Church!

Church! I’ve been dying for some church in my life. We were running just a little late so we walked fast once we got to Mukono. I did not want to miss sacrament. There are no pews in the chapel and the floors are carpeted, not tiled – but the building looks very similar to the ones in the US. The church feels like home.

There are two other muzungos here. One is a missionary and the other is a girl that plays the piano/keyboard, Megan. The branch president’s daughter bears her testimony. She has been in a boda boda accident this week. She spoke about how amazing it was that she survived. She said she knew it was a blessing from her Father in Heaven because she had prayed before leaving the house. “Never leave home without praying,” she says. The Spirit backs up her words and I know that I need to follow this advice.

We sing “Israel, Israel God is Calling” and I am full. This past week was getting hard. I was missing my family and friends, questioning why I was in Africa, or what difference I could possibly make here. But now Heavenly Father comforts me and reminds me that He wants me
here. I feel so much love.

I knew before I came here that I was suppose to come. How easily I let myself forget that. Now I can act with more confidence here. It is good to be in situations like this – to be uncomfortable and to rely so much upon God. It lets you – or makes you- remember what is important.

Sunday school here only uses the Gospel Principles handbook. (I think. I’m going to check this next Sunday to see if there is another class.) We talked about talents.

Yesterday, Joseph, the guy who said he wanted to be my friend texted me to ask when I was going to be in Mukono. I told him, “I’ll be there tomorrow for church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) from 10-1. Feel free to come, or I’ll call you after we get out.) And on the way to Priesthood meeting I see him in the foyer. He comes with me to class. They use the Duties of the Priesthood handbook instead of Teachings of the Prophets. We talked about the Word of Wisdom and Joseph raises his hand and answers questions.

After church we go to a baptism. There are so many missionaries here, about three sets I think. All of them but one are from other parts of Africa. After the baptism Joseph takes me to visit his family. We walk to his neighborhood and people stare. One woman calls out in Luganda, “Oh, Joseph, your mother’s going to be happy when she sees the muzungo you’re bringing home!” I ask Joseph why she would be happy. I’m thinking that maybe they think I have money.

We arrive at the place his mom works. She owns a restaurant like the one we go to in Ntenjeru. Joseph has me sit down and he goes to get me lunch and a soda. While we wait for the food he introduces me to his siblings. His little brother is a cool kid and does balancing tricks on the branches of the structure we’re sitting under.

I ask Joseph how much the soda was so I can pay him back and he refuses. “No, no you are my guest!” After the meal we go to visit his home and then he walks me back to the taxi park. He wants to go to church next Sunday and says the only reason he hasn’t been going is because he has no company, but now I can be his company. Then we say goodbye. He doesn’t ask me for anything at all.

I talk about it to Jeff and Kelley and we realize that most people just like to have foreigners visit. I think about how my British friends came to stay with my family after camp and how whenever I introduced them to my family, they would love to just sit and talk to them.

I see Joyce and Molly at the taxi park. They start school tomorrow and won’t be staying at the White House. They go to Hilton High School, probably the best school in the area.

After I get home I go on a walk with Jeff and Kelley. We pass by some kids who shout out Muzungo! and give us sugar cane. I love sugar cane! How nice. We walk to the top of the tea plantation to an old deserted house. We can see out really far and even to Lake Victoria in the distance. We find a short cut through the jungle to Nsumba, bypassing Ntenjeru. It might not be as short as taking the road, but I’ll try it tomorrow when I start teaching at school.