Something I always wanted to do...

Giraffe Centre, Nairobi, Kenya

Don't Mess With...

It has become a ritual, of sorts, at St Anthony friary to watch "Don't Mess With Kansiime" (pronounced kan see may') on DSTV between the end of supper and the beginning of Night Prayer.  Kansiime Anne is a comic who does these 5 minutes skits where she freely gives her mind to anyone who crosses her path.  She is very funny even if I don't get all that she says.  You can catch her on Youtube.  Just search for the title of the show or by her name.  Here is a link if you want to see her in action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBaJIaFOqlk

The reason why I bring her up is because on October 31st she aired a skit about Halloween.  She always has another person as her foil in the skit and usually her feelings are dumped on this person. This night her partner was an English man who comes into the scene dressed as a Masi warrior with his face painted to look like a zombie.  He encourages her to 'dress scarry' and join in the Halloween fun.  She tells him in ten different ways how stupid it all is.  At one point she says, "You never saw an African ghost, have you? If had you would really be scared." She goes on to say that there are very many scary things in Africa and you don't have to dress up for them.  They are real. Her partner continues to try to get her into the spirit of Halloween but Kansiime will have nothing to do with it.  She at one point agrees with him and says, "You want to see scary?", and of course he agrees. She ducks down behind a wall and comes back up with two machetes (although they are called Pangas, here). They look very sharp and it frightens the man and he runs off.

The truth is that there is more here than just the humor that comes from the juxtaposition of cultures. The message for me is that you don't really see your own culture until it is reflected in the light of another culture.  Life and death are serious things here.  Many people, Catholics included, believe that Spirts roam the earth.  Misfortune, illness or even success can sometimes be attributed to witchcraft and evil spirits. These are serious matters and are taken seriously. Dressing as a spirit in a village anywhere in Kenya or Uganda (I mentioned these places because I have lived there.) could result in being chased out of the village and being properly beaten or even killed.

I did't mind hot having Halloween this year.  I haven't observed it in many years.  I did miss the Candy Corn, which I would eat one color at a time.  I also missed the cool weather and the promise of winter in the air.  When I was a kid I would love it when a neighbor would put an apple in my Trick or Treat bag, especially if it was a juicy Macintosh.  So take it from Kansiime Anne, don't mess with mixing cultures.  You may get a scary surprise. You may get a gift you don't want.

Kansiime Anne

Imagine, ladling up a portion of soup and seeing the above greet you.  Not just one, but many! That was my experience two weeks ago when I was visiting the Postulants in Mwanza, Tanzania. Mwanza is a city of about 700,000 people on the shores of Lake Victoria. So these fish are plentiful. They are called Doga (accent on the final syllable).  The taste is fish, plainly put, and they are a bit chewy. They are a  main source of protein for the men in formation there so they are eaten three times a week.  They are small in size and the eyes are a brilliant silver when cooked.  When the postulants asked me how I liked the fish I said, "The taste is good but  I am not use to having my food look back at me." Luckily they understood me and laughed. Here is what they look like when they are dried.

 You might wonder if these have been gutted. I didn't ask and I don't want to know.  Its all a gift.

Keep Going

“If you hear the dogs, keep going. If you see the torches in the woods, keep going. If there's shouting after you, keep going. Don't ever stop. Keep going. If you want a taste of freedom, keep going.” attributed to Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman was an escaped slave from a plantation in Maryland. She left her family to flee north to freedom.  Despite a bounty on her head she returned to lead her family to freedom and 50o other black men and women. through a system of travel called the Underground Railroad.  She made an astounding 19 trips into the south and walked people thousands of miles to the border of Canada. This remarkable woman also served her country as a scout, spy and nurse during the Civil War.

In July I was asked to speak to newly professed friars at their profession ceremony.  I lived with these eleven men  for my first five months in Africa in the village of Kakoba, Uganda just outside Mbarara. I taught them and prayed with them and they helped me acclimate myself to this new and beautiful continent.  I chose this quotation as a way of encouraging them to persevere in their vocation in the months and years ahead.  When I thought to write about this in this blog, I was not aware that Hillary Clinton used this quotation in her speech at the Democratic National Convention.  Regardless, the message of these words are universal and so I re-visit them again.  

What I told the newly professed friars was that there will be hard times ahead.  I said this knowing full well that many of these men came from conflict-torn parts of Africa and some lost parents to war. I knew they knew hard times.  I said that there will be times in the future when they will want to quit and I told them to 'keep going'. They may spend the night reading and re-reading the same page of Philosophy but to 'keep going'. They may be lonely in a friary full of friars, but 'keep going'.  When all things seem to be working against them to 'keep going'.  If they want to taste the freedom of God, 'keep going'.

I offer this thought for anyone who is struggling.  Keep going, the gift is ahead.

EEEEEK! They drive on the left here.

