Day 7: Celebration

Young children immediately after a bottle fill

                  Today was a day of celebration and a day of emotions.  It was our last day at Rock of Ages.  To crown the day, we invited the students’ parents to the school, and we held a festivity of games and food.  The children played many games depending on their grade in school.  Footraces, musical chairs, bottle fills, banana eating…  No matter the age, fun was had by all.

                As well as games, we had a presentation by Pastor Jimmy and his wife Helen.  They both gave wonderful words of encouragement.  We were glad to have them speak to the parents.  Usually, the school ministers to the parents of Mbiko through the children.  Today, we were able to love and speak directly to the adults.

Some of the attending parents

                Saying goodbye was difficult.  Many of us connected closely to some of the children, and it was tough to leave them.  Because this trip has been so affecting, members of the team are already planning to return to Africa, but even if God does not call all of us to return to Uganda, we hope to see some of those children again in a perfect redeemed world. A world free of poverty and malnutrition.  A world with streets of gold rather than dirt and littler.  We wait in eager anticipation to see that day.

                This day though was busy, even after the Rock of Ages celebration.  When the festivities were cleaned up, we immediately traveled to a medical clinic to pray with an adopted daughter of our friend Sera.  We did not stay there long because we quickly returned to the Jinja house.  At home base, we were introduced to the Dove Voice Band.  After a brief introduction to the visiting band, Kirsten, Michelle, and I went for a quick boda boda (motorcycle taxi) drive into town.

                The conclusion of the celebratory day came with a performance by the Dove Voice Band.  The Dove Voice Band is a collection of Congolese men and boys who have gathered in Kampala, Uganda to worship the Lord.  They came together as a group in 2008 and formed a music ministry team.  They are dynamic with passion and love for Jesus.  Their raw, authentic, and skilled sound made for a blessed evening of worship.  The Dove Voice Band will be staying at the Jinja house until Sunday, and the team is overjoyed.  Thank God for more company and fellowship.

                Today had a sorrowful hint of goodbye, but we are blessed to have two more days in Uganda.  We will wait to reminisce and meditate on the sadness of goodbye.  For now, we celebrate the friends we have made and the time we still have with them.

In praise to Jesus,

Mark Tatham

P.S.

I was not kidding about the ear piercing

Haha… By the way mom and dad, just so you know, in a spur of the moment decision, I got my ear pierced today.  Jen brought an ear piercing kit with her on the trip for some of the young children, and as a joke, I told her to pierce my ear.  I’m just saying this now so you will not freak out when I get home.  Love you mom and dad.