Christmas in Uganda 2009

It starts very early. SMS from 2 of the 4 networks are free from midnight to 6:00am. So the cellphone starts ringing shortly after midnight. Close friends or distant acquintances, it doesn't matter send them a greeting.

Then the day starts at 5:00am as the staff begins pulling all the benches out of the church and putting them in the tent we had set up on Wednesday to hold the overflow on Christmas. That done it then starts to rain. Because of the holes in the tent all the benches have to be moved and turned upside down so the water pouring through the holes in the tent doesn't soak the padding on the benches.
Meanwhile the ladies are trying to begin cooking lunch but Julie's rooster is missing. So the search begins and continues until the first hint of light when the missing bird crows from his perch on top of the fence in the thornbush. The thornbush hedge is planted around the outside of the fence to keep the thieves from stealing the fence or any rooster that might be inside the fence when it gets stolen. (But that was last month's saga.) Anyway the rooster turns out to be very wise in that he has hidden 7 feet up in the thorns and Julie is only 4 feet nothing so he is spared from being a main part of the feast.

Now that it is raining you have to take poles and lift the tent up so the water runs off and does not collapse the tent. Just don't get too near the edge as you push off the water or you get really wet! Richard thought I looked very good wet and decided to help me get that way. At least he was having a good laugh before 7:00 am.

Finally people start to arrive at 9:30 for the 9:00 service and by 10:00 we begin. One problem, the program starts with 2 Sunday school classes singing but the teachers and the kids have not arrived. Schedule of service is changed to compensate and the missing teachers and kids instantly appear so the schedule is changed back and service begins. By now we have about 200 people with dry seating for 150 so people sit on the wet benches but at least it has quit raining as the tent space for 300 can't cover the crowd.

The music, drama and dance went well and there where so many former students(now all grown up) in the crowd doing the moves and singing the songs that people didn't know wether to look forward or back. They had a truly fun and joyous celebration.

JB's teaching was a great encouragement to us to live a daily life of joy and not just on Christmas. If we lived joyful lives everyday how much farther and faster would the good news of Jesus our Savior spread.

The celebration ended at 12:15 but the fellowship lasted another hour. Then everybody either went home to eat or walking in town. That is Christmas here at Calvary Chapel Jinja. Here's hoping your day may be drier but just as filled with joy and love.

Hail the heaven born Prince of peace, Hail the Son of righteousness!

Jesse