continued musings

Ooops, computer problem. (The electricity goes out randomly and at the worst times on a daily basis.) In all our visits today, it will be impossible to describe or detail all the parishes and the people we met, so I will note some highlights. (Attend our parish presentation to view the photos and get the details!) First, the people are incredibly gracious and kind. They have so very little, and yet it is they who are constantly thanking us and honoring our presence. Each sub-parish is located in the Bwayiise slum. All are open air to some degree, a couple have no roofs. Regardless, the people were so filled with the holy spirit it inspired us beyond words. St. Kizito itself is a compound comprised of the church, school, priest's home, clinic and (still not completed) youth center being built by OLGC. It is totally walled in and gated. It is literally surrounded by the slums. (This will come in a future blog, but we spend over four hours walking the slums and to say they are the worst living conditions I have ever experienced would be a gross understatement.) Father Gerald Yiga and Father John Baptise do amazing works. Their approach goes far beyond the spiritual and faith formation needs of their people. Because of the unbelievable poverty and despair of their parish neighborhood, they offer an "holistic"approach in working to make the people more self sufficient through things like financial and credit management, responsible health care, overcoming addictions, family support issues, social welfare and the special needs of the youth....including many orphans, homeless and those with physical and mental handicaps. They do all this with zero support from the Kampala Diocese or the Ugandan government. With their parish so very poor, I am not sure how they do it. One thing for sure, they are so appreciative of OLGC and our relationship. When they learned we pray for them at every weekend Mass, they were visably touched and have brought it up over and over. Father Gerald has drafted a special prayer for OLGC and its people that he will launch this Sunday at their 7:30am Mass and use at all Masses thereafter. These are truly wonderful people and the love flowing both ways is heartwarming beyond words.


It has been three years since I was first here at St Kizito and I can already see the many changes that Fr Gerald and the others of St Kizito parsih have made. I have so many pictures and stories to tell. What I am once again reminded of is how so very much we are alike than different. I am off to play volley ball with thirteen new Goddaughters. Another story to tell. We are doing well and tell everyone here about the good people of OLGC and you have no idea how much you are loved in so many ways by the people of the Bwaiise slums.........Deacon Don

The interesting juxtaposition of life today here at St. Kizito is this. This morning we worked our way through some rioting to get to the parish. We gathered with many who were dealing with disabilities. Two Fridays per month is when some doctors from Japan come from a local hospital to provide a free clinic. At one moment, I was able to watch a special education teacher use sign language to communicate the ongoing presentation to a young teenage boy who was deaf. As I was holding a beautiful young boy who was impacted by cerebral malaria at age two weeks, we could all hear the noise of rioting outside the parish walls. It struck me just how present I knew God was at that particular moment. Tonite, the streets are quiet as we listen to parish music in the background and play volleyball with some young women who have been abused and forgotten in so many ways. The grace and faith of the people here is huge and cannot be explained in words. I have understood faith in a different way today.........Peace, Kristine