It was a bright afternoon on 5th
of May 2015 and the Apostolic Nuncio Arch-Bishop Michael August Blume; SVD Apostolic
Nuncio accompanied by Fr. Fernando arrived at In Need Home fully prepared to go
to visit families living in abject poverty.
They were welcomed to In Need Home
by Anny Ngoga Bwengye the Executive director of In Need Home together with the
staff.
The Apostolic Nuncio in Uganda
together with Fr. Fernando and the staff of In Need Home walked to the slums
and visited house to house.
The children and their care givers were free to
interact with the Nuncio and he prayed and blessed them. He asked some whether
they have ever been visited by a priest or any pastor and one old grandmother
said that she has spent over 30years living in Namuwongo but she has never received
a priest or a pastor in her house. She was so happy that she had to say that
Jesus has entered in her house that very day.
Of course visiting a slum like
Namuwongo, there are risks involved. You have to be prepared to cross sewage
channels, muddy areas, if you enter the rooms in the slum they are infested
with bedbugs, if you are white you be prepared to be called Muzungu by young
and old people….the experience is endless. To our surprise at In Need Home the Apostolic
Nuncio in Uganda thanked In Need Home for arranging the visit. At In Need Home
we were very surprised by the passion of Michael August Blume for children and
poor people.
The orphans and vulnerable children under the care of In Need Home were so happy to have been visited by the Apostolic Nuncio in Uganda and all were in jubilation saying that we have seen the Pope.....the Pope has visited us. They entertained him and took photographs with him.
He addressed the children
He blessed In Need Home and
promised to keep in touch with the home.
