Culture Shock, August 8

This is kind of a weird culture shock experience…

Last Sunday, I was leaving church, and someone that I didn't know ran up to me and told me I was "wanted." It took me a while to get her meaning. She was pointing to another girl whom I didn't know who was standing by the church. The girl by the church was pointing in the window.

My first thought was, "Oh no! The bishop wants to ask me why I'm attending the Lugbara language service."

When I got to the window, Beatrice, the beautiful worship team member who sat by me on my first Sunday, was there smiling.

She said, "I want to give you a wedding invite."

I said, "I didn't know you were getting married!"

"Oh, it's not for me. It's for a friend." she replied.

"Oh, does she know me?"

"No."

The church service was starting at this point, and she needed to sing.

"Ok," I said. "Well, I'm leaving with the kids. Do you have it?"

"No. Can you meet me here tomorrow at 4?"

"Sure."

"Ok. Bye."

Am I the only one who thinks this is weird?

So the story goes on. The next day at the church, I arrive at 4. There was a woman's prayer meeting going on, and the bishop thought I was lost, so he sat to visit with me in the back of the church, and he talked awfully loudly. Eventually, one of the ladies came back to tell him his voice was really carrying.

We had an interesting conversation as I asked him some questions about the Church of Uganda.

Thankfully, Beatrice arrived after 15 minutes.

I went to sit with her and her friend Scovia. We talked for the longest time, and had the best conversation! Scovia used to work for Campus Crusade for Christ, and she really knew what she was talking about. She and I had a great talk about some of the practices of the Anglican church, and Beatrice jumped in after a while.

Scovia is in a life group of young marrieds' that has Bible study each week in a different homes. They have gone through The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church. I don't know what they are going through at the moment, but this was my culture shock moment!

On paper, statistically, it says the Lugbara are "unreached," but here I find that some people actually GET IT, and they are studying scripturally relevant material, and going to Bible study regularly. Of course, if all the Lugbara "got it," then Arua would look and act a lot different, but I was still inspired. This was someone I could partner with in ministry. This was someone who not only understands her culture, but can also help me understand it, and how best to approach the people. Shock! Thank you, Jesus.

Beatrice finally got around to pulling out a wedding invitation for two people I've never heard of in my life. Basically, how it works here, is that the bride can hand stacks of invitations to whomever she chooses. In turn, those people can invite whomever they want as well as the bride inviting people as well. Beatrice was on the "Wedding Organization Committee of Arua," so she got a stack to hand out.

Looks like I'm going to a wedding.