Well I did it! I have driven a car in Kenya and survived to tell the tale.  I must confess, I do not have my Kenya license yet but necessity required to drive.  The Guardian at St Anthony friary fell wrong and broke his knee. So I have had to drive him to and from his doctor visits. I have been paying attention in the past few months and I was able to adjust quiet well. My only problem is using the turn signal. Here the turn signal is on the right of the steering column. So for the first few times I drove I kept turning on the windshield wipers.  The other problem, which I must pay close attention to is the speed bumps.  Instead of stop signs or other signals speed bumps are used before and after every major intersection.  Which is okay, really because sometimes you are warned about the bumps with a sign, a black and white pole or the bumps themselves are painted black and white (what they call a zebra crossing).  Sometimes  however the bumps are not marked at all. So I am very cautious. Getting my Kenya license is next on my program just before learning Swahili.

This is the remains of one of our cars. Two young Deacons Peter and George were driving and failed to negotiate a turn and this is the result.  It was about supper time when we got the call that there had been an accident. One of the friars involved and was in shock and since he could not see the other friar assumed he was dead.  Thanks to our good and loving God the night of this accident was a  night of miracles.  The two friars in this car were not seriously hurt. The driver spent two nights in the hospital with chest pains and some minor internal bleeding. The other went home that night.  There was something more than air bags and seat belts that saved these two young friars.  The driver of the other car spent one night in the hospital for observation and was sent home.  Another miracle involved passing taxi driver who took charge of both friars, drove them to the hospital and stayed with them until we arrived.  He even let a fare go in order to do this.  A good man by the name of Wicliffe.  The miracles continue with awareness and thankfulness and all the positive fraternal response of the friars. The American in me believes that if they were driving on the right as is right and proper this might not have happened but the rest of me believes that  All is Gift.  tim

Pushing a Pig

A lot of work resulting in nothing

I have been reading a really good book on Conflict by Jonan Fernandez who was instrumental in bring the conflict in the Basque region of Spain to an constructive conclusion.  The book is called, "Being, Human in Conflicts" (The comma there is important.)  The above picture is on the cover of the book. Briefly, the books puts forth some sound and constructive ways to look at conflict whether it be a relational, familiar, local, national or international conflict.  

Why I present this picture here is after 6+ years in formation work for the friars I find sometimes the picture depicts a perfect metaphor for formation.  Forming young friars is sometimes like pushing a pig.  Futile at times but I must say always rewarding.  I have learned that if I am facing the wrong end of the pig I need to re-evaluate my approach.  I guess many times the problem is not with the pig. It is with me.  I recently began working as the Master of Students in the House of Theology for the province of St Francis in Africa, Madagascar and Mauritius (phew! that is always a long title to type).  I am making a lot of changes to the program.  I adopted this strategy.  Ask for a lot, say it is a suggestion, dialogue and then settle for less than I asked for, which is what I wanted in the first place.  It worked. I am implementing what I feel are program enhancements while the young friars believe they had a hand in the decision.  I could have pushed the pig and gotten no where instead I addressed the beast as the intelligent animal it is. (Did you know that animal behaviorist say that pigs are smarter than dogs?)   

Some may take exception to me referring to the young friars as pigs.  I know. But really when I am pushing the pig I acknowledge that I am the pig in actuality, pig headed that is.  It is all projection really. Me projecting the negative side of myself on to those with whom I have difficulty. Awareness like this is a real gift.  If others are not the problem then it is me? More than likely it is.

Today is September 5, 2016, Labor Day in the US. I miss the cookouts, the Brats, burgers and burnt chicken.  Labor Day in Kenya in May 1. I wonder how it is celebrated? Stay tuned and find out.  ODE   tim

The OF/FOR Controversy

The OF / FOR Controversy

The picture above was taken in the friary library here at St. Anthony.  The third line says, (in case it does not read well) "Long Essays For Former Students".  In fact the long essays are written by former students and therefore the sign should read "Long Essays of Former Students". Now I have to admit when I first saw this sign the teacher in me wanted to correct the grammar. I resisted that temptation. I was reminded of a time a few months ago when I ran across another misuse of the word OF. This occurred when I was still in Uganda living at the Novitiate.  

The Novitiate is on the top of a hill and I was making my way somewhere and I encounter two novices walking up the hill. We met half way down the hill.  I noticed one of the Novices had in his hand a black plastic bag, so obviously they had been shopping at the markets at the bottom of the hill.  We stopped and I inquired what had they purchased.  The novice opened the bag and said proudly, "Legs of dogs."  At the same time I peered into the bag and saw what looked like furry legs. My face must of had an expression of horror on it because the Novice quickly added, "Legs for dogs."  They had purchased legs of slaughtered goats that would be cooked to feed the three dogs that we had.  I told him that was very different and we parted and I was relieved that nothing horrible had happened to our dogs and thought that prepositions can save a life. 

Now, I know that one of the many things that makes English hard to learn is the subtle use of prepositions.  One little word can mean many different things depending on context.  For example the word "of" is defined in seven different ways. "OF" is used to indicate direction, origin and identity to name three.  "FOR" of the other hand has 32 different meanings.  That's a lot!  All this is according to a web site I found (www.dictionary.com)  

Correct or not to correct?  Do I begin a crusade to eradicate improper syntax wherever it is found? How far should I go to ensure proper English usage?  Will I run the risk of being a grammar goon? I think not. English needs to grow and it grows through use. My judgments aside, is it my business to correct others intent?  Meaning is conveyed regardless and that is the whole point of language; communicating intent.  Take the above photo. Anyone who is a former student would not be in this library looking for reading material (trust me on that fact). That person has moved on to bigger and better things. So if the Long Essays are not for former students then they must be of them instead.   

