The children of Uganda are disappearing. And it’s hard to know where they are going.
I have written about this before, as it relates to the horrible issue of child sacrifice.
Sometimes there are remarkable good news endings to these stories, for example the story of our friend, Richard, and how his little boy was rescued, in the Spectator at the time, here.
But they are not the norm. Desperate prayers, even at Christmasll , often don’t get answered the way we hope.
Open the papers around here. Every Saturday, in fact, in the national daily, The New Vision, you can see a page for children who are simply gone or, actually, very much found, but apparently without home or family. Do you know this one? Please phone.
More on all this soon enough, more, sadly enough, during this time of year that’s especially for children.
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Still with Christmas in Africa, the Christ Child, of course, came to Africa at a young age to escape the murderous rage of mad king. Africa was a refuge to that Royal Family – the young Mary (she was likely a young teen) and Joseph (“God, how are we going to get through all this?”)
Their journey into Africa, into Egypt, was preceded by many other challenges beyond their own capacities. No they didn’t walk on water. They walked on hard ground. They were real.
Singer Nichole Nordeman has done a remarkably commendable job to portray this in her song “Real.”
Earlier this week, Liz performed it. In front of 800 people.
“Ehh, that girl,” I heard voices behind me say. “She must not be more than 12 or 13 years old.”
Twelve, in fact, no, not much different in age than Mary.
The song was for the annual university cantata here. Liz was the opening act. (She had to get to bed – it was a school night.)
Mom was still in Canada, this just a few days before she (thank God) walked back through our front door in the middle of the night and back into our daily routines here.
But Dad, along with Jon and Hannah, were there in the front row to cheer on Liz, who isn’t entirely new to performing in public.
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Mom, meanwhile, reports that the annual Save the Mothers gala, which is why she returns to Canada every time at this time of year, was so successful that more than one person said it was “the best ever.”
Special guests (Hamilton native Steve Paikin was MC) included a lion cub. (On a leash.)
Thank you to all who brought such great success to this event, once again.
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And finally, the news (not exactly “new” news) that Uganda beat Korea to win its first ever international lacrosse game in Federation International Lacrosse (FIL) World Championship play.
This, from a copy of this news report brought back with Jean after a friend gave it to her to share. “Good to see Canada’s national sport celebrated by Ugandans,” said the note.
(In fact, it was from a game played July 14, 2014.)
July 14, besides being the day the gates of the Bastille were stormed to start the French Revolution, is my birthday.
More so, this is all interesting because Ugandan team captain Patrick Oriana.
He scored three goals in the game. (Team Uganda actually won the game by scoring six goals in the final six minutes of the game – the last one with just 36 seconds to go.)
A photo of Oriana is included in the report.
“Jon!” I yelled. “Come on over. Look at this. Ugandans playing lacrosse. Here’s the team captain.”
“Dad, that’s my coach at school!”
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Gotta go. It’s Saturday and they’re calling me. Time when we play that other national sport of Canada’s with the Ugandans here in Africa.