We had arrived a little late and when we pulled up we could hear their singing. It was nothing like any American hymn I have ever heard, it was very beautiful and very African. We came in and they talked about how happy they were that we had come to visit and that God had brought us there safely. They were so welcoming to us. Although I didn’t understand much of what was being said, it was one of the more spiritual church experiences that I have had. This one room church with the poorest of the poor and the joy and happiness they have just to be there, to have a place to meet. What little they have they are so thankful to God for. They are content to come together to worship God. I am so glad to have been a part of it today.

(These are a couple of girls from the church)

Ben is the name one of the American missionaries working here and they asked him to speak to them. In the village they speak Lasoga and some speak a little broken English, there are even quite a few that speak English very well. Ben preached in Lasogan a story to try to help them understand the importance of being unified as a community. He talked about the 10 commandments.

(one of the boys)

When the service was over we went to one of the homes, which they call compounds, of a church member named Charles that lives there in the village. Charles invited us to sit in a mud hut that had built for receiving visitors.

Many of the children of the village started gathering around so I stepped out to take pictures. Some of the kids seem to be a little afraid and some really want to touch you but all of them are really checking you out. Imagine standing there being stared at by 20 or more kids.

But that was okay because I wanted to check them out as much as they were checking me out. My camera was a huge hit. I would take a picture and then show it to them. They thought that was really funny. I wondered how many of them have ever had a picture taken, or even seen themselves. McKensey brought bubbles, some of the kids were very frightened by them and others loved them.

Edith, the wife of Charles was cooking lunch with some of her friends helping her.

Lunch was a soup with a very similar taste as the American vegetable beef kind. Little chunks of beef had been cooked along with posho (say: poe show) which is staple here. Posho is a corn and water mixed that is cooked to the consistency of polenta or grits but the flour they use to make it is very fine. My favorite part of the meal was the chipate (chip pot tee). It is a flour mixture with maybe a slight amount of sugar then cooked like a tortilla.

On the way back to Jinja. I had the realization that I am so happy to be here. When I first got here I was in complete shock over what I was seeing. I mean, nothing can prepare you for this place. So, everything you have been told, it is so much more than that. I am so thankful that God has brought me here. Somehow, although I have nothing in common with these people or their way of life, I feel very at home. Please pray for the people of Wankonge church. Please pray for the spiritual growth there, the growth in their church and of the projects they are doing in the community. Please pray that God continue to guide the leaders in the church to other villages and to share His word and His love with them.

This post is part of "Laughter Lives! Tuesday" on the Riggs Family Blog. Check our their blog to read everyone else's "Laughter Lives!" posts.

A couple of years ago some friends of ours invited us to their church. Our friend Matt was filling in for his father, Pastor Ray, who was the regular preacher there. plug: you should read his story, it is an amazing testament of how God has been working through this family.

So we get to there church and sit in the second row from the front. Right away we can tell that this church is going to be much different from ours. We are Church of Christ-ers. They are Cumberland Presbyterian-ites. They have a pianist. We sing a capella. They have a choir that sits up in the front of the congregation. We do not even have a choir.

My son who was 3 at the time was in awe. He was so excited. I wasn’t quite sure why at first. After a couple of songs he says “Mom…when is Jesus going to come out?” I am puzzled and am trying to hush him…then I realize why he is so excited! He thinks he is going to see Jesus! He keeps on asking all the while getting a little louder.. “MOM, when is JESUS COMING OUT!?” I start to giggle thinking that he thinks that the singing is preceding some kind of show. I wasn’t sure what to tell him. I mean Jesus is already here right, but how do you explain that to a 3 year old. My friend sitting in front of us turns around and says. “Oh no honey, we don’t do THAT here”.

Happy Tuesday!