Someone to Praise

It was approaching 5am, and the rain was coming down hard outside. Every few seconds, the room would light up – a massive clap of thunder following. Our fan had long since turned off, indicating the power failure. There was not much point in trying to keep sleeping.

I stepped out on the porch, watching the lightening coming down from the clouds, and across the valley. November and December are rainy seasons in Uganda. So far, I had caught increments of the rain throughout periods of scattered days. However, this rain did not look like it was leaving anytime soon. It can rain so hard here, that trees 15 feet in front are an absolute blur. I was reminded of God's power and thought about Job's words “Behold these are fringes of His ways; And how faint a word we hear of Him.” Job 26:14 God's power magnified in the storm, I stepped back inside to get ready for church.

No matter the weather, we would be hiking up the back hill, getting into two vehicles and manoeuvring out to a little church in the bush – the “BushChurch” - as it had been named. A man named “David”, who runs the catering school at Watoto, had founded and was now, leading the church. The BushChurch is only a frame of tree trunks and branches, nailed together with a tin roof on top. Beside it, was a red brick schoolhouse. Only a month ago, a tremendous storm had raged during service, and the people prayed for the church to stand. Beside them, the sturdy brick schoolhouse fell, while the church structure and people, stood firm and dry.

With one umbrella between the five of us, we were not quite dry when we reached the cars. We piled into the two vehicles, and bumped down a dirt road, the co-pilot continually trying to wipe steam enough off the wind shield  for the driver to see. I was amazed we weren't bottoming out on dirt, rutted, slippery roads as these.

Jammed in the backseat                              

The car stopped in the middle of a dirt road, with two small houses on either side. David emerged with a feathery creature snug under the crook of his jacket arm.

“Has that been in there all along?!” Mardi asked.

“Yes, it's my tithe!” He replied. It was one of David's 10 chickens.

The tithe

The cow-skin drums could be heard half a mile down the road. We approached the structure and were greeted by about 30 other Christians. Handshakes, feet stomping, jumping, hand raising, clapping and praising. I have spoken about the foghorn at Central Watoto; in the bush, here it was a plastic pink whistle that came out every now and then. In song climax, the whistle blew and the ladies tapped their hands against their mouths, letting out shrill noises that I had only ever recognized as Native American war cries. Prayers came and they all came at once. Everyone talking...shouting – the cows in front of building went on eating, undisturbed.

The worship went on for about an hour. I appreciated the enthusiasm, the eagerness to praise, the desire to communicate with God. However, it was more of a situation where I could observe, worship God in my own way (quite quiet in comparison), and thank the Lord for the opportunity to be with His people. I appreciated and thought of the quiet gathering together back home, to remember Christ on Sunday morning. His death, bringing us light. That is something to sing about; That is Someone to praise.

Kelly is a good teacher :)

Girl in Sunday School