Chapterm XXV
Chapter XXV (still at St. Luke’s)
We walked back up the road to the church where people had begun arriving. The Lay Reader showed us what they have done with the donation from St. John’s Roseville from last year. They have bought a piece of land with hopes of expanding some day as the land their church is now on is small. They have also begun collecting building materials (brick and rock) for the permanent structure to replace the crumbling present one. Inside, they have concreted half of the floor and added pews so everyone can now sit in church without bringing their own chair from home. We began with prayer, speeches and song. There were not the normal amount of people since we were actually expected yesterday and today a Christian organization was handing out sacks of beans for planting and many church members were off receiving their beans. But there were enough for a couple of drummers, a shaker and a bottle cap instrument, and the music and singing was as heavenly as usual. After Rick gave a message, and Fr. David spoke for awhile, we gave the gift from St. John’s Roseville – another 860,000 UGS ($500.00). They erupted in joy – now they can continue building their permanent church. One of the men went outside and came in with a large chicken to present to us as a gift. This was the third gift of a live chicken since we’ve been here this time. The chicken, which had its legs tied together so it couldn’t escape, was put behind the pulpit while we concluded the service with speeches from the Lay Reader, the Senior Warden and the Head of the Building Committee. But then, someone else came in and presented us with a small wall hanging and a drum. I was really happy! I have wanted a drum since our first time here but never got around to buying one. This drum is a used one – much better in my opinion. Every time I touch it or play it I will be touching the others who have played it before me. I will feel the presence of the wonderful people of this poor rural church in the mountains of Africa who have blessed us so much. When we were leaving, the chicken went into the trunk of the car for the trip home. I don’t know if I’ll ever de-sensitize to hauling live animals around in the trunk of a car. After coming home for lunch (and freeing the chicken from the trunk to await his final reward as our dinner tonight), we went to St. John’s School at Bugongi to give gifts and see the library they built with our donation from last year. They had also been expecting us yesterday so were not prepared for our visit today. Yesterday the headmaster, Joy, had tea ready for us and the children were ready to perform. By now, Fr. David was getting anxious to get home to prepare for the Bishop and his wife to visit our humble home for the first time tonight. But the people of the school were not letting us off with a short visit. We presented our gifts from St. John’s Roseville Church and School, visited the library, and were entertained by the choir and a recitation of a poem about the importance of health and nutrition. They were as good as always and we enjoyed everything very much. As we left and started driving back down the road, we had to stop and greet Fr. David’s sister, Morrie, who found out we were in the area and climbed down to the road to intercept us. It was good to see her. On the way home through town we stopped at the Royal Market to get ingredients for the American dish I was requested to cook for the Bishop’s visit. It’s not easy trying to think up a dish that represents American cooking. Most everything in the U.S. seems to have come from somewhere else. Rick suggested macaroni and cheese, which I think was a good idea. I just hoped I could prepare it over a charcoal fire. I bought a small wheel of cheese, a little box of milk, some real butter and a can of Pringles potato chips (which cost $2.50). As I was walking toward the cash register I suddenly noticed on a shelf something amazing! Diet Coke! The first I have seen outside the capital city. We remembered that Laura, the Bishop’s wife, said she likes Diet Coke and wishes it would come to town. Se we bought 4 cans (at $1.75 per can) so there would be some for her at dinner.
When we got home, I began to strategize how in the world to make white sauce, grate cheese and drain macaroni in a kitchen with one dull knife, charcoal pots, no measuring cups or slotted spoons or colanders. I first brought the butter and the little box of milk from the refrigerator (power is on today – hallaleujah..) The milk box was one of those with the little straw attached to be stuck into a small hole on the top. So, after melting the butter in a pan, I stuck the straw in the hole to open it, removed the straw, and then “milked” the box which caused laughter to Constance and Emily who were watching my every move so they could learn to make macaroni and cheese. I had to ask them to start two charcoal fires for me because I have yet to master that skill. No Kingsford briquettes, no starter fluid – just a bunch of pieces of charcoal in a small clay pot. After they had the fires going, I started boiling water to cook the macaroni. Then I got everything else ready in a circle around me so I could do it quickly – there is no turning the burner up or down. There is one heat level – all the way hot. Fortunately, last time we were here I brought pot holders. I melted the butter in a large skillet, added the flour and milk mixture and began stirring to make the white sauce. Stir, stir, remove from the flames for a minute, back on the flames, stir, stir, off again so it didn’t burn. By now the macaroni was cooked but there was nothing to drain it in. So I held the pot with the potholders and poured the water into the white sauce – pour a little, put the pot down and stir, pick the pot back up, pour a little, stir. Finally, the white sauce was the right consistency and miraculously un-scorched. Now I began stirring in the cheese that I had “grated” with a dull knife, one little slice at a time. It stirred in nicely and the sauce was done. Since there is no oven to bake it in, this was stove-top macaroni and cheese. So I mixed the sauce with the macaroni, and then melted the remaining butter in the skillet and crumbled the Pringles potato chips into it. The resulting topping was spread on top of the whole thing. It was actually pretty good! As a reward for a job well done, Constance, Emily and I finished off the unused Pringles.
