Rosa Mystica Rest Home
Finally, I reached Sr. Vincentina by phone and
planned the trip to Gulu to meet Dr. Sr Vincentina, our good friend
from Kalong,o and Terence who had been researcing all sorts of clinic requirements in Kitgum and traveled to Gulu with all sorts of
information and documents for the clinic. So after one day on the
farm, I am off again, travelling on the public bus, with Richard and
young Richard and also Opoppo (as I receive a call from Draco and
they are ready for
the site visit and hydrology survey for
Opoppo's place in war torn northern uganda – a subject for a nother
post). We found a comfortable bus and off we went with just my
packpack some paperwork for the clinic and a few clothes for what I
thought was a couple of days trip. I was rested and looking forward
to this meeting with Sr Vincentina and hopefully convincing her to
become our "doctor" at the Emmanuel clinic, which for a
health center 2 requires a visit only once a month. She insisted I
stay with her in Gulu also, so that was the plan. This bus ride was
uneventful and comfortable enough, although hot and dusty. As, we
arrive, I call Terence who meets us at the coffee shop across from
the bus park as we also waited for Sr. Vincentina. After the usual
introduction and how are you's and catching up on past news, we
talked clinic. Sr. Is actually doing well and looks rested and is
embracing teaching at the univeristy medical school and govt
hospital.
Terence had some paperwork to show us,
and as we poured over it, Sr. Vincentina gave her knowledge and
opinion and said, you only need a supervising doctor once and month
if you have a full time clinical officer. It was at this time, I
grabbed her hand and pleaded with her to be our supervising doctor
for Emmanuel clinic!! She laughed and chuckled and said, "Oh I
see now, you come with strings attached! She said, "How can I
refuse after all you have done to help me". It was reluctantly
however. As we all went our separate ways for the rest of the day
and evening, I got in the small car Sr. Was driving, precariously I
might add! She asked if I had brought seeds as in the past, but I
did not as not much room in the tubs with just me travelling this
time, so I offered to buy some. We went to the seed shop and bought
81,000 shillings (approx $35) worth of cabbage, tomato, onion,
eggplant and sumawiki seeds. She would now take me to the place she
was living with other sisters and my accomodation for the night.
Rosa Mystica Rest Home is the sign on
the gate we entered, through a walled off compound. Inside was a
fairly large building with a courtyard inside and grounds of
vegetable gardens outside, a bit dilapidated and in some stages of
building and repair. It is clear they barely get by, yet it is clean
and comfortable. I could hear singing in the chapel as this was the
time for evening prayers (they pray morning and night and a priest
comes twice a day – who by the way was shot in both hands by the
LRA war rebels and has crippled hands). There are 12 sisters living
here all but two in their 80's and 90's. Two are in wheelchairs, two
with walkers and a few with canes, others walking stopped over yet
still walking and digging in the garden. Sr. Vincentina and another
Sr. Emily are here as a doctor and nurse to help these elderly out
somewhat. I am soon to find out, what they need and desire is food
sources! After years of prayer they have also been recently given a
large land to do some farming for food and income generation, in
exchange for helping set up a health center and nursery. This is a
remote area and much of it overgrown with bush from the inactivity
during the LRA war time. The village is quite organized they report
and they are thrilled and feel it is a miracle from God to recieve
this blessing. After Sr. Takes me on a tour of the Lacor Hospital
connected to the grounds of the bishops house and nunery's, I am
taken to the dining hall to meet all of these precious sisters. They
are overjoyed to have a visitor as it seems rarely does anyone
outside visit. Sister Vincentina says an elaborate speech as to how
we helped her with her medical check ups in Billings after her
massive bleed that all thought she would die from or at least not
recover from in Florida some years back. It was a bit overdone in my
opinion but all were and are grateful for her life, Sr. Has lived a
life of sacrifice and service for sure and God must have much more
for her to do to spare her life like that! She then introduced all
of the sisters and told their stories which were quite impressive,
they all were influential in one way or another. One sitting next to
me who became termed, "My friend" as she pretended she
could not speak english, was even shot by the LRA protecting a young
boy they were trying to abduct. Then sister brought out the seeds
and you would have thought I gave them piles of gold or diamonds!!
They were overjoyed and expressed the miracle God sent them and
answers to their years of prayers, esp now that they were getting
this land to farm. Now, I can't help but wonder how these sisters
will farm this land, but I am sure they will find a way and Sr
Vincentina is commited to helping them do it. Of course, they need
water...!! So there it was, the sisters charged Sr. Vincentina out
of the blue, with going to check on "Nadine's projects" for
helping them with the seeds and visiting them. Little did they know,
I had already hit up Sr. V for exactly this! Pre ordained I would
say..this whole process! Sister Vincentina was now very excited to
participate as our visiting doctor and the next day had animated
talks with Terence and Richard as we waited for the bus to take us to
Kitgum. The elderly sisters invited me to morning prayers, and
professed, now you are a part of our community and we will pray for
your and Hope 2 One Life and your projects morning and evening! When
are you coming back to visit us and stay for a week next time! I
must say, as I departed on the bus, remembering Rosa Mystica Rest
Home, I thought of my grandpas, and grandma and all of the elderly
people I cared for in nursing homes in the past and felt my heart and soul expanding
to embrace these elderly sisters deeply. I felt enormous peace and
comfort knowing they were praying and knowing their prayers are
powerful...my guardian angels once again bringing in the saints to
carry me along this ever unfolding african journey of hope...and
restoration...and love and peace....and enormous human kindness. I
am truly blessed! And honored to be here...
Nadine
PS, Tom..get ready to assess another
water and farming project next time you visit..he hee! It is hard to
pass by these sisters needs! You and all will be enriched and
blessed by them as well!
Stay tuned for next posts relaying
Opoppo's amazing story of tragedy and redemption regarding the
atrocities his family has suffered during the LRA war and our next
water development project in this remote northern uganda area. I am
almost caught up on writing but will be out of internet service
likely for a few days as I travel back through Kalongo to visit our
friends briefly on the way to gulu to visit Sr. Vincentina again and
show her the new info about the clinic and plan her visit to the farm
and clinic. All is well, I am fine...tired and dirty and dusty and
mosquito bite ridden but fine. Thank you for the prayers!! I am so
grateful!!
N
So you are an honorary Ugandan nun Nadine- congratulations. What a story. I am sure I will see them, and will look forward to that. No doubt all your work will be blessed by their prayers. blessings
ReplyDeleteYes, Angie, for sure you will meet them and even stay in the Rosa Mystica Rest Home, since you were the honorary Billings home/convent for the sisters..ha!
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