Small World

It has almost become a truism that the world is growing smaller each day. For better or worse, it's way too true. My first week here Bry'Chell and I were sitting in the guest house dining room having dinner when a familiar face walked in the room. Wait, I know this guy. I know him from 91st and Stony Island--St. Ailbe's in Chicago. It was Fr. Modest Odama.

He would come and say mass at St. Ailbe from time to time. He was one of the few African priests that the school kids actually liked. He's lively and friendly and fun. He made an effort to be understood. Now, he's standing in the dining room at UMU. We were both surprised.

Turns out he's a new lecturer (professor) in the education department at UMU. I would have written about him sooner, but those were the days when I was still trying to figure out how to get on the internet and into my blog.

We've had many conversations since then. He finished his doctorate at Loyola in Chicago and is back home teaching at UMU. I find him to be creative, intelligent, funny and hard-working. It's nice to have someone who knows Chicago and the US. He doesn't have trouble understanding my accent, nor do I struggle to understand his. Hurray!

He had the mass a week ago Sunday and, at the risk of offending other celebrants, his was the best homily I've heard since I've been here, even Bry'Chell said so. Just the fact that Bry'Chell didn't totally tune him out suggests that he's a good preacher.

Well, time to put together my lecture and class materials for tonight.