Meanwhile, the implacable Fr. David was becoming a nervous wreck. It was actually kind of fascinating to watch. I mean, it was just the Bishop and his wife coming to dinner. He (Fr. David) kept showing up in the kitchen door to see how things were coming. The kids (every one of them, even the adult kids) were banished to the “not seen OR heard” realm for the duration. Then there was the following conversation. Fr. David – “shouldn’t we have that stuff you have before meals?” (Appetizers) Me: “Why? No one ever has them here.” Fr. David: “It’s the BISHOP. Is ice cream a good appetizer?” (The power was on that day and he had purchased individual cups of ice cream which were in the freezer) Me: “Uh – no. Usually it’s cheese or crackers or cut up vegetables. Ice cream is a dessert.” Fr. David: “OK OK – how about putting out the drinks before dinner.” Me: “I’ll do whatever you want – this is your house.” Fr. David: “I want it like you do in America.” Me: “Alright, we’ll put the sodas and glasses out now for when they get here.” Etc. etc. Finally, the Bishop and Laura arrived. They were ushered into the room, sat down, and – everyone disappeared except Rick and me. Bishop George was his usual personable self, Laura delightful as usual and we had a nice visit, but where were Fr. David and Constance? After an African while, they appeared carrying in the many dishes that are traditional for dinner – always at least 6 or 7 choices. There was the macaroni and cheese, matoke, rice, green beans and a few other things. I had expected to help Constance while Rick and Fr. David visited with the guests. So then we got down to talking about Fr. David and Constance’s impending visit to the U.S. Bishop George and Laura told us some really funny stories about their first trips to other countries, and had some very useful advice for Fr. David and Constance. It was really interesting to hear their first impressions of things like key cards for hotel rooms, the one-knob twistable water faucets in the tubs, how it feels to be looking for a “toilet” and see nothing but “restrooms.” It was a really enjoyable time, Laura appreciated the Diet Coke, and we parted with hugs as usual. As soon as their car drove away, all the kids materialized to eat the rest of dinner. I know two of them had been sitting in Fr. David’s car but where the rest of them kept themselves for 2 hours is still a mystery.
We walked back up the road to the church where people had begun arriving. The Lay Reader showed us what they have done with the donation from St. John’s Roseville from last year. They have bought a piece of land with hopes of expanding some day as the land their church is now on is small. They have also begun collecting building materials (brick and rock) for the permanent structure to replace the crumbling present one. Inside, they have concreted half of the floor and added pews so everyone can now sit in church without bringing their own chair from home. We began with prayer, speeches and song. There were not the normal amount of people since we were actually expected yesterday and today a Christian organization was handing out sacks of beans for planting and many church members were off receiving their beans. But there were enough for a couple of drummers, a shaker and a bottle cap instrument, and the music and singing was as heavenly as usual. After Rick gave a message, and Fr. David spoke for awhile, we gave the gift from St. John’s Roseville – another 860,000 UGS ($500.00). They erupted in joy – now they can continue building their permanent church. One of the men went outside and came in with a large chicken to present to us as a gift. This was the third gift of a live chicken since we’ve been here this time. The chicken, which had its legs tied together so it couldn’t escape, was put behind the pulpit while we concluded the service with speeches from the Lay Reader, the Senior Warden and the Head of the Building Committee. But then, someone else came in and presented us with a small wall hanging and a drum. I was really happy! I have wanted a drum since our first time here but never got around to buying one. This drum is a used one – much better in my opinion. Every time I touch it or play it I will be touching the others who have played it before me. I will feel the presence of the wonderful people of this poor rural church in the mountains of Africa who have blessed us so much. When we were leaving, the chicken went into the trunk of the car for the trip home. I don’t know if I’ll ever de-sensitize to hauling live animals around in the trunk of a car. After coming home for lunch (and freeing the chicken from the trunk to await his final reward as our dinner tonight), we went to St. John’s School at Bugongi to give gifts and see the library they built with our donation from last year. They had also been expecting us yesterday so were not prepared for our visit today. Yesterday the headmaster, Joy, had tea ready for us and the children were ready to perform. By now, Fr. David was getting anxious to get home to prepare for the Bishop and his wife to visit our humble home for the first time tonight. But the people of the school were not letting us off with a short visit. We presented our gifts from St. John’s Roseville Church and School, visited the library, and were entertained by the choir and a recitation of a poem about the importance of health and nutrition. They were as good as always and we enjoyed everything very much. As we left and started driving back down the road, we had to stop and greet Fr. David’s sister, Morrie, who found out we were in the area and climbed down to the road to intercept us. It was good to see her. On the way home through town we stopped at the Royal Market to get ingredients for the American dish I was requested to cook for the Bishop’s visit. It’s not easy trying to think up a dish that represents American cooking. Most everything in the U.S. seems to have come from somewhere else. Rick suggested macaroni and cheese, which I think was a good idea. I just hoped I could prepare it over a charcoal fire. I bought a small wheel of cheese, a little box of milk, some real butter and a can of Pringles potato chips (which cost $2.50). As I was walking toward the cash register I suddenly noticed on a shelf something amazing! Diet Coke! The first I have seen outside the capital city. We remembered that Laura, the Bishop’s wife, said she likes Diet Coke and wishes it would come to town. Se we bought 4 cans (at $1.75 per can) so there would be some for her at dinner.
