... could be raining.
and it did!
Even for someone who loves Africa and the culture there are times when I have to stop and remember that God is God, He is in control of schedules, people, events and yes... rain.
I had the opportunity to go with Margaret to a graduation celebration yesterday. I put on a gomez (traditional Ugandan dress). We left at 7:30am on what I was told would be a 2 hour journey. At 11:45 I REALLY needed to go to the bathroom!!! We arrived at a little village church and because the girl who was taking me did not know where the toilet was we went on into the church. At about 12:45 I could no longer even try to pay attention. I was just praying, "Help me Jesus... Help me Jesus..." And He did for the next hour I was able to hold it! When we got out an hour later I greeted a few people on my way to the toilet. I was not phased by the fact that it was what I've heard eloquently referred to as "a long drop."
I was supposed to meet some friends back in Kampala at 7. I'd told my friends I'd have to leave at 2:30 thinking that would mean I'd be able to actually leave by 4:30 putting me back in Kampala at 6:30 (if it was a 2 hour drive.) They started setting the table to serve food at 1:30 and I thought we were right on target. But they kept putting things out and putting them back then rearranging and then starting over all together. My American mindset kicked in and thought how incredibly inefficient! I couldn't understand what the speakers were saying because it was all in Luganda so my thoughts were all over the place. I wasn't concerned about the time so much as I hated to think that my friends in Kampala would be waiting for me. I had to continually submit my thoughts to the Lord and ask Him to help me "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." And I actually thought of a line from Young Frankenstein that has even become a bit of a family joke, "could be worse, could be raining." Finally at 10 til 5 we were eating. Some places think you should eat with your right hand, but since that's the one I shake hands with I preferred to lick matoke off my left hand instead.
I thought, ok, now we've eaten, it will be ok to leave. And the thunder boomed, the sky opened up and the downpour began. We all ran back into the church building and there with 200 Africans we waited out the storm. There were HUGE pots full of rice that I thought the children might fall in and be lost forever because they still had not eaten and were pulling rice from the pot in handfulls. And there I bowed my head and had to pray and had to laugh. There was nothing I could do about this whole situation so why didn't I just enjoy the adventure and trust that the Lord would take care of my friends. Besides they are African, they understand.
and it did!
Even for someone who loves Africa and the culture there are times when I have to stop and remember that God is God, He is in control of schedules, people, events and yes... rain.
I had the opportunity to go with Margaret to a graduation celebration yesterday. I put on a gomez (traditional Ugandan dress). We left at 7:30am on what I was told would be a 2 hour journey. At 11:45 I REALLY needed to go to the bathroom!!! We arrived at a little village church and because the girl who was taking me did not know where the toilet was we went on into the church. At about 12:45 I could no longer even try to pay attention. I was just praying, "Help me Jesus... Help me Jesus..." And He did for the next hour I was able to hold it! When we got out an hour later I greeted a few people on my way to the toilet. I was not phased by the fact that it was what I've heard eloquently referred to as "a long drop."
I was supposed to meet some friends back in Kampala at 7. I'd told my friends I'd have to leave at 2:30 thinking that would mean I'd be able to actually leave by 4:30 putting me back in Kampala at 6:30 (if it was a 2 hour drive.) They started setting the table to serve food at 1:30 and I thought we were right on target. But they kept putting things out and putting them back then rearranging and then starting over all together. My American mindset kicked in and thought how incredibly inefficient! I couldn't understand what the speakers were saying because it was all in Luganda so my thoughts were all over the place. I wasn't concerned about the time so much as I hated to think that my friends in Kampala would be waiting for me. I had to continually submit my thoughts to the Lord and ask Him to help me "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." And I actually thought of a line from Young Frankenstein that has even become a bit of a family joke, "could be worse, could be raining." Finally at 10 til 5 we were eating. Some places think you should eat with your right hand, but since that's the one I shake hands with I preferred to lick matoke off my left hand instead.
I thought, ok, now we've eaten, it will be ok to leave. And the thunder boomed, the sky opened up and the downpour began. We all ran back into the church building and there with 200 Africans we waited out the storm. There were HUGE pots full of rice that I thought the children might fall in and be lost forever because they still had not eaten and were pulling rice from the pot in handfulls. And there I bowed my head and had to pray and had to laugh. There was nothing I could do about this whole situation so why didn't I just enjoy the adventure and trust that the Lord would take care of my friends. Besides they are African, they understand.
- GO COCKS! national champs! & i found out on facebook
Even Peg, Whitener, and myself cheered and roared for the GameCocks! I will even put a Cocky Cling on my car window!
ReplyDeleteWhen you come home, your bed will be ready,your pillow will be fluffed, your "ladies room" will be ready plumbing and all, and there will be all your favorite things in the kitchen.
Travel safely, jj.
Love,
Momma
So, you and I "spoke" about 10 pm your time, July 11, Sunday. And you are all safe. Right?
ReplyDelete