Language is intimately linked with culture and in some ways language at the same time reflects the culture. I live in a culture in which English is second (or sometimes third or forth) language a person may know. It is the colonizing language of the victors of a long ago struggle that is still being played out as Kenya and all of Africa strive to overcome colonialism through sustained development.  Maybe its time for English to evolve into a much friendlier language with simpler rules. Maybe the above is a truly a sign of such an evolution. Let's hope for God. Remember it's all gift.

My new home

 Okay, the picture I put up last time was of a group of male impalas. They are called locally "the losers club" because the failed to mate this season and so have to hang out with other losers.

Entrance to the Chapel just past the front door

I have arrived in Nairobi to very cold (by African standards) weather. It is still the dry season so rain is scarce and the ground is cracked. There is not the amount of dust present as in Uganda, thankfully. By cold I mean in the 60's for highs during the day.  I guess I have acclimated since I have two blankets on my bed.  I have jumped into my new position as Master of Students very quickly and am busy learning the ins and outs of running a house of 20+ people.  So far so good. I am including some pictures of my new friary, St. Anthony.

Front Door

                                                                          Chapel looking to the left and right

Chapel Center

Recreation Room


Refectory

News

Well, I have been transferred.  I sorta expected this to happen but I also wanted to stay here in Uganda.  I will be moving back to Nairobi in a part of town called Lang'ata. It is were the Province has a house for the temporary professed studying theology. Does that sound familiar?  Yes, it is what I was doing in Chicago. I will be the Master of the formation effort there.  I will also be the Secretary of Formation and Studies.  My main task will be to formulate and execute a program that forms the formators.  I am excited about both of these assignments.  I am not, however, looking forward to the over night trip to Nairobi.  The novices make there first profession of vows on the 15th so I will be leaving after that.
I will leave you with this photo. I call it "Losers Club"  Can you guess why?

Myths

I am finishing up teaching a week long course of HIV and AIDS Mainstreaming to the Bachelor candidates in Counselling. This is described as "Mainstreaming AIDS is a process that enables development actors to address the causes and effects of AIDS in an effective and sustained manner, through both their usual work and within their workplace" UNAIDS, World Bank and UNDP(2005).
Part of our work together focused on the Myths that surround HIV and AIDS. Here is a list of some of the myths that we uncovered:

Myths

1. ARVs (antiretroviral medication) will solve all my problems and I don’t have to worry about HIV anymore.

2. Drinking 5 liters of saliva from an infected person will infect a person.

3. HIV and AIDS is a Haitian disease.

4. AIDS is a gay disease.

5. AIDS means American Initiate to Destroy Sex.

6. Saliva, sweat, urine, mucus and feces can infect a person with HIV.

7. Mosquitoes transmit HIV.

8. Sharing wash rooms, eating utensils, socks, bed sheets, toilets and swimming pools can transmit HIV.

9. You can contract the HIV virus by being coughed upon by an infected person.

10. Sex with children cures AIDS

11. HIV and AIDS are problems of the poor.

12.  It can’t happen to me!

13. HIV is only active during the day. You cannot catch it night when HIV is sleeping

14. HIV is an American idea.

15. If circumcised you cannot contract HIV.

16. Having intercourse with and elderly women is safer sex. Old women do not have HIV.

17. Having and HIV test is protection from contracting the virus.   
To let you know of the prevalence of HIV and here is Uganda I have attached the following:

The Power of the Collective

I was in the middle of teaching my first course at St. Francis Counsellor Training Institute. I was teaching Integral Theory.  It can pretty dry theoretical stuff so I needed an activity to get the students out of their chairs and talking to each other.  We were talking about the three modes of consciousness, Art, Science and Morals. So I decided to pull out a favorite exercise that I have done many times in the past with a variety of people.  It is call HIROSHIMA and it is a values clarification exercise.  The group is given a list of twenty people of different backgrounds and expertise.  The story is that a bomb will be dropped that will eradicate human life on the planet. The group is tasked with naming ten people who will enter the shelter and live and ten who will not and die and they need to tell why people live and why they are to die.  In the past people worked diligently to pick the ten people. Sometimes they argue as to why but in the end they all came up with their list.  So this time was not so different, at least on the surface.  The class broke up into four different groups and worked on the task.  Again, in the past, the responses reflected the group as it did this time. Answers vary from group to group.  The most interesting came from a group of prisoners but that is another story.  On the list of twenty people were:

an HIV+ doctor             a male nurse                 a lawyer              a  housewife                 

A woman with 2 children (the children counts as one adult)

A farmer                         a traditional healer      a politician          a gay teacher

a truck driver with a criminal past

Female police officer  an army soldier             a boda boda driver*           a convicted rapist        an elderly woman

A teenage student       a chemist                       an electrical engineer           a schizophrenic man   a professional football player

*Boba Bodas are the main means of quick and cheap inner city transportation by motorcycle. The drivers are not known for their honesty and are usually resourceful and clever.

