Saturday, April 21, 2012

            Compared to yesterday, today was a fun! We started out the morning by going back to the Butebi village and ministering to the children. After reading a few stories from the Bible about the creation of the world and Jesus with the little children, we handed out a few balloons for them to play with. They went crazy! We all laughed at how a couple simple toys would entertain a group of village children for hours. We also brought some beanbags and played some relay games. At first, it was hard for them to understand, but once they caught on…they tired us all out!

Around lunch time the women headed back to the hotel for lunch and then planned on visiting another village (about an hour away) for a Bible study. On the way, we noticed a huge crowd in the middle of the road. As we slowed down, assuming it was an uprising of some sort, we saw a man laying off to the side. The closer we got, we noticed he was frozen on his back with his arms and legs out. He was dead. Our translator, John, told us he was probably a thief. He said that public retribution like that is very common in Uganda when someone is caught committing a crime. Later, we learned that he was not only a thief, but also a murderer. He had stolen a bota bota and killed the driver. When the other drivers found out, they dragged him into the streets, poured kerosene on him, and set him on fire. It was very shocking to us! That would never happen in America, although if it did, crime probably wouldn’t be so prevalent. This sense of community exists not only with providing and caring for each other, but also with discipline and vengeance. The rest of the ride was quiet and reflective. A lot of the culture and customs we learn about blow our minds! In many ways, we are all the same. And just as equally, we are different.

When we reached the Kabulubuutu Baptist Church, we heard singing and drums before we even exited the van. Women came pouring out of the small, one-roomed building to greet us. They wore huge smiles and hugged us twice each. As we entered the church, they took our shoes and bags for us and welcomed us in. The church was beautifully decorated and the songs they sang for us were amazing. We saw God in each one of their faces and as we stood and worshipped together, we were united. Barefooted and sweaty, we danced and sang and shared our testimonies. It was remarkable to hear their stories and see first hand that although we may be worlds apart; we go through the same hardships and feel the same pain. Waving goodbye, we were confident we made new friends and relationships that would last a lifetime.

 The men also had a productive day and labored very hard at the worksite. Today was mainly about compacting dirt. Most of the walls are near completion so now they are preparing to pour the cement floors. For most of the day, they toiled away in the hot sun and humid weather. Feeling beneficial and barely escaping the rain, they returned to the hotel for dinner.

P.S. Still no medical bag. Vincent, our angel, is gracious enough to make the drive back and forth from Entebbe everyday although the airport gives different excuses every time. Please keep praying!