FAREWELLS

by Pat Murphy, CSJ

The coloring in the title bears witness to to the mixture of joy and sadness in "farewell." The greys denote the aspects which make it difficult to pull up roots; the greens are for hope; the reds, oranges and yellows are for the joy of returning home; and the blue is for ambivalence!

At the end of November most schools in Uganda finished the school year. The two schools where I have been working are no exception. Aware that I am departing for the USA and will not be returning, they wanted to celebrate my time with them over the past three plus years.

Christ the King Primary Teachers’ College faculty and students really wanted to celebrate my leaving on November 20, their feast day, but that was not possible since I was still in Kampala, having picked up Sisters Susan and Liz in Entebbe late the night before. Six hours travel time over these roads at night is not recommended! Therefore, my celebration was the following Sunday, November 27. They included singing, dancing, drama, speeches, awards, gifts and food. Sisters Liz, Marion, and Susan were each invited to help give out some of the reward certificates. Included at the end of this post is a brief clip of one of the dances… These students burn up a lot of energy!!!

One of the touching moments came when the group of young women from one of the classes gave me a gift just from them… It was a simple loaf of bread, wrapped beautifully. Sr. Martha, the Principal, knew they had little money and suggested this.

Another gift, quite special to me, was a piece of paper on which was typed a message explaining the Acholi name I had been given by the faculty. “Because of your free integration with us, regardless of age, sex, race, status, etc we have decided to honor you with the name Adyero. The name which is rarely and clearly given out by Luo community especially by Acholi tribe because of its distinct and excellent connotation (one who has prioritized, sacrificed his/her time, items, life etc in doing something for the benefit of the dear ones). We shall truly and sincerely miss you having left, but what you have done to us, left behind with us will continuously remind and make us imagine you at all times.”

A second party took place on December 2. I was asked to arrive at St. Joseph’s Primary School around 4:00 PM, but was not told that we would not remain on the school grounds. We were entertained by a group of the students practicing for a wedding the following week. The young ones practiced, too! A taxi came around 5:15 to take many of us to town. I was the guest of honor at their first annual end-of-the-year-party. It was all quite lovely, from the setting in a garden to the special appreciation given me by members of the board, the parent group and the head teacher. The dancing (several local Acholi ones in which everyone got up and joined in!) started after dinner, so I wasn’t home until about 11:00 PM … way past my bedtime! (It was too dark by then to take pictures!)

The most difficult farewells, though, are the ones where sponsored students stop to say their good-byes. I have “mothered” many of them for the past three years, providing advice and a shoulder to cry on besides paying their school fees with the money many of you send to the mission office. These tears remind me of my humanity. And, of course, I am reminded constantly of the tremendous needs of the people here, and their great appreciation of every little thing offered. They may not have much in the way of material possessions, but their hearts are big enough to embrace all of us.

Thank you for all of your contributions to the welfare of this Gulu community where we serve church, education and health!