We went to Ugandan church this morning. Pastor Joseph has
two services and thank Jesus only wants us to go to one. It was pouring rain
this morning and there is a steep muddy hill we have to drive down to get to
the church. I was wondering how we were going to make it down in our 15
passenger van, but it is a four wheel drive. It took a bit, but we made it
safely down.
We walked into church and the music was already playing. It
wasn’t as loud as I would have pictured it to be. Uganda also has its own
language. So, although most people speak English, some don’t. There was a
translator.
A man and a woman were singing when we came in. Then some
kids in pink outfits went up to dance and sing. Then there was a skit about a
woman who had to do this and that, the choir came into her home to cheer her
up, then she joined the choir. The worship began. Then three young men, around
the ages of 24, came up to sing. Their name was One Face in Jesus. One guy
rapped and they added in ‘Give Me Faith’ a great song. It was so cool! Ally and
Grayson had just been talking about this morning that it would be cool if we
could rap at church.
Then we were invited on stage. Joseph was introducing us and
told us they heard we were coming in December and had been praying for us ever
since. Shelley introduced us, and then we sang two songs. Courtney and Andrew
gave testimonies about coming to know the Lord. There were many Amen’s and
Hallelujah’s, and some noise that sounds like a Mexican yell.
After that, a line of young men came into the church kind of
dancing and went on stage. Following them, a line of young women came in the
church dancing and went on stage. Joseph began asking for the man who was going
to lead the young people. One stepped up, but he wasn’t the right one. Then
another one named Frank came up. Joseph confirmed he was the right one. Then he
asked for the young woman to step forward. One came forward, dressed in all
white and had sparkles on her face. They were introducing them to the church as
an engaged couple. The look on their faces during the whole thing was none.
They had no expression of excitement or joy, but everyone at the church sure
was happy for them.
The children were soon dismissed and the message began. I
went to the Sunday school class, but soon left because I saw a little girl I
call Baby Girl leaving and she dragged me down the hill back to the church. I
sat in the back with children on my lap. After the message, music began again
and people were up in the front getting prayed over. After it was all over,
everyone broke up into small groups. I think they were praying for one another
and talking about the message. Many youth, what they call young people our age,
came up to me after church asking for us to sing with them. I’ll be happy to do
that!
The kids also climbed all over us again. It’s just so funny
because they want to touch our skin so bad, they just want us to hold their
hands or put our arms around them. I saw my two girls, Shamim and Aisha, again
before we left. It made me so happy to see them! I was afraid I wasn’t going to
be able to recognize them since all the kids look the same.
