Rosa Mystica Rest Home

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