Well the first group shared their results. They explained who they chose and why. The second group went through each person on the list and told of how he or she may be important to the new society and why they could not exclude that person. So at the end of the list I asked, “So what is your answer?” They said, “They all live!” This is the first time in ten years of doing this exercise that I got such an answer.  Without letting in on my surprise I asked them to justify their decision.  The group leader said confidently, “If it is a matter of space and sharing food we have been doing that for centuries. We know how to do that and do it well. There is no reason why anyone has to die.”  We discussed the African culture as a collective society.  That each member is important and that people live for one another and for the group.  I was evangelized by this response.  Why does anyone have to die so others can live?  In the US, elections are coming up and I am reflecting on how my votes in the past may have saved a life or taken a life. Big question. Something I will ponder before making my next X. Peace  ODE

Odds and Ends

Well it is the end of May, the month of Mary.  Today the novices prayed the Rosary with the Christians that worship with us.  Today is the feast of the Visitation as well and fitting end to the month!  Yesterday I took the bus to Kampala to submit my payment information for my work visa. It was a long trip made even longer by the visit to Uganda by the President Park of South Korea. She visited an agricultural station on the Masaka Road on which I had to travel. Well to make the way clear for her the police blocked the road for an hour and a half.  At least the weather was overcast and the temperatures remained comfortable.  Getting my work visa has been a long and hard trek for me. It has been hard because of my lack of knowledge about things.  For example, I had to get a letter from the archdiocese which I received. So off I went to Kampala ( which is 267 kilometers from Mbarara or 165 miles).  Only to find out that I did not have the right letter. The one I received was addressed to me (a sort of welcome letter) the one I needed for Immigration should have been addressed to Immigration (duh). If I had known that I would have not traveled all that way for nothing. That's not really true I did pick up the required file folder to submit my application.  This whole process has been just like that.  Anyway its all near to an end.  On the positive side I have come to tolerate Kampala more than when I first visited.

Kampala is the capital and the largest city in Uganda. It has the worst traffic I have ever experienced. It is not out of the ordinary to turn a corner and hit a dirt road.  The main road into the city has a stretch of road that is so full of pot holes that there is no pavement at all. After it rains it turns into a lake (a red lake since the soil is red).  All the while the vehicles are slowly moving through the holes there are boda bodas (motorcycles) zipping around the cars, cutting in front, and going up on the sidewalk or the median. It makes for chaotic traveling. I wouldn't call it traveling more like creeping.

The novices are getting  a little anxious.  They see the end of the program in sight, which of course means first profession of vows.  They will make vows in the middle of July.  Despite what they may be feeling their spirits remain high.

Politically, things are somewhat pensive. A few people I have talked to say that something is coming. What that is no one is really too sure. Speculation can be dangerous so suffice to say that the effects of the election in February are still being felt here. The opposition candidate is in prison for treason. This occurred after he staged a swearing in ceremony for himself as President.  I will keep you informed should anything else arise.

Once I receive my passport, I will be traveling to Nairobi, Kenya for Provincial Chapter.  It is being held in a town outside of Nairobi called Karen. The town is named after Karen Blixen who lived there. She wrote a book about here life in Kenya called, "Out of Africa". You may of heard of it or the movie of the same name.  I may be late because it takes 5 working days to place the visa in may passport.  The delay be because of June 3rd, which is the feast day of the Ugandan Martrys - a public holiday.  Speaking of which, on my way to and from Kampala there were hundreds of pilgrims making their way to the shrine of martyrs in Namugongo. Here is a picture of the shrine

So it is with this image I say goodbye for now. Peace and all good things.  ODE  tim

Lake Mburo National Park

My friend and Novitiate class-mate, Moises Guiterrrez came to visit me last week.  We took a day trip to Lake Mburo National Park.  We drove through the park and saw a large assortment of animals. I took this picture at a defunct water hole. The picture was taken in color but for some reason came out in black and white.  Moises took a picture also and the same effect occurred.  The sight made be think of how in nature nothing is wasted. Even in death there is a gift to be had. 

Dead and decaying Water Buffalo

Below, Moises is shown clowning with some of the Novices.  Moises' time in Uganda enjoyed by all!

Brother Joseph, on the far right tries to catch his balance as Moises gives his hip a push in his direction.

Season of the Locust

Well, since it is the rainy season here in Western Uganda it means cooler weather and locusts.  The locals call them Senelle.  I am not sure of the spelling of this but they are highly sought after. As I speak the Novices here at the Kakoba Novitiate are busy catching locusts and preparing them for tonight's supper.  The work is easy since they are everywhere.  I have taken two pictures as they are being prepared. They are placed in an oven to kill them and then the legs and wings are removed. Later they will be fried to a golden brown. They will be dessert tonight!  I have tried them once. The taste was ok but I had a very hard time with what was caught in and between my teeth.  I did not know what part of the bug caught but I did want to rush to floss my teeth.  So what do they taste like? I can't describe it, definitely not like chicken.

At night, you can see these bright lights piercing the night sky. People set up these lights to attract the locusts in great numbers.  They place large sheets of shiny corrugated aluminum into barrel drums and these barrels are placed into an oval shape. Somehow the locusts attracted by the lights fly into the aluminum and then fall into the barrels. These lights burn all night.

