Hello to all!
On Friday, we were able to visit Rubondo Island National Park. We
hired a driver, Willie, to take us the three hours south to Mwangara
where we could catch a boat to the island. The ride was very
interesting because all the construction made us take some back roads
where I learned people really do live in mud huts. I don’t think the
people of Mwangara saw many foreigners, because we were certainly the
hit of the town. Everyone came out to watch us attempt to negotiate a
ride across the lake. After a choppy ride across, we were driven to
the bandas where we were able to watch some hippos lumber into the
water – trust us, wild hippos are much bigger than the ones in the
zoo! That afternoon we hired a guide to take us on a boat ride to see
more of the wildlife. Although we had spoken to many people who said
no one ever sees elephants at Rubondo, our “elephant energy” worked
and we saw eight African elephants, big and small, drinking from the
lake and pulling whole branches off the trees to eat! We also watched
crocodiles sunbathing or slithering into the water and more birds than
we had ever seen in one place. It was a wonderful trip!
On Saturday we traveled with Cotty and Betty back to Uganda. We met
with Father Dennis at his new parish in Ssanje while Cotty and Betty
continued onto their home in Kalisizo, Matale. Father Dennis’
explained all of his plans for the parish – how he hoped to perhaps
receive a Living Loan of two cows to fund putting in running water.
Right now, they haul it in from a dirty stream a little ways away from
the parish. He also took us around Sabina School, a school and home
for orphans located behind his parish. Many of the children were
orphaned due to AIDS. The next day we visited with four nuns from
Kenya that had moved into the Ssanje parish and who ran a kindergarten
for children from the area. Many of these children also were HIV+, but
they seemed happy enough playing with the school’s only toys – two
small balls kept behind the chalkboard. We explained the Livng Loan
project to the nuns, who were interested in joining the project to use
the milk to feed the children of their schools
Later on Sunday, we went to visit Cotty and Betty at Matale parish.
They have an active women’s group that also does microfinancing. After
seeing each of their homes, we were invited for lunch. “Lunch” turned
out to be a huge celebration of about eighty people singing, dancing,
and giving speeches. They also showcased the projects of the eight
different women’s groups that made up the larger Matale Women’s Group.
Such a celebration made us sad to go, but go we did. Cotty drove us to
the Masaka Social Center where we met Father Peter and a German group
that are planning to give a loan to the Masaka Diocese to better the
Caritas MADDO packaging of milk and yoghurt and to get the correct
Ugandan certification for their products. Claire learned how no matter
how high a company’s standards are, it can take years to receive
official certification. The government seems to focus on the people
and companies working in Kampala above those operating outside the
capitol.
We are staying at the Masaka Social Center which, let’s just say is a
step up from the hotel in Bukoba! It is clean and the food is
excellent, thanks to the amazing manager, Barbara. We don’t know what
we’d do without her.
Today (Monday), we visited the Caritas MADDO dairy and learned how to
make milk and yoghurt, which was really quite technical. After the
tour we drank some MADDO vanilla yoghurt which was really delicious
and some of the only dairy we have consumed on this trip! Later, we
visited farmers in various stages of the Living Loan process. Some
were just beginning the process of bringing their farms up to Caritas
MADDO standards; some were just waiting for the next cow on the list;
and some were raising the firstborn calf to pass along. It was
fascinating to see the difference between Caritas MADDO farms and
others. Even Claire (a first-timer) could pick them out just by
looking at them as we drove by. The whole day really made us realize
how far we have come, but also how far we have yet to go!
The days seem to have flown by, but I guess it’s no wonder when you’re
experiencing so much. Our days have been packed with things to do and
see, but no matter how hard we hit the pillow at night, we do so
grateful for the past day.
Speaking of hitting the pillow, we are going to go to bed right now.
We hope everyone at home is doing well and we look forward to seeing
you State-side soon!
Claire and Sister Toni
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