We got up this morning (to the sounds of roosters, dogs and the Muslim call to prayer), had breakfast, and got to the FH Office (the office is probably less than a half a mile away, but the FH staff insist on sending a taxi-bus for us. As an aside, they seem really eager to ensure we are safe and comfortable. Some of us worry that we are a burden to them; they insist that we are not, and that they are so happy to have us that they just want to do things for us. They work long hours when we are here, but according to Miriam they really view it as more of a break in their normal routine, a welcome time with guests.). Today we met most of the remainder of the staff: David, Sarah, Steven, Amos, Julius and Livingston.
We had a prayer, singing and devotional time, and Moses again told us some important things to remember.
We drove towards the village in a normal Ugandan minibus (capacity: 14!). I'm really glad that we have Allan and Diniz with us; one of the many blessings of having these veterans is that they are able to point out the many changes and improvements along the way, that the rest of us would overlook. Right off the bat we had one pointed out; the highway going towards the village was paved! After a bit we turned off the main highway onto a decent enough dirt road and continued. Diniz and Allan got more excited as we went along seeing familiar (to them) things, culminating in the sign for the school ("St. James School. Motto: Never Give Up!"). We turned and came up to the (fenced) school yard. By this point it was obvious even to me that we were there ... because the children were running towards us. Many, many, many children, most in their green school uniforms.
Every other team before has described this moment, but you just have to experience it to fully appreciate it. You get out of the van, and you are mobbed. Hundreds of the most beautiful children, all of them wanting to shake your hand, many of them then holding on for dear life. The little girls grab your hand and curtsey deeply to you. You try to walk with the rest of the group, but you don't want to leave anyone out, so you move slower and slower towards the goal, eventually immobilized by the many around you who just want to be with you.
In this fashion I managed to get well behind the rest of the team, not even noticing. And at this point I was approached by someone else ... an august-looking and well-dressed older man who I realized I had seen in pictures from previous teams. This was Charles the headmaster. Charles, with a big smile, hugged me warmly and then said something that I think encapsulated the core of what we are doing here:
"Thank you for loving me so much that you came all this way to see me!"
Charles then grasped my hand and walked with me to the school.
Now came the highlight event; the opening ceremonies. We the team were sat on chairs at the front of the school room facing the community, and the speeches began - headmaster (retiring), acting headmistress who is taking over from him, parent-school association, managing committee (I think this would be the equivalent of the board), pastor of the church, teachers, student body representatives, FH, and others. The speeches were either in Lugisu translated into English or English translated into Lugisu.
And of course the children sang .. a choir with powerful voices and any number of excellent soloists, some very young. They sang a number of songs welcoming us, one of them naming us one by one.
This, by the way, is Edward, the youngest and most endearing soloist.
(the amazing part was that later we realized that not all of the children were there; many were away singing at a music competition. So this wasn't even the whole choir. Wow!)
But perhaps the best part of the ceremony was the new team members we gained. A number of children came up to us while we sat, quite boldly in some cases, and soon were sitting on various laps.
One little girl of about four in a white dress perched herself on Vanessa, next to me. She spent the whole time checking her out ... Vanessa's pony tail particularly fascinated her.
As part of the opening ceremonies, we were all given names. It's a symbolic thing, emphasizing our bond to this community; but it is also practical, giving us handles that are easy to pronounce and remember for the people here. You do tend to forget, as many (especially the chidren) speak English and have familiar biblical or traditional English names (Esther, Emmanuel, Sarah, Edward, Charles just to name a few) that on the whole they are more comfortable in Lugisu. Here are our names with their meanings
- Jessica - Nekesa (means "harvest" - it's maize harvest time here)
- Marisa - Mukanwa (mean "beloved")
- Vicky - Muteesi (means "initiator" or "sender" - in reference to her sending multiple members of her family here now and previously)
- Allan - Mulekali (teacher)
- Diniz - Mulisa - (stunningly handsome one)
- Edith -Nakawoya (means "humble" or "inviting and easily approachable")
- Vanessa - Mutonyi (means "beautiful")
- Arnold - Shisa (means "merciful" - reference to be a lab tech and doing health-saving testing)
- Rob - Muyiyi - (means "creator" or "builder", in reference to being an engineer)
After the ceremony we were toured around the school and nearby church. Some highlights:
- the school is now three buildings; remember that when we first partnered with Marare this was zero. I believe that building three was completely local initiative.....
- the picture below shows the enrollment numbers for each level (primary 1 to 7). Note the numbers (that's a lot of kids) and especially the very encouraging gender balance; if anything more girls than boys, up to the top level, so apparently the girls are being encouraged to and supported in attending.
- we talked with one of the new teachers, Emmanuel. At first I tried to think of a way to delicately ask him how old he was; he did not seem old enough to teach. But soon we understood why. Emmanuel is a recent high school graduate who is going into education in the university in October (three year program). In the meantime he is volunteer teaching English and Social Studies! I have to say that that it's hard not to admire that level of dedication.
- we got some insight into agriculture in this farming area. Common field crops are corn (maize), cassava, beans and bananas, with rotation of crops (or sometimes just crops growing together). There are multiple (I believe up to four) crops per year grow.
- The new St. James church is approaching completion. It is an impressive brick building built with locally-made bricks, I would say double the size of the current building. Most of the inside walls are plastered, and the biggest thing remaining to be built is the floor (rammed earth I understand). It is even set up to have electricity - the pole with the line to it already set up outside, awaiting the final connection! This building is entirely a local initiative.
(here's an idea for church building committees everywhere. The village is evidently divided into sections, and each one has responsibility for completing one section of the inside of the church. It must be quite "motivating" to be able to visibly see that your section is falling behind that of your neighbors!)
We left via a second road out of the village (Diniz and Allan: "Hey! This is a new road! When did they build this?"). We finally got back to the FH office at three (we were due at noon, but this is Africa, not schedule-uptight North America, so it was all good). We took a short break and then went back to the school for games.
There was volleyball and netball (a game similar to basketball), with the whole thing culminating in a huge human-chain tug-of-war. I actually managed to miss most of the games as I was dragged into a classroom by a group of children who wanted me to teach them songs. I now have some video of a group of children one degree north of the Equator singing "Jingle Bells." I also got them to teach me songs, and even have them written out in their own hands.
The people may be late but the sun is always on schedule in Africa, and we left a little before sundown. We went back to the FH office for supper and then back home for a sleep. Overall a fantastic day.
Post Script - small update ... I just had to dispatch an unwanted visitor. I first I thought I might keep him, and even tentatively named him "Jimmy" ... he was so tiny and kind of cute ... but even at a quarter of an inch long a cockroach is still a cockroach.
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