Sunday was another glorious celebration. Just as before, the first liturgy is in English and the second is in the native language. The second one is overflowing a very lively with music, singing, and drumming. And a lot of prayer.
Today the youth group, Crusaders for Christ, received their special blessing and were given the Crusader beret, red for boys, blue for the girls. It is a highly disciplined group that is for children after first communion until age 18. They get a lot of religious instruction and spend much of their time helping the poor by getting water for them, helping repair a roof, getting food for them from the market, and most anything that is needed.
After a quick piece of toast for breakfast, Fr. drove us to Kitgum. We were scheduled to be on a radio call-in talk show to chat about the Acoli Cultural Gala.
After the show Augustine and I had to get back to Padibe right away for rehearsal. The only way there was to take the small motorcycle owned by ACRO. So, off we went into the red dust of Africa for the next 45 minutes, but we did make it on time.
The only way I have of getting around the area is by walking. Which means I can’t really get very far, so today was the day all that changed!
I had intended to purchase a bike from the first day I arrived, but had to negotiate a price for the “best” bike available. There was much discussion about which one was the best. At first they thought I wanted a roadster, as they call them, with gears, etc. No, I said, I want the strongest working bike, one that will carry four gerry cans of water. They laughed, but I insisted because on going home the bike was not coming with me. It had to stay there and be put to work by someone. So I purchased a Chinese model, the Phoenix double bar, with one gear and simple brakes. I brought a solar headlight and tail light with me and was all set to go.
Tommy told me that Christine was not at church this morning because she gave birth yesterday to a new baby girl. Her name is Kati and she weighed in at 3.5 kilograms. Since, Christine never misses church I asked if I could bring her communion that evening. After rehearsal and a quick bath I rode my new bike o their house and we had a common service and then I got out the camera!
When I returned I found Fr. Charles with the new television playing the news, but he was in slumber land. Of course the television only worked if the power was working, which was about six hours a day, but a different six hours every day!
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