Sunday, November 9

Sunday, November 9 was quite a special day.  Abdu had been praying and spending time in the Word on Saturday afternoon and evening trying to prepare for preaching on Sunday.  It was getting late and he said "I don't have a message".  He'd been reading and praying but hadn't gotten anything from the Lord to share.  We both agreed that there was probably a reason for that.  So he went to sleep and woke up early in the morning again to pray and see if there was a message to share.

We arrived at service and took our seats.  Praise and worship began and they did some songs in English and some in Luganda.  Something I have been struggling with is really feeling part of the service because I don't understand the language and I often feel like the odd one out.  It's very different than the Catholic church which I have been in my entire life so an occasional English song helps me be able to feel connected and get in the spirit.

So Abdu didn't tell me but he still did not have a message to share.  So he called another pastor to come preach.  Pastor Alex Monday...as soon as he started preaching I knew why Abdu didn't get a message.  It was because God planned for Pastor Alex to come that day.  I don't know what everyone else heard during his preaching but he was definitely sent to tell me some things.  Abdu and I had been talking over the last few days, weeks, months about certain issues and concerns that we have had.  Pastor Alex talked about EVERY SINGLE ONE of the them.  I sat there in awe.

These were the scriptures that Pastor Alex shared...

"if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place."
(2 Chronicles 7:14-15 NIV)

"Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore." (Psalm 125:1-2 NIV)

It was an incredible really.  I don't even know how to explain it in words.  It has happened a few times in my life when I've been praying about things that I've struggling with and then the preacher/priest talked about exactly what I needed to hear.  Our God is amazing!

All of these precious people were sharing their testimonies from the week.

 

Pastor Alex was praying for Abdu and I as we are becoming
one in marriage and in ministry.

The congregation praying for Abdu and I.

This is the mass choir for the church.  They train throughout the week and officially on Saturday evenings.  These kids are great!  They have been learning English songs too.  WooHoo!!!!

After service we went out to eat lunch with my brother (Ronnie) and Pastor Alex.

Appetizer of grasshoppers...

Trying to get me to eat one...

I held one...that is all!  Can't eat something when its eyes are looking at me.

Abdu's favorite thing to eat is pork.  So you see this platter comes and I was thinking...what in the world is that?  But it was a platter of pork, potatoes, matoke, cabbage, greens, etc.  It was for the 4 of us to share.  It was actually quite tasty.

The last one standing....determined to finish it all.

Ronnie tapped out...couldn't eat anymore.  It was also an early
birthday lunch for Ronnie!  Hope you enjoyed brother!

Success!

After lunch we went back to church for the evening.  The second Sunday of each month is what they call a gala.  A talent show basically.  Each one can bring a song or dance to perform.  They sing with the track.  They are not supposed to lip sync.  The sound board worker turns down the music at various times and you are supposed to keep singing without it.  It was great fun.  There are some talented singers and dancers that's for sure.  I had more videos but they are long and take too long to upload...will keep that in mind for the future.

The older kids had all the fun and at the end when everyone was leaving they played a CD of music and the little kids were next to me dancing and I told them to go up on stage and dance.  So cute!

All in all it was a wonderful day!  No to prepare for the journey to Karamoja...

Stay tuned....