Christmas 2015

Gulu Christmas Blog

Advent Wreath

While the “Christmas spirit” known in the USA starts around Halloween, you wouldn’t have a clue here in Gulu….. Maybe the radio played Christmas songs that we wouldn’t recognize, but we don’t listen to the radio since we don’t understand enough Luo to be able to follow what they are telling us!  No, our “Christmas spirit” began in two phases:  first was the Christmas Novena which we began singing on the 16^th; second was our decorating which we did together on Saturday, the 19^th, while we listened and sang along to Christmas music on CD’s.  Creativity reigned supreme since only Fran was here last year to recall how and where decorative items “belonged.”  Jo and Pat had their own memories!

In our Dining Room

In Our Living Room

Dining Room Door

One thing really slipped through the cracks for us this year….  We sent no Christmas cards as a community! 

In the first paragraph we mentioned that we “sang” the novena.  Some folks might question that term had they heard us!  Our mistake was attempting to do this singing right after our supper meal.  (Of course, one of us had a Dove chocolate in her mouth when it was time to begin!)  At one point we gave thought to praying before the meal, but that just didn’t work out since one of us was needed to give direction to Ester who was to prepare the meal.  Next year…. If we remember!  Either way, we are sure God was pleased!

We agreed that we did not want to go to the “midnight” liturgy since there are generally hundreds of baptisms included.  Not very reverent when it’s done in such large numbers.  Even the fact that “midnight” was starting at 8:00 PM didn’t convince us!  Another reason for avoiding this Mass is the condition of the road we would need to walk in the dark… Not very safe, especially for Pat.  The early morning Mass (7:30 AM) was our final choice.  At least we had a choice!

Whole Picture

Pat & Fran (Note lighted candles!)

Fran & Jo & Beautiful Table Setting

Christmas dinner was simple and wonderfully enjoyable!  We had large baked white potatoes, steamed green beans with olive oil and sea salt, our own lettuce and tomatoes, and the last canned ham we had found!  The ham was “doctored” with fresh mangoes from our yard.   MMMMMM!  We had invited Mary Ann, a Sister of Loretto, to join us, but she was headed to the Comboni Sisters community at Lacor Hospital where she works.  Following dinner and dishes, we began our “novena of Christmas movies.” 

Holy Family Sunday Mass (again at 7:30 AM) was especially interesting.  There were many couples there who were celebrating their wedding anniversaries.  Our Offertory processions are always interesting with the variety of gifts carried up to the altar.  But today a woman carried up a small live goat!  At least it was well-behaved.  But when they reached the altar, the priest accepted it and held the rope high for all to see while the congregation erupted in wild shouts and sounds of jubilation!  We wished we had a camera with us!

The most difficult part of this whole time period was the lack of internet.  Each of us had counted on being able to communicate with family and friends during this time away from work, but on the afternoon of the 23^rd the power was not sufficient to let us communicate. Apparently the electric company had disconnected something “out there” where our internet gets connected to the rest of the world; nothing would work until the electric company returned to work on the 28^th.  Well, as you noticed, we did survive!

Mingling

Working

Center: Archbishop Odama

Mango Tree, Visiting, and DJ in back!

Are you familiar with the British celebration of Boxing Day, the day after Christmas?  Well, the custom is alive and well here as well as in many other countries.  Tradition here has all of the priests and men and women religious gathering for a Mass, meal, and time to share.  There are two seminaries in the area, so we go to Alocolum major seminary the day after Christmas and to Lacor minor seminary the day after Easter.  A committee asks each house to bring something to the party…. drinks, vegetable, fruit, beef, goat, cake, etc.  We laugh each year: how much should we bring?  “Enough.” Dancing is always part of the fun…. It is a cultural activity at every event!

Dancing: Our Own Fran and Jo

Our next big event is the annual gathering with the Archbishop on New Year’s Eve.  We start with adoration in the Cathedral, then move on over to the Archbishop’s courtyard.  In our early days here in Gulu, we could see this courtyard from the dining room where we had our meals with the Archbishop.  The only drawback is walking that road coming home from there…. Maybe we’ll just take the car!

We hope you have enjoyed a wonderful Christmas full of wonder, joy, and love.  Our prayer is that 2016 brings you more blessings of whatever variety you need.  May God remain with you!  We send our love!