When we got home, I began to strategize how in the world to make white sauce, grate cheese and drain macaroni in a kitchen with one dull knife, charcoal pots, no measuring cups or slotted spoons or colanders. I first brought the butter and the little box of milk from the refrigerator (power is on today – hallaleujah..) The milk box was one of those with the little straw attached to be stuck into a small hole on the top. So, after melting the butter in a pan, I stuck the straw in the hole to open it, removed the straw, and then “milked” the box which caused laughter to Constance and Emily who were watching my every move so they could learn to make macaroni and cheese. I had to ask them to start two charcoal fires for me because I have yet to master that skill. No Kingsford briquettes, no starter fluid – just a bunch of pieces of charcoal in a small clay pot. After they had the fires going, I started boiling water to cook the macaroni. Then I got everything else ready in a circle around me so I could do it quickly – there is no turning the burner up or down. There is one heat level – all the way hot. Fortunately, last time we were here I brought pot holders. I melted the butter in a large skillet, added the flour and milk mixture and began stirring to make the white sauce. Stir, stir, remove from the flames for a minute, back on the flames, stir, stir, off again so it didn’t burn. By now the macaroni was cooked but there was nothing to drain it in. So I held the pot with the potholders and poured the water into the white sauce – pour a little, put the pot down and stir, pick the pot back up, pour a little, stir. Finally, the white sauce was the right consistency and miraculously un-scorched. Now I began stirring in the cheese that I had “grated” with a dull knife, one little slice at a time. It stirred in nicely and the sauce was done. Since there is no oven to bake it in, this was stove-top macaroni and cheese. So I mixed the sauce with the macaroni, and then melted the remaining butter in the skillet and crumbled the Pringles potato chips into it. The resulting topping was spread on top of the whole thing. It was actually pretty good! As a reward for a job well done, Constance, Emily and I finished off the unused Pringles.
Meanwhile, the implacable Fr. David was becoming a nervous wreck. It was actually kind of fascinating to watch. I mean, it was just the Bishop and his wife coming to dinner. He (Fr. David) kept showing up in the kitchen door to see how things were coming. The kids (every one of them, even the adult kids) were banished to the “not seen OR heard” realm for the duration. Then there was the following conversation. Fr. David – “shouldn’t we have that stuff you have before meals?” (Appetizers) Me: “Why? No one ever has them here.” Fr. David: “It’s the BISHOP. Is ice cream a good appetizer?” (The power was on that day and he had purchased individual cups of ice cream which were in the freezer) Me: “Uh – no. Usually it’s cheese or crackers or cut up vegetables. Ice cream is a dessert.” Fr. David: “OK OK – how about putting out the drinks before dinner.” Me: “I’ll do whatever you want – this is your house.” Fr. David: “I want it like you do in America.” Me: “Alright, we’ll put the sodas and glasses out now for when they get here.” Etc. etc. Finally, the Bishop and Laura arrived. They were ushered into the room, sat down, and – everyone disappeared except Rick and me. Bishop George was his usual personable self, Laura delightful as usual and we had a nice visit, but where were Fr. David and Constance? After an African while, they appeared carrying in the many dishes that are traditional for dinner – always at least 6 or 7 choices. There was the macaroni and cheese, matoke, rice, green beans and a few other things. I had expected to help Constance while Rick and Fr. David visited with the guests. So then we got down to talking about Fr. David and Constance’s impending visit to the U.S. Bishop George and Laura told us some really funny stories about their first trips to other countries, and had some very useful advice for Fr. David and Constance. It was really interesting to hear their first impressions of things like key cards for hotel rooms, the one-knob twistable water faucets in the tubs, how it feels to be looking for a “toilet” and see nothing but “restrooms.” It was a really enjoyable time, Laura appreciated the Diet Coke, and we parted with hugs as usual. As soon as their car drove away, all the kids materialized to eat the rest of dinner. I know two of them had been sitting in Fr. David’s car but where the rest of them kept themselves for 2 hours is still a mystery.
Labels: Uganda Chronicles
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