Today we went to Mafubira Christian Life Church where they run a nursery school and also a community farm. The cows are kept by Samuel and his team, and the widows of the church run a piggery. Both are alive and well through the work of TAIP who encouraged and trained the church to organise and engage in these social enterprise projects. In turn, the church used these to transform the community, even though there is still terrible poverty and illness.
We began with a warm welcome from Pastor John who introduced us to the children and handed them over to us to play games - about an hours' worth as it transpired - an exhuasting time, but such fun, and again such beautiful kids. Some have uniforms; others are dressed in very dusty, ripped and worn hand-me-downs. One beautiful little girl who held my hand was wearing a yellow satin party dress, perhas originally bought for some well-off little girl - it can only look incongruous on this bare-footed child. Nevertheless, the kids are joyful and the shouts of 'muzungu!' (white person) could be heard far and wide.
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| Playing Grandmother's Keys |
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| Got 'em! |
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| Another noble, beautiful young Ugandan face |
After lunch, we returned to Mafubira for home visits and Bible study. My team visited a very frail old lady (she didn't know what year she had been born) whom the church supports in prayer and with food when it can be spared. She looks after her grandson whose father has died, but she is unable to do much for him due to her own weakness, swollen joints and chest pains. Her house is a one roomed mud hut with a single bed in it. 2 low benches were found for us all to sit on (even in such desperate conditions, hospitality is valued so highly.) She was glad to receive us, but clearly suffering a great deal. Jo and Emily prayed for her very beautiful prayers. And then we had to move on - hopefully leaving something of God's love with her.
The next visit was to an HIV positive woman who had been widowed, and was making ends meet by making decorations from old fabrics - very beautiful and skilled work. She struggles to find a market for her work because she is often too sick to travel to sell her creations further afield. But the church is helping by introducing her work to their own craft sales and meetings. We prayed for her too but I felt a little helpless in the light of her situation.
Back at the church it was time to share experiences and to worship! A handsome young baritone man struck up the first praise song, and immediately two women started giving it full whack on some giant drums, and we were all off and dancing. The leader led in the familiar call-and-response style which we have already experienced here in Uganda, but also led us (through three songs) into a more intimate song of crying 'Hosanna' around God's throne. It struck me that though the style is different, the leading and progressing of the stages of intimacy in worship is remarkably similar to what I would do.
Then it was time to preach, which I did first - improvising a sermon/study on Psalm 24 ('fling wide your gates'). I was speaking through an interpreter (the worship leader) and this gave me time to think and try to speak clearly as the Spirit led. A great experience, especially since the congregation were so vocal in their approval of what was being preached - plenty of 'amens" and applause - affirming indeed for the preacher! Apparently according to Pastor John, it was 'a little brief, but encouraging'!
The youth leader, Regan, said he thought I preached like a theologian, which bodes well for my studies in September! I was a little nervous the whole time, but suprised myself by relishing the opportunity.
Esther also shared effectively from the Old Testament, reminding the people of God's guidance to the Israelites in the desert. We then presented some gifts to the church for the school, and were given the opportunity to buy some handicrafts made by the women of the church - wonderfully, these included a decoration made by the woman whose house we visitied earlier! Jack promptly bought it. I got a purse for Hannah and a home-made African football, made from banana leaves. After many photos, hugs, greetings and kind words we left this passionate, compassionate community, with the shouts of 'bye' from the little children still ringing in our ears.
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| The team with our purchases, and the women who made them |
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| Waving goodbye |
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| Holding hands |
A nice time chatting with the group tonight back at the hotel. I just love these young people so much :-) No time for guitars tonight, but promised Daniel another lesson tomorrow.
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