Let's go to Church!

We were all able to attend one of the Born Again Christian Churches in Kabale, Uganda. It was an enlightening experience to say the least. I have never really explored any religions outside of my own, so I was very curious to see what this experience would be like.

A significant number of the KIHEFO staff also attend this congregation, so it was great to be able to go to church with some familiar faces.

Well. The meeting started at 9, but somehow we walked in at about 9:15. Time works differently in Uganda, so we weren't late exactly, but we were definitely noticed. We happened to be the only Caucasians in the whole congregation, and everyone stared at us as we walked in and sat down. I still haven't gotten used to everyone staring at me.

We sat on some plastic chairs like everyone else, and then the meeting started with some announcements. They welcomed us as visitors and gave us a round of applause. There were some scriptures read, and there was looooooooots of singing. I loved it!

They posted the lyrics on the wall with a projector, so I was able to figure out the words, and the melodies were so easy to pick up. It was truly a wonderful experience to be able to sing with all of these different people. I didn't know them, but I felt their desire to worship as we sang together.

Here are some of the lyrics of the songs that we sang

-We will lift up your name

With our hearts full of praise

Be exalted

You're Lord

My God

Hosanna in the highest

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah to the King of Kings

-Read your bible

Pray everyday, Pray everyday, Pray everyday

Read your bible

Pray everyday, if you want to grow

If you want to grow, if you want to grow, if you want to grow

Read your Bible

Pray everyday, if you want to grow

-I will make you

Fishers of men, fishers of men, fishers of men

I will make you

Fishers of men

If you follow me

-I am a soldier

In the army

I am a soldier

In the army

I am a soldier

In the army

I am a soldier in the army of the Lord

-I surrender all

I surrender all

All to thee my blessed Savior

I surrender all

The words are pretty repetitive, but that really lets them to hit home for me. Some of the songs were in Rukiga, so I couldn't quite pick them up, but I still felt the Spirit as we were there in that meeting. They even sang the hymn "I Need Thee Every Hour" and I felt right at home. The music was a bit more upbeat and louder than I am used to. It seemed more like a Christian rock feel, which was different, but not unwelcome.

A woman preacher gave a sermon, and her words were beautiful. She said during one of the songs, "There are people sick in hospitals, there are people in oxygen machines, there are people who cannot speak at this time and so you have all the reason to shout Hallelujah." And the whole congregation raised their voices in choruses of "Hallelujah." Absolutely beautiful.

I found most interesting that many of the problems she touched on in her sermon were issues that we talk about in church at home. She talked about husbands and wives loving each other more fully, and she talked about sickness and lack of finances hurting us. She talked about all of the things that can keep us from God if we let them. We have to choose God and let His light and help into our lives. Many of our individual problems may be different depending on our situation and where we come from, but overall our problems are all the same. Are we going to let anything keep us from God and His love? That problem is universal. In America we struggle with it. In Uganda they struggle with it. And anywhere you go in the world, that's the big trial we all have to overcome.

The meeting was about 2 hours long (just like church at home), and we sang as we left and went home.

Here's what the church looked like!