Fr. John Kyebasuuta
過去四個月，每天清晨喚醒我的，不是鬧鐘，而是公雞與牛隻的啼鳴，宣告著日出的來臨。這些大自然的鐘聲不僅在索求食物，也提醒萬物又一個天主所賜的日子開始了。而我們如何善度這一天，全憑自己的選擇。在大多數的時候，我的日子都是在家族農場中度過，與母親及幾位受僱的日工一同耕作，這些日工也都是為了養家餬口而來尋找工作機會的。
在家族農場勞動並非陌生的經歷，反倒是我童年生活的再現。與我的姪子們及其他年輕孩子們一起工作時，我們互相學習新的技巧和方法，共同成長。
每個主日，總是讓我們從農場的工作轉換到教會服務的時刻。亨利‧穆卡薩神父指派我前往遙遠的島嶼主持感恩祭，有些島嶼需搭乘小船穿越維多利亞湖，航行長達兩小時。有時，我則需騎乘機車穿越蜿蜒的塵土小徑，前往兩個不同的村莊，分別在當地的聖堂舉行感恩祭。這些小徑沿著山腳，經過村莊與成排的棕櫚樹，途中我經常向步行前來參與聖祭的教友們揮手致意。抵達聖堂時，總能見到一長列等候領受和好聖事的教友。我通常會在彌撒開始前預留一小時為教友辦告解，使他們能帶著潔淨的心靈參與彌撒聖祭。
感恩祭的禮儀總是充滿活力。最小的孩子們負責敲擊鼓樂，而他們的父母則在一旁高聲歌頌天主，整個聖祭洋溢著家庭敬禮的美好氛圍。通常，孩童們還會負責奉獻籃，教友們依次前行，將當天的奉獻帶至祭台前。他們的奉獻不僅限於金錢，還包括農產品，如香蕉、雞隻、酪梨等。這些供物隨後會被送往堂區，供司鐸一週的生活所需。
好心的撒瑪黎雅人仍在人間
有一天，我騎乘機車沿著蜿蜒小徑前往渡口，準備搭乘渡船前往本土採購物資。就在距離登船點約一英里處，我的機車爆胎了，唯一的選擇便是推著機車步行前往修車鋪。就在此時，兩名男子騎乘機車駛來停下，對我說：「若望神父，讓我們幫助您。」原來，一位信友目睹了我的困境，便先行趕往修車鋪，購買內胎並帶來修車師傅，當場為我修復機車。這實在出乎意料，讓我深深感動，因為這樣的善舉證明了好心的撒瑪黎雅人依然在人間。他們不認識我，卻願意出手相助。兩天後，我得知他們的身分，便邀請他們共飲，一同分享彼此的生活經歷與使命。透過這次奇妙的邂逅，我們彼此見證了各自在所處的環境中如何回應天主的召叫，努力改變他人的生活。這次經驗令我深刻體悟到：「看見需要，立即行動。」
清泉流向貝貝雷村
在布武馬島的貝貝雷村，透過聖湯瑪斯堂區許多慷慨教友們的幫助，我們為大約75戶家庭帶來了清潔的飲水。我們鑿了一口數百英尺深的水井，搭建了儲水塔的平台，安裝了太陽能水泵，並透過地下管線，利用重力將清潔的地下水輸送到數個供水站。過去，這些家庭需要步行數英里，到一處與牲畜共用的溪流取水。如今，感謝許多善心的撒瑪黎雅人，這個社區擁有了新的生命線，得以方便地獲取清潔的飲水，改善了居民的生活條件。
納米提島的聖若瑟天主堂
納米提島距離我家所在的島嶼約兩小時船程。初次踏上這座島時，我受到一群漁夫的迎接，他們帶領我步行約五分鐘穿越漁村，來到一片空曠的場地。在那裡，矗立著一座未完工的建築，讓我驚訝的是 – 這竟然是他們的聖堂！原來，這座聖堂數年前開始建造，但是因為經費不足，至今仍未完工。我們就在這座無頂的建築內舉行感恩祭，地面僅鋪著崎嶇不平的石塊，對於赤腳參與彌撒的教友來說，行走其上尤為困難。
彌撒結束後，教友們自發舉行了一次簡單的募款活動，為完成聖堂籌措經費。我深受感動，因為每位教友都願意奉獻自己的一份心力。最終，他們共籌得56美元。數日後，我與亨利神父討論此事，得知要完成這座聖堂，尚需約1,700美元。在聖湯瑪斯堂區的幾位教友協助下，我們為這座聖堂安裝了屋頂，並鋪設了水泥地面。如今，僅剩購置長椅與禮儀書籍的經費尚待籌募。
布武馬島的生活變遷
除了社會服務與牧靈工作外，我還花費大量時間進行研究，訪談當地居民，以了解布武馬島的歷史與現今的變遷。四十年前，布武馬島的人口尚不足一萬，如今已增至超過十萬，且仍持續攀升。隨著人口的成長，島上的生活方式在各個層面都發生了變化。我目前正整理並編輯這些研究資料，待完成後，定會與各位分享這段見證與心得。
Original Text:
My life on Buvuma Island
For the past four months, the only sound that woke me up was the roosters and cows announcing the sunrise every morning. These natural alarms were always calling for food and alerting creation that a new day had come. Now what we did with the new day was up to us. In most cases my days were spent working on the family farm with my mother and a few extra hands of day laborers who also came around seeking ways to support their families.
