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All week long Kyarusozi has been preparing for the ordination of Deacon Vincent and Deacon Luke into the priesthood. Starting on Thursday night we have had Brothers arriving to spend the night here at the convent. This has been a little unnerving for the six of us who attend an all girls school. Garrett has been baking many cakes for the celebration afterward. Unfortunately, or fortunately two of the chocolate cakes broke after baking so they of course had to be eaten. Naturally the six of us made short work of the chocolate cake. Somehow before dinner on Thrusday and Friday we had managed to finish almost a whole cake.
Today was the big day and we woke up early to get good seats.
Cassie and I wanted to run with some of the neighborhood kids so we met them at seven. One of my running goals while I was here was to be able to run all the way to the clinic/school and back. I did it this morning!!
After running we got ready and Joy helped me out by tucking flowers into my hair. Surprisingly they lasted almost all day, even after some of the kids started yanking them out and putting them back in.
We left around 9:30 so we could get seats but unbeknownst to us, we could have waited because we had reserved seats since we are staying with the Sisters. The celebration was long but beautiful. There were two bishops, at least twenty priests, at least fifty Sisters and more than five hundred people total at the church. They had even set up benches outside the church for overflow. Most of the ordination was spoken in Rutooro, but even without understanding the words you could tell it was a very joyous celebration.
Afterward there was a celebration on the church steps outside. Children from the different schools in the area came to perform songs and dances. The neighborhood kids came to sit with us and watch. The older girls pointed out the traditional dances to us. They also borrowed our cameras to take videos of the ceremony. I think they were trying to take both videos and pictures, but didn't understand that you have to switch back and forth between settings. When Karungi returned my camera to me it had about thirty one to five second videos on it.
People presented the newly ordained priests with gifts and they read aloud their new assignments. Fatehr Vincent will be staying in Kyarusozi. After the dancing and gifts, the priests gave thank you speeches and we got a shout out! Then while they were cutting the cakes we were directed to the tent at the Brother's place for lunch. We had all grabbed a coke to drink, but couldn't find the bottle opener and everyone else seemed to have opened their pop so we were really confused. Finally, we asked someone. It turns out the trick Greg showed us with the beer bottles is how everyone opens their bottles here. Thankfully some of the novices that we knew from Fort Portal came to our rescue.
After lunch we headed back to the convent where Sister Pat told us there were two cakes left that hadn't been cut. I think we may be all "caked out" by the time we leave Uganda. One of the novices named Noah came over with his friend to talk with us. We asked Noah if he was ready for his ordination. He just laughed. He has five years still.
Sister Beth and Sister Beatrice were here for a few minutes too. We were all sad because we said our final goodbyes to them as we most likely won't make it back to Fort Portal before we leave.
Sister Stella left to attend the Mass of Thanksgiving in Kasssisi, but since it is our last weekend here we decided to stay in Kyarusozi.
I can't believe we only have a week left! Our time here has really flown by. It makes me sad to have to start saying our goodbyes.
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