty to them, but this one was better. [TIME OUT-- You all should really read Sarah Allen's wonderful blog above]. My best wish for all of you is that I you are in awe when you see wonder. The school bell for the next class rang and the young girl stopped the drum and sang the last verses a Capella. I had planned to kneel in this Chapel and say a Hail Mary for my parents, but instead I just knelt and thanked God for this blessing, hearing this song was amazing................................. Down a dirt road in the middle of nowhere in the northern part of Uganda, I heard an Angel sing. You may never know, Sarah Girl, where you will see wonder, sometimes it comes from accepting an invitation from a very small animal.

Caring and Responsibilty

The other day at Rhino trek, 11 of us had a discussion with the question: Which 3 people living or dead have influenced you the most. I think an obvious choice is our parents, but for the sake lof the discussion I chose 3 people who have moved me Tao the man I am. They were Father Gregory Boyle (google his book if you have note read it)Phil Williams, and Mary Bryant ( she is the young woman who died in a car accident whose dream we follow each June when we do service at Back Bahy Mision in MS). Tonight I am in Anaka staying at the parish Keith Fathers Martin and Thomas and 3 fantastic colleagues. Today I met a young man who might answer the question of the 3 people with John Magee, John Magee, and John Magee. What do you do with this? I care about this young man deeply. He has been a part of 4 or 5 of my summers in Uganda. I knew him in Gulu and then when I arrived at Pope Paul VI in 2010, he was going to school here as an S4 student. This young man did his best to show me his ability inside and outside of class, but he struggled with the S4 mathematics. I would see him at night and sometimess we would walk to the village and sometimes I was not able to, because I had commitments to others or my school work. There were probably also a few times where I was just too lazy or too selfish to spend time with my young friend. Because of a cheaper ride home, my 2 day stay in Amaka is ending earlier. I had a wonderful day seeing and listening to a wonderful head teacher and at least 17 teaching colleagues from Popavissa. My partner Lawrence had this student's phone number and also new that he worked at the new and only Petrol station in Anaka. I called him and he greeted me with excitement and joy. I could feel the width of his smile through the phone. We both wanted to see each other and made plans for me to go to the gas station at 4. I found out later that he was working until dark, so the choice of 4 made me curious, but not for long. I walked out of Popavissa and made a left turn, a few minutes later I was at the main road and stopped for a moment at the sign for the school. I am so proud of this schol and I remember Kelly Moneymaker and I walking this road 2 years ago to get a picture next to this sign. But this post is not about that day, I made a right on the road and continued to the Petrol Station. It has one pump that dispenses gas, diesel,and kerosene. I walked onto the station from the road and saw this boy,this man from a distance. He looked very smart in his PPP logo shirt and coveralls. He turned and saw me and walked towards me with open arms. He might have broken my back with his hug, but we settled on the international guy half hug, hand shake. He was still grinning as he went inside the office and brought out a padded chair for me to sit on. He smiled at me again and grabbed my shoulder as I reached out to shake his hand again. He went into get another chair for himself when he Realized he could be closer to me if he sat. As he went inside, and old man with a weathered face, moved from sitting next to his broken down truck to a place right behind us. I am not sure if he understood what was happening, but he wanted a seat closer to the attendant and the large white man. As he settled into his own chair, a motorcycle approached. I was going to encourage him to take care of his customer, but he and the man quickly began talking in Lwo. I soon realized that this man had a camera with him and he was aiming his camera at the both of us. It was now apparent that my young friend had called a photographer from Anaka to take a picture of this momentous occasion. We took a picture in ur chairs, and then He instructed the photographer to find another scene where he could take another picture. As the photographer left he said to me, "I have been asking Almighty God for 2 years for Him To send you back to me.". He the told me that I was responsible for who he was. And everything good in his life had come from me........................What do you do with that?.......................I think the Petrol Station is a good place for him. I talked to him about being a good worker and always being kind and courteous to his customers. We took some more pictures and he went back to work. I walked to Pope Paul VI and entreated the real Pope Paul to look after this one. I found out later that the walk or transport to his family's village does not happen after dark, so he rents a small room in town, but it is expensive for him (about $10 a month). He came to the Parish after his shift and was greeted warmly by both Fathers. .......... I guess in the end that is what I have chosen to do. I will love. It might be from afar, and I might not seem him for a couple of years or maybe again. But I am choosing love. I think that is what Father Boyle would do, Phil would hug him and soon the two would be laughing like old friends, and Mary would put him to work in Mississippi. .... And after reading this post, my mother and father will pray for him at Mass in St. Louis....maybe the next time I answer the question about the three people-- I will say his name Odong Collins Otika, because maybe he has been the one who has made me my best.....

