It was a little ironic that I ended up yesterday talking about being welcomed to Uganda because as the team reflected on the day today, the overwhelming response to the question “what impressed you the most today” was “the welcome by the people of Kacungwa”.
The truth is that regardless how many times you have come to this beautiful place not on any map (yet), you can’t help but be overwhelmed by the loving welcome by the people of Kacungwa. None of us got any decent pictures today – it just wasn’t the day for many pictures – so you won’t see any on today’s post.
The welcome all started about 1/2 mile from the school & church complex. Children were lined up on the road waving and shouting YOU ARE WELCOME (pronounced well-a-kum). Mariah had a totally unexpected wave of emotion hit her as she listened to these children welcoming us unconditionally with such beauty and love in their voices. I will say that she wasn’t the only one to shed a few tears (though we’re not telling her that). It was hard not to be touched by the scene. And unless you experience it, there are just no words that can ever do it justice.
When the bus pulled to a stop, it was swarmed by people shaking our hands, hugging, smiling, singing – loving us. I don’t think I’ve gotten so many hugs from so many different people in as short a time as I did today. Men smiling and shaking hands, women smiling and shedding tears of joy, children just wanting to touch us.
All of our sponsored children were immediately beside us and I can’t tell you how happy I was to see Joel, Shafiki and Gorret. The boys were all smiles, had grown and their English has improved greatly. Gorret has become a stunningly beautiful young woman. She had her hair done smartly and was dressed like a model. I just couldn’t believe the change in her confidence and poise in the past few years. She cried but I didn’t…really.
Mariah was again brought to tears as she met her sponsored daughter. She asked Mariah if she had a song she liked to sing and Mariah turned it around to her and her daughter started singing to her right there in the middle of the crowd. Have you ever been in a situation where there is bunch of commotion around you and because something so intense has your attention that everything else seems to just go away for a little while? I imagine that is what Mariah was experiencing in that moment. For her first time in Uganda, she found that moment of blessing in the loving song of a Ugandan child.
After the greeting, we went in to the church and participated in some worship time and prayer with the congregation. Introductions of the church and child development program staff by Pastor Sylver and Ken introduced the people from Canby Christian Church. I remember being caught up in the worship and forgetting that we were in a church in Uganda, but was so happy to be with brothers and sisters in Christ worshiping OUR God and OUR Savior Jesus Christ.
Meeting with the Child Development Program director – Dickens – we learned that tomorrow and Sunday are to be VERY busy days for us. Saturdays are “center day” at the school where all sponsored children show up for bible teaching, mentoring and fun. Ken was asked (on top of preaching a sermon tomorrow) to do a 40 minute devotional as well as helping teach a Sunday school class lasting for another 40 minutes with me. All of us are pretty anxious to see how God will use us and multiply the time because there is no way that we can get everything done that we need to (notice all the “we’s” in that sentence?).
We also found out that the plan is to hold the basketball clinics tomorrow. We (or at least some of us) are also going to go to our sponsored children’s homes tomorrow. I’m tired already just thinking about it, but am confident that God will help us through. In preparation for the clinics, Ken, Dalton and I stood out in the parking lot for almost 3 hours putting together the basketball hoop for tomorrow. Ken doubts that it will work, but I told him for a Pastor, he wasn’t showing a lot of faith. 
Anyway, we have it in 3 big pieces to haul out tomorrow and finish assembling on the dirt court. The children are so excited – they have never seen a basketball or even thought of playing the game before. But they have heard of it and are so very excited. We gave them a preview by letting them dribble the ball on the dirt court – they were so excited and so many were huddled around to see what was going on. We’re all very excited about tomorrow, but certainly need our rest and prayer (not necessarily in that order).
I’ve been reminded here how important God is in EVERY aspect of our lives. From the big to the little, we have found ourselves praying for everything. That is the way God wants it – and He answers prayers in some amazing ways.
Well, I must say that waking up at 2:00 this morning and not getting back to sleep has left me a bit groggy and I’m hoping that I can get this posted tonight. Stay tuned for tomorrow and the amazing things ahead.
SNEAK PEEK – Pastor Sylver has, in honor of Canby Christian Church, organized the first annual CANBY CUP soccer (futbol) tournament and the final is Sunday after church. This is BIG, BIG, BIG news and and honor rarely bestowed.
May God bless you and show you His love in an unexpected and amazing way.
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