Where I grew up, the circus comes to town almost every year, and without fail, Grandpa would always say something along the lines of … “We have to keep a close eye on you – they might take you with them.” Really funny, Grandpa.
Well, this month, I have felt like I am part of a traveling circus. Seemingly, we have been paraded all over Uganda. When I say “paraded,” I mean “paraded.” I have heard more than once “These people want to be blessed by a mzungu team.” — we are taken places to meet people because we are white.
We have had several days of 3-4 hours in a van; sing, dance, and share a word for an hour or two; 3-4 hours in the van ride home.
In Kenya, our first African country, the children shouting “Mzungu!” was cute — at first. Now, I just want to hide when I hear someone shouting “Mzungu!” My name is NOT “Mzungu.”
This month’s door-to-door consists of our team of 6 and usually 3-5 Ugandans trudging through the town for a few hours and meeting a few people. One person speaks while the rest of us stand awkwardly around the person we just met.
We’re never sure of the “program” until the night before or day-of … which consistently changes throughout the day.
We are told that we are going to one school in the afternoon and we will have the evening off. On our way to the school, we are informed that we will actually be visiting two schools and leading a 2 ½ hour church conference afterward.
We are told that we are going to two spots to open-air preach. We plan for two of us to speak. THEN, after the 2nd place, we are informed that we’re going to 4 or 5 other places. Each of us is expected to preach. We are taken from place to place to place to place & asked to give and give and give and give…
The most frustrating part? I think it’s when people say that they want blessings from the Mzungu team, or when people glorify us because we are missionaries traveling the world for a year. Yes, I did leave home for 11 months, but it’s not because I know the Bible better or am more spiritual than anyone else. God opened the door for me to come on the World Race, and I walked through it.
I just hope that they see God in what we’re doing. My prayer since the beginning of the Race has been that the people I meet will not even remember my name or face — they will only remember that God spoke to them, that God held their hands, that God was in their presence. I want to be so filled with God that HE is who they see when I am with them.
With of all this parading, I am convinced that I have joined the circus this month…
