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