Gifts came in all sizes and shapes. Some time gifts fly from the sky and land on your plate for supper. Enjoy what lands on your 'plate' today. God is gifting you. Don't let the gift get caught in your teeth. Peace

Right from the wood fired oven.

Novice Henry removing the unnecessary appendages

My Trip North

This past week I was in Northern Uganda.  I was on a promotional tour for a new program being offered at St. Francis Family Helper Programme.  This new service is a workshop for teachers to help them develop alternatives to corporal punishment.  Besides beating, teachers also use both verbal and emotional abuse.  It has been a practice of beating children when they misbehave.  The child lays on her stomach. The teacher may place his foot on either the child’s neck, lower back or the back of the knee to keep the child in place.  Three to ten strokes of a stick is applied to the buttocks, thigh or the bottom of the feet. The number of strokes speaks to the severity of the misbehavior. This is a common practice throughout Africa and is not uncommon among adults as well.  Thieves, when caught, are frequently beaten by those who are near-by, sometimes to death. 

St. Francis Center is trying to alter this practice.  There is an awareness in education circles that this practice of beating should stop and the time is right to bring this thinking into the mainstream.   Once the teachers have received the training, the plan is that the teachers then instruct the parents. The real focus of this effort is alternatives to beating the child so time is spent on classroom management techniques for example.

I was in Gulu for part of the week.  On the way home we passed through Murchison Falls National Park. This is in the West Nile region of the country.  Just after crossing the Nile we saw these elephants on the right. What I didn’t get a picture of was the herd of gazelle that were on the right. 

The rainy season has settled in here and I guess I have acclimatized myself because at 70 degrees I am feeling cold.  It is all gift.  Peace

A Person Named Gift

Gift is a person I heard about in my travels. I will not speak directly about this person’s problems, that would not be appropriate, but I want to speak about the problems and issues faced by young people in Uganda.  In a way, I use the name, ‘Gift’ as a way to illustrate how this land is full of stark contrasts; full of rich meaning and hope.

The term ‘young’ refers to people out of secondary school but not yet married and still living at home.  In the US we send our young away to school or to the armed services where the job of fledging falls on others to some degree.  This too happens in Uganda but not to the extent it occurs in the US.  It is that fledging age when a person finds him or herself and becomes an adult.  These young people enter this time of transition burdened with the past.  Old wars, insurgencies, rebellions and genocides weigh heavy upon these young people’s parents. The experience of trauma is passed on from generation to generation.  The injuries themselves remain with those who experienced them but the effects roll through the ages like a tsunami batters a coastline. 

One case in point is Alcoholism. Alcohol is frequently the drug of choice for those needing to self medicate from the effects of trauma.  Since the trauma is widespread so is the use of alcohol.  So much so that the age of first intoxication is around age 10.  The effects of intoxication frequently lead to domestic violence in the home. The man of the house comes home drunk, expecting meat on the table but there is none, because he has done nothing to earn the money to purchase meat. He was drinking all day.  He becomes enraged and beats his wife and children.  In one village in Northern Uganda the clan elders issued a decree that any man found having beat his wife or children is subject to 100 lashes. This punishment was imposed once, so far. 

Another situation is the effect within a generation.  In Northern Uganda the rebels would kidnap young boys and force them to fight in the rebellion. This rebellion lasted for 25 years. These young boys were forced to kill friends, neighbors and even family members.  The rebellion is over but the effect remains. These boys returned to their villages traumatized and ostracized by the entire village and clan. They are outsiders, living on literally on the periphery of the village. Imagine half of your third grade classmates vanish only to return several years later as hardened murderers; Addicted and relying on a life of crime to survive. Half of a generation lost but still very present as ghosts of a past that all want to forget

Fear of the unknown also plagues most people. So when difficulties such as rebellions occur people here in Uganda return to the land.  The life in a village is known, not always safe, but at least your basic needs can be met.   The known and the communal are comforting and welcoming because it is safe.  Anybody that is different becomes a threat.  For example, let’s say a child is an independent person who speaks his or her mind.  This may not be tolerated.  Physical punishment on children can be severe although there are movements to end such practices, it is still prevalent.  Sometimes the cause of a child being ‘different’ is attributed to demons. People believe in demonic possession.  A child who is unwanted can be labeled demonic so much so that the person, now a young adult, believes it. There is no future for a person with such a label. Getting rid of people by accusing them of having a demon also happens to the elderly.  If an elderly person owns some land and the family wants it and cannot wait until the person dies accusations of possession sometimes is used to drive the person from their land. 

The drunken father who beats his wife and children, the ex-child soldier living off of alcohol and petty crime, the unwanted young person with a ‘demon’ all are Gift to me.  They survive, sometimes barely, on hope and kindness of others.  I see no evil just pain lived out and passed on.  Is there a person named Gift in your life?

