Church in Uganda

Our group went to an African church this morning (see video). Amy was disappointed in how Americanized the church was: they had microphones and sang some of their songs in English. Amy went to Kenya 20 years ago and heard singing out in the villages – a sound, she said, you would never forget. She was disappointed that we did not have a similar experience to that.

In the afternoon, our group went to Canaan Children’s Home. I did not go with the group. Instead, I spent the majority of the day crying and sleeping. Wow. It has been such a year. Our family has been through so much together this past year. Because of it, I have clung to my husband and my children. Now, to be 8000 miles away from them with no phone or internet access has nearly ripped my heart out.

I just picked up my computer to start writing. It is 9:30 pm here in Uganda. Everyone is at dinner (yeah, dinner at 9:30 – Robert, you think we eat meals late at home! This is actually one of the earliest dinners we have had since being in Africa.) I didn’t go. As I opened my computer, I noticed the time read 12:32 pm. 12:32 Birmingham time. All of a sudden, I knew exactly where my family was. I knew exactly what they were doing. I could see in my mind where everyone was sitting in church. My family, the Watkins and the Rogers would all be there, sitting in the usual area. Things were probably just wrapping up. Soon there would be conversations about where to meet for lunch and which kids were riding in which car. The afternoon would be spent with good friends talking over events of the week, spiritual issues brought out in the sermon, and probably even talk about us – the moms in Africa. Then there would be discussions about who would go home with whom to play/hang out. I can’t tell you how much it encouraged and comforted me to have this very real connection to my family. Familiarity is a good friend.