My Visit to New Life School in Rural Uganda in the Village of Kitofaali 3 1/2 Hours Southwest of Kampala

All the students lined up for a parade.  Their
happy faces will remain with me forever.

I presented Class 6 with pressed autumn
leaves from Illinois

Gretchen Deuble our long-time friend of over 40 years, invited me to travel to Uganda with her for two weeks to visit her dear friend Betty Kemirembe and also to meet the teenage orphan, Angella, for whom Gretchen pays tuition so she may attend St. Mary’s Boarding School, one of Uganda’s finest. 

Chileren play...no toys....no shouting....happy!!

Passing the collection plate to support NLS was my idea but our Church happily embraced NLS involvement.   We collected enough $$$ to become a partner with the NLS 6th grade class through December of 2012.  Hopefully our Church will decide to continue the partnership. 

When I contacted UUA via Eric Cherry to learn about NLS and Mark Kiyimba, he told me I probably would not be able to visit NLS.  To my surprise, I received an email from Mark August 29 to call him at 7 pm.  He was most gracious and said “when you visit my school you will stay with my Mama.”  Then he proceeded to say he was preaching in Kirkwood, Missouri and he would come to our Church that evening to give a talk, the evening of Sunday Oct 2.  So my husband and I heard Mark preach the 2nd sermon and then we whisked him off to our home, a three hour drive.  Approximately sixty heard his talk.  He stayed with us 5 nights – every day we enjoyed him and quite honestly, I felt as though he was my son!  Much of his time was spent using his laptop and cell phone. Mark wanted to go shopping – my husband Ed was exhausted after the experience – I met them to help Mark choose a larger suitcase.  We made him very comfortable during his stay.  He called when he arrived in NYC (Newark) to say he felt such love while with us. 

Michael Brown of the Peoria UU Church invited Mark to do a talk during the week he was here so Ed and I drove him to Peoria where about twenty people welcomed him.  Mark is scheduled to return to Peoria to preach on Sunday Nov 20.    Michael Brown and Mark met at General Assembly. 

NLS Visit, Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Betty's driver plus a friend of hers named Scholastic who knew the location of NLS, drove Gretchen, Betty and me to the school.  We arrived at approximately 11:30 am.   Angel, head teacher and Teddy. Mark Kiyimba's sister greeted us and said they did not know if we were coming.  Upon arrival, they said they knew exactly who we were.   We hugged!  They rolled out the red carpet, even though the visit would be for only a couple of hours although it was previously to be an over-night.  The entire school did a parade and lined up in the courtyard.   Teddy and Angel addressed the children in their native language and then Betty took over using the native tongue, Lugandan.

Angel, head teacher addresses Class 6.

After the parade, we visited “our class”, Class 6 and thanked them for their beautiful banner.  I identified myself as a representative from their partner church, and presented the students with pressed leaves from Illinois trees.  I explained where Illinois is but wonder if they understood.  Colored ball point pens were presented to the class via Stephen, their teacher.  They sang a song.  Betty spoke to the students in their native language.  She is an advocate for girls and wanted to know who the smartest girl is and up went a hand.  Betty spoke to this girl, again, in their native language, and told her how important education is.  I presented Stephen, Angel and Teddy a picture directory from our Church along with a souvenir booklet I made for Mark featuring many photos with captions of his visit to Central Illinois.  I also took a bag of soybean plants that blew into our yard because Mark was able to ride on a gleaner and actually harvested a truckload of soybeans!  Don’t know, though, if the children understood. 

We visited all classes where each performed a song in English.

Then Angel and Teddy ushered us to all the other classes where the children sang.  Betty did her shtick – wanted to know who the smartest girl in the class is.  I explained about Central Illinois where they grow maize.    More small talk – children very attentive. 

Angel and Teddy showed us the kitchen, the dormitory where students stay overnight and we met the gal who cares for these children and we saw the school office. 

We collected shoes and clothes for the orphans.

Juma, Betty’s driver, unloaded the large red duffle bag of clothes and shoes Mark asked me to ask the Church to collect for the orphans. 

We met an intern who is doing work with the children to teach them to become environmental stewards.

New Life School, Kitofalli Uganda

A beautiful school!