Walking With the Poor - Notes From the Field

MISSION AWARENESS TRIP TO UGANDA

Sept. 16 - 30, 2006

Self support a la heifers, sewing machines and weaving

As we boarded to the rear of the Kenya Air flight #414 Nairobi—Entebbe, dents and rusty scratches on the underside of the fuselage brought images of a possible belly landing on some previous flight. But it’s less than an hour’s flight up over Kisumu and across Lake Victoria to Entebbe. Busunju Co-worker, Sylvia, a former CFCA scholar, met us, together with Cappuchin Friars Max and John. Together with Fr. Prakash, Director of Formation, this is the recently-elected leadership team for the Cappuchin mission in Uganda, where they have five houses. All of the Friars are originally from India, State of Karnataka.

About halfway between Entebbe and Kampala, back off the main road, is the Cappuchin Seminary and formation house, named in honor of Saint Padre Pio. A hot supper and a mosquito net allowed most of us to get several hours of good rest, in spite of the noise of the five guard dogs, known in the area for their ferocity. Drums and harmonies from the Friars and eight Ugandan postulants in the early morning invited some of our group to matins and Holy Mass.

Fertile ground, long horns

I find the terrain in this area of Uganda to be much like Kenya’s…reddish color and fertile enough when it rains to produce potatoes, kasava, onions, yams and other root crops together with papaya, bananas and other tropical fruits. The grass in this area seems abundant enough to maintain good animals. On the road we give way to a herd of Ugandan long-horned cattle, which make their Texas counterparts look pusillanimous. While in Uganda, we were blessed with 3 good rains, so most of us are bringing home a bit of Africa on our shoes.

After getting settled in at the Masaka Diocese Social Center, we enjoyed a nice lunch at the CFCA office. Part of this rented house is used for the weaving project initiated by former sponsored child, Theresa. “Tere” basically grew up in CFCA. She was sponsored for 14 years, and it shows. Now a university graduate, she exudes initiative, confidence and joy. Her weaving project produces quality clothing, curtains, shawls, shirts and blouses, bedspreads, mats and heavy duty bookbags. On sales, Tere hit the jackpot today with the visit of these sponsors.

Sewing machine rewards

In the Busunju project, a recent program supplies a heifer for every sponsored family to help produce income, as well as vocational training such as carpentry and sewing classes. As students complete the sewing courses, they are rewarded with the foot-powered Singer machine they have learned on and cared for. CFCA provides scholarships for youth, school fees, stationery, uniforms and medical care. The project has also provided furniture and supplies for the schools. Aging persons in the Busunju project receive benefits such as regular food allowances, medical care, clothing, blankets, religious formation opportunities and help with home repairs and construction. The project also runs an AIDS clinic to assist the large number of families and individuals suffering from this disease.”

I will sign off for now as I head back from Africa to Amsterdam…Detroit…Houston…Mexico City to begin the 2006 MAT trip to Cuernavaca. The sponsors arrive a few hours before I do. I’m thankful that Cristina will be with me for the Cuernavaca MAT. I’ll make every effort to be in touch from there. Heartfelt thanks for traveling with us in solidarity and prayer.

God's blessings,

Bob Hentzen
Uganda
Sept. 29, 2006