Meet Jack

This is Jack.  He is one of three dogs that "guard" the compound at night.  If you call licking and jumping and playing guarding.  He is young, still under a year., The other two shown below are brother and sister and are about three to four months younger then Jack.  The other two are very shy. (Those who know me know my history with shy dogs.) Jack is very friendly and out going and smart as a whip.  I have begun to train him in the basics, like 'sit', 'down' and the biggie 'NO'. Within a weeks time he was trained on the leash! I called him Jack (and by the way animals in Uganda are to serve a purpose and usually are not named.) Jack is a hound and looks a lot like a Pharaoh Hound; stand up pointy ears sleek nose long racer-like body. Check it out and let me know what you think he is?  So why 'Jack'?  when I first saw the three I thought that they were Jack Russel Terriers but as they got older they grew too big to be JRT's. But the idea stuck. So this one is Jack, the other all tan (male) dog is Russell and the multicolored female is Terry.  Get it? The other male and female are still warming up to me, especially when I come with treats. The stores here actually sell Pedigree dog treats which they love. Their kennel is just behind my bedroom window so I get to hear their antics all day and sometimes in the night. A loud yell out the window quiets things down.
I enjoy having them around especially since there is a novice whose job it is to clean their kennel and feed them.  Below is the picture of "the kids". I hope that the joy that came to you on Easter Sunday continues throughout the whole of the Easter Season. Peace and all good.  ODE  tim

Left to Right Jack, Terry and Russell

Prison Visit

Fr. Dismas Turinawe, OFM is the Guardian of the Novitiate in Kakoba, Uganda, where I live. He is a member of The Province of St. Francis in East Africa. His personal project is to visit those imprisoned at the three prisons in the Mbarara area. Myself and two novices accompanied him last Saturday on a visit to one prison in Kakkia (sp?). He makes two trips a week and brings different novices with him each time. It is part of their ministry experience of the Novitiate. He celebrated Mass for about 30 inmates. He also has helped with the inmates school fees but the resource for the money has dried up and it is not possible at this time. He is able to provided medicine when he can. More on that later.

The conditions in the prison are very primitive. There are only dirt floors and concrete walls. The place looks run-down but the men appear neatly dressed and clean in their bright yellow uniform shirts and shorts. Pants are also available but since it was a warm day most of the inmates were in shorts. The cloth also has a black pin stripe about a foot or so apart. It was meal time when we arrived so we had time to observe the main and only meal of the day. The inmates eat once a day. They were given a large bowl of maize (corn meal) which is cooked to a solid (sort of like mashed potatoes but thicker in consistency) and a large portion of cooked red beans. I saw many of the men walk back to their living areas with uneaten food. This was to be consumed later, or so I was told by the Novices. The Novices also informed me about the life in prison. The inmates work very hard in fields doing farm work and other manual labor. Individuals hire out the inmates through the government. The government is paid for this work but the inmates do not get paid. Their medical care is through another inmate who also is a nurse. If treatment or care is required the inmates are provided with this. Families are sometimes required to pay for any treatment received. Medication is not always provided and if the inmate does not have family they go without. That is why Fr. Dismas has added this to him ministry when funds allow.

I was struck with the attitude of the men I observed. They were polite and grateful for our presence. The worship space was a porch of a building that was about four feet wide and thirty feet long. It faced the main courtyard that lead to the “Kitchen” area and where the inmates obtained their food for the day. Despite the noise of men getting their food and the cramped conditions of the worship space the inmates were focused and participated fully in the Mass. My impressions of these inmates is not unlike my impression of inmates that I have worked with in the US. I guess the effects of incarceration, regardless of the environment, conditions and situation, are universal. In times of trouble men turn to their faith for consolation and a feeling of normalcy. One of the corporal works of mercy is to visit the imprisoned. I recognize you may not be in a position to do so but during this Lent please say a prayer for all people, Men and women, throughout the worldo who are in prison. Peace and all good. ODE tim

I want to tell you what is happening with the friars of St John the Baptist. During Lent they have been saving 1 dollar a day to be given to support my work in Uganda.  This includes medicine assistance for men in prison ( I will write about this tomorrow.)  and tuition assistance for Bachelor candidates at St Francis Counsellor Institute in Mbarara.  I wanted to take a minute and tell you how this money will be spent.  It takes about 5 million 550 thousand Uganda Shilling for one Bachelor degree in Counseling at the Institute (The Institute offers its degrees in association with Uganda Martyrs University, a Catholic University between Mbarara and the capital, Kampala.) This amount of money is equivalent to 1,650 dollars US.  Any money given will go along way to helping students pay their school fees and realize their dream to become counselors.  Counselling in Uganda is in its infancy in comparison to the US.  So any help given is helps a pioneering generation tow
ards self-help. Truly, this is a project that is self-sustaining.

Giving alms is a age-old Lenten practice.  Be generous because God has been so generous to you.  Peace and all good.   ODE    tim
P.S. Below is a picture of the center at its opening day.  The woman is Mary Moran who is the founder of the Center and Institute and beside her is President Museveni and beside him is the Archbishop of Mbarara.

Interesting Quote

I thought this quote fit well with my last reflection.

