We celebrated Mass at around 7.00am. Then we all processed slowly, dancing and singing, around the Hospital to the wards carrying candles and The Lamp. Patients were either bemused, pleased or too ill to notice.
We renewed our Oath in Kiswahili --not sure what I have promised, hut hope for the best!
We then prepared for our shopping trip to the border town of Mutukula..
My car was requisitioned, and we se off in the pouring rain in convoy with a dala-dala packed with excited nurses and nuns. Sr. Adolphina said a prayer for the journey. Not exactly a vote of confidence in my driving! But in this rain, I was up for all the support I could get.
Mutukula was no longer a dusty town -now there was a sea of sticky mud.. Seemingly the most unlikely place to go shopping on a grand scale, I was surprised. The variety of goods available was amazing, with prices at least 2/3rd or ½ that in Bukoba market.
Lots of very serious shopping was done: blankets, suitcases, kitenge, men’s shirts, bags, shoes, carpets, jackets, household goods. (One nun bought 10 blankets…). All in the pouring rain, getting soaked. We had a picnic of soda and samosas in the rain, before piling back into the vehicles with all the shopping---something of a challenge. My boot could only hold so much. (They all sat on the balnkets). And even I bought one or 2 things.. 
Really, not too unlike a Works outing to Cribbs Causeway, only muddier....
We made it safely there and back, so clearly God was on our side!
Back at Kagondo Hospital, tired but happy, we were treated to an evening’s entertainement with beer/sodas and “bites” (delicious roasted peanuts).
African dance videos at high decibels featured, punctuated by speeches from important people (sometimes in competition with the music) and dancing. The evening ended with the announcement of the name of this years’ Florence Nightingale Nurse, a sweet nun from Children’s Ward, and a final bout of happy loud dancing, ululating and high fives.
A good day, but bed was a lovely place to be that night!
We renewed our Oath in Kiswahili --not sure what I have promised, hut hope for the best!
We then prepared for our shopping trip to the border town of Mutukula..
My car was requisitioned, and we se off in the pouring rain in convoy with a dala-dala packed with excited nurses and nuns. Sr. Adolphina said a prayer for the journey. Not exactly a vote of confidence in my driving! But in this rain, I was up for all the support I could get.
Mutukula was no longer a dusty town -now there was a sea of sticky mud.. Seemingly the most unlikely place to go shopping on a grand scale, I was surprised. The variety of goods available was amazing, with prices at least 2/3rd or ½ that in Bukoba market.
Lots of very serious shopping was done: blankets, suitcases, kitenge, men’s shirts, bags, shoes, carpets, jackets, household goods. (One nun bought 10 blankets…). All in the pouring rain, getting soaked. We had a picnic of soda and samosas in the rain, before piling back into the vehicles with all the shopping---something of a challenge. My boot could only hold so much. (They all sat on the balnkets). And even I bought one or 2 things..
Really, not too unlike a Works outing to Cribbs Causeway, only muddier....
We made it safely there and back, so clearly God was on our side!
Back at Kagondo Hospital, tired but happy, we were treated to an evening’s entertainement with beer/sodas and “bites” (delicious roasted peanuts).
African dance videos at high decibels featured, punctuated by speeches from important people (sometimes in competition with the music) and dancing. The evening ended with the announcement of the name of this years’ Florence Nightingale Nurse, a sweet nun from Children’s Ward, and a final bout of happy loud dancing, ululating and high fives.
A good day, but bed was a lovely place to be that night!
1 comment:
Just as well I wasn't there. Shopping for 4 hours in matakula!!
Oh dear
Glad everyone enjoyed it
love
Rupert
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