Marian Apparition Part. 4 The End!
On our way down, we met a 79-year-old woman also descending. Her courage and determination to climb such a challenging hill left us in awe. Many people couldn’t make it to the peak and stopped halfway to pray from there.
As we descended, the elderly woman shared her story. She told me she was from a village over 30 kilometers away and had come to stay with her sister, who lived nearby. That’s how she learned about the apparition and decided to come to the hill. She said Maria had appeared to her four times—twice in dreams and twice physically on the hill. This wasn’t her first time climbing the hill; she regularly climbed it for prayers and descended on her own. While she didn’t fully explain her motivations, which seemed deeply personal, she was clearly excited to be part of the crowd witnessing the apparition.
As we continued descending, I thought I should offer her some help, perhaps by holding her hand or assisting her in some way. However, she stopped me, saying she knew how to navigate the terrain. She wasn’t tired or worried about the descent.
We finally reached the base of the hill, carrying with us amazing stories and testimonies of what the Lord had done through Mother Mary. And so, our adventure and search for the apparition came to an end.
Reflections on Faith and Society
This experience taught me several profound lessons about faith and our society:
- The Desperation for Hope
People are desperate to find hope. Anything that offers them a glimmer of it becomes a lifeline. Many have no other source of help in their lives, and events like this provide an opportunity to lay their grievances and desires before Mother Mary. This gathering was a powerful expression of people clinging to hope for better days. - Strengthening Relationships with God
Many people climbed the hill to deepen their relationship with God. I’m sure the elderly prayed for longer lives and good health. Among the crowd, I saw a man using walking sticks whom I could hardly believe was still alive. When I was about 4 or 5 years old, he was already an old man with gray hair running a shop, and we used to call him Mzee (meaning an older man). Seeing him struggle to climb halfway up the hill despite his advanced age taught me the values of sacrifice and resilience. I’m certain his prayers centered on longevity and health. This event drew people closer to God, with many submitting their heartfelt pleas, and I have no doubt many were answered. - The Potential for Pilgrimage and Tourism
Uganda is home to many prayer places, especially on hills (often referred to as “mountains”). I’m convinced that this site will evolve into a prayer mountain and a pilgrimage destination. Such places have the power to unite people in prayer and spiritual reflection. Over time, this site could also develop into a significant tourist attraction.
Future Plans
I plan to return to this hill with anyone interested in making a pilgrimage and to observe the aftermath of this remarkable event. It will be interesting to see how the place evolves over time, both spiritually and socially.
Faith, after all, is the substance of things hoped for.
