Worshipping in Kampala

We began our morning with a blessed two extra hours of sleep followed by our traditional breakfast of fresh pineapple and watermelon, nearly-clear orange juice, eggs (poached today) with white yolks, toast, and coffee. We all dressed “smart” for church – no shorts allowed. Good thing I went shopping yesterday and bought a skirt. I thought it was a traditional African skirt, but I was informed that it is a traditional white-woman-visiting-Africa skirt. Oh well, I like it.

The KPC, Kampala Pentecostal Church (which runs Watoto), is one church with 5 campuses: central, north, south, east, and west. Think of it like the university set-ups: main campus and several smaller locations. Each church follows the same format for each service with the same sermons, music, etc.

KPC Central is in downtown Kampala, not far from our hotel. I would estimate that the sanctuary is about twice as big as West Heights’ and it was packed! They began the service with praise singers, musicians and the choir leading the congregation in praise songs projected on a large screen. These Ugandans love their praise music – they jump and dance and sing their hearts out! It was definitely an aerobic event – “Sweating for Jesus.”

Unfortunately, the sermon was not preached by Pastor Gary, the founder of KPC; he is currently on leave for a month. We were blessed to have Pastor Franco Onaga for the KPC South campus there with us. They are currently in a series on Practical Living; today was “What to Do When You Sin.” The service was really not any different than you might see in the U.S.; I found it to be very similar to the services at Westlink Christian – other than the songs in Swahili.

After the 2 hour service (his sermon was longer than Pastor Cindy’s has ever been), we drove to Bbira Village in the rain. Has it been mentioned that these roads are clay? Do you know what clay roads do in the rain? It was a scary drive but we made it! We had lunch in eight of the children’s homes, 3 or 4 of us in each. We had traditional foods (I could identify rice and beans) and I believe everyone enjoyed it. I learned that they eat one variety of bananas the way we eat potatoes, rice, and pasta – they are steamed, smashed and used like mashed potatoes. The taste was similar.

The children were shy at first but then were singing and dancing for us. It was exciting to see what a children’s home looks like when it is completed and lived in by 8 kids and a mom. I don’t know how they do it: 9 people in 900 square feet and one bathroom!

After Bbira we drove to the original Watoto village of Buloba. We interacted with the children and mothers there and had a chance to talk in depth with the village supervisor.

Tomorrow we build again, so we are resting up tonight. It should be very interesting to build in the mud – there should be some good pictures out of it!

We are thinking of you all and are blessed by your prayers. As Dave says, God is good, all the time.

Written by Rachelle Depew