For me, I can't help but think of the scripture in Psalm 91:1 "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."
This comes to mind as we have new team members this year. Sure, we're going to church and there should be no fear in worship with God, but the fact remains we are in another country. The fear doesn't stem from worshipping God, it's in the wonder of how others worship God and where we fit in. Will it look like our worship? Will it sound like our worship? The answer is an emphatic NO.
If we are to look again at Psalm 91 we will see that our home is in Christ, our worship is in Christ. The comfort and safety, security and love are all found in Him. Today, we would each experience that even though we are in different worship services in a different country. It's surely going to be an amazing day!
My group would head to Royal Palace Ministries, led by Pastor Steven Onanuma and his wife Roselyn. In our group was myself, Sommer, Sean and Cassandra. As is typical in Ugandan churches, guests are escorted up front to a place of honor. It's quite a humbling experience. Pastor Steven opened with greetings, introduced the elders of the church and then allowed us to introduce ourselves. I gave a short greeting and word from the Lord. We were asked if we would mind going out to the children's church and visit with the children. This was a first for me, and I wasn't quite prepared for it. I know I should have been, but nevertheless I wasn't. We introduced ourselves to the children and then sang some songs with them. It's amazing how your mind draws a complete blank when you're in a position to think quick. The kids sang a song for us, and then we were escorted back into the church.
Once inside the church Pastor Steven asked who would give the message today. I thought Cassandra said that Sean was prepared to give a message. I asked him if he was ready, he was not. In fact, he was quite surprised by the thought, and so was Cassandra. I'm not sure why I was sure she told me that, but at any rate Sean accepted the request and stood before the congregation. Cassandra and I were praying as he began, and it was as if the Holy Spirit fell on Sean. He gave a powerful message out of Romans. Pastor Steven was taking notes and the congregation hung on every word! I could see Cassandra was overcome with emotion at her husband giving such a powerful message. It was fantastic!
Pastor Steven thanked Sean for his message and told us and the congregation that he was taking notes and planned on giving an entire days sermon on the message. Praise God!
The choir came up and performed songs and danced for us. Let me tell you, these people ( a new term for Ugandans, since they call us "you people") know how to praise, sing and dance at church! The energy, and the Spirit is all over the place! Even the walls seem to breathe in and out with praise!
There was tithe and offering during the service. It's not like our typical American tithe. The people in the village bring what little money they have, and place it in the tithe basket. Those that don't have money bring an offering to the Lord in the form of crops and/or livestock. Today a woman brought a chicken in. The legs are bound with string and the chicken placed on the floor (alive) near the offering basket.
More songs of worship and praise were sung, and suddenly the strings came loose on the chicken and we had a chicken on the loose inside the church. It's pretty funny and cool at the same time. I wondered if I brought a chicken to our church on Sundays and placed it in the offering plate if it would be as honored as it is here. Sadly, I doubt it.
We had a time limit (oh sure!) for our time at service today and so were told that when they offer to feed you, politely decline to keep on time. In Africa we move on a different time schedule. African Standard Time. "We are never late, only delayed."- Pastor Steven.
As we waited for the other van to come back and pick us up, we toured the school and ministry. We also tried to find some of the students that our HGEA Kids Club sponsored this year. The kids club has children in America do different forms of fundraising to sponsor a child a school. They raise $60 and a child is sponsored for an entire year at Royal Palace School. We had seven children receiving certificates and tshirts today! We were able to find two. The others would be in the school on Monday. We would have to return another day to visit the others.
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| Andrew and Alfred holding their certificates and tshirts |
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| The boys father is extremely grateful for the support! |
We walked down towards the land that Pastor Steven was able to purchase from an offering given to him three years ago when we visited. He shared his vision of building a church and school on the land. The land the church is currently on does not belong to the church. We stood on the ground and prayed over the vision that God has for it. That everything according to Gods will would be done!
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| The Land that God provided for Royal Palace Ministries |
We went back inside the church to wait for the other van to arrive. It's now according to our watches (American Standard Time) about fifteen minutes late. Our concern was over two baptisms that would be happening today at another church. Sommer and Emily are scheduled to be baptized.
As we waited we were surprised by women bringing in plates and bowls of food to our table. OH NO! Remember, we were to decline politely...no chance of that now! LOL I told Roselyn that we had baptisms today and that we would only have time to eat something small. She told me that in Africa when someone serves you food, it's rude to not eat all that is served. OH MY! The table was loaded! There were only four of us! So, we proceeded to fill our plates and eat. Roselyn also told me that Americans don't know how to eat, only taking this and that. We should take some of everything. It was by far the BEST meal we had eaten since we were in Uganda. We ate and ate, and waited and waited. We were somewhat relieved to hear the van pull up!
Roselyn and pastor Steven commented that it would be rude the leave the food, and that it would be best to invite the others in to finish eating. OH MY!
So, the other team came in to eat. The look on their faces was priceless! They had just eaten!! LOL So, now. as not to be rude would eat again.
We have to remember that Ugandans don't have the luxury of leaving food when they're not hungry anymore. They eat everything as not to be wasteful. Something Americans have the terrible habit of doing everyday!
Not only were we served an extravagant meal, but they also loaded up our vehicle with fruit and produce. They knew we would be heading to Mbale today, and wanted to make sure we had food. Food they needed for themselves! It just nearly brings me to tears thinking about it as I write this.
There literally was NO room for us in the van because of all the food. The other team had brought food as well. The Ugandans are so giving, even though they really don't have it to give. What a sweet blessing!
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| Royal Palace Ministries |
We loaded the two teams back in the van and headed back to the Prime Hotel.
The others arrived from their churches and we loaded the vans with our luggage. We would head to pastor Ruth's church for the baptism. Scott was going to perform the baptisms for Emily and Sommer.
Scott was there all morning. He went by himself to the church and gave a message to the congregation. He then had lunch with the pastors while he waited for the rest of the team.
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| Getting ready to load up for Mbale |
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| This is NO easy task. One Van specifically for luggage! |
We are now loaded and ready to head to the church for a special service! Sommer and Emily would be baptized at Tororo Pentecostal Church, led by Pastor John. It's a large church, probably the largest in the area. Pastor John gave a message about Baptism, and songs of praise and worship were sang. Because water is not easily provided for this type of service, there were many Ugandans that were told during the Sunday service to come back if they felt led to be baptized. There were over twenty!
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| Praise, Worship and Baptism |
The baptismal is a large pit in the floor of the stage area behind the pulpit.
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| Baptistery |
Due to the depth of the baptistery and the amount of water we could find. The water level was only enough to have them sit and lay back. It was enough for total submersion. Scott and an associate pastor of the church would perform the baptisms. Scott barely made it back from lunch...surprise! "TIA" This is Africa! ;)
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| Emily prepares for her baptism |
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| Sommer and Emily embrace with happiness! |
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| Sommer is baptized |
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| Over twenty Ugandans lined up for baptism! This woman is baptized and happy! |
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| Emily, Scott and Sommer |
It's no secret that today was a day to glorify the Most High God! As we load back in the vans and head to Mbale, we are all praising God and just taking in all that He has allowed us to experience so far. The trip is exceeding and abundantly full of Gods goodness, God's mercy and grace! We praise Your Name that we have a permanent abode and residence in You.
If you've not found this secret place and your heart is desiring to know and find it. Contact me so I can share with you how to find it! I'm praying for you right now <3
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