Africa - January, 2015 (Day 8)

January 18, 2015

The morning began with some adventure.  Six of the volunteers planned to climb The Rock, the only listed sightseeing activity in Tororo, and Cammie was going off with them to pay the fees and get them started.  So all were getting up early for a climb beginning at 6:30.  Lea Anne had gotten up to shower and wash her hair.  Hair full of soap, first the hot water stopped then all water ceased.  Head full of shampoo she walked down 2 flights of stairs to the desk, only to discover there was no water!  Whoever was supposed to have pumped water into the tank the previous afternoon had failed to do so.  When the problem was discovered, staff was reluctant to begin the noisy pumping process for fear of “disturbing guests!”  Guess they thought no water was not a disturbance. . . .  Carrying up a jerry can full of water Lea Anne was able to finish her hair without being too late to leave for The Rock.  By this time I was completely awake so got up and worked on my journal. 

Watched, and heard, the pumping process which started about 9.  It was noisy but didn’t last long.

Once there was water available, the hot water in our tub started running.  Lea Anne had been afraid she’d broken the faucet (which had been acting up since we’d arrived), and she was right.  I went down to the desk, and they eventually sent up a “plumber” who came with a variety of wrenches but no washers, etc.  He discovered that was needed and went off to get them – where I had no idea.  I was heading out to church at 8:30 so hoped it would be fixed by the time of my return.  (It was.)

Cammie, Rob, Sharon, and I went to the Anglican church very near the clinic (that Jennifer and Bob Horn had stumbled upon four years ago).  It’s close to the ancestral home of Ademun Odeke, and he has done a lot to support it although he is far more secular than religious these days.  They hope to be called All Saints but are not yet large enough or financially strong enough to be acknowledged as a parish church.  They built the church and struggle to finish and maintain it. 

They have been functioning with a lay reader in charge, but today is the first day for a transitional deacon assigned to them so they will have actual clergy now. 

 

The start of services was announced by the “bell” – the beating of a drum.

The church was awaiting as people arrived.  Cammie and Rob had a pre-service conversation.

Partway through the service Jered and Lea Anne arrived, fresh from their climb up The Rock.  There was still PLENTY of service for them to enjoy.  The announcements included several long letters from the diocese read verbatim in two languages.  There was also a long introduction of and the opportunity to speak by a local parliamentary candidate.  Pretty clear who these folk were supposed to support. And Jered, St. John’s Rector, was introduced and spoke a few words about GUW and the clinic.

  

The sermon was long, highly histrionic, and amazingly well orchestrated as the deacon preached and the lay reader interpreted, matching gesture and inflection.  Although not the lectionary reading, the sermon used the Good Samaritan story, sort of.  As far as I could tell, there was nothing of the usual approach:  nothing about kindness, concern for others, ignoring differences while showing God’s love.  Instead there seemed to be a lot of emphasis on sin which was directed only at the female members of the congregation.  And the sermon did go on. . .and on.

  

After the dreadful (my opinion) sermon, the collection was pure fun.  The whole congregation goes up to the altar to make their contributions while singing lively songs.  Given the presence of the politician and the person with him, Ademun, and six Americans at the service, I’m sure the take was far above normal.  While most of the parishioners contribute money, a few have no money and instead bring actual items to the altar as their donation.  Those items are then auctioned off to convert them into cash.  That was hilarious as the lay leader did a typical auctioneer job, trying to up the bid.  There was a sack of grain, one egg, and two watermelons, among other items.

  

Here, too, the presence of outsiders brought in more funds.  The politician and Jered both bid up items, creating some bidding wars.  And when a special appeal for more funds to provide transport for the deacon to an important meeting, Ademun quickly provided the whole amount.  Anything to bring the service, now almost 2½ hours long, to an end!

 Because there was no priest, there was no Eucharist.  Apparently they have communion only once a month because it’s so expensive.  The wine costs 14,000 Uganda Shillings (about $5), and they don’t have the money to cover that more than once a month.

After church we gathered the children together for a picture.  The kids (and adults too) LOVE seeing pictures of themselves.

We waited around for Ademun to finish his business with the politician (undoubtedly hitting him up for support for the pre-school he supports in the church and which he would like to expand).

One kid was playing on the drum, which had been brought inside to be part of the instrument support for hymns.  I went over to him and began beating out different rhythms and having him repeat.  We were having fun and were soon joined by a bunch of other kids.  It was really a good time, but I’m glad my Korean drumming uses a chae (stick) because my hands really got sore.

We finally walked over to the Odeke family compound where a feast was being prepared by various female relatives.  Most of the food preparation was being done outdoors under the supervisor of the chief chef.  A huge quantity of maize was boiled, and greens and fruits were prepared.

 A little of the preparation was done by these women in the traditional cooking hut.

There was lots of food

                                                                    

and Ademun Odecki was a gracious host.

After lunch we walked into the fields surrounding the compound where Ademun’s parents and other relatives are buried.

We left at 3:45, arriving at the hotel to find no hot water.  When queries were made at the desk, the response was that the hot water heater was off; it would be turned on later in the evening.  When asked why it could not be turned on right then, the young woman walked up to the 3^rd floor and flipped the appropriate switch.  Didn’t heat up fast so I had a tepid shower, but at least it wasn’t cold.

Did some picture downloading to the computer before 8 of the volunteers went to have dinner at the Meretoria Hotel restaurant, located outside on a 2^nd floor.  Food wasn’t that much different/better, but the location was nice.  Back about 9:30 p.m.