Funeral at Lira in the Village

 Vincent was a young man that was preparing for a mission but he had some health problems.  He had had rheumatic fever due to strep throat when he was younger and it had damaged his heart.  Dr. Jonson was looking after him.  We were trying to figure out how to get him to South Africa for heart surgery when he died suddenly in the hospital. 

We got to know Vincent because he would go to the market and buy vegetables for us and bring them to the apartments for us.  He always picked really good vegetables and got a much better price for them than a Muzungo could.  He was a very kind and gentle young man and dedicated and committed to the church and to any responsibility he had.  No matter how tired and sick he felt he went to the market and rode a boda boda or walked a few miles to the apartments carrying heavy vegetables. 
One Sunday Vincent was not feeling well but he had committed to teach Sunday School.  His room mate said that he should stay home and someone else could teach for him but he said, "No, I said I would do it so I will be there."  It was very difficult for him to walk up the long hill to the Ntinda Branch but he did it inspite of how difficult it was.  His echocardiogram showed that his heart valves were not working very well. 

Vincent did not have close family in Kampala and we were not sure who to contact but the tradition is to take the body to where that person was born and bury them there.  We found a cousin who knew where he came from so we bought a coffin at a road side stand and went to the morgue to collect
 Vincent. 
Some of his friends and cousins rode with us in Elder Jonson's truck and our SUV.  It was a long drive over rough roads North to Lira.  Once we got to Lira we picked up some more people who knew the way out to the Village.  It was 5 hours to Lira and then we travelled another 1 1/2 hours through thick brush on a dirt and muddy trail to the village.  There were many villagers on the road coming and going to the market.  Some were on foot, some walked and the babies slept in their wraps on their mommy's back.  They were curious but friendly.  When we stopped near the markets
 there were always young people with baskets of vegetables and fruit to sell to us. 

 Elder Wallace loved the challenge of 4 wheeling through the mud and rutty roads.  We just kept going and going through the bush. 











The women never cease to amaze me.  They work hard and are strong. 









There are many crops out in this area and they could probably grow just about anything they wanted all year round. 
We saw, Sunflowers, Cotton, Maise (Corn), Beans, pumpkin (squash) and many other things.  There were goats and cows grazing along the edge of the road. 

















Rainy season.  Lots of mud and ruts























The Villages were neat and tidy, organized and well kept.  It seemed like a very nice place to raise a family, peaceful and quiet, lots of food and people who love you everywhere. 








When we got to the village they were ready and waiting for us.  There were tents set up and the grave was dug. 











The chief had a conference with the branch President and they decided on a program. 
There were talks and introductions of family members of Vincents.  The men sat together on one side of the open area and women sat on the other.  The children were around but were quiet. 
It was very reverent and a nice funeral. 















Goats and chicken wondered back and forth










Here is the Chief and beside him are some rice, beans and other things that the Branch President brought for the family.  Vincent did not have a father or mother living but lots of cousins and aunts and uncles.  









After the children came out to see us and get their picture taken. 






















It was getting dark when we left so we didn't have time to stay and eat the food that they had prepared for us.  It was very kind of them to prepare food for us but we probably couldn't have eaten it anyway.  They even bought sodas for us and we drank those before we left.  I don't know how they got sodas all the way out there but they did and we appreciated it. 


We see that families are the same where ever you go.  They care about each other and share in each others joys and sorrows.  They were so grateful that we had taken the time to come all the way out to the village to bring their "son" home to rest.  It was so peaceful there and I thought how it would be nice to spend some time there and I also thought how nice it would be to grow up in such a peaceful, protected environment.  They are very fortunate.  They don't have much but they have love, food, work and lots of people to support and care for you.  What else do you need?