Wednesday night worship started at 5:30pm, but the boys were late. This was a normal occurrence in Uganda; time is not much of the essence. Around 5:45 they finally started piling into the small classroom we were given to use.
A few boys stood upfront to lead worship; one boy played a set of homemade drums, and the rest of the boys sung along and danced, praising their Maker. It had to be one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen; 60 teenage boys worshipping the Lord, singing at the top of their lungs, dancing and clapping.
As I looked outside the classroom I could see other boys from the school playing soccer and socializing, but not these 60. These 60 had chosen to come and worship. And, the crazy thing about it was the boys only had one free hour a day, besides one 30-minute break in the morning, and meal times. They had chosen to come worship the Lord during their only free hour of the day. I rejoiced in them, and praised God for Uganda’s finest young men. These young men were going to be Uganda’s spiritual leaders one day.
After one of my team members gave a short sermon I began looking around the room at the boys who had come. Then, I heard the Lord say; “I am so proud of them. Encourage them.”
My heart began to beat fast and I felt my hands start to shake; I knew I couldn’t hold back what He had told me. So I announced I had something to share and I walked to the front of the room.
I first shared a verse from 1 Corinthians chapter 15.
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm.
Let nothing move you.
Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,
because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
I shared with them what the Lord told me. I told them He was so proud they have given their lives to Him, for His glory. I told them not to be afraid, to be bold and to live for Him. I told them He would always guide them and would bless them for their faith.
I left the service filled with the Lord’s love, feeling so blessed to be in Rukungiri Uganda. This is why the Lord called me here, this was His plan since I was 16. For me to come to Uganda to meet these boys, to love these boys, to encourage these boys.
To Him be the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
