Our pastor told us we’d be going to a revival at a church for two days. We didn’t really know what this meant but prepared our sermons and got ready for it. He said it was a very far drive and we had no idea if that meant 30 minutes or 3 hours.
The day came and we began the van ride there. The dirt roads were full of ruts so big I don’t even know if it can be considered a road. We would hit one and be out of our seats airborne.
A layer of red dust from the road quickly covered everything in the van, including us.
We drove farther away from town and began passing hut after hut. They all had probably no less than 5 children outside, most of who wore little to no clothing. They would all start yelling in excitement when they heard the van, and become even more excited when they saw it held “muzungus” (white people). Who knows the last time a vehicle even passed their hut.
I wondered where on earth we were going the farther we drove. I had my eye out for some kind of building that might be the church. After about two hours, we pulled to the side of the road and stopped. I was uncertain if we were supposed to get out because I saw nothing that looked like a building big enough to hold a service in. But then I realized that the weather-beaten tarp, stretched out over poles in the ground with rustic wooden benches underneath, was the church. We had arrived.
For the next several hours, my 4 teammates and I preached, shared testimonies, worshipped, danced, prayed, and sang with about 200 Ugandans under this tarp. There was such joy in that place!
We left in the late afternoon, came back the next morning, and did it all over again. The people were so happy and excited that they were able to come to church two days in a row for teaching and worship. Even though it was hot and they were sitting on hard wooden benches. And most of them were women with small children. They were hungry for the Word of God and love worshipping Him.
As the second day was drawing to a close, or so I thought, an offering was held to raise money for their church building to be built. This was different than a normal offering, though. Anyone could bring anything to give. People came forward and began bringing their gifts. At the end of several minutes when everyone had been seated again, I was able to look and see what had been given.
In addition to the basket of money, this is what I saw: 10 hens, 3 huge bundles of bananas, bag of corn, couple bags of beans, bag of peanuts, 5 eggs, passion fruit, jackfruit, bag of oranges, bag of avocados, a skirt, a dozen notebooks, and a pack of cookies! Not your normal church offering.
Once again, I thought the day was just about over. Maybe a prayer and then we’d be done. We’d already been there over five hours and I was ready to go.
I quickly realized this wasn’t going to happen. The plan was to auction off all of these offerings so the money could go to the church. And like most things in Africa, nobody was in a rush to do it quickly.
The bidding began.
“One bundles of bananas!”
“2000! I give 2000” “2200!” “3000” “Who will give 3500?” And on it went. “5500!” “ Who will give 5700? No one? 5500, going once, twice, sold!”
On it went. I began to get into it, seeing the excitement of everyone. I had my eye on a bag of avocados, which I’ve come to love since being in Africa.
“One bag of avocados!”
The first bidder began, “1000!” My hand shot in the air- “1500!!” Everyone laughed- the muzungu was bidding! We went back and forth for a few minutes until I won the bag for 3000 shillings- barely over $1.
The auction lasted for well over two hours. We all had good laughs as the auctioneer did dances between each item and stayed animated the entire time.
Over 375,000 shillings was raised for the church, an equivalent to over $150. As the last item was sold, I once again thought the day was just about over…and once again I was wrong.
Read my next blog to find out what happened next….
