VISITING THE SISTERS/PASSING OUT PRAYER QUILTS/GIFTING MICHAEL'S FAMILY/FIRST ROLEX/FIRST BODA RIDE/LAST NIGHT OUT AND SAYING GOODBYE!!

It was a quick 2 weeks and jammed with so many activities. Now that I am writing this, I had forgotten all that we managed to squeeze in there. HMM...I wanted to share some highlights of the remaining days.

One evening we went to the Sister's convent (presently a rental home until the real convent is built) and had a fun evening of dancing, laughing and eating. Marty commented that we should have been eating with the sisters all along because they "knew how to cook"! I have to admit...they prepared a FEAST!

Meeting the women I spent most of the last year with 

Sister Rose calls Mom her Mom

There is always music and dancing with them 

AND good food! 

A feast in fact! 

Brother Neelham, the sisters' driver

Always smiling 

and dancing 

and more dancing 

Sister Rose is my best friend here

Next we spent the day passing out the Prayer Quilts Mom brought from Mike Leahy's organization called Children of Light. The squares were sewn at St Rita's (my home parish) located in Solon, Ohio. I was lucky to meet with Mike before I left and his work with children around the world is inspiring. He was so kind as to have the kids make quilts for both the Bethlehem Home and the Good Shepherd Home. Mom presented one to Brother Gabriel and then we travelled to Good Shepherd to present one to Brother Julius.

Mom explaining the prayer quilt to bro Julius 

Ivan wanted his snap with my family
(Ivan was once a resident of Good Shepherd)

Mom presenting the prayer quilt to the girls of
Good Shepherd

and they sang 3 songs for us! 

My family also had the opportunity to meet Michael's family. Michael was my dear friend and driver when I first arrived here at MOP. He was tragically murdered early Feb of this year and I have missed him ever since. Mom's friends, Margie and Dave Deliz from St Rita's parish, have kept Michael's family in mind for these many months. They asked Mom to gift his family on behalf of her own. I only wish they could see the tears and the gratefulness on the faces of the whole family when Mom presented this gift to them. It meant the world to a family who is desperately poor.

Despite tragedy, God cares for all of us. The prayers of everyone have made an impact on this family. Alex, Michael's brother is now in school to be a public dental professional. Godfrey, who lost his new baby, has now set up his own stand in the market and is starting to sell the produce from his farm. Michaels Mother, a widow herself, is now engaged to a man who is taking good care of her. Peace, Michael's wife, who was pregnant at the time of Michael's death, has now given birth to a beautiful baby girl who they named "Carol". How blessed am I?

Preparing snacks and tea for Michael's family

Rosette (Michael's Mom), Godfrey (Michael's youngest brother) Aiden (Michael's oldest son)
Me, Alex (Michel's brother next in line) Mom and Peace (Michael's wife)

Mom and Alex 

Rosette and I with Carol, my namesake
(Michaels' daughter) 

Then it was a ROLEX. One cannot leave Kampala without eating a rolex! It is a wonderful greasy and artery clogging comfort food that has become my favorite. I always go to ivan's stand at the corner near Busega. he makes the best one's as far as I am concerned. Marty got to meet Ivan one day but Sabrina and Mom wanted to check out the stand as well the next day...they did walk to the corner when one of the sudden Ugandan downpours occurred.

Realizing they left without any raincoat or umbrella, I made my way down the now river that once was a street carrying everything I had to dry them off. The boda guys at the corner shouted at me laughing as I tried to keep my pncho from flying away. I then escorted them but Mom by hand down the slippery muddy road back to Busega to dry off and eat their stash. I think they agreed...it was well worth it!

Marty at Ivan's Rolex stand

Enjoying Uganda's double cheeseburger...the ROLEX

Next was the boda ride. I was bound and determined to take Marty and Sabrina downtown...the REAL downtown via boda to get a real feel for the city. Mom was not left out. She got to ride the boda home but we opted not to torture her with the crowds and traffic...was a good idea...one can easily get claustrophobia there and the sights and sounds can be overwhelming. I feel good that Marty and Sabrina really got to see the craziness of this city.

Sabrina was the first one to ride. Sabrina here with Venance

Marty and one of the guys from the corner

Mom with Sister Hilda encouraging her

We then spent one last night at the Ndere Cultural Center. Another MUST DO when in Kampala. WOW...I had no idea how wonderful this would be! We had soo much fun! Alex joined us as well as Douglass. TEH MC was soo crazy funny and the dancing was AMAZING...the food was local and fantastic and the company priceless.

My family having fun with MY FAMILY on their last night here! 

Unbelievable dancing! 

