Our little group here in Kelowna had a small gathering in May, as usual at the Mekong Restaurant. We discussed having a summer picnic or some type of get-together, but due to various problems, health and otherwise, this did not happen.
We did, however, have a lovely afternoon on December 4th. Several of our members could not make it to the meeting, but we did have a visitor from Stuttgart – a guest of Henry Wehnert. Since it was the 146th Anniversary of Father Kolping’s death, Henry read some interesting statistics pertaining to our organization. Of course we also prayed for the canonization of Father Kolping.
Dieter and Gisela Howald gave a Power Point presentation on their work in Kampala, Uganda. In their own words:
For the past ten years, since we have been traveling to Uganda, our main task was to facilitate the distribution of the medical equipment, etc. in the containers shipped out of Vancouver. This past year, the Rotary Clubs of District 5060 established a Medical Equipment Committee in Kelowna with the intention of collecting equipment donated by the Interior Health Authority for distribution in developing countries. Easy, you say? Not so! To ship a container to Africa costs at least $16,000, and after many meetings and negotiations, the first 40-foot container was finally shipped out of Kelowna! It contained the usual: hospital beds, wheelchairs, walkers, commodes, etc., etc. This equipment will go to various hospitals and clinics in Northern Uganda. We had many donations of (new) soccer uniforms, socks and boots, hundreds of soccer balls, plus about 1,000 t-shirts, 500 pairs of flipflops, and other items too numerous to mention. Our orphanage will get some of the beds and other medical equipment, t-shirts, etc. Three years ago we had decided to guarantee the orphans a steady food supply for one year. Three years later we are still able to maintain this program from donations we receive here in Kelowna. Three years ago our budget was $10,000 a year; the need to feed 380 orphans for one year has now risen to $16,000 in 2012.
Kolping Uganda will get 800 soccer uniforms, balls, t-shirts and so on, for their youth programs. Also Included in this shipment is a 40 gallon drum of dehydrated vegetables and fruit from the Gleaners (Google it). The vegetables will make 6,000 portions of soup – that would be a wonderful addition to the orphans’ diet, if customs allows it into the country. The PP presentation shows how the equipment was stored and packed in the warehouse, plus the loading of the container. So it’s on its way; in fact, we were informed that it could arrive in Mombasa harbour, Kenya, as early as the end of December, which means we will most likely have to be in Kampala, Uganda by the beginning of February. Hopefully things go well with customs, etc. and we can distribute everything to the sick, the poor, and the orphans of Uganda.
After the presentation, Henry passed around an envelope and, as usual, our loyal Kolping brothers and sisters made generous donations to the Uganda project.
Our Advent celebration consisted of readings, plus a singalong, which everyone seemed to enjoy. This soon developed into a nostalgic remembrance of Advents of long ago and far away. The meeting ended with the singing of the “Kolping Lied”
We wish everyone a Blessed Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year!
NEWS FROM KELOWNA 
