----------The Dance Of Life---

---------------------------Lake Mutanda, Kisoro, Uganda-------
Dear Friends

WARNING: This is not my typical upbeat Blog, so unless you want to read “the whole story” skip this one and move on.

Usually my personal processing is kept within or shared with a few select friends in a JJJ= Jabber Jabber Journal letter, but something tells me there is someone out there who might benefit by my ruminations, so be it.

Lay Mission Helpers has a policy, that I don’t recall hearing, that we are not to adopt or keep a child permanently,. so I have to give Michael up by the end of June

I had already started this process both in prayer and in action but my timetable and my mission group’s did not match, so Michael will soon be moving to a orphanage in Kisoro named “Potters Village”. It is a wonderful place , started by Rev. Jenny Green, an Anglican Priest from England, who has served as a missionary, herself in this country for 14yrs. and has two Ugandan adopted children of her own.

--------Potters Village- Children's Home--Kisoro, Uganda---

,

We are making the transition slowly-:from one day to one night then 2 nights etc., By July he will be living there permanently with “home visits to his godmothers house-smile

----------------------Nkuring Safari Lodge

-------------Lake Mutanda, Kisoro, Uganda June 14, 2008

Here I sit writing in my work note book because, although I suspected I might not be able to use my computer here, it never crossed my mind to pack paper and pen. Fortunately “ I had my work fanny pack with a notepad in it and “thanks Bon-Bon for my mini

bejeweled pink pen, which fits perfectly in my mini purse.

This weekend at Lake Mutanda was a long time coming, as I tried two times before and had to cancel out. I was beginning to think this would be –three strikes and you are out--, but I finally arrived at six pm last evening, thanks to rides from Dr. Leonard to take Michael to Potters Village,then dear friend Sheba for transport here and back on Sunday.

The first thing I noticed was how far I have come in a year—how holistically different I have become: A year ago when David from Lay Mission Helpers was visiting, our hospital driver took us for a tour of Lake Mutanda. He suggested we might take a walk down a hilly path to see the Lodge. Well we did and admittantly David, who is older than I, was in much better physical shape than I, as this “hill” turned into a steep mountain, not more than a ½ mile long but slippery as can be. Well I slipped, skidded and huffed and puffed, thinking this will be the first and last time I take this trek.

Now a year later, I have walked it 4 times and as I descended the “hill” wearing a very very heavy backpack and carrying an equally heavy bag, all I could think of was “why did I think this was so difficult?”

So, physically, besides losing 40 pounds, I am more fit than ever.

Holistic implies “Body, Mind and Spirit” and the second two are what has called me to this “time apart”.

Having to give Michael up to an uncertain future may be the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I have experienced every emotion in the book and am hopeful I’ll leave this place tomorrow with some sense of peace .If that happens, it will be a surprising gift , as, at the moment, some 18 hrs. since my arrival, the heartbreak is at an all time high.

Every thing I read from Livings Faiths “Loving God, give me the courage to be honest with you, with others and with myself.” To my daily reading from “The Color of Light, “(for those infected and affected with AIDS)—a quote from writer Emmanuel which reads “Accept your Humanness as well as your Divinity, totally without reserve. And do not shut out the fear, do not deny anything that seems negative to you” Then onto a quote from Shakti Gawain that reads “ Sadness is related to the opening of the heart. If you allow yourself to feel sad, especially if you can cry, you will find that your heart opens more and you can feel more love.” And then onto the song playing on my MP3 player “The reason I am here is for Love”

Accordingly, I have set aside the hope for peace today and instead am allowing, dare I say “honoring”, the holy tears that escape from my saddened eyes.

I do indeed feel sad and it is the one emotion, of the many I have experienced, which I have fought, resisted and denied. It, somehow, seemed selfish to allow sadness to creep into my life, when joyfulness has been my life’s goal. Yet, I am heeding the guidance that is coming to me and giving “Sadness” free reign.

Truly a Room With A View---from my self contained tent I can see Lake Mutanda and hear a cacophony of birds

Later in the day-----------------------

Though I had arranged only bed and breakfast , Powerman, the owner of this Lodge, insisted that I have a bowl of his Pumpkin Soup for lunch and dinner. Well if you had ever tasted his pumpkin soup and his wife’s equally scrumptious home made dinner rolls, you’d know why I accepted his kind offer..

So, as I await this nourishment, (truly holistic nourishment), I am sitting quite comfortable in the Lodge, with a toasty fireplace, viewing Lake Mutanda, which today could be called Ocean Mutanda.

Truly if you close your eyes: the sound of the wind thru the trees, the waves lapping at the shore, even the scent of salt in the air (ok, maybe it is just the soup brewing-smile).

Then you open your eyes and those sounds become visual as there are indeed white capped waves creeping onto the land line, while the trees sway beautifully to the -Call of the Wind.

The contrast of the staid mountains enhances the entire effect and I feel a speck (though be it a significant speck) in the Dance Of Life

For now the tears have subsided and I can feel a gentle smile budding within me, as I indulge myself in memories: There is Michael, of course, in the mornings as he wakes and rolls over toward me with a smile only a baby angel could have, and gently touches my face.
But there are other memories that increase my smiling heart----so so many memories; my fathers Irish humor, my mothers giggles (whether she got his jokes or not). Memories of all the years of shared family laughter. I doubt there was ever a family that had more fun together than the McGee’s. Then, when my sister Theresa married Bob and their children joined our table, the joy of family was only enhanced.

It is not that way now, hasn’t been for many years. But when I feel sad about the loss of my family, I simply remember and realize that what I enjoyed for near 50 years, some people have never even tasted.
-----------------------I have had a blessed life and I know it!