Working on the family farm was not a foreign concept but a return to my childhood lifestyle. Joined by my nephews and other young children, we taught each other new tricks and ways of doing things.
Sundays were always occasions for shifting gears from farm work to the church. The pastor, Fr. Henry Mukasa assigned me Masses on distant islands, some two hours away by boat on Lake Victoria. On other Sundays, I celebrated Masses in two distant churches in two villages. These churches were reachable by motorcycles through winding dusty roads that meandered along the foot of the mountain and then through villages and palm trees. On these roads, I waved to greet parishioners walking on foot to the church. Arriving at the church was always a line of people waiting for the sacrament of reconciliation. I usually reserved an hour before Mass for confession.
The liturgy was as lively as it could be. Small children were always the ones playing the drums as their parents sang along. It was family worship and was beautiful. Usually, the children were the ones who held the offertory baskets, and parishioners, one by one, processed to the front of the altar to bring up their offerings for the day. In addition to money, some donated farm items such as bananas, chicken, avocados, etc. These were collected and later taken to the parish to feed the priest for the week.
The good Samaritan is still alive:
One day as I rode along the winding road to catch the ferry so I could cross the lake to the mainland for supplies, I got a flat tire on my motorcycle. This took place almost one mile before reaching the landing site. The only option I had was to push the motorcycle to the landing site where there was a repair shop. A few moments went by, and two men on a motorcycle pulled over and said, “Fr. John, let us help you". Apparently, one parishioner who was riding on a motorcycle saw what had happened and went ahead to the repair shop, bought an inner tube, brought with him the mechanic, and they fixed my bike. This was very unusual, and also wonderful to know that the good Samaritans are still around. I did not know these men but they saw that I was in trouble, and they took care of me. Two days later I found out who they were and we met for a drink and a nice chat. It was through this encounter, that we shared what we each were doing and how each of us had a calling to make a difference in the lives of others. I was very touched by this roadside assistance because it came from the saying, “See something, do something”.
Clean Water has arrived:
In one community on the same island, Bebere Village, with the help of many generous parishioners from STA, we were able to provide clean water to about 75 families. We dug a well that is a few hundred feet deep, built a platform for the water storage tank, installed solar power for the water pump, and delivered clean underground water by gravity through underground pipes to a few water distribution stations. These families used to walk long distances to a stream that was shared with animals as the only water source. Thanks to many good Samaritans, now, this community has a new lifeline with clean water accessible to them.
St. Joseph Catholic Church, Namiti island
Namiti island is about two hours by boat from the island where my home is located in Lake Victoria. The first time I arrived on Namiti island, I was met by a group of fishermen who took me to the church for Mass. We walked for about five minutes through the fishing village and then came to an open field where an unfinished building stood. To my surprise, this was the church. Its construction started a few years back but was never finished due to lack of funding. We celebrated Mass in this open-roof building where the floor was just rocks that were uneven and hard to walk on, especially if you had no shoes. At the end of the Mass, there was a simple fundraising to raise money for completing the church. I was so moved because every parishioner gave what they could. At the end of this fundraising, they had raised 56 dollars. A few days later I talked to Fr. Henry, the pastor, who told me the project needed about 1,700 dollars to finish. With the help of a few parishioners of STA, we built a roof and a concrete floor for this church. Now all that is left to do is to raise funds for the pews and liturgical books.
The changing lifestyle of the island
In addition to the social projects that I was able to assist, I spent a lot of time doing some research, studying, and interviewing the residents about the history and the current changes that are taking place on Buvuma Island. Forty years ago, there were less than ten thousand people on Buvuma Island. This number has gone up to more than one hundred thousand and counting. With this change, the lifestyle of the people has also changed in all aspects. I am currently editing the materials, and when I finish, I will make the study available to share with you.
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