July 18 - In London Now

How strange - Uganda in the morning and London at night. It has been a long day. I apologize for not add to the blog more often, but the internet in Ugand is slow at best and most days - not available. If you think a phone modem is slow - you should see a connection by satellite phone. So - I am at my hotel in London with lightning fast interent - and what a joy it is. Unfortunately, the computer here won't let me download any pictures, so words will have to do for now. So much has happened since my last blog. Many of you who read this may be on my e-mail list - so it might be repeating what I told you there, but here goes.
Again, the last week has been incredible. Saturday was the big celebration at the secondary school to dedicate their new science lab. Much to our surprise - we were some of the honored guests, along with the Minister of Economic Devlopment from the office of the President of Uganda. The Bishop was also there and what an amazing man he was. There was a mass filled with dancing, singing, special meals, exhibits by the students and families of the students everywhere. We had such a great time. There were many special speeches, the Bishops being the best. He talked to the girls and told them they could be anything they wanted and encouraged them to do well, The girls were all so excited. We came to the primary school yesterday and just played with the girls with their new balls, jump ropes, and puzzles. It was so much fun. The Sisters prepared a meal for us that was like being at home - fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and GUACAMOLE!! Jesus - one of the teachers from CA. had shown them how to make it - so they surprised us with a giant bowl with a Sacred Heart on top made of tomatoes - it was pretty funny. We also got to see the faculty housing - very small - but a beautiful view. We also got to see inside the dorm rooms of the little girls - there are 14 bunkbeds in a room - with barely a walk through. Each child keeps their suitcase at the end of their bed. That is the only place for their posessions. The hope now is to raise enough money to build a new Academic building and free up the classrooms for more dormitory space. It is hardest on the older girls as they are taller, take up more space, etc. My Christmas presents this year will be given to the school in honor of people I love. These girls deserve a better place to sleep and larger classrooms. It is amazing, however, how much they enjoy what they have. They showed us their rooms with such pride!!!
Our farewell days at both schools were heartbreaking and joyful at the same time. At the Primary School - they had a wonderful program where the students gave us dolls and jumpropes and balls that they had made from dried banana leaves. They sang and danced for us as well. The teachers gave us purses or hats and the Sisters gave us plagues made from special bark paper. It was amazing. We had reflection time with both the Primary and Secondary teachers at 2 different times and we were amazed at the impact we had. They were so excited that we were able to help their teachers understand Sacred Heart education better (we had inservices with both). The teachers told the Sisters that they were amazed how we just jumped right in and helped and accepted them as peers and didn't try and tell them what to teach. Apparently they have had visitors a little different from us. I guess we impressed them by washing dishes, moving furniture - whatever needed to be done - we did it. It wasn't work for us, we were just showing our appreciation. Anyway - it was very sad to leave each school especially the seconday school that had been our home for 2 weeks. We grew to love the Sisters like family. They gave each of us girls specials shawls and the 2 men were given African shirts.
Many of the students gave us their e-mails and were sad to see us go.
We spent the next few days being tourists and traveled to Kampala to a craft area to buy presents and such, and then on to Jinja to stay at a convent for 2 nights. Again the Sisters welcomed us like family. We visited falls at the Nile and took a boat ride, then the next day we went to the source of the Nile and took another boat ride. The falls were powerful, beautiful and hypnotizing!! We watched kayakers and rafters go down them and yelled victory along with them as they made it through without tipping over.
Our last night took us through Kampala to our bed and breakfast - run by a different order of nuns. Over dinner we talked about this wonderful trip and Sister Irene said it achieved more than she had ever hoped and dreamed it would be. We are all so proud to be the pilot group and now she is making us her Advisory Committee for further trips. Who knows... maybe I'll get to return. Isn't that a lovely thought?
Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers and keep checking back for pictures, once I get home.
Grace and Peace,
Ruth