Volunteer Reflections

Reflections of Mary Oldham, CRS Volunteer (2007-2009), CRS Uganda/Los Angeles Archdiocese

There have been so many moments this past week that I want to remember and treasure.

Here’s a few things I want to remember:

• The hospitality "You Are Most Welcome"
• The rafters through the mosquito net at Casa de Rana
• The water rushing at the Bujagali Falls
• The stoic child in my lap yesterday with sores on her scalp
• The smiling faces of children in the villages
• The transformation of a face when smiling at me as we drove by
• The two-handed waves – Muzungu, Muzungu
• The children running after the motorbike
• The piles of bricks
• The late night chats about life, hopes & fears
• God calling
• God is good
• The music coming from the church in the morning
• 200 faces singing at Mass on Sunday
• Drinking chocolate container for a vase on the altar
• Jerry cans of water for baptism
• Children filling & carrying jerry cans
• What I call the "Solo cup" bath with "Africa hot" water - very hot, but very nice when mixed with cooler water
• The gecko on the bathroom window
• The chameleon changing from brown to green
• The children standing to greet me in the classroom
• Discolored hair on children from malnutrition
• The thatched roofs
• The mud walls
• The simplicity of the homes
• The outdoor kitchens
• Carrying everything on one's head
• Buying & eating manvus
• Discussing Idi Amin and life in general with the professor at the seminary
• Four people on a motorbike
• A bicycle on a motorbike
• Crossing to the island
• The birds
• The butterflies
• Polly's beautiful smile
• John's laugh when I told him I ate four termites
• We should be immersed in prayer
• Taking communion and anointing the sick
• The small round house, just big enough for a cot on one side
• Sugar cane & tea plantations
• The blessings outside the home
• The benches offered to guests
• The nighttime "footing" through Nakibano, the home we were received into
• Kerosene lit faces
• The shy smile of a young girl
• The family photos on the wall
• The coffee beans out to dry
• Hearing the challenge of saving money vs. supporting extended family, expectations from others
• The Lugandan lessons
• Riding in Tom's truck
• Riding on the motorbike
• Children singing
• The haircut price jumping from 1000 to 5000 for being with a muzungu
• The special fish & the rain by the Nile
• The hands surrounding mine at the Outstation
• The children's fascination with the camera
• The singing choir in the back of the pickup truck
• Poshi, sweet potatoes, matooke, irish potatoes, yams
• Chicken stew, bushbuck stew, fish stew, pork stew, beef stew
• The drum at 6:30 am
• Pineapple
• Afrikan coffee: boiled milk, sugar & coffee - with & with ginger
• Swinging by the Nile River
• Spelling in English & Lugandan
• The pleasure is always mine
• The "kitchen" AKA the charcoal pot or the fire
• The covered plates of food
• Gum boots
• Hunting for bushbucks & guinea fowl
• Being a twin
• The respectful greetings, kneeling women
• Missing my family, being really glad I am here
• Gratitude
• The fishermen
• The boats
• The gift of ducks
• The gift of eggs
• The Outstation mud church with tarps for added shelter
• Confusing people, being confused
• The overwhelming poverty

Life continuing