"...there are always choices to be made. Everyday, every hour offers the opportunity to make a decision that determines whether you would or would not submit to those powers which threaten to rob you of your self, your inner freedom, which determine whether or not  you have become a plaything of circumstances, renouncing freedom and dignity - to become Molded into the form of the typical moment."  V. Frankl   Man's Search for Meaning, 1993 pg 65-66

I returned Sunday from a weeks trip to Nairobi. The fourteen hour bus trip was difficult but I survived.  I hope all is well with  your and that your Lenten journey continues to be fruitful. Peace and all good.  ODE

ODE Omnes Donum Est - A rEReflection on Suffering

This title of this blog is a Latin phrase that translates, “All is Gift.” It has become a personal motto for me and the title of this blog. It carries great meaning for me and has meant different things for me at different times of my life. I first came up with the phrase for my solemn profession in 2000. At that time it referred to the great joy I was feeling to make my perpetual vows with the Friars Minor. A double fulfilling; the fulfilling of God's promise to me and my promise to God. At the time I knew it meant a great deal more for me. Since that time the idea that all is gift has come to reflect God's history or providence in my life. It is a witness to the fact that God has been present to me at all times, especially in difficult and mournful times. I believe that God does not send sorrow, pain and suffering. As it says in the Gospel of Matthew (Mt 7:9)

”Is there a man among you who would hand his son a stone when he asked for bread?...If you who are evil, know how to give your children what it good, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

Pain is inevitable but suffering is optional. Pain cannot be avoided in this life but suffering is something I choose. We will have sickness and death, loss and grief. A part of living is occasionally losing. Part of joy is sorrow and a part of peace is conflict. One cannot have one without the other. Granted life, joy and peace is preferred to loss, sorrow and conflict. I can hold on to life has hard as I can but eventually my life will be over, regardless of what I may try to prevent it. No one has yet come up with a way to defeat death, except Jesus. Which is my point in Omnes Donum Est. God is always present to turn my loss into life. When this earthly life is ended God is ready to show me eternal life, in which there is no fear or sorrow again. But God's gift is even more present than a future life in heaven. After all, we are still here on this earth and our pain is still present, all around us as it seems sometimes. How does God gift us in our present pain?

I believe that the answer lies in God's readiness to come to our aid. He wants to be of assistance to help us transform pain into joy. At daily prayers we pray, “Lord come to our aid.” Paul tells us,

“We know that by turning everything to their good God co-operates with all those who love him” (Romans 8:28)

Through faith God turns everything to our good. We must, however, have faith and ask for help. We may not know what to ask for except to ease our pain. That is enough. The Spirit knows what we cannot express or what we cannot know to express. That is enough. That is all God needs from us to believe that he turns all things to good for those who believe in him. I am sure that most or even all of you have been through some very difficult times in your life. At the time of a trial I have asked myself, “How am I going to get through this?” And it was true, I did not know at the time. Yet, I continued to believe in the love of God for me. I have asked God, “Why did you let this happen?” I did not at the time connect God with help. It was only after a time that I saw God's action in my life by looking back at the past. How I managed to get thorough some hard times was by the loving presence of God and my final cry of, “HELP” when all other prayers seemingly went unanswered , this prayer was heard. I see that now. For a long time I sought answers to questions that could not be answered.

God gave us, a result of Adam's fall from grace, free will. Our grief and suffering is sometimes our own fault, sometimes it is inflicted upon us from others. Either way, a loving God does not send pain. A loving God cries with us in our pain. A loving God stands ready to lead us through our sorrow. God knows us because of the pain and death of his Son, Jesus Christ. It is because of Jesus God knows how to help. It is because of Jesus we have a God with flesh and who knows what all fleshy beings experience, our joys and pains. So cast your cares upon Jesus because he knows our troubles and is ever ready to be there for us.

I look back on my life and I see how some truly marvelous things have happened as a result of God acting in my life. My father died when I was 8. It was hard growing up without a father. It was not common at that time to be a single parent family. So there was nobody for me to relate to who had a similar circumstance. I felt very much alone. Things became more difficult over the next four years, with abuse and poverty as additional factors along with my grief. I continued to go to church and receive the sacraments again not realizing the connection between the ease of my pain and the benefit of my prayers and belief. As an adult, I see now that through my simple faith, God kept me going and growing. I look back and I see that the person I am today is a direct result of the pain I went through. The suffering I went through was because I did not trust in God to take care of me, to come to my aid, to ease my pain.

So whatever problem or difficulty you are facing this Lent. Turn your face toward Jesus for he knows what is going on within you. He knows the pain and as you gaze upon his tortured body know that there is help, there is solace, there is a remedy. He will soothe anxiety and provide answers for tor the perplexed. There is help in Jesus for those who believe in him and his love and that All is Gift.

Remembering gives birth to belief and when I trust in my belief I have faith. I look back to help me understand and accept the present which in turns moves me with trust and faith into the future. God's time works for those who can see, for those who feel the rain and remember. There is goodness in floods, there is a benefit in hurricanes. Snow covers the ground and readies the earth to accept the new birth of spring as the dry and dusty earth drinks in the new rain. All is Gift, all from God is good. We must have eyes to see and a memory to see where we have been in order to see where we are going.

I presented this reflection to the Novices here in Uganda.  At the end I olayed a song, I Rember, I Believe by a called Sweet Honey in the Rock.  Here is a link to that song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUAbHhlOYhE.  Enjoy OED

Sad News

The picture I posted of my "new neighbors" on face book got over 50 likes. Amazing.  The sad news is that the dry season is very hard on farm animals.  Swine fever has swept Kakoba. I understand that it is spread by birds.  At the time of this picture we had these three pigs and ten piglets and three that were set aside for our table.  I called them Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.  So that is a total of 16 pigs. We now have 5. The older and larger of the pigs died first. Those are them pictured above. The deaths happened so quickly that we could not do anything.  A near-by farmer lost half of his herd- 100 pigs!  On top of the dying pigs our milk cow was overdue. When the vet checked her and gave her an injection to ease labor she keeled over and died. Just like that. The calf was dead in side of here. The rains have begun so that is some good news.