Then it was time to say goodbye....there were many many hugs and begging to stay...begging to come back soon. The brothers are still asking about my family. They made such an impression on them all. I know I will be back...I have a feeling that pieces of my family's heart will remain here. I know most of mine will too.

Medson the driver

Julius to the L and Medson to the R
Both of them are our fab drivers! 

Nicholas the gate guard

BACK TO WORK

There was little to no down time after coming home. Sunday, my family was treated to the amazing cooking of Christine and her family. They made a traditional Ugandan meal complete with everything including matoke, G-nut sauce, kasava, greens, potatoes, etc etc. Imagine Thanksgiving dinner and you get the picture. It was lovely to be able to chat and visit and have my family meet the people that kept me healthy most of my stay.

Monday was back to work. The next few days were spent at Busega with the boys and an exhausting list of chores and personal care for the little ones. I was impressed at the stamina of everyone knowing just how exhausting this can be.

Exercise: aka Laundry by Hand

Ride to work 

Some of the events over the week included Sabrina helping Douglass, Brother Gabriel and I break Sibabi out of the hospital (he just was losing weight and continuing to have drainage from his abdominal incision. Brother Josalito drove the ambulance from Mengo Hospital to The Surgery (my clinic) where he saw a doctor that was actually able to help. He arrived home after a wild ambulance ride. Douglass and Bro Josalito decided to take full advantage of being in an ambulance and drove like a maniac through traffic congested Kampala streets with lights and sirens blaring. I could barely hold on but glancing towards Sibabi, I only saw a HUGE smile on his face. We kept the sirens on as we drove into Bethlehem Home to allow an arrival in style! The boys were happy to have their friend home!

Sabrina finds a calendar from Sanofi Bio...Marty's company...at
Mengo Hospital. How funny!

Sibabi before leaving Mengo

showing us the scars from 3 back to back abdominal surgeries 

Thank you Sabrina for helping break Sibabi out of Mengo Hospital!
(in the ambulance) 

Probably the craziest (but amazingly good) driver I have ever met!
Brother Josalito

I also made Marty teach a class for me. He had to "wing" how to write a proposal. The brothers enjoyed listening to him instead of me babble and were intrigued with his Jerusalem Cross which one wears for mission work. They also received the rosaries that were donated by St Rita Church in Solon, Ohio. They were VERY VERY HAPPY about this!

Marty and the captive audience

THANK YOU ST RITA'S
for the rosaries 

We want one picture with "Muddy" 

Sabrina also assisted in passing out snacks to our kids at the school during break time. It was good for her to meet them as they are in school before we get there and after we leave. She also assisted Douglass in treating many of the kids.

Sabrina and Douglass doing what they do best! 

Sign at the school
(guess I qualify now)

Passing out snacks with Bro Gabriel 

Posing at the gate with Bro Gabriel
our "In Charge"

Meanwhile, Mom was doing PT on the kids and teaching them songs. Wouldn't you know it, the kids who were not speaking were now singing "twinkle twinkle little star" after she left. In fact to this day, Joseph (AKA Crazy Man) is still calling for Sister Sabrina and Sister Patricia.

"Help me...PLEASE???!"

Have Lap- Will Come
(Mom with her boys)

Everyone wanted to be close to Mom!

Mom doing therapy with Trevor

There was hand washing of laundry, cleaning and packing to do as well. Then there HAD to be a goodbye supper with all the brothers present. Marty stood up and gave a speech that the brothers are still talking about. Many are amazed with his spiritual knowledge and some even said he needs to be an evangelist...Well...THERE YOU GO MARTY! AND...of course...Mom got up and danced again!

YET...there was still more.....

END OF THE SAFARI

It was a fun trip and despite the running around, we did manage to enjoy the lodge and it's beauty. They had traditional dancers the night before we left. One came up to me to get me to dance....NOPE...NO WAY, however, Mom and Sabrina took him up on the offer and away they went!

Mom and Sabrina shaking it with the locals 

Last breakfast overlooking Kazinga Channel 

dining to the sounds of elephants trumpeting

Pretty terrace of Mweya

The last of the wildlife....gifted with sighting the
"keester"  of a lion

It was still a beautiful drive home despite having some overheating issues along the way. We pulled over by a small shop to cool off the engine and ended up meeting a really nice shop owner who had never had Muzungu tourists stop at his stand. Lucky for us he had sodas. Lucky for him we bought a whole bunch of stuff including baskets made by his wife. We met his children and the neighbors who gladly did a show and tell with their turtle.

Then it was just a Loooonnng drive home....

Goofin round

coming to check out the Muzungus

show and tell with the local turtle
(They were all a bit afraid of it)

One of the shop owner's daughters

Calvin Klein all the way 

I feel so blessed that I was able to share this experience with my family... Brian and Douglass are now a part of my family and will be as long as they so choose.