Miscellaneous Photos

Part of my mission here seems to be to provide a little bit of entertainment and humor for the local people of Torit. I've already mentioned that people would smile when they saw me walking into town and when I greeted them in Arabic or Lotuko, and that they chuckled when they saw me riding a bicycle along the same route. The smiles have been renewed when they see me now bouncing along in a compact Suzuki Samurai SUV. Almost a month ago now the bishop loaned me this newly resurrected vehicle to get back and forth from the administrative compound to the center of town for my daily Holy Hour in his chapel, apostolic activities and other errands. Because it is so small, and because the suspension is almost completely shot, the ride along the uneven road is very bouncy - it feels a little like riding a horse. Because it is kind of the "VW bug" of SUVs, I almost need a human shoe horn to squeeze myself into the drivers seat. But I'm not complaining! I am very happy and grateful to have this means of transportation, and try to give as many people rides as I can. My five months of walking the route has made me a more considerate driver, too. I know what it tastes like to eat the dust of an inconsiderate motorist. The photo here shows the vehicle beside a larger Toyota Land Cruiser, just to give you an idea of its relative size.


About a month ago, too, Torit received the blessing of an added recreational/sports facility in the form of a cement basketball/volleyball court right next to the big soccer field. It's filled in the late afternoon when the blistering heat of sun begins to fade. You can tell by watching that those who are playing are still in the process of learning the game, but I've seen several young men carrying basketballs under dangling arms, looking like they're beginning to feel pretty comfortable with it.


Below is the photo of Bishop Akio with a blind catechist, whom I have seen several times walking along the road, guiding himself with the two sticks he's holding. They're in the process of exchanging the customary Lotuko greeting, which is something really beautiful and charming. It doesn't suffice to ask someone just once how they are; those who speak Lotuko have to repeat over and over again: "Mong, mong, mong,... ogolo, ogolo?" ("How are you... How are you... How are you... are you well, are you well?). To which they normally respond: "Unira;" or if they're really well, "Unira, bebe!" This is such a part of their culture that I once received an email from a Lotuko with "mong, ogolo" as the subject heading.


Below are some photos of new altar servers in training. In addition to the burden of his administrative responsibilities, each afternoon Fr. Auxilio Odume spends several hours with children who participate in various Holy Childhood activities. During my Holy Hour I often hear the children repeating in unison responses from the Mass or phrases from a prayer that Fr. Auxilio is teaching them (English is not their first language, and many of them don't speak it well, so it takes a lot of repetition for them to learn). It can be very powerful to hear the same phrase (e.g. "For us men and for our salvation He came down from heaven") being shouted over and over again in unison. One of the Holy Childhood groups is the altar servers. I happened to pass by when some new recruits were being trained. I asked Fr. Auxilio (in the role of the priest in the top photo) which of those present were going to become priests some day; it's not unusual for a boy to discover his vocation in that way - a fact that gives even greater significance to apostolic work like this. The girl in the dress and the hat in the second photo adds a particular spash of style to the activity.