After sleeping like we had not slept in two days, we awoke to a fine breakfast of something that looked like pancakes, peanut butter (for me), fruit juice and a semi-overcast day. We spent the early hours exploring and taking pictures of the place where we were staying. We didn’t suffer any jet lag, me because I have learned how to avoid it pretty successfully and Mark because he is just flat out tough (more on that later).

The gardens at Emmaus House

We were supposed to be picked up by Anthony, our host missionary about 10am, but a little after then Misti, Anthony’s wife and co-laborer, arrived at the Emmaus house to let us know that the plans had changed. On short notice, Pastor Thomas of the Sweeto gathering had called for a “women’s day” and Misti and Christine, another one of the Mission Board workers, were to supposed to speak at the gathering. Not knowing what to do with Mark and me and unwilling to leave us there with nothing to do, Misti invited us along. We accepted gladly.

One the way we met Grace, a Ugandan woman who has been working in the slum areas of Kampala sharing the gospel with the women there, finding resources for meeting places for the “house churches” and teaching new Christians the basics of following Jesus. Grace is beautiful inside and out and her name suits here very well.

We also met Kelsey, an American woman who came to work in Uganda as a volunteer at an agricultural testing lab north of the city. She had no American friends and no support system in country and (very long story short ) connected with Misti so she would have someone to hang out with from America. Kelsey is also an extraordinary woman. She has her degree in agricultural science from California Polytechnic Institute (a prestigious school) and came to Uganda “to work with the people here.” She had no training in cross-cultural communication (outside of living in California) yet she just jumped in and began exploring the country…on her own. I don’t believe she is crazy, but she does have an extra measure of pluck.

Skipping a lot (I do mean A LOT) we found the gathering spot, a government/community building which is something akin to a picnic pavilion at most state parks in the States. We were greeted with “Praise God” by Momma Agnes. Mama, I discovered later, is the self-appointed leader in any context you find her. She wore on her person a passion for Christ and an intensity for service that can only be truly found in places of great need and held only by people whose mission is Christ alone. Mama is “fat.” In the US we consider that a negative. In Uganda, being “fat” means you are well provided for and it is actually considered desirable in both men and women. When Mama shared Jesus and spoke of His provision for her, people believed her.

We all received places of honor as we waited for the gathering to begin.

Mama Agnes, Kelsey, Me, Misti, and Grace @ Sweeto

For the first thirty minutes or so only men came to the gathering. We were not disappointed, however, because they all brought instruments and began tuning them. I have never seen or heard anything quite like it, but it was extraordinary. I was so sure that there would be nothing but dissonance, but once these men (there were at least six or seven) began to play together the music was in tune and harmonious and exciting! Below is a picture of the “bass” version of the instrument which also doubles as a tambourine and a drum and is played by two people simultaneously.

Pastor Thomas is standing to the right (in front of the white truck). The worship instruments are to the left. The man in the white shirt was one of the translators.

Pastor Thomas greeted the few who had arrive and we began worship. We jumped, we stomped the devil we sang with all our hearts (whatever words we could pick out either in English or the local dialect being sung). About forty minutes later the crowd had swelled to near capacity, other men, women and children came from the local area.

Mark and I were allowed to bring greetings from our brothers and sisters in Christ. Mark had never spoke in public before, but he came ready to roll. He not only introduced himself very well but won the undying love of the people there by letting out a worship whoop that made it sound like he had been in Uganda his whole life.

Christine shared her testimony to relationship with Christ and read a long passage of Scripture. The process took a long time because everything was translated for the sake of those who were not fluent in English. Then Misti got up and gave a message that would have done Beth Moore proud. That woman can flat out preach. Since it was “women’s day” and yet so many men showed up, Misti took the opportunity to speak about marriage and to tell the men that the accepted Ugandan custom of treating their wives as household slaves and instruments of personal pleasure was opposite to Scriptural teaching. Pastor Thomas was translating. He rearranged quite a few things that Misti said, but enough of the men spoke English well enough to get the “unedited” version Misti was presenting.

Mark and I give greetings to the congregation at Sweeto

After a couple hours we were finished, and needed to go meet up with Anthony. We said our goodbyes and went off to another section of Kampala that houses the “rich” of Uganda.