Final Paragraph from My IC Reflections

The success with students is really not to be known. I hope I planted the seeds that will one day grow. I hope I have given wind to the sails of their dreams. I hope they have seen in me, a man that cares and a man that loves. I hope they never answer any question or problem with violence. I hope my example has been one that will be productive for them in their later life. I may never know if I had this success, but I do know one thing. I am a better teacher and a better man, but what I have learned from the students of Atanga SS. and Nerinx Hall and Loyola Academy and Saint Louis Priory School

IPod and Memories

Josh Franklin requested on the way to Entebbe airport that we play "Waving Flag" by K'naan. It was the World Cup theme song for 2010 and is a song we can play that both Ugandans and Americans will both smile and sing together. I grabbed my Ugandan flag out of the bag and let the air blowing through the bus, let it wave. Later, Caroline up front grabbed one end and all 13 of us were laughing, singing, and raising our fists. "When I get older, I will be stronger, They'll call me freedom just like da waving flag.". What a great time, and what a great memory that song evokes. As the four of us got off the bus after the airport, I had the feeling that I had left something behind. I started to think about going back on the bus, but just that quick it had pulled away. Four hours later as we sat done to wait for our transport back to Gulu, I went through everything in both bags and there was no iPod. Damn! I was mad at myself for not being more careful with an expensive possession that I enjoy. Thr black U2 iPod has been so much a part of some of my favorite memories in the last year. When I said I had lost it on Facebook, Jill Baranowski said, "Nooooooooooo" , because she had been a part of those memories singing at the top of her lungs going from place to place in Biloxi. At the same time I was kind of calm. I put an obituary for this thing on Facebook, and started to think how I would get those songs back---those memories. Sarah Williams had told me I should take a picture of Phil with me on this trip. it is something I intended to do, but in the time crunch of back to back trips, it never got done. As other teachers grabbed my iPod to play music, it was amazing how many times they played Golddigger. Also I heard "Golddigger" at the club, three times on this trip. (side note: when I first heard Golddigger, I thought they were saying "John Magee" instead of "friend in need". My students then sang me that song, singing my name over and over. Phil Williams heard they story, laughed, and proceeded to serenade me with a chorus or two every time he saw me, laughing and grinning every time). Apparently, I did not need the picture, it seems Phil and those wonderful memories have been here with me in Africa all of the time. Just now I remembered I found an American dime on the way. T the Acholi Inn in the second week. Every single time, I hear "The World's Greatest", 8 think of Stephone Cotton singing it in an Aim High talent show and the curtain opening and twenty fifth graders singing the chorus. "One" sung by Mary J. Blige and U 2 reminds me instantly about the many students who have touched my heart and made me laugh. All the great songs of Paddy O's in 2006 have been renamed with Cardinal highlights and each one is special. "Have Seen All Good People". Reminds me always of four big idiots driving through the Colorado mountains. Each of the hundreds of songs remind me of one of you. The iPod may be gone, but I will always have the memories, much like Miranda Lambert sings in "The House that Built Me.". Which is on my iPod and reminds me of Celia Marten and how much dads love their daughters. "If I could just come in, I'll swear I'll leave, won't take nothing but a memory from the house that built me. You leave home, you move on and you do the best you can. I got lost in this whole world and forgot who I am." I think we all sometimes get lost in this whole world, and when we do maybe should just surround ourselves in memories. Long distance phone call to mom to get prayers to St. Anthony started. Three hours later, and I found my iPod in a story where three things had to happen, of course. I was ecstatic to get it back, but after writing this I just realized I did not need it. What it contains, I already have, and can only lose if I forget the house that built me.

Friendships

I saw a lot of good friends have a tough morning today. So many in this teacher group have invested so much into friendships and relationships with Ugandans they did not know 2 months ago. They were amazing in developing the kinship that Father Boyle talks about. They went to villages, ate meals, and soaked in the Acholi culture. There are several Ugandans who will never forget these Americans, my friends. And this experience for the Americans will be unforgettable, they have invested with their hearts and when we do that bonds tend to last. Friendships made brick by brick last forever, especially when we take the time to place each brick with so much care. Today as we gathered on the bus,there were hugs and many tears between our new friends. It gets more complicated as the American contingent is thrown together in close and accelerated friendships themselves. I would call several of my new teacher friends --close friends already. And now when we are broken hearted about leaving good Ugandans, we will in just two days also come to the realization that we are losing each other. I have been there before you clear customs at JFK and all of a sudden it is over. Because of time and distance it is inevitable that the closeness and greatness of many of these friendships will fade. But that last line is crap. It is what we tell each other when all of this could last if we cared enough to put the effort into working and loving the people in our lives. We jump into a new book or start working on our garden or countless other things that are far so less significant than these wonderful people that we let fall away. When I worked at Nerinx, I thought several of my colleagues were friends. Yet several of my friends still have not picked up a phone or even a Facebook mention to inquire about how I am doing. A year plus later and not a word. That hurt. As soon aa I write this sentence, I realize the inconsistency of my post. If these friendships mattered to me, why don't I do something myself to resurrect or renew these friendships. It is defintely on my agenda for when I get back. I told Josh and Sarah tonight that the one thing about this group that I will share is that I have been closer to who I think I am with this group. Isn't that what friends do? They revel and enjoy exactly who you are. So most of you reading this are family or friends, and as it gets close to midnight sitting in an outdoor bar perched 90 feet above the Nile, I promise to try better and love more ardently the things about you that I already love. And for this group of teachers who are now sleeping soundly in their beds, I am going to work had to make sure you stay in my life.....so sorry you have many,many, many, many bad jokes in your future.