Update

Well, I am sorry that it has taken so long for me to write but I have been busy and things in Uganda have also been busy as well.  The national election was yesterday. There was some tension but all went smoothly and all reports are that the election was fair.  with 17% of the vote counted the incumbent, President Museveni is in a comfortable lead with 59% of the vote. the closest opponent Kizza Besigyi with 31%.  Besigyi was placed in jail yesterday, no reason given.  The streets are quiet and all is well for now.

For me, I finished teaching a course for the staff at St. Francis Counsellor Training Institute last week. The title of the course was. Cognitive Behavioral Treatment of Substance Abuse through the lens of Integral Theory.  It went well.  I drew upon my experience of my work at Illinois State prison.  I interviewed one of my students named Christo.  He is from the Gulu region in northern Uganda. That part of the country is recovering from 20 years of rebel action.  Christo is working towards a Bachelor degree in counseling.  He tells of the rampant alcoholism in the area and reports an alcoholism rate of 90%. Mostly in reaction to past trauma. The common first age of intoxication is age 10. Many of his grade school friends were abducted by rebels and forced into armed service as small boys.  They have now returned and their clans have rejected them so they live a life of crime and alcoholism. His aim is to be of aim to his tribe.

I tried to post the video here but it is too long. So I need an video editing program which takes time. On top of that I ran out of time on my wireless modem (internet connection) and had to wait until after the election to go to town.  So I am back on track and will post the video as soon as I can. Thanks for your patience.  Peace  ODE

One Stop Shopping

Hello everyone.  It is now the dry season here in Uganda and everyone is waiting for the rains to come sometime  in February.  It is getting warmer by the day.  I have been teaching Bachelor students in a counseling program that is called St. Francis Counsellor Institute. No I did not misspell counselor. This is the British spelling. The founder of the program is from Ireland so...
Anyway, to get to work I have to travel across town by boda boda, which is a motorcycle for hire. For 3000 Uganda shillings I travel one way (about 1 dollar).  Every day I pass a coffin shop/workshop (like the one above), right on the side of the road. One day I got a ride from the caretaker at the Institute ad I commented that I thought it was odd to make and sell coffins on the side of the road.  He paused for a minute and said, "Well, the hospital is right there." His daughter who was sitting in the back laughed all the way through town. I guess that is an example of one stop shopping to the extreme. Next Wednesday begins Lent.  I will have more information about my work at the Institute. Peace to all.  ODE

Sorry that I have been so late in my blogs. Last week I was teaching a one week intensive course at St Francis Counsellor (No, I haven't misspelled this. It is the English spelling. The Director of the Institute is Irish so demands this spelling.  I was teaching a foundation course in Integrated theory. The emphasis is the blending of ancient eastern thought with the awareness of modern thought. It all about matter, body, mind, soul and spirit thinking. I had a class of 20 students who were either just beginning their studies or who were in the process of getting a Bachelor degree.
So I am back at the Novitiate in Kakoba for the week and return next week for another intensive week giving the faculty an intensive week in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in substance abuse treatment.  I will try to post some pictures through the week, Until then ODE  peace

Yoweri Museveni

This smiling man was the first face I saw stepping out of the airport in Entebbe, Uganda. Every free space was plastered with his picture. He is Yoweri Museveni the current President of Uganda and is running for re-election. President Museveni has had a long and colorful history in the politics in Uganda. He has overthrown two presidents, one being Idi Amin. When I saw his picture I said to myself, “Wearing that hat, he must be confident of being elected.” Indeed it seems that he will be re-elected as evidenced by the huge crowds he gathers where ever he goes. Much larger than any of the other seven candidates for president.

There is a presidential debate on Friday January 15, 2015 . It is the first time that such and event has occurred in Uganda. So this is an historic day for the country. There is some doubt that President Museveni will attend as he might have previous commitments. The hope here is that the election itself will be conflict free. It is scheduled for February 18, 2016. While the campaign goes on, children throughout the country are on holiday until after the election.  

Kakoba, Uganda

Greetings! Sorry about the delay in communicating. I am in Mbarara, Uganda (actually Kakoba which is a village just outside of Mbarara), which is the site of the the Province's Novitiate.This may be my permanent assignment.  I haven't been able to write because of no internet access. Well that was remedied yesterday. So here I am. The weather in Uganda is pleasant. It has been overcast much of the time which keeps the temperature down. The Novitiate is a working farm. They grow maize (corn), beans, okra and a variety of fruits (mangoes, papaya, avocado, banana). We have three goats, two cows and 6 pigs and 10 piglets (soon to be sold). Life here is simple and centered around prayer, work and study.  Here is a picture of the area.  The friary sits on a hill so the view looks down. Sorry about the clarity but things are very hazy here. Wood fires are a main way of cooking food. 

 The tree is the foreground is a papaya tree.

Breakfast time at the friary.