We decided to join Fr. Ramone and Fr. Robert for a hike up Mount Kalongo to celebrate New Year's Eve Mass. We left at 5 AM and it was pitch black - except for the eerie brush fires set haphazardly along the trail. If I was on my own, I would have not kept hiking with the fires, but the locals thought nothing of it!
The stars on the way were incredible!
I had hiked this mountain once before, but we didn't see another soul, other than the "guards" at the top that were awaiting their gratuity. On New Year's Eve Day it seemed like every local - young and old alike, traversed the mountain.
Once back, we visited a few of the construction projects around the school, assessed some land for future projects, made bracelets with students, wrote thank you letters for the generous donors that supported scholarships for the girls, and attended another mass! We are ready for a blessed 2022!
The night ended with a few hours of skits. A long and full day!
The bus we just repaired...
And enjoyed a lot of dancing at lunch for the birthday celebration for one of the students, and again at night after the skits. Try as they might, with many haps pushing them this way and that, they were not able to get my hips to move like the Ugandan girls!
Purifying water system for clean drinking water to fill the water bottles :)
Cooking in the restaurant. Must in Uganda cook with charcoal.
The new hand washing station (thank you Dennis!)
One of the new sewing machines.
Mass was so special filled with song and shrilled yelping, set to the rhythm of bells worn on ankle bracelets. The offering we helped bring up included potatoes, tomatoes, and rice.
Love this cute little local walking with her grandma, both their their hands clasped behind their backs.
We enjoyed a snack of sugar cane - yum!
