Sometime in early May, we had a visit from the Provincial Council. This is the group of Sisters who are in positions of authority across the entire East African Province, which includes the Sisters' communities of Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Each year they make a visit to one country to spend some time in each of the schools/orphanages operated by the FMA in that country. So this year was Rwanda's turn! Keeping with the Rwandan high value of welcome and hospitality, we went all out to welcome these special visitors.
I had been teaching a dance to "Receive the Power" for the past month or so in order to prepare for our feast of St. Mary Domenica Mazzarello, at the end of May. Well, the Provincial visit provided the perfect "dress rehearsal." So we really polished up those moves.
Jo and I were in charge of decorations, so we strung ribbons and balloons all around the gazebo, along with a big Don Bosco banner. Also, with about 2 days notice, I was asked to make about 20 banners depicting students' completion of the sentence "Jesus is ___________" in any of the 3 languages spoken here. It takes a good hour and a half to make just one, so I really was only able to make about 10 of them. I really like being the "art director," though. I think it’s a lot like being a mom – sometimes you've just got to drop your agenda, pick up some markers, and color.
The students were lined up in two curves all the way from our front gate to the gate into the convent, all waving scarves and singing a "You are welcome!" song in 3 languages. The Provincial Council was running late, and the students were starting to get ancy and tired. But eventually they showed up and came happily driving/walking through our little path of songs and scarves. The Sisters went in the convent to get settled in, then they headed out back to the gazebo where the students were all in place for the show.
And what a show it was! The traditional dance group did a great performance, the choir sang a cute song in French, we did some Zumba, Prof. Kagabo did a fine job emceeing and translating (English is the only language common to all the Provincial Council members), and the Provincial Superior, Sr. Therese, gave an inspirational speech to the students. At the end, I got the impression that all of the students felt very empowered and encouraged "to work hard, to overcome laziness, and to treat one another like brothers and sisters," as Sr. Therese advised. These Sisters really are committed to improving the education of the young, and they're very good and encouraging them to persevere during all its difficulties.
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