From Papua New Guinea to Uganda

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Sister Mary Tina Petrick, from the Toledo Province, truly has a missionary heart.  After her time of service was ended in PNG in October, 2013, Sister gladly volunteered to assist in the Uganda mission.  The question was, “In what ministry shall she serve?”  This was a difficult question, because Sister Mary Tina has many gifts and talents.  She has served in education at many levels and in many and varied school environments.  What is she doing?  Sister Mary Tina serves as the director of Notre Dame Nursery school in Lyamutundwe (about 13 kilometers from Entebbe Airport.)  The school has about 135 children age three to six.  Sister will coordinate the school program, motivate the staff to inculcate Notre Dame Educational Principles, assist them to have high standards in developing these youngsters, and work with parents as the primary educators of their children.

Sister Mary Tina arrived late in the night on 28 February.  After getting settled in the community, she has set up her office, met teachers, had staff meetings, visited with children, taken on the finances, and much more.  She has gone into Kampala in order to do business and has even ridden a “boda boda”, a motorcycle for hire.  Being driven through the very overcrowded streets of Kampala on a motorcycle is not for the faint hearted!  A highlight for Sister Mary Tina was meeting a neighbor who lived through the bitter years when the dictator, Idi Amin, was in power.  She wrote a book about her incredible experiences.  Sister Mary Tina is now reading her book.

When asked what she likes best in the brief time she has been in Uganda, she replied, “I appreciate all the welcoming people of Uganda.  Everyone has helped me feel at home.”