DAY 7: May 24- Church

Sunday Morning: You know what that means… Church! Today I had to wake up a little earlier than normal since church started at 8:30 am. Our group split up attending 3 different churches. Spencer named it “Diversity Day,” thank you Michael Scott for the idea. The early group when to a Catholic Church, my group was going to an Anglican Church (Church of England), and the late group went to a Pentecostal Church. We had early breakfast and then Spencer and his wife Emily and their son Adam came to pick us up.

We walked to the St. Andrews Church (only a 5 minute walk from the Gately). When we arrived I noticed there were 3 services on Sundays posted on the welcoming sign for the church. When we got there we saw many people standing out side while the service was on. They all stared at us, because well we stand out and staring is a normal activity in the African culture. The building was white and a decent size. There were multiple open doors on both sides that acted as an air conditioning system. Our group snuck around the other side and found seats in the back just as a song was ending. We were late! They actually started on time? Was this still Africa? I was confused. But we sat down. 5 seconds later the service was over. WOW, did we feel like idiots or what?! So that explained the crowds of people standing outside and explained why we thought we were late. Even the man sitting next to me gave a little chuckle when we realized what we had done. But this is all about a learning experience.

So we stayed and waiting for the next service to start. Like any other church (well not ANY other church, but a lot of churches) we started with prayer and singing. I love worship. Especially when you don’t know the song (but it is in English), but you can pick it up by the time the second verse comes around. You better believe I was standing and clapping. (Don’t get me wrong, this wasn’t a Pentecostal church so the dancing was kept to a minimum, but I loved the energy of the people in the room. They were just in their own little worlds praising God and I loved it.)

This was the run down: We greeted our neighbors, call and response, prayers, announcements, welcomes, prayers, skit, prayers, sermon, prayers, skit, and worship. Common theme: prayers! Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever prayed so much in a church. Someone would pray, then right after another person would pray, and then we would all pray out loud. They even asked the students who were on holiday to stand up so they could pray for them, then they prayed for all the adults. And I don’t mean it was a long prayer of multiple things.. I mean we said Amen at least 8 times during service. Also, I learned that when people to go church they say “Are you going to prayer?” Also the word “prayer” is the word for “request.” Interesting isn’t it?

Anyways back to church. The students did a skit where one pair had school fee problems and another had marriage problems. I’m thinking the point was that God can take care of everything HOWEVER I might be mistaken because I remember there was some type of joke within the whole skit thing.

Also, we were introduced to the whole church! Just like at CCC or a lot of other churches, visitors have to stand up and introduce themselves and say where they are from. It was slightly awkward, but also exciting. The sermon(?!) if that’s what its called came from Nehemiah talking about Ezra. I’m going to be honest and say that I’m not sure how much of it I retained between his accent, my tiredness, Adam’s crying, and the little boy dressed in a bowtie in front of us hissing. But I do remember him telling everyone the importance of reading the Bible and having one wherever you go. He also spoke directly to the parents and said that each child needs their own individual Bible. He really stressed this point.

There was offering like always. Some more praying. Teenage boys singing a song. More praying. And one final song. Also we thought it was over and started shaking a few people’s hand, when we looked over at everyone else and they were still sitting down…. Awkward (with a capital A). Overall, I thought it was a really cool experience to see people so different from me worshiping the same God miles and miles away from home. But even the structure was not that different from ours. It was really interesting, and I can’t wait to attend the other churches around Jinja (including Church of Christ and a village church!).

After church we headed back to the Gately. Even though it was around 10:30 am, it was Sunday after Church, so you know what that means: Food and a Siesta (nap). So we decided to eat up at the main Gately building. I hate the steak sandwich. It was good. And it was SO BEAUTIFUL up there (as always), with the cool breeze and the view of the water, it just takes your breath away. Then it was back home and a nap.. I love Sunday afternoon naps.

After my nap, I decided to play ROOK with DP (dr. Perrin, Tyler, and Fish). ROOK is kinda like Crazy Pitch but with actual cards. It’s all about taking tricks, making bids, and winning counters. Fun stuff. Then dinnertime. Fish and Paul are always a joke together. Then a little more ROOK then off to the Manry’s (Missionary family).

Their house is crazy! Well 1. It is beautiful with beautiful custom made furniture. 2. They have a gate (where a house watchman sits and unlocks it when needed) 3. They have 4 kids and they like to fight.. physically. First is Luke, then Connor, then Lydia Jane (adopted from Guatemala) and then little Tessa. They also are adopting a boy from Uganda that is on the way soon. When I walked into the house the boys were wrestling and throwing things. I’ve seen kids fight, but wow. But I started to play with them and their sister Lydia Jane, and I had so much fun. They are great kids. Even when we were playing “psychiatrist” (ha ha ha DP was in the middle.. if you know that game, and you know DP it makes it SO much funnier, he was getting so frustrated), Luke asked to play with me on my team. BOMB. I loved it.

After LJ (Lydia Jane) showed me a few or maybe a little or a lot more than a few pictures of her, we headed back to the Gately. Time to cool down, shower, and say hello to a few people. It was a good night/day, minus the fact that I went to bed at 1:30 am and had a paper due at 9 am that wasn’t finished when I went to bed. HA. Same old Brittany. I guess I haven’t changed that much, well at least not in that way.