MARIE---------------------

Part two: next time

----Baptism of Hugh "Michael"

---------HUGH MICHAEL’S BAPTISM—

Palm Sunday March 16, 2008 is a day to remember always—for me, for Michael, for many of those who love us .It was a particularly beautiful day, sunshine without rain and just the perfect temperature for such an occasion.

The day and night before had been hectic with preparation and I questioned the choice to “Celebrate” with so much African-American Festivities. My dear friends Carol and Bill had cooked and cooked and cooked, as dear Robina had convinced me that a “meal” must be served, not just cake. After all, besides my community and friends, Michaels’s biological family was coming for the day.

So the potatoes were cooked, the stew meat had simmered to the perfect tenderness thru the night, the chapati was rolled and ready to be fried. Robina had prepared the matooke and we even had rice (it is quite common here to serve potatoes and rice at the same meal) Bill realized we had minimal soft drinks, so made a huge batch of iced tea ( not too iced but quite well received).

.

Our Tour Guide-turned friend, Sheba, arrived with a helper to “put it all together” into a sumptuous Ugandan meal, while we, in our dress up clothes, all walked to join the Procession outside the church obtaining our unblessed palms, which, with the help of Fr. John DeVinney soon were blessed to represent Christ’s arrival into Jerusalem to accomplish his paschal mystery.

My dress was a gift from Immaculate, a lovely young Ugandan nurse and mother, who decided it was time I had a dress made in a local style. I chose a dress with an Indian influence, but Immaculate chose the pink lavender material without even knowing about my affinity toward pink, in every hue. The result was gorgeous!

I was only outdone by Michael himself who wore the Baptismal dress first worn by my sister Theresa some 54 years ago( as a gift from her godmother Peggy Niehmeyer) , then worn by several babies including Theresa’s daughter Heather, when I was her godmother in 1975..

Michael was just the right size, for the fancy dress, at 8 mo .of age, and though he looked adorable in all the flounce, it will be his last dress, if I have anything to do with it-smile.

Though “cross-dressing” is quite common here until a child is about three years old, I don’t think I’ll ever adapt to the frilly dresses of the, very obviously, little boys I care for.

Fr. John incorporated the Baptism beautifully into the Palm Sunday Celebration.: He invited Michael and I, as well as Michael Fraternal grandmother and Sr. Vastina, Charge Nurse of Maternity and the reason Michael made it thru those first couple of months)., to come up to the altar, while he explained that though it was the custom that a boy have a godfather and a girl a godmother, it was not Canon Law.,so that all would understand why I was the only godparent standing up for Michael .He must have done a good job as I was warmly accepted by all

Michael father Robert was unable to attend as he is working in Kampala, but gave him the sur name: Nteziyaremye, which means “waiting to be with God”. I’ll never understand the concept of “picking” a sur name in this country, but so be it. Fr. John Vinney proposed that I also choose another name for Michael and though he may never use it(unless he grows up in the USA-smile) I named him after my father :Hugh. So since everything is said and written backwards in this country, his official name is --------------:NTEZIYAREME HUGH "MICHAEL"

Preview

Emmanuel took a wonderful video of the entire event, seemingly not a bit shy about getting right up close and filming each beautiful symbolic movement , as Father poured the water over Michael head and wrapped him in the white cloth..

As we walked back to our seats, the choir sang “Like a sunflower—follows every movement of the sun---so I turn toward you, to follow you—my God.” This simply tune with it’s equally simple message, was one of the first songs we learned liturgical

movement to at “the Casa”-Franciscan Renewal Center- in Scottsdale, Arizona

Now , some 30 years later., here I was holding a beautiful Ugandan child of God, mouthing the words , as his godmother. As I have said many times—God has so much more in store for me than I could ever imagine!-

Next , I’ll tell you about the Party that followed, so stay tuned and , as always, enjoy the pictures.

-----------------------------------------Blessings--------------------

-----------------------------------------MARIE---------------------- .

Baptismal Party -- Part One

Not enough room inside--no problem--Sheba and Emmanuel bring the party outside!
Come and git it!
----------------------------------------Chapati-so good!

Dr. Damian's family: Joseph far left Waltraud, his wife holding her grandson, child of Dr. Jennifer their daughter and her husband
Food looks yummy!
Local Lady stopped by to eat and bum tobacco--food she got-Ha
Gossiping Gals--Marie with Bonnie, Justine and Vastina
Maria and Michael
---Maria Goretti , Michal and me
------------------------------Michael and his sisters
Michael's family and me enjoy the food and fellowship.
Michael with his Fraternal Grandmother and Sister to his Maternal Grandmother

Baptismal Party--Part two

DANCE--DANCE--DANCE!!!!Always elegant Jennifer (in lavender) and friends dance
Jennifer in lavender would be elegant in a potato sack-honest she would.
Robina, Sheba and Dr. Damian's grandson's were Party Animals-smile
My friend Emmanuel ( in the dapper white suit) gets"into" the dance
Michael's Biological Family really can dance-including Grandmom !

--Florence and Robina shake it up, while Michael family looks on!
Maria Goretti encourages her daughter Florida to join in the dancing
Michael and I follow the little leader
----Now you have it Sheba!

Michael's cousin Precious is indeed precious.
My favorite: Robina says to Sheba"You are suppose to dance around me!"

Sheba teaches Joseph, Dr. Damian's grandson, to drum while grandmom looks on with another grandchild in her lap.


Step-brother Wilber lead the dancing, Robina and Jennifer join inShow us how to move Robina----Can't believe this mini video may have loaded, but it very quickly captures the Joy of Bill learning to dance Ugandan style from Sheba!