BACKGROUND: Douglass's parents are hardworking God-fearing people who have HUGE hearts. They have not only bent over backwards to care for their own children, but they have brought into their home the children of other family members...have put other children through school and have instilled in all of them a sense of responsibility to others and generosity. This is in spite of being poor themselves. They have only taken 1 day off for their own wedding and have not been known to even take a vacation. Douglass' father works hard as a mechanic at his own shop. He started out as a driver for a local judge who is now a very powerful man in Kampala. Douglass' mother has run a household and made things stretch for a HUGE family and cared for children who are not her own. They are those good people who give all they have for others...everything...they give until it hurts and help anyone who asks.
 |
| Fred and Christine...Douglass' parents |
Here is how their surprise went down....
Wednesday Oct 9th:
Douglass and his family plan a surprise party to announce the surprise plans for Friday. All of his siblings/cousins were involved (and there are nearly 10 of them). They dressed in their Sunday best and planned songs and dances to tell their parents how much they appreciate all that they have done for them. Speeches were made...prayers said...it was touching and his parents were overwhelmed.
 |
| Douglass (R) and his siblings presenting the surprise |
 |
| With much laughter and smiling |
 |
| Speeches and song... |
 |
| and dancing.... |
Thursday Oct 10th:
Douglass sends his mother out to the salon to have her hair done. The brothers give their parents a set of clothes to wear to leave for their outing. THIS alone is a huge gift...they have no idea that it is just the beginning.
Friday Oct 11th:
Douglass and I spend the day setting the surprises all over town and getting things ready. Alex the driver helps us. We get to the hotel (The New Madagascar) in the AM and set out another new set of updated traditional outfits for his parents on the bed. We put a CD which is set in a beautiful handmade paper envelope from the Ndere Cultural Center. It is the invitation to dinner and a show there that evening which has been pre-paid in advance for them with reservations made in the front row.
 |
| Douglass and his parents before they left (Alex is the photographer) |
The hotel room is one of the honeymoon suites...large with a sitting room and a bathroom containing a tub of which they have never experienced before. This, not to mention the HOT WATER! The fridge is stocked with soda and waters for them.
There is a bottle of champaign and 2 new wine glasses (they are a part of a set with the remaining glasses waiting back at home for them) sitting on the table. There is also a large box of chocolates and a small vase of local flowers from the hotel.
There is a gift basket sitting next to the bed containing every possible snack they could want...many are things not even Douglass has heard of: Smoked oysters, sardines, crackers then...oranges and apples (an expensive treat here); candies, biscuits, peanut butter, tea, chips (Pringles), cookies, and nuts of many varieties just for example).
 |
| The surprise waiting for them |
Then in the bathroom there is a large basket containing 2 new washcloths, bubble bath, soaps and lotions and other fun bathing toiletries. Douglass and I had a disagreement about many of these things. He was sure his folks would think this was all for decoration and said that it would be tell tale that it was a Muzungu that packed the baskets. Turns out he was right...thank God we called to check on them! I wrote out instructions on how to use the food and the bathing toiletries including how to run the tub.
They drop me off and then head to pick Douglass' parents up. Alex acts as a driver for a famous couple holding the doors for them and taking their luggage. He takes them to the hotel and checks them in (I have prepaid the hotel and the meals already). The staff is aware of the surprise and bends over backwards to make them comfortable. Alex reports in to us throughout the day on how things are going. They are ecstatic!!!
 |
| Going through the treats after arriving |
They have never been to a hotel...never have had a private hire driver for themselves. They call Douglass laughing and saying they are on a different planet! Douglass and I meanwhile are still planting surprises.
Alex returns to pick them up at 5 PM. He reports that they are acting like 2 kids on a first date. I get a call from the Ndere Center asking if I knew where the couple is...they know to expect them as I have prepaid these tickets and dinner as well. I find out they are stuck in traffic and report back to Ndere Center...this is crucial as there is a surprise there waiting for them.
 |
| Posing in their new outfits before heading to the Ndere center |
They arrive and are seated at a table in front. There is an MC who is very very funny and who has a whole history on Douglass' parents including the fact that his mother is a Bugandan princess related to the present Bugandan King. Then the real surprise hits them. They are called down to the stage and are put in chairs facing the stage. The MC announces to the crowd who they are, what they have done for the community and their own family...that Douglass' mother is a princess and that they are greatly loved and appreciated by their family and the community.
 |
| Being presented with the flowers |
 |
| Being treated like the Queen and King! |
They are made to feel amazingly important...people come up to them after the show to ask to have their picture taken with them....Alex checks in saying it could not have gone any more perfect than it had. They return home late but happy beyond belief.
 |
| Some of the traditional dancing |
 |
| Still amazing |
 |
| Being invited to come to the stage to dance! |
Saturday Oct 12th:
Alex picks them up after a large leisurely breakfast and checks them out. He brings them home about noon. They arrive to find a refrigerator sitting in the living room. Douglass' mother screams...this has been a dream of theirs for years! The whole family celebrates. Douglass's parents get the opportunity of a lifetime...to know and hear and see and experience how much their family loves and appreciates them.
 |
| getting ready to leave for home the next day (and their final surprise) |
This was one of the MOST FUN things I have experienced here in Uganda to date...how fun to be a part of a surprise out of this world for 2 of the most deserving people I know...yet whom I have never met. If Douglass is any reflection of who his parents are, then they are angels here on earth and deserve to be celebrated in the biggest way possible!
No comments:
Post a Comment