YOUTH WEEKEND

This will be a story that tells itself in pictures.

Teenagers ready and waiting for a big weekend adventure. We were preparing to travel to the village of Vitshumbi for a weekend of song, soccor, volleyball, tourism, and sharing with the youth group of the Vitshumbi Village church.

Some were more bashful than others about having their pictures taken and so we had to have a little bit of fun...oh we laughed and played well.

Of course some people had to be serious and see that all the paperwork got done. Here in the orange jacket is the youth director for Rugari Parish as they type in the last of the names to the list.

And then we waited some more... The truck that would carry all the youth was late already...but we are used to waiting here.

They have been waiting over 15 years for peace and much longer than that for textbooks to use in their studies at school.

They are used to waiting for things in Africa...

Many of these youth live at the Refugee Camp of Kibumba.

Then the truck arrives...

PLEASE DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME!!!!

We begin to load the truck...

Yes, that's it, get the sign where all can read.

The Youth of Ave Maria Parish Rugari are on their way to Vitshumbi this weekend.

How many kids did we say were going to fit in this truck???

We signed up 140...but alas only 110 would fit.

It was a sad day to watch the 30 left behind as we pulled away from the church, but they waved us on with smiles and accompanied the truck to the road, they understand being left behind and accepted it with equanimity.

The first stop to repair the back wooden bracket that was serving as a backstop for some 110 students. This was just at the entrance to the main road from the church...we hadn't gone 1/2 mile yet. We had over 4 hours drive ahead of us. My Lord, I was scared for these kids.

Ye Gads...don't ever try this at home!!!

After more than 3 hours and several stops to fix the wavering backstop and one stop by the highway patrol telling us to get another truck because this was too dangerous for all those kids to travel ......

We stop in a panic because this time the backstop is really threatening to spill out.

And this is the scenary of this last stop point...in the middle of Virunga National Park where Antelope of all kinds abound. We saw no lions only an impala running for his life...we assumed a lion or other predator in pursuit. The evening is falling as they return to the Toyota landrover...

Back in we climb...let's get there before dark we all say!!!

Then first thing in the morning...6:30 am we were dressed and ready to assist in the first of three worship services of Sunday.

The youth helped in reading of scripture and singing of Psalmody. The youth choir never sounded so good!

And Father John Fidel preached so well he was applauded at the end of his sermon.

Then we went on a site seeing hike, through the village to the edge of Lake Edward.

This is a fishing village and of course no fishing village is complete without a stork in every view.

And the most famous of the site seeing events here in Vitshumbi is to see the Hippopotomas. I don't even know if I spelled that right and I don't have time to check the internet for the correct spelling...will you be my editors this time?

Of course there were the masterful photos to be taken by yours truly.

And I just know there are some young folk out there that will get a kick out of seeing this old truck still being used. They keep them running here beyond my wildest imagining.

This is one of the streets of the village of Vitshumbi and it looks pretty much like the whole village. No grass, no trees, no gardens...the only thing they have here is FISH!

The little children of the village began to tag along with our tour and before I knew it we were inundated. And they wouldn't listen when I asked them to return to their homes...they led the way and laughed and shrieked and in general were thrilled to be accompanying the guests of their village...especially the MZUNGU (me, this is swahili for Caucasians)

This is what the shoreline of this village looks like. Fishing boats everywhere.

It was such joy to see both the adults and the youth from Rugari Parish as they ventured into boats and out onto a lake for the first time in their lives.

What a thrilling time they had.

Then it was back to the church for an open air concert by both the youth groups.

Here, in red, is our group from Rugari and the following photo of the Vitshumbi Youth Choir.

This photo tells the other story of life in Vitshumbi. Virtually all goods come in by boat or truck. This boat carries beans, rice, oil, and a kind of banana called Bisamunyu. This banana is peeled and boiled, then eaten like we would eat boiled potatoes. I love this photo, it tells such a story of life here.

Parting shots for this story are some of the scenery from the drive home, another 4 1/2 hours drive.

Don't ever try to load a truck full of youth to travel for a church weekend...but do try a mission trip once in your life...you will be forever grateful for the opportunity!!!