Molly Milford -- Rock Star

I am collecting some letters from Ugandan students at Atanga SS. The main reason I am collecting them is the students of Atanga SS sent letters to Nerinx Hall last year, and they never got to the Nerinx students (sometimes, sometimes, sometimes). I heard from Alfred that not hearing back from these students was a real disappointment to Atanga students. Today I got to understand why, the wonderful girls of our Share Kindness trip sent wonderful cards to Atanga SS, and those girls will be getting a letter back. Rest assured I have more if you are interested. But in trying to make sure everyone was happy, I have a list of those Biloxi people combined with a Ugandan student or two. As the Atanga student returns a letter I take a picture of them, write down the photo number, and hopefully will deliver both a letter and picture to you people in St. Louis. As this process happens, often students gather in groups of ten or twelve surrounding me to see what is happening. Today, it was marvelous as they looked at the list. I do not know why, but a dozen were fixated on the name Molly Milford. There were all trying to say it and pronounce it, and it did not help that my handwriting was sloppy. Molly Milford was all of a sudden the Katy Perry of Atanga SS. She was their dream, and I would like to know what they thought Molly’s life was like, but they just stood their enamored with the name. Several of them were writing it on scraps of paper, as others were pronouncing it Mitford, Miltord, and finally I told them Milford. They repeated the name and giggled. They were this close to meeting their star and they now knew her name. They immediately looked down and one asked, “Sir, what can you tell us about this one, Hannah Graft.” (again my handwriting). I corrected them on the name and then quickly changed the subject as the next name was Pahic, and I did not want to even start on that one. ………….. Do you realize in many of the world’s eyes we are living the dream? We are the people they aspire to be. It is humbling, and should be humbling to all of us. But also their laughter makes me realize our common humanity and we are this close to being a part of each other’s lives. It just takes some effort to reach out and embrace all the people we share our world with. Rachel Hansen took the ties of her sweater and made a funny face after Mass in Jackson at the beginning of the June, and 40 different Ugandans looked at the picture to try to figure out its meaning. They were not too satisfied with my “she was just being silly”. {Oh my God, two great things just happened as I was interrupted by Isaac. One, I finally got to talk to Leonsyo, first time since Sunday, he has been concerned about me for 3 days. And Two, Alfred walked into the dark with the brother of Ronald Kwoyelo, and we have a 10 minute meeting set up for tomorrow. So much has happened, I have not even told you the story of seeing Ronald on Sunday.} So I just want to remind us all, the princesses and the rock stars of our world, that we have a calling to reach out and let those who dream about us, know that their dreams and aspirations are real also. One American cheering for One Ugandan or One Haitian or One Nicaraguan can change the life of someone. What happens to a dream deferred? Sometimes it is put back on track by the simplest of intentions, the simple kindness between Emily Mancuso and Ocwa Alfred Jackson, the hospitality that Mary Grace Barry gave to Okaali John, the letter you wrote…. The picture you shared. I hope someday to have a party where 40 of my favorite Ugandans meet 40 of my favorite Americans and Nina Zanaboni brings 40 people from Nicaragua and Caitlyn Weir knows half of them, and of course in the background Mrs. Fields and Hayley Hunter or sharing a quiet laugh, and Mrs. Nguyen has 8 students around her mesmerized by her simple smile and kindness. It all starts with kindness and then we progress, we discover that boundless compassion that stands in awe of the burdens the world has to carry not in judgment of how they carry them. (Aside to the Biloxi Girls, today I used the hand, this is the best thing you have ever done, etc….) To those of you who have exceeded my expectations, it is quite simple thing. Is it not? The best thing you have ever done in your life is to love. Go do it tomorrow, find someone to love. (And then click on the comment section and tell me about it.)