Life is a celebration

As I get ready to end my truly amazing adventure and leave one of the most beautiful places on earth I was once again struck by the celebration of life that takes place in what might appear to be the simplest of events. I attended the prefect ceremony in which the outgoing prefects hand over their job to the incoming prefects. What would be at home an innocuous event- election of new student council, here involves not only interviewing the candidates by a council of teachers and their peers, then the election and then a seriously formal event including the local councilman, head teacher,  many other teachers the entire student body, all the prefects from the surrounding girls schools, entertainment…

And today I attended the silver jubilee for Monsignor Matthew Okello who is the rector of Lachor Seminary School. He was ordained in 1986 and came to the school in 1987. He was there when the LRA attacked the school and took 41 boys hostage, 30 eventually returned, but the fate of the other 11 is unknown.  It was not a simple mass, with a few invited dignitaries; it was a celebration of the dedication and service of one man to the Acholi people of the diocese of Gulu.  There were 500-600 people, students, sisters, seminarians, priests, chiefs, parliamentarians, teachers, and many others. There was traditional dancing, singing, cakes, presents, formal speeches, incredible homily (by the arch bishop)- everything is a celebration- I think that with all of the trauma that the people of Africa have suffered not only at the hands of the European colonizers, but also at the hands of their own dictators, they seem to not hold it in their hearts. They are filled with genuine compassion for each other and us, as visitors, they are grateful and welcoming and generous.

Africa is a continent of third world countries, struggling to find their way in a world rich in technology and abundance, but the people of Uganda, and more specifically the Acholi people of Northern Uganda could teach the first world cultures many lessons in compassion, generosity, simplicity, and sincerity.
 

The infamous pit latrine

Layibi boys

James my boda boda driver 

Monsignor Matthew's Jubilee