Flashback–Wedding and Services in the West

Here are some things from our first weekend, that I started to add then, but stopped after encountering technical difficulties.

After arriving on Wednesday night, we left for the Ibanda region on Friday morning.  A highlight was crossing the equator for the first time.  They  tried to demonstrate the old fable that water swirls the opposite way in the southern hemisphere (not true).

On Saturday, I preached at the wedding service of James and Karen.  They were legally married 15 years ago and have 4 children.  But church leaders are now encouraged to also have “Christian” wedding in the church.  I had not met them previously so had to be very basic in my message:  “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” from Ephesians 5.  We began to learn of “African time.”  The bride arrived for the 2:00 wedding at 3:10.  There was no rehearsal, we just played it by ear (not my preference).  The service also included several baptisms, confirmations, and Holy Communion.

After the service we traveled to the reception, which was at the bridal couple’s farm about 30 minutes away.  I was amazed to see three huge tents set up, and perhaps 150 people seated there in the beautifully decorated setting.  (The region is very poor, but the people will go all out to have a proper wedding.)  There were quite a few rituals observed, which were as mysterious to me as some of ours would be to an African visitor.

We were humbled to be seated at a place of honor and to be about the first to eat.  We were served in a generous buffet line.  I am not exactly sure what (they do eat the whole cow) since it was fairly dark.  I was surprised to learn that we would eat as God created us–with our fingers.  Keep in mind, they provide soap and water before and after you eat.

On Sunday, our team from Kampala spread out to five village churches. Our translator and guide was a remarkable young man by the name of Moses.  We were warmly welcomed in the little village of  Ishongororo.  Two young lay leaders led the service in the local language.  I shared the sermon and bapized two babies.  I also had the privilege of baptizing and confirming a young woman who had been a convert from Islam.  I then officiated at the Communion service, their first in a year, since they do not have an ordained pastor.  All of my words were translated by Moses.

We then had dinner with about 6-8 of the lay leaders before heading back to Kampala after a remarkable weekend.

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