Tuesday 21st
It seems that at the beginning of this blog I was writing
about all my ‘first’ African experiences and now it’s more about the last! I
had my last pastoral visit with Rev. Pamela this morning, in Central Zone. As
we walked down the grassy slope to get to the house Pamela explained that we
were going to be visiting the widow of a once Bishop in Sudan. We were invited
inside the house by a woman who is in essence her home help. We sat for a
moment in the living room waiting for ‘Mama Esther’ to appear and I scanned the
photographs proudly displayed on her walls. There was one of a Lambeth
Conference in the 80s, and many of her family. I smiled noting that there was
even a photo of her husband with the Irish Archbishop, Robin Eames.
Sometimes on pastoral visits, Pamela has to translate a lot
for me as the person we visit only speaks Lugbara but in this case as Mama
Esther was from Sudan she didn’t speak Lugbara, so I was able to keep up with
the entire conversation. As we chatted about how long she had lived there and
how long her husband had been a bishop, Pamela had a revelation. She got up to
look closer at a photo and said “I think this is the bishop who confirmed me!”
It turns out that Pamela had been taken to Sudan as a refugee by her grandparents
when she was 2 years old and live there with them for a number of years. The
bishop and Mama were good friends with Pamela’s grandfather and this was the
bishop who confirmed her. Even in Africa the world can seem like such a small
place! This new found connection brought obvious joy to Rev Pamela and Mama
Esther and they chatted more about all the places and people they have in
common. After the chat, I read Isaiah 43:1-7 and Pamela gave a little
encouragement from it. Then we set a table and shared Holy Communion
together.
Rev Pamela and Mama Esther
Mama Esther, Knight and I
Our second pastoral visit was much shorter but also in
Lugbara so poor Pamela was back to translating! The lady was unable to get
church because of her leg. In just one leg she had a branch stuck into her, a
snake bite and a goat’s horn stuck in her! The doctors had wanted to amputate
but she refused and so was in lots of pain. We prayed, read the passage from
Isaiah and then Pamela encouraged her also. Then again we shared Holy Communion
with this lady, after which we sang my favourite Lugbara song. It seems to be
one that is well known and people sing it a lot, and I just love the wee tune.
I look a picture on my phone of the words in their hymn book, so that at every
opportunity I can sing along too! Pamela always requests it when im with her
and then smiles to herself, watching me sing in Lugbara, especially when I only
know what a tiny bit of it means! Apparently they sing it especially when
someone comes to Christ. It always strikes me how much people love this song
because no matter where we are, in a house, a school, the cathedral, wherever,
people really engage in worship. You just know they mean the words and very
often they have their hands raised or they clap along. There is never any kind
of awkward or half hearted singing like we sometimes are prone to at home.
I’m sad to say that tomorrow is going to be my last Wednesday
here and especially sad that it’s my last full day with Rev. Alice because I
have hospital visits on Thursday and a graduation on Friday to go to with other
people. It’s really sinking in that I have to leave, and although I’m looking
forward to being home again, I’m gutted that I will have to leave all of these
experiences and amazing people behind.
With love from Uganda,
Danielle x
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